Poker Hands
- March 26, 2020
- Minimol Games
Get on Steam"Poker Hands" is a puzzle game that challenges you to form poker hands by combining neighboring cards using arrow keys. The game features 50 levels designed for both experienced poker players and newcomers. It includes an original soundtrack and does not require poker knowledge to enjoy. Also check out "The Chess Variants Club," "Blackjack Hands," and "Zen Chess: Mate in One" for more relaxing puzzle games.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Creative mix of poker and sliding puzzle mechanics, providing a unique gameplay experience.
- Clean graphics and enjoyable music enhance the overall gaming experience.
- Inexpensive and offers a reasonable amount of gameplay for its price.
- Heavy reliance on randomness can lead to frustrating gameplay, making it feel luck-based.
- Limited pre-planning due to the inability to see upcoming cards, which detracts from strategic play.
- Some levels are inaccessible, and the lack of features like undo and hotkeys negatively impacts the user experience.
- gameplay18 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay combines sliding and merging mechanics reminiscent of 2048 with poker rules, creating a unique puzzle experience that challenges players with RNG-based card spawning. The game features a competitive edge similar to Tetris, but some users express a desire for an open play mode to explore various poker hands. Overall, the innovative mechanics and strategic depth offer engaging and fun gameplay.
“A very creative mix of poker and 2048 games, creating unique and fun gameplay.”
“[b]Poker hands[/b] mixes the matching mechanics from games like [b]2048[/b] with the rules of poker.”
“Which is why this mechanic can make the game a bit more difficult on certain levels where the cards spawn based on RNG.”
“The mechanics are new to me in that the sliding mechanism used affects the whole tableau at once with new cards coming into the game on a rotating entry point that alternates bringing cards in from the sides.”
“Using those mechanics, I wish there would be an open play mode where you could play for any poker hands you wish and earn points according to the difficulty/rarity of each (pair vs. straight flush, etc.).”
- music6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its relaxing quality, enhancing the overall experience and providing a soothing backdrop for gameplay. Users appreciate the combination of the soundtrack with the game's UI and design, contributing to a pleasant atmosphere for players looking to unwind.
“Great game, I love playing poker and puzzles. Poker and solving puzzles together is awesome; the music is relaxing, making it a very good game for unwinding and forgetting daily problems.”
“Nice card design and soundtrack.”
“The music is relaxing, creating a nice atmosphere for the gameplay.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally described as clean and clear, but they are considered only acceptable due to significant wasted screen space and some elements being off-screen. Additionally, the lack of level numbers and the need to frequently access the help screen detracts from the overall visual experience.
“Clean, clear graphics.”
“The graphics are acceptable.”
“The graphics are acceptable, but there's a lot of wasted screen space, which isn't a good look. Additionally, there are no level numbers, and the help screen has to be brought up every time, with some poker islands being off-screen.”
