Lots have changed over the past half a century. Millennials won’t even remember what life was like without the internet, while the iPhone is now a teenager. Technology has drastically changed how we entertain ourselves, yet many games have remained as relevant now as they did 50 years ago. In some cases, as relevant as when they were first invented well over a century ago.
It’s a testament to how enjoyable these games are that they’ve stayed so relevant down the years, but perhaps more so how they’ve adapted to new technology, the invention of the smartphone, and now the likes of augmented and virtual reality. But what are the best games that are as relevant now as they were half a century ago?
Bingo
Bingo is a game that dates back hundreds of years and can be traced back to an Italian lottery game named Il Gioco del Lotto d’Italia, which first started around the 1530s. It was 1960s Britain which contributed to its meteoric rise, however. Bingo halls began to crop up in every town centre and playing the game peaked in the 1980s. In the early 2000s there was a lull in the industry, but the growth of online gaming has resurrected bingo to the point where it’s as big as it has ever been.
In fact, you’ll find many online bingo brands today have diversified to become all singing, all dancing sites where you’ll find there are a variety of slots to choose from as well as bingo, with the two also combining to create slingo bingo, a new variation of bingo. It’s this use of technology that is helping bingo really thrive and making it as relevant as it was during the huge bingo boom of the 1980s.
Football
Football has always been the beautiful game, and it would still be popular today without technology, but it certainly wouldn’t be quite the same without it. The sport has long been among the first to adopt new technology, and you’ll find that games for players to play off the field have always been particularly popular.
Subbuteo was the big game to play in the 1970s, but as we moved into the digital age, the FIFA Franchise took over. Since its arrival on the video gaming market each edition has been among the year’s best and has sold well over 280 million copies throughout the series. Each year, EA Sports adds more features and FIFA tournaments are watched by as many people as actual matches, which is some feat.
Poker
Poker is one of the most widely known games across the world. Developed in the US during the early 19th century, it was in fact online poker that helped the game welcome an unprecedented spike in players and viewers. On the television, the introduction of hole-card cameras helped, while Chris Moneymaker’s World Series of Poker win really helped shoot the game to new levels. Moneymaker earned his place in the tournament through playing online, which encouraged many more to take up the game.
Today, online poker is huge and has taken over the physical game in terms of its popularity. It is, in fact, more relevant than when you could only play in casinos and in the bright lights of Las Vegas, with the ability now to play on your smartphone anytime, anywhere.