Evolving technology has changed the way we play and it’s also led to some intriguing hybrid games where two ideas are mashed together. We’ve seen some examples of games lately that prove that combining two or more ways of playing tends to be memorable when done well.
Slingo Combines Bingo and Slots
You probably know that bingo and slot machines are very simple gambling games. Both games have successfully moved online and diversified with new themes and features being added to them. However, the emergence of the Slngo genre that combines them is a fairly recent phenomenon you might not have noticed yet.
Sligo games are typically listed on a bingo site alongside different versions of bingos and slots. Each time you play you’re shown a grid of numbers, as you would expect to see a bingo card. Press the spin button to see what numbers pop up, with these numbers marked off your card. The more winning lines you complete, the higher the prize. Games like Slingo Money Train and Slingo Da Vinci Diamonds are based on popular slots and introduce some elements of their gameplay too.
Mobile Versions of Classic Board Games
Board games have been popular in many different forms over the centuries, with chess and the Egyptian game of senet among the oldest types that we’re aware of. Mobile technology now gives us a way of accessing board games at any time highly conveniently, providing a simple way to try many different games from around the planet or even to discover historic games that are no longer widely played on physical boards.
This list of some of the best mobile board games includes the fairly complex Brass and Steam city-building games by renowned developer Martin Wallace, where players need to build up their economy in a realistic way. While mobile gaming was once based on simple casual games with basic controls and few rules, this genre gives a good example of how more complexity and mature themes can be added.
Rogeuelike Games with Cards to Collect
The roguelike deck-building genre has grown enormously in popularity in recent years. These are based on a deck-building card game with a large element of randomness added to create exciting and highly varied gameplay around different themes. The history can be traced back to the medieval-themed Dominion deck-building game that was released in 2008 and led to many similar games being created in the following years.
A good example can be seen with dev_hell, which sees players take on the role of a software developer who works for a corporation that’s reshaping the future of the world. Developed by Unhinged Studios, it’s about drawing cards and then using them against databases and anonymous feedback while trying to hold onto your job. This game is due for release later in 2024.
All of these different ways of playing have been inspired by two or more original games and that results in a fascinating combination of features and gameplay that makes them appealing to different kinds of players.