One of the latest card games to be released on the Nintendo Switch, Be a Poker Champion! Texas Hold’em showcases how the Nintendo Switch’s portability lends itself well to pick-up-and-play games. Released on May 13, 2021, Be a Poker Champion! Texas Hold’em is a single-player poker game developed by Silver Star Japan. Silver Star Japan is a long-time Nintendo developer, best known for their collection of casual games.

Be a Poker Champion! Texas Hold’em is a 2021 poker game it is developed by Silver Star Japan and published by Nintendo. It is currently available exclusively on Nintendo Switch for console.

Texas Hold’em comes to Nintendo Switch.

In the past, Silver Star Japan has developed games like Silver Star Chess for the Wii, and a Go game for the Switch called Being Stronger While Playing! SilverStar Go DX. These games aim to help prospective players of these sports get better through practice, and Be a Poker Champion! Texas Hold’em follows along the same path.

Learn the basics of Poker in Be a Poker Champion!

THE GOOD: There isn’t really much you can do to make a poker game interesting, but Be a Poker Champion! Texas Hold’em finds a way to make this game appealing for both amateur and pro players alike. Silver Star Japan had a clear market in mind when they designed the game: players who want to improve their poker skills. The game has a detailed Tutorial mode for beginners, but this can also act as a refresher and reinforce poker fundamentals for those who already know how to play the game. Players looking to further improve their skills can check the detailed Poker Classroom and Game Data mode to see hints, hand analysis, and other support features that help you analyze and optimize your playing style.

Be a Poker Champion! Texas Hold’em promises to help you “Be better, by playing,” and the game certainly presents you with plenty of opportunity to do so! There’s a Ring Game mode, which lets players compete against AI made up of different skill levels across six distinct locales. Players can also participate in five different tournaments in Tournament mode, with each tournament having three different stages. To top it all off, the game has a really nice, clutter-free interface and the AI players are represented by cute anime avatars. With a price tag of only $9.99, it’s not too expensive either.

A lack of online play hurts Be a Poker Champion!

THE BAD: Be a Poker Champion! Texas Hold’em is a great place to start if you’re looking to learn how to play poker, and there’s plenty of replayability, but there really isn’t much more to do on the game besides play against the AI.
Because COVID-19 restrictions have made it so most in-person poker games have had to be canceled, many experienced poker players have started looking for ways to play the game from home. While setting up poker games on Zoom has certainly become a viable option, many poker players are still looking for games that will let them play poker online with friends and random people from around the world. Unfortunately, this isn’t a feature that Be a Poker Champion! Texas Hold’em currently supports, and there is no online play.

It may seem like a small setback, but for a game that attempts to help you get better by playing, the lack of a multiplayer function may be the dealbreaker for some. In fact, it could truly stunt your growth as a poker player, because the human element is a significant factor in poker games. The game also boasts a “fair and honest AI” – which is great in theory but doesn’t really hold up when compared to the real experience. That, and the fact that the artificial intelligence isn’t exactly, well, intelligent. Considering that AI can already beat real players at poker, it shouldn’t really be that much of a stretch to include actually smart, cunning, and ruthless players in a poker game that’s meant to help you get better.

Be a Poker Champion! is a decent entry for new players into the world of poker.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Still, the game is good for its price, and it’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to get into the game or just looking for ways to pass the time. It doesn’t quite beat the real experience, but it’s a good card game for the Switch. Check out our other Nintendo Switch game reviews for more recommendations.