Poker Night at the Inventory

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 9,186 reviews
  • humor
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Poker Night at the Inventory Game Cover
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"Poker Night at the Inventory" is a poker video game featuring characters from popular entertainment franchises. Players compete in poker games against characters from "Team Fortress 2," "Sam & Max," "Penny Arcade," and "Homestar Runner" in a mysterious setting called "The Inventory." The game offers various customization options for the poker table and rewards players with special items for use in other games developed by Telltale Studios.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 9,186 reviews
humor1,018 positive mentions
stability26 negative mentions
  • humor1,024 mentions

    The humor in "Poker Night at the Inventory" is widely praised for its clever and entertaining dialogue, featuring iconic characters like the Heavy, Max, Strong Bad, and Tycho, who engage in hilarious banter that often references their respective franchises. While many players initially purchased the game for the Team Fortress 2 items, they found themselves enjoying the quirky interactions and witty one-liners, although some noted that the dialogue can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game's humor is a significant draw, making it a fun and lighthearted experience for fans of the characters and casual poker alike.

    • “But, what this game brings to the table is a world filled with humor and stories.”
    • “The game also features a hilarious dialogue between the characters, making it even more entertaining.”
    • “Poker night is hilarious, featuring cleverly written banter coming from some of nerd culture's more recognizable faces.”
    • “To be quite honest, even if you were a fan of the characters, it's not really worth paying much for this game just to hear their voice actors say some stupid crap that is usually absolutely not funny.”
    • “That's not funny, it's boring and mean.”
    • “While the second game looks polished and features a good cast, I found this one to look and play a little rough and all the characters are unfunny and annoying.”
  • gameplay214 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily centered around Texas Hold'em poker, offering a mix of solid mechanics and humorous character interactions, though it lacks innovation compared to other poker games. While some players find the gameplay enjoyable and easy to learn, others criticize it for being repetitive and simplistic, often overshadowed by the comedic dialogue and character dynamics. Overall, it serves as a casual poker experience, appealing more to fans of the characters and the associated Team Fortress 2 items than to those seeking a deep poker challenge.

    • “The gameplay is easy to learn for those who never played poker, the characters are entertaining, and the TF2 loot is totally worth it.”
    • “Sufficiently challenging gameplay, with events in rotation to keep things from getting stale.”
    • “The humor is great (some quite a bit unexpected), and the gameplay feels solid and fair.”
    • “The gameplay is slow and bland, and like I said earlier, the developers stole money from Mac users.”
    • “Horrible gameplay, repetitive voicelines, rude characters, glitchy rules that would make even the most avid poker fans cringe.”
    • “But the worst aspect of Poker Night is its extremely frustrating gameplay.”
  • graphics114 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally well-received, featuring a cartoonish style that complements its poker gameplay and recognizable characters. While some players note that the visuals feel a bit dated and experience performance issues, many appreciate the overall aesthetic and humor, deeming the graphics "good" or "nice" for a game of its type. However, there are mixed opinions, with some reviewers pointing out inconsistencies and glitches that detract from the experience.

    • “The graphics are quite nice, with a cartoonish style that fits perfectly with the game.”
    • “There's amazingly cool graphics and wonderful dialogue to help add to the fun atmosphere.”
    • “It has beautiful cinematic graphics, features 4 famous game characters and allows you to play poker without spending more than €5!”
    • “This game can't be purchased anymore but it's not much of an improvement on Telltale Texas Hold'em, using probably the exact same system with a graphical touch-up and some rented charm circa 2010 internet.”
    • “The game also seems to have performance issues, as framerates are relatively unstable (though still within 18fps at the very least and 30 at most) on a moderately fast system with a 1366x768 screen and the graphics set to preset number 4.”
    • “Compared to Poker Night 2 (the first of them that I played), this game is horrible; the dialogues aren't good, the graphics neither, and it isn't funny... anyway, I don't recommend.”
  • atmosphere56 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its cozy, prohibition-era pub vibe, enhanced by witty dialogue and engaging character interactions. Players appreciate the relaxing ambiance, often likening it to a whimsical cartoonish feel, making it an enjoyable backdrop for poker gameplay. Overall, the combination of great writing, sound effects, and a fun tone contributes significantly to the game's appeal, even for those who may not be avid poker fans.

