I’m a huge fan of bingo and have been ever since I first tried it when I was young. I enjoy playing at the local bingo hall but also love the convenience of playing online from my Wi-Fi/internet-connected smartphone or desktop computer on a handful of fully licensed and regulated sites.

One thing I have noticed about bingo is that it’s popular with people of all ages and backgrounds. There’s something about this retro classic that seems to resonate with broader audiences than most other lottery-style entertainment activities.

I grew up and still live in the United Kingdom, where bingo is hugely popular, and after doing a little bit of digging, I discovered that, according to the history books, bingo was actually invented in Italy, where it’s also still popular.

I’ve also since learned that bingo is a staple of entertainment in many other countries, including the United States, Germany, Japan, Australia, Russia, and Denmark, to name a few.

Here is a closer look at some of the main reasons why bingo is still popular today.

Why is Bingo so Popular Today?

After talking to many other bingo enthusiasts like me, I’ve found that in most places where bingo is played, it’s just as popular today as it was when it was first introduced to the public as a form of light entertainment all those years ago.

However, I think the main reason for its popularity surge in recent years is since its successful leap to the digital realm.

For example, today, there are hundreds of trusted bingo sites with a broad range of 75, 80, and 90-ball bingo variants to choose from, and people can play from as little as $/€/£0.05 or $/€/£0.10.

Computer-generated bingo and highly sophisticated live dealer bingo tech innovations from a handful of industry-award-winning software providers have made bingo more accessible and entertaining than ever.

I strongly believe that the digitization of bingo has also helped this retro classic favourite appeal to broader and younger audiences and remain relevant.

Here are several other reasons why I feel that bingo is still so popular today:

• It’s easy to learn and simple to play, which is why I believe most people who try bingo enjoy it.
• Bingo fosters a sense of community and brings people together, which is quite unlike most other retro/classic titles (apart from maybe craps or roulette, which also have the ability to bring people together)
• It’s fun to play and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Unlike baccarat, poker, and other classics, bingo is far less serious and more entertaining to play.
• Today, there are hundreds of computer-generated and live dealer bingo varieties to suit all types of bingo enthusiasts, meaning there’s something for all skill levels.
• Online bingo (computer-generated content, not live dealer bingo) is also usually available in the free-play demo mode, meaning you can practice until you get good or continue playing when your bankroll gets too low.
• Online bingo from the market-leading software providers, such as Relax, Pragmatic Play, and Evolution, to name a few, have high or above average RTP% (return to player) payout rates, typically around 93.00% to 98.00%
• Unlike playing bingo at land-based venues, which close at certain times, online bingo sites are open 24/7, meaning you can play at any time.
• Online bingo websites are free to join. They can be accessed from pretty much any Wi-Fi/internet-connected desktop computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet and usually have a welcome bonus for all newly registered members.

Bingo will likely remain a favorite form of entertainment for many years. I also think it will have no difficulty attracting a newer and younger generation of people to try it out, especially if it remains widely accessible online at legally permitted sites.

Bingo Varieties you Might Like to Try

If you enjoy playing bingo at land-based bingo halls and want to see what it’s like in the digital realm, I recommend checking out some of these hit titles before trying any others.

To get the most realistic online bingo experience that closely mimics real life, you may want to start by trying Evolution’s Live Mega Ball or Live Monopoly Big Baller hit titles.

If you enjoy playing any of these cutting-edge live dealer bingo variants, you may also like to try Live Vegas Ball Bonanza, another of my favorites. This one was made by Pragmatic Play, not Evolution.

Final Thoughts

If you want to play any of my top suggestions, then it’s important that you start by finding a fully licensed and regulated bingo site that’s controlled by a reputable company.

Make sure the site has positive reviews and above-average ranking scores and that it accepts real cash wagers from people in your country.

Before depositing, I would always advise setting a reasonable budget, and then if the website you have joined has any safer gambling tools available, such as session time reminders or deposit limits, use them. Setting limits keeps things fun and, more importantly, will ensure you don’t go over budget.

Card games are forever retro because card games never go out of fashion. In the sea of games that the gaming industry puts out each year, there is a card game or two that makes it on the list of games enjoyed by most players.

When you’re done with shooting and stabbing and sneaking to get to your enemies, you might try a more relaxing approach to strategy, not with a strategy game, but with a card game or better still, learning cartomancy or playing card divination instead. Old-school gamers know and appreciate the value of card games, and this is something that new players can learn to enjoy as well.

