When someone ask you which retro games are the most popular, which ones would you list first? Most people will tell you about console games. They’ll list world-known brands from their childhood and the media. But, you’d be surprised to learn that the world’s most-played retro game is Microsoft’s Solitaire!
There is no better retro game than Solitaire. It’s a 32-year-old game, and it’s still accessible to this day. Anyone with access to a computer and a Windows operating system can play the game. In fact, the game was often featured in TV shows and films, and it’s easily recognized by all, which makes it very well-known. It’s a totally free game too. Solitaire comes pre-installed on any Windows operating system, and you can play it for as long as you like. No subscriptions and no fees are required.
And if you do get bored of Microsoft’s Solitaire, you can always download an app that gives you a more customized experience. In fact, many software programs have developed apps that let you play Solitaire on a browser.
Here’s How the Game Started
Solitaire was first released in Windows 3.0 in the early 1990s. Since this release, it has been in every version of Windows up to Windows 8 in 2012. After that, a temporary removal of the game from Windows products followed. But, there was public outrage regarding its removal from future Microsoft products. As a result of public outrage over this removal, it was added back with Windows 10’s release.
Fun fact; the game’s original purpose was to get people used to controlling a mouse (this was back when PCs were still new). At that time, computers used keyboards only to enter command lines. But with Windows’ introduction, mouse use became standard.
Why is Solitaire Such a Success?
It’s accessible, and it’s popular. In fact, the game’s popularity was wide enough for it to be inducted to the World’s Video Games Hall of Fame! Also, being a pre-installed program, you can open it and enjoy it whenever you wish. The game’s also simple to learn, and it’s complex and varied enough for players to enjoy it. In fact, according to Microsoft, over 100 million individuals worldwide play Solitaire each day, competing with titles such as Minecraft and Fortnite!
Who Created Microsoft’s Solitaire?
The game was developed by a Microsoft intern by the name of Wes Chery. He wrote the code used for Windows 3.0, and rumor has it that a special feature (called the boss mode) was added in. Boss modes allow players to hide the game from random bystanders, instead presenting an on-screen spreadsheet via command. It was basically a way to help people at work hide the game during work hours.
This function would have come in handy, especially since there have been controversies of high-level employees getting caught playing Solitaire! One such controversy was in 2006 when an assistant of Michael Bloomberg (New York’s mayor back then) was found playing Solitaire during business hours and was dismissed shortly after!
Solitaire: Inspiring the Development of Other Games
Microsoft’s Solitaire is responsible for birthing a genre of Solitaire games that exist online.
Also, Solitaire isn’t the only card game installed on Microsoft’s operating systems. Other offshoots but free and popular games include Hearts, Spider Solitaire, and FreeCell, which all saw good levels of success (but never to the level of Solitaire).
However, not all pre-installed Windows games see high levels of success. One such example is Pinball, a game that was available on two Windows versions (2000 and XP). Yet, the game hasn’t spawned a whole industry of digital pinball games, even though many pinball games are available on smartphones.