Card games have an incredible history, even if it is hard to work out an exact timeline of when things were invented.
The very first card game seems to have been conceived and played in China. Though this is not disputed, when they were first played remains a subject of some debate. Most historians think it was in the 1200s, but there is some evidence of even more ancient card games in the 800s.
Before that, other similar tabletop games around the world may have involved stones and dice. Playing card games, however, is gaining popularity faster than ever in the digital age. This might seem counterintuitive when you think of the way they are played and the fact that you don’t need a Wi-Fi connection to enjoy games like blackjack or gin rummy. So, what is driving the growth of card games in the modern age?
Casino games
There is no denying the fact that casinos have played a huge part in the recent evolution we have seen in traditional card games. A lot of the games that are played in casinos date back 100 years or even longer. This means that some of the games played in Vegas have a very long history.
This is also one of the reasons why we see so many variations. For instance, poker is one of the most-played traditional card games that can be played in casinos, and Texas Hold’em is the most popular variety, but in the digital age, there are opportunities to play all kinds of poker games, such as Five Card Draw and Omaha. These different options provide some variation for players.
Casinos are also always keen to introduce a new spin on games, and even games like blackjack and baccarat that have simpler rules than poker may be played in slightly different ways depending on the website you use.
There are also sites where people can play classic casino-style games without having to wager any money, as well as places where you can practice poker and other games without risking making a loss.
Playing against AI
One thing that is helping to bring traditional card games into the digital age is the growth of AI in games. For many years now, gamers have had the option to play against some sort of AI. In terms of card games, this usually comes in the form of an online interface, with AI (of varying difficulty levels) playing against the player.
AI is getting a lot more advanced, and we all know that, but the technology to play cards against AI is pretty basic. Some really simple platforms and apps let you play against the computer or against your friends, based on your own preferences. This site, for example, has a gin rummy game you can use to play against somebody you know or just against their own AI.
New card games
In this age of technology, we also see more products released than ever before, and this includes new card games. Developers such as Capcom even have their own card games that are played on mobile.
Did you know that Nintendo actually started life as a company manufacturing playing cards? Over the years, they evolved to offer different types of games, but a number of companies making cards still remain.
Collectibles are always popular and some games like Pokémon or even lesser-known trading card games have proved to be very popular, even among younger people who are more used to playing computer games.
New card games can also be played in more digital ways, or with more digital tie-ins, such as NFTs. This means that there is a huge appetite for card games, even in the modern age.
The digital world makes it easy to learn games
Previously, you’d need somebody to teach you how to play a game, or a book with graphics to show you the rules. Nowadays, it’s easy to go to YouTube and watch people playing a particular game or just Google the rules, and you are bound to find what you are looking for.
Even the complexities of some of the more involved games (Dungeons and Dragons, for instance) can be learned on the internet.
Conclusion
Some people may have predicted that traditional card games would become obsolete when we entered the new internet age. This has proved not to be the case at all – there is a lot to like about a card game, and regardless of the technology on offer, people will always enjoy a good card game.