There’s a plethora of card games available online or in real life that you can enjoy with friends at a table or on the net. How you enjoy them isn’t important, and if you’re looking for some suggestions, then here are some card games for you:

Poker

When it comes to retro card games, it doesn’t get more retro than poker. This is a game that has been keeping people entertained for hundreds of years. It’s a simple card game that requires a bunch of players around a table, virtual or otherwise.

Nowadays, most poker variants are available online. A host of casino sites let you pick any of these versions and go for the demo variant of real money played online if you’re up against other players. Either way, you’ll need a grasp of the basics before you go for a poker game.

The gist of the game is simple. You should have a combination of cards that trumps the combinations of other players’ cards. You can call to stay in the round or check if you’re waiting for the next card that will help you. Alternatively, you can fold if you’re looking to keep things safe, or you can raise the bet if you’re confident in your hand or you’re bluffing. If you have the right cards, then you’ll win, and if you don’t, you won’t. It’s as simple as that.

Magic The Gathering

If you don’t feel like poker is your thing, then you can go for a different kind of card game. Magic the Gathering is one such game, and it has been around for quite a while. Similar to poker, there have been many tournaments that have had champions from all over the world face each other. In this game, you’ll get creatures and events as well as land cards that give you the mana to summon the right spells and creatures.

To summon them, you’ll need to sacrifice or rather tap land and make them attack your opponent and wreak havoc on their points. The cards feature amazing designs, and new ones are introduced regularly. There are five kinds of magic, and they are represented by red, blue, green, black, and white. To get a better idea of the game, you can go for Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers, as this game takes you through it one step at a time. You’ll face various opponents and get all sorts of cards to play with.

Yu-Gi-Oh

If fantasy card games are your thing, then Yu-Gi-Oh will be on your list of retro card titles. This is a bit different than magic. Monsters will come with levels from 1 to infinity, and they will need to be summoned. In the early stages of the game, you’ll be allowed to summon monsters up to level 4, and to summon stronger monsters, you’ll need to sacrifice them. You’ll also get trap and magic cards that can help you win rounds against your opponent as you diminish their life points. Yu-Gi-Oh has an ongoing TV series and a bunch of video games, but the Power of Chaos title is pretty good and teaches you how to play the game step by step.

Exploding Kittens

The thing about Exploding Kittens is that it’s pretty new, but it’s a title old-school gamers will appreciate. Essentially, you’re playing Russian Roulette with a deck of kittens. The player that draws the exploding kitten loses the game. You’ll get all sorts of cards with ridiculous designs and features that help you advance in the game or hinder your progress.

These are only some card games that both old and new card game fans can enjoy in their free time.

Retro games are fun for many reasons. They often have a charm that newer games lack. You don’t have to sign in to your 22Bet login, for instance, to start playing—you just do it. They can be more challenging than modern games, which can be a fun change of pace. They often have a unique art style that can be nostalgic or simply appealing. And they can be a great way to bond with friends over shared memories of gaming history.

Pong

Pong was one of the forerunners of the video game revolution of the 1970s. There are several reasons why Pong became an instant classic. Firstly, the game is easy to learn and play. Secondly, it is a classic game that has stood the test of time. Thirdly, it is a relatively simple game that can be enjoyed by all ages. Finally, with different variations of the game, it keeps things interesting.

Space Invaders

In Space Invaders, the player controls a ship that can move left and right and shoot missiles at an enemy invasion force. If any of the invaders reach the bottom of the screen, the player loses a life. The game has simple graphics and sounds, but it is addictive and challenging.

Donkey Kong

When Donkey Kong was introduced in the early 1980s, it instantly became a favorite. The game became one of the most recognized video games of all time since it was so well-liked and inspired multiple sequels. In the first game, Donkey Kong, a sizable ape, abducted Pauline, a damsel in need. The player had to climb up a building site in order to save Pauline from Donkey Kong while assuming the character of Mario.

The game was simple yet addictive, and its popularity quickly spread around the world. Donkey Kong became a household name and is still fondly remembered by gamers today.

Pac-Man

When it comes to classic video games, there are few that are as well-known and beloved as Pac-Man. To this day, Pac-Man remains an iconic figure in pop culture, and its influence can be seen in countless subsequent games.

With its bright colors, catchy music, and easy-to-learn gameplay, Pac-Man is the perfect example of a timeless classic video game. If you’ve never played it before, do yourself a favor and give it a try—you will not be disappointed.

