Pure Hold 'Em

 PlayStation 4
User Score
4.3

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 19
  3. Negative: 10 out of 19

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  1. xhulkontiltx
    Aug 23, 2015
    1
    You had one job VooFoo! First off, I love poker, and I try and love poker video games. Pure Hold'em is probably the worst I have come across. There is absolutely nothing fun about it. There are no avatars at your table, only little consoles with your opponents gamer pic on them. These consoles do provide stats on said opponent, but they aren't very useful and lack the detail that a gameYou had one job VooFoo! First off, I love poker, and I try and love poker video games. Pure Hold'em is probably the worst I have come across. There is absolutely nothing fun about it. There are no avatars at your table, only little consoles with your opponents gamer pic on them. These consoles do provide stats on said opponent, but they aren't very useful and lack the detail that a game called PURE Hold'em should provide (keep in mind there are countless HUD displays that real poker players use online that provide data and stats that VooFoo could have referenced). You earn in game credits so you can buy into larger stake games so you can earn more credits to buy into larger stake games. The only thing different between the games is the number of zeros and commas in the buy-in, the only thing you can do with the in game currency is buy your opponents gifts, which is one of the useful stats displayed in their console.

    I guess the graphics are good, but how could they not be its literally only cards and chips, nothing else. But not so fast, good luck deciphering the alternate decks of cards you can choose, all of which are available right from the start, no need to earn credits to buy them. That might be a fun thing to work towards, but VooFoo did a great job of removing any fun to be had from this game.

    As a die hard poker fan, there is nothing pure about this, and I wouldn't even bother if it were free to play.    … Expand
  2. FriedConsole
    Nov 5, 2015
    8
    Pure Hold’em costs a pricey $20 in a world where free phone and PC games exists to play Texas Hold’em. It attempts to make the case for $20 on presentation because it definitely doesn’t have many features. Hope you like standard Texas Hold’em because that is only thing to be played here. Your options are to play in tournaments that require waiting around for enough players, open tablesPure Hold’em costs a pricey $20 in a world where free phone and PC games exists to play Texas Hold’em. It attempts to make the case for $20 on presentation because it definitely doesn’t have many features. Hope you like standard Texas Hold’em because that is only thing to be played here. Your options are to play in tournaments that require waiting around for enough players, open tables of an unbalanced drop in and out, and AI play of playing standard video game stereotypes of imaginary people.

    Pure Hold’em is by the same makers of Pure Pool so it exists in a world where objects move around with any humans. Just like Pure Pool the presentation and visuals are top notch and it might be the most beautiful poker game ever made. In game music is a diverse selection but after hours of playing you are going to turn it off and listen to Spotify.

    The AI is terrible and will slow play you to boredom. Do not buy to play single player.

    Gameplay and controls are smooth and intuitive and the pace of play remains as fast as possible. There is no way for other players to communicate without always horrible sounding voice chat. A few quick text commands would have be a welcome addition. There were too many different levels of tables to play with no browser that worries me that it may be hard to get in a game in the future.

    My biggest issue with the game is the currency system. It is confusing on how the fake money is obtained and how much is lost per game with no explanation given. There is no pay-to-play hounding you to pay real money for more currency and I never ran out of money. It is a necessary evil to have a currency system to prevent users from going all-in on first hands and popping between games quickly and it does the job here.

    I am having a lot of fun with Pure Hold’em and it plays a great game that keeps me occupied for hours. It is hard to be revolutionary with Texas Hold’em game. The best thing a poker videogame can do is keep up the pace of the game and be visually pleasing and Pure Hold’em accomplishes that task. It is the best poker game I have ever played but a premium experience for $20, that could be played for free on a phone, is a value proposition for you to decide.    … Expand
  3. seano4884
    Aug 25, 2015
    6
    Solid poker game but focuses too much on glitz and glamour than on getting the basics right. World Series of Poker Full House Pro on Xbox 360 is still the best poker game I've played and this is well short of that. What's with the grainy cards? it's hard to make them out sometimes.
  4. jackhunter
    Jan 29, 2020
    0
    The game does everything to force you to buy chips with real money. It is very easy to lose chips for a beginner and it takes ages to get them back. This cannot even be called "freemium" as the game is sold for real money!. Avoid at all cost.
  5. smoakz
    Jan 5, 2016
    0
    Online play not available for weeks on PC version.
    Would not recommend to friends or enemies.
    You are better off playing a free poker game on your phone or tablet.
    Stay away until they fix these lingering issues.
  6. paparons
    Jun 2, 2019
    2
    The makers of this game won’t listen to their customers, when their house players are in the game they drag it to a halt essentially chasing live players out. Speed those peckerheads up!
  7. ShadowsCXV
    Apr 30, 2021
    5
    This game is great. Fun. Freemium, so you never have to pay for more chips, though you do have to earn them, and show some real skill in the game.

    My problem is that the AI characters will often pull some really sh**** moves. Pretty often, they'll just barely beat me. Barely. And while it SHOULD happen in a poker game, the consistency and ways that they will beat me are inconsistent    This game is great. Fun. Freemium, so you never have to pay for more chips, though you do have to earn them, and show some real skill in the game.

    My problem is that the AI characters will often pull some really sh**** moves. Pretty often, they'll just barely beat me. Barely. And while it SHOULD happen in a poker game, the consistency and ways that they will beat me are inconsistent with mathematics. It makes me think that the AI's are programmed to cheat-to-win on the Queens table and higher, and even more with each 'difficulty' above that.

    It can't be called 'pure' if they tweak the math so their AI's consistently get better hands than the human player.    … Expand
  8. RodrigoMouraPim
    Dec 27, 2021
    4
    Jogo diário para ganhar créditos ridículo. Maior ou menor, se sair a mesma carta você perde.
    Troféus online quase impossíveis de conquistar, pois possui poucas pessoas jogando.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Gaming Age
    Sep 9, 2015
    58
    I would say if you are a gigantic Hold'em fan and you need you poker itch scratched on the PS4 then consider Pure Hold'em. Otherwise I would pick up a cheaper card game compilation on PC/Mac or wait for a PlayStation Store sale. Either way only poker fans need inquire.
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  2. TheSixthAxis
    Aug 26, 2015
    70
    It’s a shame that Pure Hold’em doesn’t come with a few extra modes and more customisation options, because there’s a large, poker-shaped hole in our current next-gen games lineup. Rather than capitalising on the lack of any competition right now, it merely offers a competent package of one style of poker.
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  3. Digitally Downloaded
    Aug 24, 2015
    80
    I doubt any digital poker game will be able to completely replace the real, physical game, but Pure Hold'em is nevertheless a truly special experience, and as premium poker games go, we won't see a better one than this for some time to come.
    Read full review
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