Ultimate Solitaire Collection Review

If you’re not familiar with Solitaire then I’d hazard a guess you don’t frequent a Windows PC all that often. The game has been bundled with every Windows PC since day one it seems and it is how I learnt to play. Microsoft Solitaire even has its own standalone game and app which I frequently play and its plethora of different modes and achievements that can be unlocked. What if I told you though that there is a title with over 350 variants of the classic card game that is now available on Xbox? Did you even know that there were that many versions of Solitaire? No, I didn’t either and I would be lying if I said I have tried every single one for this review. Ultimate Solitaire Collection will be right up your street if you’re a keen card player.

That said though, this is the Solitaire enthusiast’s dream and whilst you may think £20.99 for a card game full of card games is a little steep, the hours are unlimited here. I’ve found that when I indulge in just a few quick games, it often turns into hours. Watching each game unfold into failure and pining for that game of perfection where card after card lines up perfectly. All the favorite and well-known variants are here such as Spider Solitaire, Klondike, Freecell, and suchlike. If you’re willing though, investing time into options you have never played before is part of the fun. Challenging yourself with a new variant can be just as rewarding as it is frustrating.

Aesthetically Ultimate Solitaire Collection does the job but it isn’t long before it just feels a bit stale. With the same static blue background and not many customization options with decks, the game could do with a little bit more TLC in these areas. As for controls, it does take a little getting used to as it adopts a cursor instead of flicking between on-screen options. I thought it would be mundane to use the cursor to drag cards around the screen but you become accustomed to it pretty quickly.

Ultimate Solitaire Collection isn’t just your standard game of Solitaire on repeat. You can tell a lot has gone into crafting everything possible along with the countless variants. The ability to compete to gain status on leaderboards brings massive replayability and longevity if you want to take it seriously enough. Deep stat tracking is a plus point also, allowing you to glance at your records of each mode and how many games you have played, won, and best scores. For those who love Solitaire and are always looking to learn new card games and variants, then this is a must-buy and eclipses the Microsoft Solitaire offering. If you’re into the simple mode and not into much else, then it may be worth sticking to the basics on your PC.