Developer: InLogic Software
Publisher: EastAsiaSoft
Platform: PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch (2)
Tested on: Switch 2
Grand Vegas Casino – Review
Over the last few weeks or so, we’ve been dipping in and out of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, slowly chipping away at the post-game. That inevitably means that we’ve been spending a lot of time in the Game Corner, trying to rack up coins for that elusive Porygon. Rest assured, we’ve been playing the digital slot machines a lot lately. It’s a bit of a surprise that the slot machines have remained in the Switch port of the game, as later entries replaced them with skill-based minigames because of criticism of simulated gambling. Somehow, though, FireRed and LeafGreen were able to keep that ‘E’ rating. Meanwhile, the subject of today’s review, Grand Vegas Casino, got slapped with an 18+ rating. Perhaps it’s because the slot machines are a simple minigame within FireRed and LeafGreen, whereas in Grand Vegas Casino, they’re a major part of the attraction. We wouldn’t bet on that being the reason either way, but we decided to still take a gamble to see if Grand Vegas Casino was worth our time and coins.
Story
Vegas, baby! Or perhaps not. For a game that proudly boasts the name of the world’s most famous gambling paradise, Grand Vegas Casino doesn’t really try to evoke the atmosphere of the city. There is no story whatsoever here, although we’ll say that a straightforward simulator like this doesn’t necessarily need one. Still, even something as small as a text blurb could’ve done wonders to make things feel more immersive.
Graphics
The official blurb for Grand Vegas Casino describes the game as boasting a ‘fluidly animated HD-2D graphic style’. Don’t let this fool you into thinking that the game’s visuals take inspiration from Square Enix titles like The Adventures of Elliot or Live A Live. Grand Vegas Casino’s visuals are HD, and they are 2D, but this is where the similarities with HD-2D end. Instead, we got some of the most basic and sterile representations of casino games that we’d ever seen here. If you’d have told us this was an early 2000s Windows release rather than a 2026 console game, we wouldn’t have doubted it. The most creative aspect of the game is its visuals, as you can choose one of three skins for its slot machine: either Sports, Cars or Army. To Grand Vegas Casino’s credit, the omission of bells and whistles makes for a very lightweight game that isn’t too demanding and runs as smoothly as it should. It just lacks the personality needed to make the game feel like Vegas.
Sound
It probably doesn’t help that Grand Vegas Casino’s soundscape is as devoid of personality as the visuals. We were expecting music that is legally distinct but still clearly inspired by Elvis or Americana to be playing in the background as the familiar beeps and boops of slot machines notified us of payouts. Instead, we got literal elevator music and the most uninspired sound effects imaginable. It probably speaks volumes that the two-decade-old soundscape of Pokémon’s Game Corner is more exciting than this exercise in genericness.
Gameplay
Up until this point, Grand Vegas Casino hasn’t been able to impress us or even make us feel like we’re in the vicinity of its namesake. Can its gameplay redeem this one? Grand Vegas Casino brings together four titles that don’t need an introduction: Slots, Poker (actually Texas Hold ‘Em), Blackjack and Roulette. The versions you’re getting here are very straightforward, although being familiar with how the game works is an advantage. Although Grand Vegas Casino does boast mandatory tutorials for each of them, these don’t really explain how the individual games themselves work. Instead, the tutorials teach you where to click and what each button does. The game’s Switch port boasts touchscreen controls, but not Switch 2 mouse support, which feels like a missed opportunity as navigating with a controller involves dragging a cursor across the screen.
The individual games are competent recreations of the classic casino games. To Grand Vegas Casino’s credit, the AI-controlled opponents in Blackjack or Poker are competent players, and this simulation does provide a good way to practice before you tackle these games in real life. Roulette is actually more involved than we expected. Even though it is, in theory, the second simplest out of the four games, there is a full-on in-game strategy guide that you can consult, as well as a statistics chart that lets you see how well you’ve been doing. The slot machines are the most straightforward inclusion: you simply drag the lever, root for the right symbols, and see if luck is on your side. Anything you earn is added to a shared pool, so if you win it big in Blackjack, you can take your winnings straight to Roulette and vice versa.
Since the introductory games are scripted, you’re guaranteed to win big, but as you’ll keep playing, you’ll find that there is truth in the saying ‘The house always wins.’ So what happens if things inevitably go south and you find yourself in the red? Grand Vegas Casino has an interesting system where every minute you’re sitting in the lobby screen, you’re automatically given a handful of coins. That means that if you ever find yourself completely broke, you can simply let the game sit idle while it drip-feeds you coins. It’s a bit of an odd system, but it’s not like you’re playing for anything of value here in the first place. There is no in-game shop for cosmetics or something to work towards. The only thing to keep you motivated here is the games themselves. With no incentive to keep playing for more than a few minutes, we’re hard-pressed to recommend this one, even for the low-low price of €4.99.
Conclusion
Read ‘em and weep. In a bizarre twist of irony, Grand Vegas Casino achieves the impossible: it makes gambling boring. By removing all stakes and offering zero rewards to chase, it accidentally becomes the world’s most effective anti-gambling simulator. From a technical perspective, we can’t really find any fault with Grand Vegas Casino, perhaps apart from the lack of mouse mode support. As straightforward as the included games are though, they are lacking the flair and spectacle we’d expect from a game that channels the spirit of Las Vegas. It has merit as a way to practice playing Blackjack or Texas Hold’Em, but there are better options out there to do that.
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