Looking back from the online casino age to the best NFL games ever

Mention gaming these days, and you will probably think of the vast choice of online casino games where you can win money at the turn of a card or the spin of a wheel. Many of these have a sporting twist to appeal to various demographics, but do you ever pine for the days when computer gaming was an altogether simpler experience?

Here, we explore the latest trends in gaming apps, before taking a nostalgic peek at some of the most memorable NFL games from years gone by.

NFL sports betting and online casino apps

Today, online casinos, no deposit bonuses and NFL sportsbooks are all woven into one huge and ever-growing industry. The ability to play real games and win real money at an online casino has captured the imagination of gamers the world over. Furthermore, the link ups with sportsbooks provide an opportunity for NFL fans to enjoy the point where the real and online worlds collide, by placing bets on their favorite teams.

It is all so different from those early days of gaming on that old PC or console system. Which of these games was, or is, at the top of your list?

Madden NFL

It is impossible to talk about NFL games without mentioning John Madden. The very first iteration came out almost 30 years ago and a legend was born. Since then, there have been updates practically every year, and the game has moved from PC to console and back to PC again.

We have had some iconic moments over the years, including Madden 92 with the ambulance that would come onto the field whenever a player was injured, running down anyone in its path, along with some classic phrases from the man himself such as “Now that is big time football,” or the sage observation that: “The quarterback can’t hold the ball that long,” after a bone-crunching sack.

Today, the Madden game is as popular as ever, in fact it is one of the biggest titles in the entire history of gaming.

NFL Blitz

Before EA Sports took over the market, NFL Blitz was the closest thing Madden had to a rival. Unashamedly focusing on fun arcade gameplay over realism, it drew criticism from some quarters for the extreme violence of some of the late hits.

To players, however, this was one of the most comedic aspects of the game, and when you consider some of the violence in modern games like Grand Theft Auto, you have to wonder what all the fuss was about.

4^th and inches

Here’s one for the game historians or NFL fans of a certain age. Before Madden, the NFL game of choice was Accolade’s 4^th and inches. Released in 1987, players were astonished by the depth of gameplay and the bewildering variety of strategies and formations on offense and defense.

The combination of arcade action and playbook-style strategy was like nothing we had seen before, and even today, thousands of fans enjoy reliving their youth by downloading this.