Daniel Negreanu’s “Stacked”: The Forgotten Poker Video Game

If you weren’t around for the poker boom of the mid-2000s, it’s hard to imagine just how huge the game was. Poker wasn’t just in casinos; it was everywhere – including your living room game consoles!

Back in 2006, Daniel Negreanu was set to become the “John Madden” of poker video games. At the time, critics even called his game, Stacked, “Halo with chips.” But does this classic hold up today, or is it better left in the past?

The Golden Age of Poker Gaming

After Chris Moneymaker ’s legendary 2003 win, poker mania took over the world. Suddenly, everyone wanted a piece of the action. We saw games licensed by the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and the World Poker Tour (WPT) hitting shelves. Even pros like Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson had their own titles.

Stacked was released in May 2006, right at the peak of the poker craze. It was available on all the classics: PS2, Xbox, PC, and even the handheld PSP.

Training with Daniel Negreanu

The biggest selling point for Stacked was the “Stacked Poker School.” Unlike many cheap poker games of that era, this one featured real video tips from Negreanu himself.

The game included:

• The “Ask Daniel” Feature: Stuck in a tough hand? You could literally ask a virtual Kid Poker for advice on what to do.
• Famous Faces: You could play against pros like Erick Lindgren, Carlos Mortensen, and Evelyn Ng.
• Smart AI: The game utilized a special “Poki” engine developed at the University of Alberta to enable computer players to act more like humans.

Was “Stacked” Actually Good?

Recently, a copy of the game was found for just $4 at a retro game store. So, how does it play 20 years later?

Honestly? It’s a bit of a mixed bag.

• The Pros: For its time, it was a great learning tool. It taught beginners the basics of Texas Hold’em and offered a deep “Career Mode.”
• The Cons: By today’s standards, the graphics are a bit scary (think low-polygon faces!), and watching computer-controlled robots play poker can be, well… pretty boring.

As one reviewer put it, “watching a poker hand play out that you’re not involved with is especially dull when the players aren’t human.”

Where Are Poker Video Games Now?

Today, we don’t see many “standalone” poker games on consoles. Why? Because it’s so easy to play the real thing on mobile apps or online poker sites!

However, poker still lives on as a popular “mini-game” in giant titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, which many fans say is still the best way to play virtual poker today.

While Stacked might be a bit of a “time capsule” now, it reminds us of a time when Negreanu’s frosted tips and a PlayStation 2 were all you needed to feel like a world champion.