Solitaire and games like solitaire are the ideal way to keep you amused and your mind sharp if you find yourself with a spare 10 minutes or so.
The game allegedly started in the 18th century in Baltic Europe as an apparent form of fortune-telling before developing into the game we know today.
The Solitaire rules are relatively simple to understand, but the gameplay is challenging for beginners to learn, although it is definitely a game where the more you play, the better you get.
It’s also important to remember that it’s not always possible to win at Solitaire every round, but don’t let that discourage you from giving it a go.
And when you’re done with Solitaire, check out these 8 games that are similar but challenging to various degrees.
8 Fun Games Like Solitaire
FREE CELL
Players: 1 player.
Playing Time: 10 – 30 minutes.
Age: Ages 8+.
Game Type: Card game.
Publisher(s): N/A
Game Overview:
Free Cell gets played similarly to Solitaire, where the goal is for players to sort the deck into both numerical and suit order by making individual moves. The key difference is that there are 4 ‘Free Cell’, which players can move any card into temporarily, but only a maximum of 4 cards at a time. Once all cards are correctly sorted, the game is complete.
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PYRAMID
Players: 1 player.
Playing Time: 5 – 15 minutes.
Age: Ages 7+.
Game Type: Card game.
Publisher(s): N/A.
Game Overview:
Start by sorting the top 28 cards into a pyramid formation; the rest are shuffled and placed next to the pyramid as the stock.
The aim is to move cards around so that 2 cards that are touching equal 13. Once they equal 13, these can be removed and placed on the discard pile. If a move cannot be made, the player draws from the stock until they can make a move.
As soon as the pyramid has been completed and cleared, the game is over, but this also includes cards drawn from the stock.
RELATED: Pyramid Solitaire rules
TRI-TOWERS
Players: 1 player.
Playing Time: 15 – 30 minutes.
Age: Ages 8+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): N/A.
Game Overview:
Played similarly to solitaire but with a points system attached, Tri-towers starts with a deck of cards placed in 3 tower formations with 6 cards face down, and 10 cards face down. Otherwise, the game is played the same way as Solitaire.
The aim is for players to get rid of the cards on the tableau, but if a player draws from the stock, they get penalized 5 points and resets the count. Players aim to get as many points as possible throughout the game.
YUKON
Players: 1 player.
Playing Time: 10 – 20 minutes.
Age: Ages 8+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): N/A.
Game Overview:
Yukon is played in the same way as Solitaire, except there isn’t a stock, so all 52 cards are out on the tableau. This makes the game harder as players are stuck with the card layout that is initially drawn, but who sequences of cards can also be moved to slightly balance it out. Sort the 4 suits into the correct order from Ace through to King to finish the game.
FORTY THIEVES
Players: 1 player.
Playing Time: Approx. 30 minutes.
Age: 12+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): N/A.
Game Overview:
Forty Thieves is played in the same way as solitaire, except that it’s played with 2 decks of cards rather than the standard 1. Otherwise, all rules stay the same, with both decks combined together and shuffled the make the tableau. 8 sets need to be made in total, 2 per suit.
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SPIDER
Players: 1 player.
Playing Time: 10 – 30 minutes.
Age: Ages 8+.
Game Type: Card game.
Publisher(s): N/A.
Game Overview:
Spider’s goal is to arrange the cards into the suit and number order like the other games on this list. Typically you would use 2 decks of cards in this game.
The difference with Spider is that the cards get arranged in 10 columns, 4 of 6 cards, and 6 of 5 cards with the top card face up and the rest face down. The remaining cards get set aside as the draw pile.
Cards do not need to be moved onto the same suit, but if you want to increase the challenge, you can add this as a rule.
RELATED: Spider solitaire rules
DIPLOMAT
Players: 1 player.
Playing Time: 10 – 45 minutes.
Age: Ages 7+.
Game Type: Card game.
Publisher(s): N/A
Game Overview:
To play Diplomat, you’ll first need 2 decks of cards instead of the usual 1. Both decks need to be shuffled together, and players aim to sort the cards into 8 piles rather than 4.
Leave space for 8 foundations; cards can sit on other cards if they’re equal or 1 lower or higher than the previous card. The goal is to sort all cards into numerical order from Ace to King and suit order as well.
RELATED: Diplomat card game.
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SCORPION
Players: 1 player.
Playing Time: 15 – 30 minutes.
Age: Ages 8+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): N/A.
Game Overview:
The rules of Scorpion state that 4 suits need to be sorted from Ace to King and in the correct suit, and the tableau is sorted in columns of 7 by 7 cards each. Just 12 cards on the first 4 rows are faced down. Whole stacks can be moved rather than just the top card, but there are only 3 additional cards set aside in the stock, so failure is likely in this game.
