Since its launch in 2017, Stake has emerged as one of the leading online casinos in the world. It is a cryptocurrency-based platform, offering online gambling experiences to a global player base and there are a number of reasons why players have been drawn to Stake.com, but one of the biggest has been the Stake Originals collection.

Stake Originals are online casino games that have been developed by Stake and made available exclusively to Stake.com members. The games share a number of key traits, including user-friendly interfaces, mobile accessibility and provably fair gameplay. Three of the most popular Stake Originals are Mines, Plinko and Crash.

In this article, we will take a closer look at each of these games and compare the features and gameplay. This will make it easier to decide which of the games is most likely to appeal to you.

Mines

Mines is a grid-based game, based on the classic computer game Minesweeper. There are a total of 25 squares on the grid, which will be filled with a combination of gems and mines. As the player, you do not know which squares contain gems and which contain mines, but the aim of the game is to uncover gems. If you uncover a mine, you lose.

The game combines elements of chance and player control, with customisable settings. At the same time, it offers a clear nostalgic appeal to anyone who grew up playing Minesweeper on their Windows PC.

How to Play Mines

Mines is played on a 5×5 grid, with each square hiding either a gem or a mine. Before the game begins, you are able to select the number of mines on the grid: from a minimum of one to a maximum of 24. The mines and gems are then randomly placed on the grid. Choosing a high number of mines is risky, but offers greater rewards if you are successful.

Once the game begins, you select squares on the grid and it is revealed whether you uncovered a gem or a mine. If you uncover a gem, your return amount increases and you have the option to either cash out or continue playing to earn more money. If you uncover a mine at any stage of the game, the round ends and you lose the bet.

Ultimately, Mines becomes a game of risk vs. reward because you can cash out after any gem is uncovered. As you advance through the game, you need to consider how risky it is to uncover another square and when to cash out. Between square choices, you can see your current winnings and how much money you would win if you successfully uncover another gem. Yet, if you uncover a single mine, you lose everything.

Key Features

• Interactive gameplay, as you select squares to uncover either a gem or a mine
• Progressive multipliers, as each gem uncovered increases the payout
• A provably fair grid, with the positions of mines and gems decided before you begin
• Mobile-friendly gameplay, with simple tapping controls
• Adjustable difficulty, as you get to decide the number of mines on the grid

Target Audience

Mines appeals to players who enjoy games of chance, but still want to have some degree of control over the outcome. Unlike some casino games, the player makes decisions at every step along the way. Players are also drawn to Mines if they like the ability to experiment with different risk vs. reward structures.

Plinko

Plinko is played using a ball, which is dropped into a multi-row pyramid made up of pins. The ball then bounces its way through the pyramid, hitting pins along the way, before reaching one of several spaces at the bottom. The path to the bottom is random and the space the ball lands in determines the multiplier and whether you have won or lost money.

Although its origins date back to the emergence of Japanese pachinko games, the Plinko concept was made famous in many parts of the world through its exposure on the game show The Price is Right.

How to Play Plinko

To begin a game of Plinko on Stake, you will choose your wager amount, preferred difficulty and the number of rows you want in the pyramid. Moving between low, medium and high difficulty influences the volatility of payouts. Adding rows increases the number of slots at the bottom of the pyramid and makes the ball’s journey harder to predict. A high difficulty, 16 row game includes both the highest and lowest possible modifiers.

Once you have your preferred settings, you begin the game by dropping the ball into the pyramid. It then bounces its way down, hitting pins along the way, in order to ensure the route to the bottom is random. When the ball lands at the bottom, it ends up in a space with a modifier. Your wager is then modified by that amount to give your payout.

You can choose to take either a hands-on or hands-off approach to dropping balls into the pyramid. If you select the ‘Auto’ option, you choose how many bets to place and that number of balls will be automatically dropped.

Key Features

• Relaxed gameplay loop, with minimal effort required
• Adjustable volatility, offering the opportunity to play for large multipliers
• Provably fair outcomes, with options to verify the ball’s path was not rigged
• Auto play option, allowing you to place a set number of bets, sit back and enjoy the action
• Familiar concept, based on pachinko games and Plinko from The Price is Right

Target Audience

Plinko appeals to the type of person who enjoys the anticipation of watching an outcome play out. Unlike with Mines, you have no real control over the outcome once the game begins. In this sense, it can be thought of as a pure game of chance. The calm and relaxed nature of the game also appeals to people who prefer a hands-off approach.

