What are the Top 5 RGP Gambling Titles

Posted by Harry Kane on Friday, August 20, 2021

The UK market for video games is a highly lucrative entity, and one that reached a total market value of £7 billion in 2020. This beat the previous record set in 2018 by more than one billion pounds, while the market grew by an incredible 29.9% when compared to 2019’s figures.

Interestingly, this market is increasingly diverse and features a wide array of games, from strategy and multiplayer titles to role-playing games (RPGs). The latter are particularly fascinating games, while they certainly stand apart even in a crowded and competitive marketplace.

In this article, we’ll explore the concept and popularity of RPG games in the digital age, while appraising the top five titles that have been inspired by gambling!

What are RPG Games?

Let’s start with the basics; as role-playing games are vehicles in which players assume the role of characters within a fictional setting, as they take responsibility for acting these out within a wider, overarching narrative.

Such role can be performed through different ways, either through literal acting and direct control or an ongoing process of structured decision-making pertaining to character development.

The thrill lies in the fact that the actions taken by role-players within games can succeed or fail according to the skill of individual players, alongside the formal system of rules and guidelines that underpin the narrative.

It’s unknown to what extent RPG titles drove the recent software revenue hike of 18% (to £4.55 billion) in the UK industry, but we’d wager that it definitely had a positive impact on physical game sales nationwide.

Interestingly, the patterns of gameplay and structures that underpin RPG titles have remained largely unchanged through the years, with this borne out by the enduring success and popularity of publications such as Chrono Trigger.

Part of a franchise that launched on the SNES in March 1995 (and came to a close with the release of Chrono Cross in November 1999), Chrono Trigger remains an epoch-making epic that has blazed a trail for so many games to follow in the future.

Even today, this game is unique in terms of its sheer originality and ingenuity, while the seamless transition between the world map full of visible, avoidable enemies and combat would not look out of place in a modern-day release.

As a result of this, it should come as no surprise that Chrono Trigger is the single most popular RPG games of all time, while it also sold more than 2.36 million copies in Japan and around 290,000 abroad. Incredibly, it reached a total of two million sales in just two months, also making it one of the fastest-selling titles of all time.

However, Chrono Trigger is nowhere near the biggest selling RPG game of all time, with this honour belonging to Pokemon Red / Blue / Yellow. This game has sold more than 59.52 million copies during its lifetime, while the Pokemon Gold / Silver / Crystal and Pokemon Ruby / Sapphire / Emerald titles are next up having sold 42.21 million and 36.6 million titles respectively.

Unsurprisingly, the iconic Pokemon franchise is also the single biggest-selling RPG franchise in history, with a combined total of 380 million games sold under this banner.

This is well ahead of the Final Fantasy franchise, which has sold 159 million copies, while the renowned Dragon Quest series of games has sold 82 million titles.

What are the Top 5 Gambling-Inspired RPG Titles from History?

Given the broad scope of RPG games, it should come as no surprise that various themes and narratives are used to entertain players.

This included gambling-inspired role-playing games, which combine verticals such as casino gameplay and poker to recreate a thrilling (and often completely risk-free) experience from the perspective of players.

Below, we’ve listed the top five gambling-inspired RPG titles, while asking what sets them apart and just how popular they are amongst games and bettors alike.

1. Red Dead Redemption

This game was conceived and created by Rockstar Games, which is one of the single biggest developers of RPG franchises in the world.

To put the size and scope Rockstar Games into context, this brand made a staggering £6 billion alone from GTA V through the first half of 2021, while this is also part of a franchise that has generated even more over the years.

Red Dead Redemption is essentially a bluffing game that features numerous role-playing features, with Rockstar having maintained its core player base for a significant period of time with a great deal of downloadable content (DLC).

Perhaps the standout feature here is the multiple poker feature, which introduces a strong gambling element and highly popular titles including The Great Train Heist and the Dead or Alive slot.

In this respect, the core features of Red Dead Redemption are incredibly similar to GTA San Andreas, which offers players access to a complete casino bonus experience featuring interactive blackjack tables, video slot games and even a Wheel of Fortune game.

Interestingly, the new features added to this RPG title have provided additional layers of gameplay and casino interaction, affording it incredibly popularity amongst players and enabling participants to enjoy an even more rewarding gameplay experience.

2. Fallout: New Vegas

Fallout: New Vegas was first launched in 2010, as a post-apocalyptic action role-playing video game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Bethesda Softworks.

A spin-off of the iconic Fallout series, the title is set in a post-apocalyptic open world environment that encompasses a region consisting of Arizona, California and Nevada. The narrative sees a world that has deviated onto an alternative timeline thanks to Atomic Age technology, which triggered a global nuclear apocalypse in the year 2077 in an event referred to as ‘The Great War’.

