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Four Timeless Games That Everyone Loves

Console wars heat up again

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Following the beleaguered announcement of Sony’s PlayStation 5 in June, it’s clear to see the console wars are gearing up once again.

Soon our timelines will be congested with tech demos and overwhelmingly meaningless boasts about RAM capacity; all to market the ‘future of gaming’.

We all look forward to a shiny new toy, but sometimes older is better.

In spite of our ever-evolving technology, there are games which adapt alongside each generation; not because they are the most advanced, but because they are the most fun.

We gamers remain faithful to these titles, committed to returning again and again.

Read on to discover some of the best games we think you’ll be playing long after the PS5 has settled into a museum.

Poker

Synonymous with the expansion of the western frontier, poker came hand in hand with the wild west – today being used in video games to flesh out period pieces like Red Dead Redemption 2.

But poker is more than any such mini-game derived from the 1800s. The card game has expanded across the world and is more popular now than ever before

Don’t go giving away a royal flush, with poker playing your opponents is all part of the game. Poker is an intelligent battle of strategy, which harbors infectiously tense situations. And deciding when to bluff, when to bet or when to fold requires a tactically patient mind.

If poker has piqued your interest you can play the old fashioned way with a deck of cards, or go digital and get with the times with online casinos. Both are great, but if you’re heading online you shouldn’t through caution to the wind and pick any old site.

Make sure you can compare poker sites and some of the best casino bonuses. That way you can choose sites with unique bonuses and betting limits you feel comfortable with. Alternatively, if the gambling side of poker doesn’t sit well; you can play free with apps like Zynga Poker which largely deals with exclusively in-game chips.

Mario

Even if you don’t know the games, you’ll have heard about Mario — a zany acrobatic plumber, perpetually saving Princess Peach from peril.   

The long-lasting legacy of Nintendo’s Mario character stems back to 1981, where the plumber appeared as ‘Jumpman’ in Donkey Kong.

From that point on the Mario franchise took over the world, selling over 600 million copies across 200 varying titles.

Be it Super Mario Bros, Mario Kart, even Sonic & Mario at the Olympic Games; the games’ charm ensures every release is a hit.

And the current crop of games might just be the best yet. With Mario Odyssey, Mario Maker, and Mario Kart 8 all-embracing the best of the past and building on the shoulder of greats by harnessing the power of the Switch console.

Additionally, if you are craving some of the older releases, you can find them free on trusted browser emulators or on the NES and SNES packages which come with a Switch subscription.

Mario is in a league of its own when it comes to video games. Investing time into a title guarantees fun, no matter how old the game is.

Solitaire

Like poker, solitaire is a historical game that has successfully adapted to the modern world. In fact, the game helped pioneer the digital revolution, being released alongside the first modern computers in the early 90s.

The game takes many forms, but its rich history can be traced all the way back to the late 1700s, making it the eldest entrant on this list.

Solitaire was — and remains to this day — an amazing brain training tool. It lays down a puzzle that requires logical thought to figure out the best course of action.

Perhaps then it’s our love of puzzles and solitaires infinite accessibility which determines its popularity.

By some miracle you haven’t come across the game before, solitaire will no doubt be installed somewhere on your computer. But that’s not the only place you can find it. You can play the old fashioned way with a deck of cards or download an app on your phone.

There are hundreds of ways to play and hundreds more variations, sometimes accessibility and simplicity spell out a timeless game.

World of Warcraft

Released in the Twighlight of 2004, World of Warcraft is a modern classic.

Once upon-a-time WoW became the most popular game in the world. And 16 years on, it’s beloved by its core audience just as much now as the rest of the world did in its hay day.

Unlike other video games from the time, WoW’s playability hasn’t faltered through age. Classic MMO tactics and role play emersion remains a staple of gaming; only WoW is more realized and accomplished than contemporary titles like Destiny 1 and 2.

However, nostalgia plays a huge role in the game’s current notoriety.

Complicated and empty expansion packs have diluted the games once high standards, testing the patience of even the most dedicated of fans.

Thankfully Blizzard has re-released an updated version of classic WoW which really scratches an itch. Classic World of Warcraft is a faithful replica of the game we remember, right up to the frustrating but loveable combat system. And best of all, it’s free to play up to level 20.

Quit your job, join a guild, and return to Azeroth — WoW is back and here to stay.

Recommended reading: Five mobile social game apps you and your friends need to try

Games don’t necessarily get better with time, they need new tech to help them along. But the success of poker, Mario, solitaire and WoW show that often the future of gaming can stem from the past.