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When someone mentions the word gaming, the first things that come to mind are popular video games and characters, like Super Mario or Minecraft.
After all, video games have gone from a niche interest to one of the cornerstones of the entertainment industry. Worldwide, hundreds of millions of players regularly log on for gaming sessions. From hyper-casual dating sims to highly competitive first-person shooters, the options are truly diverse.
Conversely, when it comes to television, video games aren’t mentioned too often. Naturally, video games have been turned into hit TV shows—from The Walking Dead to The Last of Us. The same is true vice versa. TV shows have helped drive video game crossovers, from The Office to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
But what about games that are included in TV shows—and even in film? Prior to the expansion of gaming culture, video games weren’t included in too many on-screen projects. In fact, many ‘game’ scenes involved casino floors, board games played in living rooms, and party games.
Can you name the most common games that appear on the silver screen and television?
Roulette
The roulette floor is one of the most exciting places to be in the physical casino—so it’s no surprise that this game appears in dozens of projects. While most prefer virtual platforms for their roulette needs now because they are convenient and accessible, directors have often preferred to watch the wheel spin live.
One of the most classic examples from film is Croupier (1998). This Clive Owen-led film takes viewers deep into the world of roulette play at casinos, offering a more psychological look at gaming. Then there are roulette scenes from shows like Friends (‘The One in Vegas’) that showcase the more exciting and freewheeling element of the game.
Monopoly
In case you didn’t know, stars like Kevin Kart and Margot Robbie are working hard on film adaptations of the game Monopoly. Allegedly, the game will be set entirely in a world based on the board game. Aside from intriguing new projects like this, Monopoly has been mentioned and depicted in a wide range of projects.
It’s been played by characters in animated films like Snoopy, Come Home, along with being name-dropped in live-action films like Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The game has been spoofed in projects like Mr. Robot and elaborately explored in hit TV shows like The Sopranos (‘Soprano Home Movies’).
Settlers of Catan
Settlers of Catan is one of the world’s most popular board games. It requires players to strategically gain resources and locations on a map. If you’ve ever watched Big Bang Theory, then you’re likely aware of the game and its basic rules.
Not only is it a favorite of the character Sheldon, but it’s often cited throughout the show. The same is true for another board game known as Talisman—which isn’t quite as well-known in the tabletop gaming community.
Scattergories
Settlers of Catan is a recurring mention in the Big Bang Theory—but social and party games like scattergories belong to the world of Curb Your Enthusiasm instead. This game emerged in the late 1980s and quickly took off.
Its premise is fairly simple: players must name objects that start with a certain letter and belong to a certain category. Though the game has been mentioned in a variety of pop culture content, it’s most well-known for its appearances on Curb Your Enthusiasm. The game involved a famous scene with Shaq, which has since become a meme.
Tetris
Though Tetris is technically a video game, it’s been around since the late 1980s like scattergories—and it’s been name-dropped in a variety of projects since then. It’s appeared in cult comedy hits like Office Space, along with live-action television shows like Doctor Who and animated projects like Family Guy, Futurama, and The Simpsons.
Like the other games on this list, Tetris has become an integrated part of pop culture. Even if audiences haven’t played the game themselves, they’re familiar with the premise and visuals of the game.
