Card games are some of the oldest games known, and have the capacity to be anything from thrilling to relaxing, single player or massively multiplayer. Card games also appeal to all ages, whether you’re a toddler who can barely say “go fish” or a weather-beaten old crank at a blackjack table. The iPhone also appeals to just about anyone, and is about the same size as a deck of cards, so naturally they are a good match.
Read on to find out the best selection of card games for the iPhone or iPod Touch.
World Series of Poker Hold’em Legend
The World Series of Poker has gone from a minor annual Las Vegas event and late-night television show to an enormous enterprise. After the success of books, contests, and official home poker sets, here is the iPhone game, and it does not disappoint. The World Series of Poker app is the best way to play Texas Hold’em– the official poker variant of the series– either alone or in an online contest including thousands. Chips must be bought with real money from within the app, which is sure to make the experience more realistic and intense.
Sol Free Solitaire
Sol Free Solitaire is the free version of Solebon Solitaire, but it is an amazingly full-featured app in its own right. It includes six different kinds of solitaire, all within a tidy, minimal environment and with sound design that won’t interfere with whatever you’re listening to in the iPod or Pandora app. Sol Free Solitaire has great retina-display capable graphics, unlimited undo, stats, and all the bells and whistles of a much more expensive game. It is definitely worth the download.
Video Poker
The name says it all. Video Poker is a “Jacks or Better,” slot style game that doesn’t mimic real cards as much as it mimics the feel of a dated old video poker machine in a real, off-the-strip casino. Mobilityware, the app’s developer, got all the details right, from the harsh blue background to the pixelated graphics on the cards. It doesn’t look good, but it looks so accurate that anyone who likes video poker is sure to love it.
Blackjack 21
It’s rare to find a fresh take on the virtual card game, but Blackjack 21 has done it in spades– no pun intended. What sets this game apart from the pack is the inclusion of true-to-life blackjack gestures, just like you would use in the casino. Players can tap the touchscreen to place a bet, and swipe down to hit. Even apart from this novelty, the game animations look great, and countless new table and card themes are available for download.
Card Tower
The House of Cards: Sometimes the most fun you can have with a deck of cards is in simply trying to build a precarious house out of them. Now, you can take this rainy day fun with you anywhere, with Card Tower: The House of Cards. If you look past the redundant name, you’ll find a game with a clever touch interface and smooth 3D graphics. It’s silly, but it’s also strangely compelling. Maybe that’s why, against all odds, it’s consistently in the top 10 list of card apps in over 30 countries.