Cafe Blackjack

Blackjack is a game that seems ideal for mobile phones. It's based on playing cards, has players patiently taking turns, and involves gambling (of the virtual type in this case, of course).

There are plenty of other mobile games based on blackjack already available, such as the rather poor Win@Blackjack. The latest to join this crowded market is DChoc Café Blackjack. But what sets it apart from other casino games?

In an effort to embrace this wirelessly connected world we live in, Café Blackjack is based around a virtual 'Cafe Toon' where you can view your avatar and download information about your friends (game information that is, not their shoe size or bank account details, alas). It's part of Digital Chocolate's Café concept, which regular readers will know all about.

Most casino games get you to win as much virtual cash as possible and, well, that's it. At least in Café Blackjack you use the money to dress up your virtual cafe

This is your home screen from where you choose what games or challenges you want to play. While the presentation is undeniably solid, to some it might look like a dentist's waiting room, with four stationary characters sat rigid in their chairs staring at the floor.

You jazz up your cafe by winning money in the various blackjack games (either in the cafe itself, or in the Vegas Casino). You can play one-off games or tournaments, complete a series of challenges or engage in Lucky Strike, where you try to win as many hands in a row as possible.

Earn your virtual cash in these and you can buy clothes for your avatar or decorate your cafe with trophies you've won. Sadly, getting a swanky new outfit and trophies on the wall didn't seem to get the ladies any more excited about us. Like in life.

However, getting to this point involves a lot of blackjack. And given that the right way to play blackjack is fairly simple – you just twist on every hand under 16, and the laws of probability should see you right over hundreds of iterations – making progress can be a bit of a grind.

For multiplayer, up to six friends can play at the same time in Hotseat (you each take turns to bet and the one with the most cash after ten rounds wins).

If you love blackjack, you'll probably enjoy the challenge of winning all the trophies, collecting clothing and checking your in-depth playing statistics. Obviously you can just pick up and play Café Blackjack but ultimately this game rewards (a lot of) repeated plays.

So it's accomplished but occasionally lacking in atmosphere. The sober-looking characters sit lobotomised in their chairs, for instance, and there's no congratulatory screen for winning games. And the lack of real money gambling or live chatting will alienate the hardcore blackjack players amongst you.

However, as a lightweight introduction to community gaming and blackjack, it's very worthwhile.