    • “The atmosphere of the inventory is like that of a prohibition-era pub, with dim lighting and a classy aesthetic.”
    • “I really like this game, one of the first I've ever seen that actually allows for proper single player poker gaming against proper animated players with their own character and stories to tell, all against a realistic dimly lit pub atmosphere.”
    • “The dialogue is not only pure gold, but the music of the inventory is outstanding and really sets the atmosphere for this game.”
    • “As many of the characters do not normally utilize high resolutions, the atmosphere is more of a whimsical cartoonish feel.”
    • “Actually, the poker here is secondary to the atmosphere.”
    • “Whether you like poker a lot or not doesn't matter with this game, its appeal is in its tone and atmosphere.”
  • story46 mentions

    The story aspect of the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its depth and emotional impact, particularly in the context of character-driven narratives like Heavy's poignant backstory. The integration of humor and engaging dialogue enhances the experience, especially in the unique setting of a poker game that draws from various franchises. Overall, the storytelling is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The third and final entry in the Dark Souls series, the game follows an unkindled character on a quest to prevent the end of the world.”
    • “The dialogue is pretty fantastic, with all kinds of fun and dark humor (wait until you hear the Heavy's story about the engineer).”
    • “And the storyline behind this game is admittedly well-thought-out.”
    • “I recommend this game, but if you end up leaving it for a better poker sim or a more story-based game, no shame in that.”
    • “The story (why does there need to be one) is that you are a back alley poker player who finds a neat little underground hang-out called the Inventory, a man you can recognize as Mr. Winslow from Tales of Monkey Island guides you to your table and referees the game.”
    • “When Heavy told the story about the engineer killing his team, I balled my eyes out. I am literally suffering from dehydration; this game is so sad it literally makes me want to hug Heavy.”
  • music44 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its smooth, relaxing quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion during gameplay. Many players appreciate the remixed tracks from popular games, which contribute to a chill environment, although some feel the music isn't particularly memorable. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset, complementing the witty character interactions and the competitive poker experience.

    • “The dialogue is not only pure gold, but the music of the inventory is outstanding and really sets the atmosphere for this game.”
    • “You'll come for poker and TF2 items, but you'll stay for the character interactions and the music.”
    • “The toons' constant repetitive talking will get old after a while, but mute it and put on some music.”
    • “The music completes the setting, with a lot of remixed versions of themes from the games represented, including Sam and Max and Team Fortress 2.”
    • “The discussion can be turned on and off, as well as the music - however, the sound really adds to the very relaxing but challenging competitive game.”
  • replayability44 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally viewed as limited, with many players noting that the humor and dialogue become repetitive after a few matches, especially once they have unlocked all the Team Fortress 2 items. While some enjoy the varied NPC play styles and the challenge of achievements, the overall consensus is that the game lacks long-term replay value, particularly for those not invested in poker. Despite its low price and initial fun, players often find themselves bored after a short period.

    • “The poker play was solid and the NPCs having different play styles combined with the Team Fortress 2 items add some replayability.”
    • “All this coupled with the fairly difficult achievement set (some of them relying on pure card-dropping luck) gives Poker Night a lot of replay value.”
    • “Great conversations, hilarious acts, high replay value!”
    • “You'll probably play 5-10 matches before the dialog starts to repeat, so the replay value here is limited, but the price is fair.”
    • “Though, this game has little long-term replayability because the repetition of the jokes and lines does get old.”
    • “However, once you've played it through and heard all the jokes, its replay value suddenly plummets.”
  • stability28 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous glitches, including animation issues, graphical bugs, and occasional freezing. While some players find the glitches amusing and part of the game's charm, others describe it as a "buggy mess" that detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, a few users note that the game remains enjoyable and recommend it for its casual and goofy nature.

