Global Game Favorites That Hungarians Love

Hungarians of all ages enjoy gaming. In fact, the country has a rich history of traditional games and activities that stretch back centuries. Some of these are similar and yet distinct from others, like íjászat’s relationship to archery. The same is true for the modern world of digital games. 

Though not quite as flashy as some other providers, Hungarian game developers have contributed to various hits since the 1990s. Hungary’s Zen Studios, for example, has a successful Pinball FX series, which has been ported to a large range of devices. It builds on the classic game of pinball, a global favorite.

In the Pinball XF series, players are able to do their thing at their favorite pinball tables. These include options from hits like Marvel to TV shows like Archer to hardcore gaming titles like DOOM. From there, their scores will be shared on a regional leaderboard, letting them compete with others. But pinball isn’t the only global classic that Hungarians love to play. Let’s take a look at other favorites from the gaming world that have taken off in this country.

Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular titles available from virtual casino platforms. Compared to other card games, blackjack involves quite a bit of strategy. It’s also viewed as a more competitive game because it has the lowest house edge of any casino card game. 

For many Hungarians, it remains a classic choice because it requires little video gaming experience or hardware. Plus, the country’s open-minded approach to casino games makes it easy for players to shop around for new gaming providers for bonus offers and other deals.

Chess

Similar to blackjack, chess is a common choice for gamers of all ages in Hungary. In fact, central Europe has a strong tradition related to this game. Though hits like blackjack wandered over from Western and Southern nations, chess has a longer and more prestigious history in Hungary. 

Over the last half-century, there have been more than a dozen Hungarian FIDE Masters and Grandmasters to take the global stage. Richard Rapport is one of the most famous, having spent time as the world’s No. 10 best player. Close behind are names like Zoltan Almasi and female Grandmasters like Judit Polgar. The latter is considered the best female player to ever compete in chess.

Words of Wonder

Blackjack and chess are longstanding favorites in Hungary—but what about more modern games? Aside from local hits like Pinball FX, Hungarians enjoy playing the word game Words of Wonder. This game combines the logical challenges of puzzles with the linguistic challenges of word games. 

Players must solve crossword puzzles using techniques that combine basic math with letter scrambles. But there’s also an element of exploration and travel. The word challenges are themed according to world wonders and famous landmarks, which means players learn a thing or two as they work on their latest crosswords.

Brawl Stars

As we’ll see with the example below, Hungarian players seem to love multiplayer online battle arenas, aka MOBA games. Brawl Stars is a mobile hit from developer Supercell. Rather than take players on a longer and more tactics-heavy battle royale, Brawl Stars offers a shortened three-versus-three setup. 

The idea is for players to work with friends or alone to take down enemies of all shapes and sizes. They can choose between six game modes, which include missions like collecting gems, capturing specific zones (aka Hot Zones), and a death match mode.

League of Legends

When it comes to competitive eSports, League of Legends is the ongoing favorite. Back in 2020, one survey in Hungary found that almost half of all active players competed in LoL. Though this survey is now outdated, some leading Hungarian eSports players entered the competitive gaming world during this time. 

Tamás ‘Vizicsacsi’ Kiss is a premier LoL player who has raked in just over $87,000 in lifetime earnings from League of Legends alone. That makes him the highest-earning Hungarian eSports player.