There are some classic games that we’ve probably all played at one point or another. From Monopoly to Scrabble and poker to chess, these games have stood the test of time, but many of them are now being adapted to the modern market using the latest technology, so what brand new versions are avaliable to try?
“Monopoly” (CC BY 2.0) by wwarby
Slot Games Based on Board Games
The growing popularity of online casinos and bingo sites has led to many developers in this industry turning to board games for inspiration. By adding this as a theme and introducing some of the images and features of the board game, they can create something completely new that still has a link to the original game.
The example of MONOPOLY Megaways at Paddy Power Bingo shows how this works by adding the much-loved property development game to the slot machine genre. Developed by Big Time Gaming, this slot offers up to 117,649 ways to win and many of the highest-paying symbols are images from the Monopoly board game. They’ve also added a free spins feature that’s triggered by having five houses, with extra free spins added when the player has train stations and more houses.
Board Games Versions of Video Games
One of the most intriguing trends of recent years has been the way that video games are being converted into physical board games. Eve Online is one case that’s been in the news lately as Iceland’s CCP Games has teamed up with Titan Forge to launch a Kickstarter project based on this idea. Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game was also revealed as a demo at 2023’s Gen Con.
One of the reasons that this type of crossover could work well is that fans get to collect the miniature pieces that are used in the game. Having said that, the creators need to look for ways to design interesting gameplay that’s based on the original but adds in new elements, which isn’t as easy as it sounds. Bearing all this in mind, we can certainly expect some successful crossover board games, but there are likely to be some that fail to hit the mark as well.
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Chess
Chess is one of the oldest board games still played today, and the basic rules have changed very little in recent times. Yet, what has changed is the way that technology is now used to create a different kind of playing environment where this timeless game comes to life in fascinating new ways. Virtual Reality chess transports the players to play the game in a setting of their choice.
Augmented Chess and HoloChess are among the most popular apps that use augmented reality to make players feel that they’ve absorbed in a game, with real-life pieces on a physical board in front of them. Some apps are based on traditional gameplay while others introduce new ways of playing on different-size boards or with unusual pieces.
All of these examples let us see that the way we play classic games is changing to harness the latest technology and let us play more easily and in ways that suit our specific interests. Only time will tell how these classics will continue to be innovated.
