Here’s What a Video Game Needs to Have the Longevity of Bingo - Ultimate Guide

In the modern world’s seemingly endless quest for the novel and the groundbreaking there’s something that many people seem to ignore. That’s the value of longevity. Whether you’re talking about a TV show or a video game, it’s sometimes those which have existed for the longest we should give more attention to. After all, there is obviously something in their make-up that means they have all the attributes to continue entertaining year after year, and maybe even generation after generation.

So, when assessing what it is exactly that builds in this longevity, it’s a good idea to dissect a game that has achieved it to see just what those elements are – and then to work out what we can deduce from them. Bingo is a perfect candidate for this. First gaining popularity in the US in the 1930s, it has endured peaks and troughs over nine decades but is now more popular than ever.

A lot of this has to do with the huge success of online bingo. This truly reinvented the game as even a quick look at the bingo games at Paddy Power will show you. There’s a wide range of them to play, many of which are themed to tie in with popular slots and even TV shows, like Deal or No Deal. They are also quick and easy to play – and these might be two of the key elements that lie behind bingo's long-running popularity.

To find an equivalent in the video gaming world maybe we need to look no further than Pac-Man. Even though it was first introduced as an arcade game in July 1980 its most recent release was made in April 2021 – the 99th version of the game. When you analyse it, there’s really very little to the game. It’s a simple "eat or get eaten" concept, admittedly with a very catchy soundtrack. But it’s also a game that anyone can easily get to grips with in seconds – just like bingo.

Another element that bingo has is a feeling of suspense and anticipation. Players are often on the edge of their seats hoping that their numbers will come up. It’s this sense of tension that is also a driving force behind enjoyment of the game. In video game terms, this can be replicated by having to complete actions or stages within a fixed time. There’s nothing that cranks up the pressure quite like a timer with the seconds ticking away. You just have to take a look at countless video games where this is a driving force to see its power.

A final element that bingo shares with many successful and long-running video games is the way that it can build up a sense of community among players. For example, the 126 million Minecraft players around the world will ensure that this decade-old game will be with us for many years to come.

Of course, there are video games that don’t share any of bingo’s features but still have similar long-lasting popularity – but that’s a whole other story.