Probably the most recognised card game worldwide is Solitaire. During its modern history, the game has come a long way — from a single pre-installed Solitaire variation to multiple iterations on Android 13 smartphones.
When it was added to Windows 3.0 in 1990, Solitaire was destined to gain legendary status. However, without the game’s simplicity, concentration boost, and completion satisfaction, it wouldn’t have survived decades of digital transformation.
The modern smartphone version of Solitaire allows players to enjoy their favourite game wherever they are. People play Solitaire at school, during coffee breaks, and even on holidays. In this post, you will get a glimpse of Solitaire’s history and learn the roadmap of this timeless classic.
The Origins of the Solitaire Game
If you want to get to the true origins of Solitaire, you have to look at 18th-century Europe. The game was first mentioned in German and Scandinavian manuscripts. Then, Solitaire gained traction in 19th-century France, reaching America and Britain in the second part of the same century. The game was also described in American literature on card games and became synonymous with the word “patience.”
The advance of technology makes it possible to bring real-life games into the digital world. Although the thought of creating a Solitaire game came up before, the masses got their hands on digital Solitaire with the 3.0 Windows update.
Originally, with games like Solitaire, Windows tried to teach its users the proper use of the mouse. However, the game gained its popularity due to developing mental skills like patience and focus in players.
Solitaire’s Golden Era (1990-2005)
From 1990 to 2005, when the first desktop computers started to appear at home and work, people gained access to Solitaire via their Windows desktop computers. Out of boredom or personal interest, people started to play Solitaire and compete with their friends.
The availability of the game attracted new and younger audiences. New Solitaire variations, like Freecell and Spider Solitaire, started to appear each year. It ensured that users stayed engaged and had plenty of options to suit their preferences.
Solitaire’s Evolution in Rules
Klondike was the first Solitaire version that appeared on Windows. It consists of at most 52 cards and a tableau. Although it was developed somewhere in the 19th century, the digital version of Klondike appeared no sooner than 1990.
From Klondike to Spider
With a standard 52-card deck, Klondike invites players to organise randomly shuffled cards into an Ace-to-King ascending order. The Klondike tableau consists of four foundations, seven piles, and one waste pile.
In stockpiles, cards are randomly placed in seven piles, with all cards except the top ones being hidden. Each new pile has one more card than the previous one. The other 24 cards go into the stockpile, with the top card being shown.
The goal of Klondike Solitaire is to move every card from the tableau and waste pile into the foundations by suit from Ace to King.
Spider Solitaire debuted in 1998. In this Solitaire variation, users have to order cards from King to Ace. However, players get two decks of cards in the Spider variation. The Spider tableau consists of ten piles and eight foundations (completed sequences). Players also can’t see all the cards except the first ones. However, there are six cards in each first four stockpiles and five cards in the rest of the stockpiles.
FreeCell and Pyramid
Although FreeCell is also a Solitaire variation, some people consider it a whole different card game. In the FreeCell variation, players can see every card. There are eight stockpiles, with the first four containing seven cards and the rest being six each.
FreeCell introduces the aspect of free cells. Those are free spaces where players can place cards from stockpiles for better management. Regular FreeCell Solitaire includes four freecells with each able to hold one card. Users can see every card they need, which helps them plan and reduces the luck factor.
The Pyramid Solitaire variation came with Windows’ Second Entertainment Pack in 1991. In this variation, players get a pyramid of disclosed cards with seven rows. The first row has one card, and every proceeding row comes with one more card. The goal is to form card pairs with a value of 13.
Here is how cards are scored:
Cards from 2 to 10 represent their number value.
Aces have a value of one.
Jacks have a value of 11.
Queens have a value of 12.
Kings have a value of 13 and can be removed on their own.
Only open cards can be paired and removed. Open cards are those that don’t have any other cards lying before them in the pyramid. The first card from the waste pile can be used to form a pair.
Time, Hints, and Undo
With the advance of the Internet, browser and mobile versions of Solitaire started to introduce new features. Now, you can play Solitaire online with:
Time limits.
Best move hits.
Undos.
Players can compete with each other on leaderboards for the fastest times and the most points earned for solving Solitaire card puzzles monthly.
Solitaire Comeback in 2025
Kids and young adults who played Solitaire 20 years ago have moved on with their lives. However, while most people are obsessed with AI nowadays, games of the past reimagined with new tech are gaining momentum in 2025.
There are over 35 million active Solitaire players. Modern Solitaire offers players high-resolution graphics with interesting gameplay. Multiplayer options ensure you can share your feelings of nostalgia with friends. And with AI, new players can master Solitaire in no time.
Try the Free Solitaire Game Now!
Solitaire has a rich history. With new technology blowing away its best, this classic game is making a comeback. Whether you look for a nostalgic feel or want to learn something new, Solitaire can provide you with existing gameplay that is much more complex than you think.
