Game: Ultimate Solitaire Collection
Genre: Board game, Casual, Indie
System: Steam (Windows) (Also available on Nintendo Switch & Xbox)
Developer | Publisher: eSolutions | eSolutions Nordic AB
Controller Support: Yes
Price: US $24.99 | UK £20.99 | EU € 24,99
Release Date: November 15th, 2023
Review code used with many thanks to eSolutions Nordic AB!
For an opportunity to play with game design tools, one need look no further than a basic deck of playing cards. I remember many hours of my childhood spent dealing out & organizing cards, exploring the inherent structures and potential for randomness. I also have fond memories of playing card games on electronic handhelds and, of course, our family’s first PC. With hundreds of variations of Solitaire, let’s see if Ultimate Solitaire Collection is a winner.
So What’s the Deal?
I always knew there were a lot of versions of Solitaire out there, but wow, I’d never seen so many in one place. This goes far beyond the basics. If you have a favorite particular solitaire that you’ve never been able to find in video game form, you’ll want to go ahead and check this collection!
Browsing the list, I felt like I was bound to find new favorites, and this is set up so that you can explore with no frustration. Once you do find your favorites, you can mark them.
Once you’ve started a game, you can review the rules at any time with one button press. This makes learning not feel overwhelming. There are unlimited “undo”s, and a text banner pops up to let you know if no more moves are possible. A timer and moves counter can be displayed or hidden to match your preference.
There’s also the option common to these games of turning on/off auto moves, particularly when playing with a controller; it is helpful to be able to select a card and have the game move it over for you instead of having to grab and transfer it yourself. I notice the absence of a hint function; it would be nice to have suggestions of possible moves, especially when I’m learning a new set of rules.
Bonus Points
In addition to the essential option of playing whatever Solitaire you want whenever you want, there’s a really cool game mode called Journey. This lets you feel a sense of progression and motivation to try new rule sets and unlock more cosmetic choices! You start out with just a few options to customize your look.
In Journey, you find several paths, each with its own row of Solitaire modes. Win the game you’re assigned, and you can access the next in that path. It’s a fun and clever way to make Ultimate Solitaire Collection feel a step above other Solitaire games.
Face the Facts of Ultimate Solitaire Collection
The music is pretty standard. The tracks are just there for a gentle atmospheric background, so one can’t be too picky. I have a couple of Solitaire games for my Switch that allow me to choose which song I want to hear, and that is a luxury that I wish Ultimate Solitaire Collection also offered.
Another feature I’d appreciate would be sorting methods to help me pick a Solitaire mode. I’d love to see all of these options categorized by where the rule set originated, whether it’s played with one deck or two or the average estimated difficulty rating. Of course, the source of this issue is simply having so many rule sets available, which is a great ‘problem’ to have.
Conclusion
If you’re only interested in the most mainstream Solitaire modes, like Klondike or Freecell, you may be better off choosing a more streamlined way to play or one with a story. But if you’re interested in exploring and learning new rule sets, this is unbeatable and unique in the market. Ultimate Solitaire Collection is a well-made variety pack of card game experiences, ready to broaden your mind or just help you relax. Challenge friends and family to beat your place on the leaderboard.
Final Verdict: I Like it. 