Unsurprisingly given the current geopolitical climate, this war is caused by a major conflict between China and the US over natural resources, while New Vegas is set four years after the event of Fallout 3 and 204 years after the bombs began to fall.

With the confines of this game, players are able to gamble regularly, simply by visiting casinos, acquiring chips with real money (which is available in three major currencies) and playing your choice of blackjack, slots or roulette.

Players can also play a card game called ‘Caravan’, which has been specifically designed for the title and features its own unique set of rules.

3. Gwent: The Witcher Card Game

Gwent is another highly popular, gambling-inspired RPG title, and one in which gamblers can make money at the end of a long-extended battle.

The narrative here is certainly unique in the genre, primarily because players who want to compete for a specific pot must do so by battling directly with opponents and earning more points over the course of three rounds.

More specifically, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game is a turn-based card and RPG title that’s contested between two players. Players will play a single card each turn from a hand of 10, which is selected from a deck of 25.

Each deck belongs to one of six factions that offer competing playing and combat styles, while cards can be played in two roles during gameplay (namely the Melee and Ranged rows).

When you play cards successfully, you’ll gain points called “power” and add these to the board. In this game, each card has a certain power (which can be reduced or boosted) and may result in the player’s points being the total of all their cards.

Each card may also have multiple special abilities, including the ability to inflict damage on other units on deployments, boost their points value or spawn other units in instances where specific conditions are met.

There’s a decisive element to this game too, as the first player to win two of the three contested ranges will emerge victorious!

4. Wrecking Ball

Wrecking Ball is an RPG title that has been designed and developed by International Game Technology, while it’s a game that strikes a fascinating balance between skill, chance and opportunism.

Make no mistake; luck will play a huge role in any winning strategy that you’re able to cultivate, while the level of skill and strategy involved is relatively low. This makes Wrecking Ball a little more accessible than most RPG titles, especially to novices or those who are completely new to the format.

Wrecking Ball is unlike most traditional RPG dice games too, as it can also be played as a casino role-playing slot game from a first-person player perspective.

The Wrecking Ball narrative also borrows heavily from ancient gambling practices, many of which are thought to have originated in Egypt. Despite this, however, the game manages to combine such themes with modern and contemporary gameplay, while you can even play Wrecking Ball as a traditional blackjack title.

This game can be particularly rewarding if you have a knowledge of games such as craps and actively enjoy such disciplines, as it offers a genuine opportunity to earn real money while enjoying a superb bit of escapism.

5. Monopoly Hot Shot

Designed and developed by Scientific Gaming, Monopoly Hot Shot is a breathtakingly simple and exciting title that blurs the lines between RPG and casino gameplay.

Certainly, this game is considered to be the single most unique cross-genre casino RPG slot on the market, and one that combines the best of online slot gaming with character-driven narratives and eye-catching graphics.

Available seamlessly on both desktop and mobile devices, the slot offers an excellent return-to-player (RTP) rate and exciting gameplay features, including the opportunity for players to earn double rolls.

You’ll have an excellent chance to bank regular (albeit relatively modest) returns when playing Monopoly Hot Shot, with the inclusive bonus features and rounds enabling you to optimise winnings in some instances and pursue impressive pots. Landing three ‘Scottie Dog Symbols’ on the reels will trigger the Monopoly Hot Shot free spins round, during which time securing a ‘Railroad’ icon will apply a multiplier to your winnings.

Similarly, landing on Chance, Community Chest or Free Parking symbols will unlock a pick feature, while the Utility or Tax icons will award you a credit refund and an important boost to your bankroll!

To play, you’ll simply need to roll the dice and move around the gameboard, which adds an interesting gameplay element and only serves to underline its popularity amongst a diverse range of players.

Whether you want to bank modest but reliable gains or are simply looking for a cross-genre RPG game with a genuine fun factor, we’d recommend that you try out Monopoly Hot Shot and put your bankroll to the test!

The Last Word

This list includes our picks of the best five RPG casino games in 2021, but you should note that there are many more titles included within this genre in the current marketplace.

The majority of these games are available on both desktop and mobile titles, while you’ll also see that our list features prominent design and development teams such as Rockstar Games, Scientific Gaming and International Game Technology (IGT).

The quality of these software houses definitely underpins our selections, particularly in terms of the depth of gameplay on offer, the real money winnings on offer and full range of casino disciplines that players can enjoy in real-time.

It’s also likely that the market for RGP casino games and cross-genre titles is likely to grow incrementally over time, particularly as the demand for more diverse and in-depth experiences continues to rise.

With this in mind, we’d recommend that you compare the market in detail and seek out the games that are most suited to your preferences, so that you can make an informed decision and make the most of your gaming experience!