It's no secret that the James Bond video games are wildly popular, across the world and across consoles. There are 25 films, which have resulted in many visually stunning, action-packed video games.

Excitement has been building since 2020, as a brand new game by a different studio, with the working title Project 007, is reported to be in the works.

But what we really want to see, and what the world needs right now, is a video game version of Casino Royale, the poker-centric 2006 film starring Daniel Craig. The casino is where the majority of the action takes place and where the suspense builds over time.

We're sad to say that this video game currently only exists in our minds. This is surprising because some of the best online slots sites offer games based on Hollywood blockbusters, such as RoboCop and Gladiator, so surely a James Bond-themed game isn't too far away?

Casino Royale Video Game

Let's take a look at what the game could look like if it were ever made a reality.

1. Texas Hold 'Em

Texas hold 'em is the game played by Bond, Le Chiffre, one of Bond's enemies, and the other players in the film. It's one of the most popular forms of poker, and would be perfect as the main feature of a video game. It's not like this is anything new - there are tonnes of games out there that let you play Texas hold 'em, like Poker Club for PS5, or Prominence Poker for Xbox Series X. But the integration of James Bond movie gameplay would allow for a much more immersive experience.

2. Suspense

The casino scenes are full of nerve-wracking suspense as we wait for Le Chiffre's disappointment and Bond's ultimate victory. This tension would be perfect in game format, as players would sit at their consoles with bated breath for the moves to play out and the winner to be announced. What's more, a multiplayer function would increase the nail-biting energy by pitting players against each other.

3. Money

In Casino Royale the film, they start playing with deposits of 10 million dollars each, and continue increasing the bets until they're finished. The game could involve the use of virtual money to represent this investment-style gamble, keeping the player on the edge of their seat. This would also make the game more fun as it would encourage patience and careful strategy, so as not to lose any coins.

Where Things Stand

The last official JB game to be released was 007 Legends in 2012, which was a game featuring the best moments from six different James Bond films. It coincided with the 50th anniversary of the film franchise. Unfortunately, the game was not very well received, with one critic calling it a poor man's Call of Duty.

It's now been ten years since the release of a James Bond video game. This is after, in 2013, licensing issues led Activision to make a statement saying that they would no longer be involved with the Bond games.

"Goldeneye 007" (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) by John Kannenberg

These types of legal issues seem to interfere a lot with video games built around the character. For example, a fanmade GoldenEye 007-inspired game had to be significantly altered after the creators received a cease and desist letter.