Crash

In a game of Crash, you select a cash out point before the game. As the game begins, an icon representing a rocket takes off and as it gains altitude, the multiplier for your wager increases. However, at a certain random point on its journey, the rocket will crash. The aim of the game is to select a cash out point that comes before the crash.

Crash games have emerged as one of the most popular casino game types, partly because they offer fast-paced gameplay. The version of the game on Stake.com is designed with simplicity in mind, making it mobile-friendly.

How to Play Crash

To begin a game of Crash, you choose both the amount you are willing to wager and the value you want to cash out at. Once the game begins, the rocket takes off and the multiplier increases. At an unknown stage, the rocket will crash. This could happen when the multiplier is at 1.02 or it could reach up to a 3x, 4x or 5x multiplier.

Ultimately, your chosen cash out point is the key. If your cash out point comes before the crash, you keep the money you have earned. If your cash out point comes after the crash, you lose the bet. This means that the higher the value you choose for your cash out point, the lower your chance of success.

Crash is a classic game of luck, risk and reward. Games happen quickly and you can choose to take a more hands-off approach, setting a single cash out point and running your preferred number of bets back-to-back.

Key Features

• High-adrenaline gameplay, with a rapid gameplay loop
• Strong element of player control, as you cash out at the time you select
• Very fast rounds, allowing you to play many games in a short space of time
• Automatic play option, so you can speed through several games in a row
• Provably random outcomes, which can be verified through cryptographic hashing

Target Audience

Crash tends to appeal to players who like to have some decision-making powers, but who also like fast-paced games. With Crash, there is very little time to think between rounds and each round is over quickly. The game is less likely to appeal to someone who wants to take their time and carefully plan a strategy for winning.

What Features Do These Games Share?

Mines, Plinko and Crash on the Stake.com platform are all designed using a mobile-first approach. This ensures they can be easily played on almost any device, including smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers. In each case, the user interface has been designed to allow player actions to be easily performed on a touchscreen. However, if you prefer to use a mouse or a laptop trackpad, these will work perfectly well too.

One of the most important similarities is the fact that all three games are provably fair. This is achieved using technology called cryptographic hashing. As a result, players are able to actively check that randomised elements are truly random and that the casino has not carried out deceptive actions to cheat the player.

While there are tactics that can be used with the games, all three are truly luck-based. They are also all easy to get to grips with, making them ideal options for new players and casino veterans alike.

Finally, in each case, there is an element of player control over the risk and reward. You can choose how much you want to bet and you can increase the difficulty level of your bet, in the hopes of earning higher payouts.

Which Game is Right For Your Tastes?

Stake Originals offer varied gameplay experiences, but similarities in terms of fairness, mobile accessibility and simplicity. Looking specifically at Mines, Plinko and Crash, all three games are chance-based, but they differ when it comes to the level of player involvement, the speed of the game and how hands-on you need to be.

If you are someone who wants to take your time and take control of the action, Mines is a perfect option. For the more adrenaline-driven player, Crash may be the best game to pick, as rounds come thick and fast. Alternatively, Plinko is great if you are the type of player who would rather sit back and watch your fate unfold.

Additional Stake.com Games to Consider

While Stake Originals provide unique experiences and provably fair gaming, they are not the only options on the platform. It is worth taking the time to fully explore the range of games available, so you can make the most of your Stake account and find the games that best suit your specific needs and preferences.

If you are more interested in classic casino experiences, you can check Stake slots game offers and play a variety of conventional slots. Some of the most popular options available include Sweet Bonanza 1000 and Gates of Olympus 1000 from Pragmatic Play, Juicy Harvest from Titan Gaming, and Gladiator 1000 from Uppercut Gaming.

Away from slots and the Stake Originals collection, the platform also offers timeless casino games like roulette, blackjack and baccarat. This includes a number of live offerings, using video streaming technology and real-life dealers to help recreate the kind of experience you might expect in a brick-and-mortar casino.

Whether you are a solo gamer looking to kill some time on your commute, a serious gambler who wants the thrills of big money bets, or someone who enjoys the social aspects of online gaming, you will find options to suit you.

Conclusion

The collection of Stake Originals is one of Stake.com’s biggest attractions, offering provably fair gaming on a wide range of devices. Mines, Plinko and Crash are three of the most popular games on the platform, each offering players a combination of quick action, engaging gameplay and the chance to adjust the level of risk and reward.

Of the three games, Mines is generally the most hands-on, while Plinko and Crash are primarily games where you observe the outcome after making some initial decisions. Crash has a very fast pace, making it perfect for quick thrills, whereas Plinko is likely to be the most relaxing and has a clear “just one more try” appeal.