    • “No glitches so far.”
    • “No glitches so far.”
    • “No glitches so far.”
    • “This game is a buggy mess, and it didn't use to be.”
    • “This is buggy and awful and doesn't even play like a proper poker game.”
    • “Cons: buggy engine, laggy transitions, short on lines, lack of multiplayer.”
  • grinding22 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding in the game to be excessive and tedious, particularly when pursuing achievements, with some reporting over 100 hours of monotonous gameplay. While grinding is not essential for progression, it is primarily aimed at leaderboard rankings, and many feel that the repetitive nature of the game diminishes its overall enjoyment. Despite its appeal to poker enthusiasts, the lack of variety and the inability to skip interactions contribute to a sense of boredom over time.

    • “Grinding isn't necessary to progress.”
    • “Too much grinding.”
    • “Grinding is only for leaderboards or ranks.”
    • “It took literally over 100 hours of constant boring grinding to get all the achievements.”
    • “Being unable to speed up or skip ahead and having to watch each interaction play out for each card hand is just so tedious.”
  • optimization16 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting unstable framerates ranging from 18 to 30 fps, even on moderately powerful systems. While lowering graphics settings can improve performance, it does not significantly enhance visual quality, leading to a disappointing experience overall. Many players express frustration with constant crashes and poor optimization, overshadowing the game's otherwise enjoyable elements.

    • “It's not bad, it could be optimized better, but turning all the settings down doesn't seem to affect graphics at all but fixes FPS.”
    • “The game also seems to have performance issues, as framerates are relatively unstable (though still within 18 FPS at the very least and 30 at most) on a moderately fast system with a 1366x768 screen and the graphics set to preset number 4.”
    • “Has some mild optimization problems.”
    • “The game also seems to have performance issues, as framerates are relatively unstable (though still within 18fps at the very least and 30 at most) on a moderately fast system with a 1366x768 screen and the graphics set to preset number 4.”
    • “Poor performance and constant crashing; everything about this game is disappointing and Telltale just wasted my money.”
    • “Some of the dialogue is indeed great, but it gets old after a little while, where 'a little while' is, for the purpose of the game, 'way too soon.' It's also ridiculously poorly optimized.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Players find "Poker Night at the Inventory" to have heartwarming character interactions that evoke some emotional investment, though this is often tied to external rewards like Team Fortress 2 items. While the game features a fun and visually appealing poker experience, some users feel let down by bugs and the AI's lack of intelligence, which detracts from the overall emotional engagement.

    • “Fairly fun, heart-warming character interactions; however, its AI could stand to be a bit smarter.”
    • “One of the better poker games out there, it's great visually and also really fun gameplay, including the most heartwarming characters in one place.”
    • “Poker Night at the Inventory is a fun distraction, but I felt the only reason I had any emotional investment in it is that I wanted to win the Team Fortress 2 items which are only available through this game.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in the game is highly praised for its faithful representation of designs from the original games and webcomics, enhancing the authenticity of the experience. The voice acting further elevates the characters, making them feel vibrant and true to their source material. Players engage with a mix of online gaming celebrities and original characters, adding depth to the interactions during gameplay.

    • “Poker Night earns top marks when it comes to character design and voice acting.”
    • “The character designs are almost exactly what they look like in the games/webcomics they're from.”
    • “Poker night earns top marks when it comes to character design and voice acting.”
    • “You get to play with a group of 3 online gaming celebrities and 1 gamer that owns a comic with his friend whose original character design you play against in no holds barred Texas Hold'em.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy has been criticized as a "shameless cash grab," with users expressing frustration over the requirement to donate in order to receive in-game items, which also incur additional shipping and handling fees.

    • “Shameless cash grab.”
    • “If you can find it in your heart to donate 2 refined to help this dying breed, we will send you a stout shako, free of charge (must pay additional shipping and handling fees; offer good for the duration of this advertisement).”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

8hMedian play time
49hAverage play time
6-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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