Solitaire has stood the test of time as one of the most beloved card games in history. Many people think it is just one game, typically the classic Klondike. They’ve never been so wrong in their lives before!
The Solitaire games list is very long and still growing, as avid players have been creating more and more variants for decades. No matter if you’re new to the game or an experienced player who is looking for new challenges, we’re sure you will find something for yourself among the numerous variations available.
Ready to discover your new favorite? Check out our list of solitaire games you must try!
Best Solitaire Card Games List ♠️
Here are some of the Solitaire games we think every card game enthusiast should know about:
Klondike Solitaire ⛏️
The most famous single-player card game of all time is definitely the classic Klondike Solitaire. Its history dates back to at least the late 18th century. Its name stems from the fact that it was commonly played during the 19th-century gold rush in Klondike, Canada. As it has been included in the Microsoft Windows system since 1995, it is now widely known also in its digital form.
The game uses a standard 52-card deck, and your goal is to organize the cards by suit in the foundation piles, starting with the Ace and finishing with the King.
The layout is pretty simple—there are seven piles with an increasing number of cards, with only the top card face-up in each pile. You need to form sequences in descending order from King to Ace in alternate colors in the tableau to uncover the hidden cards and get new movement opportunities.
In the basic variant, you can deal the cards from the stockpile one by one, but there is also a more challenging version, Klondike Solitaire Turn 3, where you deal 3 of them at a time!
Spider Solitaire 🕷️
For players searching for a bit more challenge, Spider Solitaire can be an excellent choice. Its name originates from the layout—there are eight foundation piles to fill, just like the eight legs of a spider.
This variant was also popularized by Microsoft, who included it in Windows 98’s Microsoft Plus! Package and has continued to add it to its systems ever since.
Unlike simpler Solitaire variations, Spider Solitaire uses two full decks of cards, so it requires even more patience and advanced planning. Its layered gameplay offers a deeper challenge, making it ideal for intermediate to advanced players.
The objective is to arrange all the cards in the tableau into complete sequences (King to Ace) in the same suit and remove these sequences from the board. The tableau consists of 10 columns.
The first four columns have six cards each, and the remaining six columns have five cards each, with only the top one face-up. All the remaining cards are in the stockpile.
There are three most common versions of the game, as you can play Spider Solitaire with 1 suit, 2 suits, or even 4 suits. The more suits, the bigger the challenge!
FreeCell Solitaire ♦️
Another game you may from your Windows 95 system is the FreeCell Solitaire. Its characteristic feature (referred to in its name) is the four free cells you can use as additional spaces to move cards.
Thanks to this enhancement, the solvability of this game is around 99%, so if you’re looking for a rewarding game with a high success rate, this can be your best pick!
The tableau consists of eight columns of face-up cards. You need to move cards between columns in descending order and alternating colors to get more opportunities for filling four foundation piles, which is the game’s goal.
By using the free cells strategically, you can temporarily hold cards and unblock critical sequences. How convenient!
Yukon Solitaire 🌲
Yukon Solitaire is believed to have emerged in the late 19th or early 20th century in the Yukon territory of Canada or Alaska. At first glance, it may look a bit similar to Klondike, but there is a significant difference – there’s no stockpile to help you out!
Your aim here is to clear the tableau by transferring all the cards into the foundation piles, organized by suit in ascending order (Ace to King). The initial setup resembles the one used in Klondike, but more cards are face-up.
Interestingly, contrary to the classic game, you’re allowed to move a column of unsequenced cards here, provided that the card at the top of the column is an alternating color and one rank lower than the card you want to cover it with.
Pyramid Solitaire 🔺
Pyramid Solitaire is one of the most visually distinctive games on our Solitaire list. Namely, the tableau here is arranged in a pyramid shape with 28 cards, with 7 cards in the base row, 6 in the next one, and so on.
All of the cards there are face-up, and the remaining cards form the stockpile you can use if you can’t make any more moves within the tableau.
What makes Pyramid Solitaire even more original is the pairing rule. Interestingly, you don’t build columns of sequenced cards but match pairs whose values add up to 13.
Jacks have a value of 11 (so they need to be paired with twos), Queens are 12 (so they require an Ace), and Kings are 13 on their own. All of the paired cards are moved to a single foundation pile.
Tri Peaks Solitaire ⛰️⛰️⛰️
Another suggestion on our list of Solitaire games you must try with a unique layout is Tri Peaks Solitaire. It is a bit similar to Pyramid Solitaire, but here, as the name suggests, the cards are arranged into three “peaks.” There are 28 cards in the tableau, and the rest of them create the stockpile.
A significant difference, though, is the fact that only the bottom row cards are face up. Also, instead of pairing cards that add up to 13, you match cards that are one rank lower or higher than the waste pile card.
The card you matched from the tableau becomes the new top waste pile you need to use for the next pairing. When you clear all the peaks, you win!
Golf Solitaire ⛳
Speaking of pairing games, we definitely should mention Golf Solitaire in our best Solitaire games list. It got its name from the way players aim for a “low score” by clearing cards with the fewest possible moves.
The tableau consists of seven columns of five cards each, all face-up. The remaining cards form the stockpile, with the first card turned face-up to create the discard pile.
You need to remove cards from the tableau that are one rank higher or lower than the card on the discard pile, regardless of suit. When you get stuck, you can deal the next card from the stockpile. However, do it only when absolutely necessary, as you can through the stockpile just once!
Scorpion Solitaire 🦂
Scorpion Solitaire is an interesting, advanced version of the game that can pose a real challenge. The game’s name refers to the card layout, which may resemble a scorpion. The tableau is usually placed at the bottom (like the scorpion’s body), with the stock pile and foundation piles above it (similar to the poisonous tail).
The tableau consists of seven columns. The first three columns contain seven cards each, with the top three cards face-down. The remaining four columns contain seven face-up cards. The rest of the cards are used to form the stockpile.
Your task is to arrange all the cards in the tableau into four complete sequences (King to Ace) of the same suit. You’re allowed to move single cards from the bottom of every column or a face-up card with all the cards following it (even if they don’t form a sequence), provided that the card at the top of the column is one rank higher or lower than the card you’re placing it on.
Forty Thieves Solitaire 4️⃣0️⃣
Here comes probably the most challenging suggestion on our Solitaire games list – Forty Thieves Solitaire. It’s also sometimes called Napoleon at St. Helena, as he is believed to have played this game in his exile. And it really requires the patience and strategic planning typical for an excellent military commander!
The tableau consists of ten columns with 4 cards in each (so 40 cards overall, hence the name), all face-up, and the remaining cards form the stockpile, from which one card is drawn at a time.
Cards in the tableau can only be moved one at a time, and only cards at the bottom of the columns and the top card from the waste pile can be played. They must be placed in descending order and follow the same suit.
Importantly, you can through the stockpile only once, so use it as a last resort only!
The Final Note ♠️
From timeless classics like Klondike and Spider Solitaire to unique challenges like Forty Thieves and Scorpion Solitaire, there’s something for everyone in our Solitaire card games list. Each variant offers a distinct experience, so you can try them all out and then figure out which one you enjoy the most.
On Solitaire.com, you can participate in our daily challenges and exercise your brain regularly for free without registration or s. Apart from the browser version, we have also prepared mobile apps for both Android and iOS systems. them for free now and enjoy Solitaire everywhere you go!