In every video game, players are typically gambling for their lives in a way. During big boss battles, players must sometimes weigh the pros and cons of using a potion when they are about to die or pray that one more hit will kill the boss and save them. It can be a struggle to strategize, but the following games will put players in more dangerous situations than that on purpose.
These situations can range from risking it all to get a reward or using a spell that has dire consequences. Whatever the case may be, p layers can gamble with their lives and risk getting a Game Over in the following titles. For some, that just makes things more exciting.
CloverPit
The Devil’s Casino
CloverPit
- Released
- September 26, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Panik Arcade
- Genre(s)
- Roguelite, Roguelike, Strategy, Simulation, Horror
Balatro was a sensation that no one could have predicted; a roguelike based on poker seemed comical, and yet it works so well. Now, there are several gambling-based roguelikes on the market, including CloverPit, which puts players in a Saw-like trap room with a mysterious voice beckoning them to take a chance on the slot machine.
The goal is to win money and bank enough of it to make it to the next round. Gold and tickets can also unlock perks, but the main goal is to avoid dropping through a trap door. It shouldn’t be as scary as it is, but CloverPit can get quite intense.
Final Fantasy 7
Learning Roulette
Final Fantasy 7
- Released
- January 31, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- RPG
The Final Fantasy series has a lot of spells and abilities where players can gamble with their life. One example comes from one of the most popular entry in the series, Final Fantasy 7, wherein players can learn a technique from monsters called Roulette.
When Roulette is cast, a hand will cycle through all enemies and party members on screen. It will kill whoever it lands on immediately. It is extremely powerful, arguably one of the most powerful abilities in the game, but it also puts the party in just as much danger as their opponents.
Shovel Knight
Destroying Checkpoints
Shovel Knight
- Released
- June 26, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Mild Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Yacht Club Games
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Shovel Knight is one of the great modern classic indie games, one that brought back the good old days of the NES. It’s a challenging but well-balanced game thanks to checkpoints and merchants tied to the upgrade and equipment system that can help players along.
5 Games That Include Casino Mini-Games
With most developers obscuring the lines between reality and fantasy, the addition of casino mini-games to their titles seems like a no-brainer.
In every level, players can collect gems and money to use for unlocking those upgrades, and one way to get a lot of cash really fast involves destroying checkpoints. If players do so, they can get good rewards, but at the cost of gambling with death. Dying without a checkpoint means returning to the start of a level, which can be more than frustrating.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
A Game Of 21
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Released
- January 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Psychological Horror, First-Person
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is one of the scariest entries in the long-running series, which got a surprising amount of DLC. One of the creepiest was Banned Footage Vol. 2, which included a segment simply called “21.”
In this segment, players had to play a game of chance against an opponent, and if they lost the card game, they would receive an injury. Collect enough injuries and they'll eventually die. It was the most Saw-like moment in the entire Resident Evil universe, making for one intense game of cards.
Hitman 3
Dealing With Le Chiffre
Hitman 3
- Released
- January 20, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- IO Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Action, Puzzle, Simulation
Hitman 3’s latest DLC episode is called The Banker, and in it, Agent 47 is tasked with taking Le Chiffre, the main villain from the 2006 film Casino Royale, the first 007 movie starring Daniel Craig as James Bond. Like all Hitman missions, players can take Le Chiffre out in any number of ways.
The DLC pushes players to deal a game of cards, and if players are caught messing with Le Chiffre too blatantly, it could end badly. Playing cards is the more fun way to take him out, as players can hear some fun exchanges between Le Chiffre and Agent 47, although it is safer to hide in the shadows and take the target out like a true assassin.
Borderlands 2
Here Comes Krieg
Borderlands 2
- Released
- September 18, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
Borderlands 2 added Krieg though post-launch DLC as a playable character/class. As a former Psycho, Krieg is a bit unhinged when it comes to combat. Gambling fans may want to look at his Hellborn skill tree if they're in the mood to take some risks.
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One of Kreig's skills is called Burn, Baby, Burn, which will increase Kreig's Burn damage, but it may also set Krieg on fire and damage him in return. Fuel the Fire is a skill that will increase the chances of lighting Krieg on fire, but in doing so, his attack will increase. Most of this skill tree is full of deadly examples like this, and the class as a whole is all about big risks leading to big rewards.
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster
The Arcanist’s Gamble
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster
- Released
- June 5, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen // Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy is like an homage to the glory days of Final Fantasy, complete with Jobs and Crystals, and now Switch 2 owners can play it via Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster. One of the riskier Jobs in the game is called Arcanist, as most of their abilities are extremely powerful but are doubled-edged swords.
For example, Exterminate can deal Dark damage to poisoned allies and enemies alike, while Twilight can cause instant death to sleeping allies and enemies. With the right strategy, these skills are useful, but they are indescriminate in separating friend from foe, and if allies are afflicted with status ailments too, it may turn out badly.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Nightmare Troubadour
Beware His Evil Eye
- Developer: Konami
- Publisher: Konami
- Released: August 30, 2005
- Platform: DS
Yu-Gi-Oh! Nightmare Troubadour is a bit of an obscure game nowadays, but Nintendo DS fans loved it at the time. The design and plot are fairly simple, as players are simply a random Duelist who competes in Seto Kaiba’s latest tournament. They can explore the town, fight other Duelists, and win cards. If they lose, it's not a big deal.
However, if players explore at night, they risk running into Rare Hunters, such as Maximillion Pegasus, who can challenge them to a Shadow Game. If players lose, their soul is banished to the Shadow Realm, aka Game Over. It's sort of worth the risk in order to get better cards, but in the world of Yu-Gi-Oh, getting banished is a fate worse than death.
Buckshot Roulette
Deal Or No Deal?
Buckshot Roulette
- Released
- December 28, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Mike Klubnika
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Horror
Most games of Russian Roulette are played with a revolver, with one of the more notable examples coming from the 1978 classic, The Deer Hunter. Buckshot Roulette is a more intense version of the game, as players walk into a creepy nightclub and face an entity known only as The Dealer.
Also, the gun in question is a shotgun, not a revolver, and in each round players can shoot either The Dealer or themselves. Getting shot with a live round eliminates one of their (or The Dealer's) lives, while a blank round lets them take another turn. It’s not as simple as pulling the trigger within a few rounds either, as players can explore, get items to help them out, and more. Plus, there is a four-player versus mode to really shake things up. Buckshot Roulette is very cheap on Steam, coming in at just $3, so it’s definitely worth a…shot.
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