Asteroids

Asteroids is a space-themed action game created by Atari in 1979. In the game, players control a spaceship as it maneuvers around a field of asteroids. The objective is to destroy all of the asteroids before they reach the ship. The game features simple graphics and gameplay. Despite its simplicity, the game was very popular and spawned numerous sequels and imitations.

Breakout

Breakout is an arcade game that was released in 1976 by Atari. The game was designed by Nolan Bushnell and Steve Bristow. The player controls a paddle that is used to bounce a ball back and forth, hitting bricks in order to break them. The object of the game is to clear all of the bricks from the screen.

The game was very popular in the 1970s and 1980s and has been ported to many different platforms. It is considered to be one of the classic arcade games.

Gaming is a popular hobby; it provides players entertainment and allows them to relax and have fun in their free time. Over the last few decades, advancements in technology have allowed providers to develop games with better graphics and improved features, and complex themes; there is now a huge selection of games available across PC, console, and smartphone devices.

While new titles are released constantly, sometimes gamers crave that feeling of nostalgia and wish to play games that remind them of their childhood or the past decade. In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of games released with retro themes.

Certain types of retro games are well loved; for example, the arcade game Pac-Man was originally released for arcade machines but has since been improved and redeveloped for all kinds of gaming devices. Similarly, the game Snake, once popular on old-fashioned Nokia phones, is still available to play online.

Some modern casino-style games have been released with retro themes also. For example, retro-themed slots are particularly popular in an online casinos; in fact, many casino providers offer promotions for their slot games that can be redeemed against various retro-themed games such as the original fruit machine. Slots with the original fruit machine theme are well-loved by players who once played in bricks-and-mortar venues and now enjoy the convenience of the online gaming experience.

With retro games being so popular, it is unsurprising the developers are releasing new retro-themed titles all of the time. Here are just some of the top retro-themed games to try out online:

Hotline Miami

First, up is the retro shooter game Hotline Miami created by Dennaton Games and released by Devolver Digital. This single-player computer game is in pixel art style and is an incredibly violent action title with plenty of close combat and gunplay.

Hotline Miami is set in an alternative world in the year 1989, where the player is tasked with going on a murderous rampage to defeat key underworld figures. This game is a brutal challenge with a tonne of bloodshed.

Far Cry: Blood Dragon

Released in 2013, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is an open-world first-person shooter action game. It is a parody based on video games, films, and cartoons with a retro-futuristic theme.

Inspiration for this title came from 1980s films like The Wraith and Terminator, and some voiceover is even provided by Terminator’s Michael Biehn. The game is single-player and available for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

The game plot follows Mark IV Cyber Commando Sergeant Rex Colt, who must defeat enemies, save the nuclear-impacted world, and of course, get the girl.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game loosely follows the plot of the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels. Up to four characters can play initially, including Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers, Stephen Stills, and Knives Chau, with opportunities to add more as the game progresses.

This title could be described as a 2-Dimensional beat ‘em up style retro game. There are seven levels to battle through as you fight to defeat Ramona’s seven evil exes. Everyone has heart points and gun points, which are used to revive players or allow them to perform special power moves.

Players can team up with friends online or play together locally; there are also a series of mini-games you can battle against one another. As the game continues, new modes (such as battle royale, zombie, or dodgeball) and secrets can be unlocked.

This game was first released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but a complete version is now available for most console and PC devices.

Streets of Rage 4

Another retro beat ‘em style game is Streets of Rage 4. Published by Dotemu, this game follows on from the Sega Genesis 1990s Streets of Rage trilogy.

The classic characters, Axel, Blaze, Adam, and others, are all reunited on the streets to beat up a gang of ill-advised criminals. Four players can play locally, or two players can participate together online.

Alongside the typical attacks and blitz moves, each player can use some of their health to perform their special moves. They each have unique traits; for example, Floyd has a long-range grapple, while Max can jump large walls.

The game has received very positive reviews and is available to play on most PCs, consoles, and smartphone devices.

Death and Taxes

Death and Taxes is a fun indie simulation game. In this 2-D title, players assume the role of the Grim Reaper and describe whether humans are to live or die.

Based on an office job, the Reaper is given a short description of each person and information on how they affect the world. The game’s outcome depends on whether the player makes the right or wrong decision.

Death and Taxes have received very positive reviews and are available on both PC and Nintendo Switch.