I’m purchasing an Xbox Live Indie Game (XBLIG) every day, seeking out the quality titles that got lost in the shuffle and are not well represented in the top 50 lists on the Xbox Dashboard. Today is day #178, and today’s game is “Poker Stacker 2”.
Ever wonder what would have been the result if Tetris and poker had a love child? Poker Stacker 2 is that likely end result. Playing cards fall from the screen, and you drop them into a well, clearing lines by creating poker hands that meet the game’s requirements. Fun and strangely addictive, this game (which recently dropped in price to 80 Microsoft Points) is worth checking out.
First, from the developer (SevenDollarBill):
“Strategize and position falling cards to create the best 5-card poker hand you can in each row. Make a valid poker hand and the row clears, scoring points.”
As you progress through the game, the standard that each poker hand has to meet keeps increasing. In early levels a pair of “2”s will do, but as the skill level ramps up llater levels will require; eventually you’ll need really good hands to clear a line of cards, such as four of a kind, a full house, or a flush. If you fill in a row without it meeting the minimum requirement for the hands it will become locked in place, and when you run out of places to play cards because the well has filled to capacity then the game is over.
In true Tetris style, the game informs you of what the next few cards will be, and even provides hints as to what might complete good poker hands. There is an original “Poker Stacker” on the Indie Games channel, but if you (like me) have neither game then Poker Stacker 2 is the definitive purchase. The presentation is nice, being attractive without being unnecessarily flashy, and if you have a yen for a Tetris-style game and are open to something different, then Poker Stacker 2 is easily recommended.
Click here to download “Poker Stacker 2”, and then please come back after playing to rate the game.
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