The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection

Developer: Zachtronics | Publisher: Zachtronics | Release Date: 2022 | Genre: Casual / Solitaire / Indie | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

Although known for puzzle-based games, typically with a programming twist, Zachtronics fans will know that the developer also has a penchant for creating addictive solitaire-based mini-games. There is usually one of these solitaire games tucked away with each of Zachtronics’ releases. It wouldn’t be a lie to say that many fans have kept at least one or two Zachtronics games installed even after completing them purely to have easy access to the mini-games. Thankfully, Zachtronics has released all seven of their solitaire games in one handy package and even threw in a new Tarot-themed one exclusive to the collection.

The solitaire games are presented in order of difficulty, with Sawayama Solitaire, originally included with Last Call BBS, up first. It is a reimagined version of Klondike that feels like the classic version included with Windows. Next is Sigmar’s Garden, a tile-matching game using the symbols from Opus Magnum. This is followed by Proletaria’ts Patience, the asymmetric solitaire variant from Exa Punks. Another interesting variant is Cribbage Solitaire, initially found in Mobius Front ’83. It uses a modified version of Cribbage rules and cards based on a Cold War aircraft recognition deck. Moving on, there’s Cluj Solitaire, included initially with Molek-Syntez and notable for allowing players to cheat by placing cards wherever they want. Bumping up the difficulty slightly is Kabufuda Solitaire, a variant of solitaire that served as the mini-game in Eliza using Japanese Kabufuda cards. Shenzhen, from Shenzhen I/O, uses a three color deck and is a freecell-inspired variant based on mahjong tiles. Last up is the exclusive title, Fortune’s Foundation, a very challenging solitaire variant featuring a deck of Tarot cards. Completing it is one of the toughest challenges in the collection, but players are presented with their fortune if they manage to do so.

All the games are presented in the same look and style as they originally appeared but have been updated with new 4K graphics. The difficulty rating for each game is also shown, along with some information about what inspired their creation. The interface is clean and straightforward, which makes it easy to get straight to the games and get playing. Players can toggle the display mode and window size, set the display quality, and choose to turn the display zoom on or off. In addition, players can choose between Arabic or Roman for the Tarot numerals. Each title retains its original audio and sound effects, and players can adjust the volume of both. Even after spending hours playing each version of solitaire, we weren’t sick of the music, although a few of the tunes got stuck in our heads. The games are played with a mouse, and players can choose between the default click-and-hold method for moving cards and clicking then clicking. We would have liked some stat tracking for the games, but the game only keeps track of your wins. The Steam Achievements are reserved for winning one, ten, and one hundred games.

All of the games included in this collection were initially designed as a break from the game they were included with, but they are all thoroughly addictive in their own right. This collection is nice for having all of them in one place and is also great for solitaire fans who might not necessarily be into the type of puzzle programming games Zachtronics is known for. Of course, all these games are also perfect for the Steam Deck. While we played most of the games as part of their original releases, we still found ourselves hooked on this collection. One of the biggest draws is Fortune’s Foundation, which might be the most challenging solitaire variant we’ve ever played. It is a variant of Fortress, so the entire deck is laid out. It features many cards, making it very easy to get stuck quickly. Fortune’s Foundation is also the only solitaire game in this collection with an “undo” button, but its use is limited. Winning a game of Fortune’s Foundation requires players to think much further ahead than most solitaire games, but winning is very rewarding.

Overall, the Zachtronics Solitaire Collection is a must-have title for solitaire fans, especially those with a Steam Deck. The inclusion of Fortune’s Foundation also makes it worthwhile for those who already own all these games as mini-games. Accessing all of them from one location is very convenient, although it is a pity that NERTS! Online was omitted, as it is a title that deserves a lot more attention. As with all solitaire games, it is possible to sink a ridiculous amount of time into the Zachtronics Solitaire Collection without even realizing it. However, this collection is hard to beat in terms of value for money, as it will keep fans busy for ages.