Poker Games In Steam: Which Ones You Should Try

Steam is one of the biggest and most popular gaming marketplaces on the planet. The platform allows you to develop a cloud-based library of video games that can be played anywhere with a WIFI connection.

Sign in on any device—at least any device that can operate the game you wish to play—and pick up right where you left off.

At the time of writing, if you type the word “poker” into its search bar, you will be met with 433 results. Nearly 80 games are dedicated to Hold’em alone.

Obviously, it would be impossible—or at least unproductive—to try all of them. You don’t have to! With the three games recommended on this list, there is no need to concern yourself with the rest when you can jump right to the best.

Rating Note

All of the games featured on this list have at least a “T for Teen,” which is more or less the default for any title that includes gambling. Governor of Poker 3 has an “M for Mature,” rating, though the content is not significantly different from any of the other titles. Red Dead Redemption 2 also has an M-rating for—well. Many reasons.

However, because these are simulations, there is no real money involved—aside from the small price you may need to pay to access certain titles. Meanwhile, people interested in staked games can enjoy video poker at Bovada on their browser or mobile phone.

Prominence Poker

Prominence Poker is free to play and takes players into an immersive environment that allows them to hone their skills in a seedy virtual world. The goal, of course, is to distinguish yourself as the best of the best.

To do that, you can try your luck against the game’s built-in AI opponents, or connect with friends from anywhere in the world.

Note that Prominence Poker does feature scenes that may not be suitable for a general audience. While there is no explicit violence in the game there are threats of violence, and background indications (including a body bag) indicating that violence has recently taken place.

Governor of Poker 3

Governor of Poker 3 is (naturally enough) the third installment of a popular franchise. The game is technically an “MMO” (massively multiplayer online). This means that you can connect with players from all around the world.

It is possibly because of this that the game has attained an “M-rated,” status. While “mature” titles generally contain violent or sexually explicit content, the triggering aspects of this game stem primarily from the fact that anyone can say anything. Basically, the internet gathered around a poker table.

You play in an old-west-themed casino environment and are able to compete against players around the world in both poker and blackjack.

Governor of Poker 3 is free to download but does include in-game purchases.

Red Dead Redemption 2

What? Ok. Red Dead Redemption 2 is not, strictly, speaking, a poker simulator. However, it does feature a wildly well-received poker mini-game. The game mechanics are at least as good as any of the other titles on our list and the game is propped up with Triple-A graphics.

For those who don’t know, Red Dead Redemption is a Western RPG made by Rockstar Games. There is plenty of signature video game violence and other adult content that gives the title a well-deserved “Mature” rating.

However, if you want to enjoy a simulated poker experience set in the Old West, you’ll find this to be a unique and truly immersive option.

Developing Your Poker Strategy

Steam’s poker games offer a unique opportunity for risk-free strategy development. While players make wagers within the virtual environment, these chips hold no real-world value, creating an ideal training ground for aspiring poker players.

The essence of poker strategy extends far beyond the cards in your hand. In Texas Hold’em particularly, successful players focus on reading the table rather than fixating on their own cards. This principle is perfectly illustrated in the film Rounders, where Matt Damon’s character confidently tells a table of academic players he could beat them without looking at his cards. Elite players achieve this through their ability to decode physical tells and recognize betting patterns that reveal the strength or weakness of their opponent’s hands.

While Steam’s virtual environment eliminates the physical component of poker tells, players can still develop crucial pattern recognition skills by studying how their opponents bet. These digital tables provide a laboratory for understanding probability in action. Players can repeatedly test specific scenarios and observe outcomes, building an intuitive grasp of poker mathematics through direct experience.

This learning environment does come with limitations. Poker remains fundamentally a game of chance, where even the most skilled players face the whims of probability. Additionally, the odds and random number generation in video game poker may differ from regulated casino environments.

Nevertheless, Steam’s stakeless poker games provide an invaluable training ground where players can develop their strategic thinking and mathematical intuition without financial risk.