Windows 'Solitaire' game comes to Android and iOS for the first time
Solitaire has been a staple of Windows operating systems since the 3.0 edition was released in 1990, but now it's bound to Windows no more.
For the first time, Microsoft Solitaire Collection -- which includes the Klondike (i.e. classic) version, as well as Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid and Tripeaks variants -- is playable on Android and iOS. It's free to download and play right now, but with a few strings attached.
If you download the collection before Dec. 31, you'll enjoy a free one-month Premium Edition subscription for the game. This step-up version eliminates in-app ads, lets players earn bonus coins (for ranking up) in Daily Challenges, and gives players an extra advantage in Pyramid and Tripeaks.
Premium Edition normally carries a $1.99 monthly subscription fee. Pick up the collection after Dec. 31 and you'll have to pay if you want to see what the ad-free version looks like.
With or without Premium, Xbox users have the ability to connect Microsoft Solitaire Collection to their Xbox Live Gamertags. That means you can connect and play with friends, earn Achievements, and save progress in the cloud so you can pick up where you left off in any version of the game.
To be clear: this isn't the first time the game of Solitaire is available for Android and iOS; a quick look at either one's app marketplace reveals that's not the case. This is just the first time Microsoft's version of the game -- which has plenty of street cred, thanks to its age and ubiquity -- is out for that hardware.
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
