Hasta La Motion!

These days, bingo is often regarded by many as one of the more old-fashioned pastimes around. This is sad, really, because underneath the stereotype of being a game appropriate only for old people is an activity that’s actually quite fun.

The premise is rather simple, requiring a person to punch out holes – or mark squares – on a grid that correspond to letters and numbers called, in the hopes of forming a winning pattern. While the gameplay aspect is quick and straightforward, the enjoyment factor is anything but. For many people who do dabble in the game, a big part of the fun is in the anticipation that gradually increases as a player inches closer to the jackpot prize.

The less-than-favorable reputation that bingo gets from the twenty-to thirty-something crowd is probably due to the fact that traditional bingo is often played in wide open halls with rather staid airs that would only attract those who aren’t too concerned with dazzles and flairs. If such is the case, then perhaps these three alternatives below might persuade yuppies to give bingo a go.

Online alternatives that dispel bingo’s old-timey label

1. It might be best to start things off with a game that’s playable on Facebook, since that’s where most people seem to frequent nowadays. The social networking platform has a lot of games to offer, and Bingo Blitz is one of the more well known. Aside from the usual ball number calls, the game also provides power-ups, and tracks collectibles which act like gamer trophies.

2. For Android phone/tablet users who prefer being on the go, there’s Bingo Fever from developer Topfun. The game allows one to compete with players all around the world in 9 different game rooms, each modeled after a particular country. Best of all, because it’s an OS-powered game, the visuals and sounds are significantly better than your average online flash game.

3. And then there’s Iceland Bingo, a bit of an “anomaly,” if you will, since the main line of business of its parent company – UK supermarket chain Iceland Foods – isn’t even remotely related to gaming at all. That being said, that shouldn’t take anything away from the game’s fun factor. Apart from the expected 75- and 90-ball modes, there are a couple of unique features such as a Newbie Room where beginner can play no-lose bingo, and a loyalty program that grants you more free sessions at the members-only Iced Games Club Room the higher your membership level.

Some games unfairly get a bad rap simply because they lack style, despite being rather full of substance. Bingo is one of these games, but that status might just change if the games above have anything to say about it.