I am a big fan of companion apps. These are apps that extend the gameplay of my console games  and allow me to still play the game in some form. Most companion apps take the form of a stats tracker or a way of keeping up with the community and news, but there are others that have found interesting ways gaining bonuses outside of the main game while you play the companion app. This Far Cry 4 Arcade Poker app for instance is a decent example. It has nothing really to do with the main game and you play an odd form of poker in order to eventually win money that you can transfer over to the main game.

The main objective in this game is to form poker hands from a set of randomly falling cards. Cards can be flipped multiple times until the card you want appears, but you have to do it quickly and before the cards reach the bottom. The caveat here is that you must form the hand that specific level asks for if you want to move on. For instance, you must make a pair or a straight or a flush. If you don’t, you can move on to the next round.

Because of how random this makes the game of poker, it can take several tries before you make the correct hand. In fact, there were some hands that took me a good portion of the day before I could pass them. The problem is that the game requires some really quick reflexes when flipping the cards in hopes that you don’t overshoot the card you actually need (which is something that I did quite often). It’s not a hard game at all, but it’s very lucky based.

The reward for soldering on is that you can transfer a good chunk of money to the main game. It’s a way of earning currency while being away from the main game which if you’re heavy into Far Cry 4 right now, is a good idea.

Is Far Cry 4 Arcade Poker necessary for you to enjoy Far Cry 4? Not really. In fact, even though the money you gain in this app can be transferred over to the full game, getting that money isn’t entirely easy or time effective. The amount of money earned here can be earned in the full game much more quickly and with less uncertainty so if you think of this as a companion app, its a bit of a let down. However, on it’s own as a game, it’s really not that bad despite the fact that the game is more luck based than it is skill based.

App Store Link: Far Cry 4 Arcade Poker
Version: 1.0.1
Developer: Ubisoft
Price: Free
In-App Purchases: Yes
Compatible Devices: (Universal App) Requires iOS 7.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. This app is optimized for iPhone 5, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus.

Description

Ubisoft OFFICIAL Far Cry 4 Arcade Poker game!
Match the best poker hands as the cards come down.
Hire your friends as Jokers and reward them !
Win some Cash for your Far Cry 4 Game !

[Source: App Store]