The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection
- September 6, 2022
- Zachtronics
- 10h median play time
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Get on itch.io Store"The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection" is a game that features seven unique solitaire variants, originally developed as minigames for Zachtronics' releases between 2016 and 2022. Each solitaire game offers its own distinct gameplay mechanics and challenges, with updated 4K graphics and one brand new solitaire variant. The collection includes Shenzhen Solitaire, Sigmar’s Garden, Proletariat’s Patience, Kabufuda Solitaire, Cluj Solitaire, and Cribbage Solitaire.
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Linux
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- Fortune's Foundation is an incredibly challenging and rewarding solitaire variant that many players consider the highlight of the collection.
- The collection features a diverse range of solitaire games, each with unique mechanics and beautiful presentations, making it enjoyable for both casual and serious players.
- The game is highly addictive, with many players finding themselves returning to it frequently, often playing for hours at a time.
- Some games, like Cribbage Solitaire, are considered less enjoyable and can feel overly simplistic or frustrating compared to the others.
- There are no options for undoing moves in most games, which can lead to frustrating situations where players feel stuck due to a single misstep.
- The difficulty ratings for some games may be misleading, as players have found that certain games labeled as easier can actually be quite challenging.
- music30 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in this collection is highly praised for its quality and ability to enhance the gaming experience, with each game featuring a distinct soundtrack that complements its unique visual style and theme. Reviewers appreciate the relaxing and immersive nature of the music, which often allows players to enjoy their own tunes while playing. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, adding significant value to the gameplay.
“Beautiful art, wonderful twists on forever classic games and great sound effects and music.”
“Moreover, you will enjoy the beautiful style and relaxing music.”
“Incredible collection of well made and thought out solitaire games backed by catchy music.”
“The music is chill and the general vibe is very relaxed.”
“Each game comes with the music that played during their original incarnation, but I've found myself muting it sometimes and playing my own jazz.”
“And seriously, the soundtrack for a solitaire collection game has no business being this good!”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Fortune's Foundation" is praised for its deep mechanics and variety, offering a rich solitaire experience that stands out even among other games in the collection. Players appreciate the blend of unique mechanics, such as hidden information and stacking, which create challenging yet fair gameplay that caters to both casual and serious players. The intuitive design and thematic resonance enhance the overall experience, making it addictive and rewarding as players adapt to the various strategies required.
“Fortune's Foundation is insanely deep mechanically for a solitaire variant and could honestly stand purely as its own game, but the fact that other games are included makes the package very worth it.”
“Each variation offers new mechanics, new decks, and requires new strategies.”
“Throughout the collection, I can see how the developers played with different solitaire mechanics like hidden information, stacking mechanics, and free cells to create unique and thematically resonant experiences that feel both challenging and fair.”
“They all have just the right amount of difficulty to make you tear your hair out on the first hand and then mindlessly win game after game once you get used to the mechanics.”
“Based on the tarot cards, I've spent at least 5 of my 7 hours of gameplay trying to beat this one, and still can't.”
“A genealogy of solitaire games, both aesthetically and mechanically inspired, with virtually no fluff.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics in this collection are highly praised for their clarity and unique aesthetic, with each game showcasing its own distinct visual identity and thematic elements. Players appreciate the beautiful artwork, particularly in titles like "Fortune's Foundation" and "Cribbage Solitaire," which enhance the immersive experience. Overall, the combination of high-quality visuals and creative design contributes significantly to the enjoyment of the games.
“It has a nice aesthetic and is a cool idea.”
“I would say it's worth the money; it's a high-quality collection of unique takes on classic games with a nice soundtrack and good visuals.”
“The new solitaire game Fortune's Foundation has fantastic artwork and is easily my favorite of the set.”
“Not every game is like this; it'd obviously be a stretch to match their visuals and gameplay design to their setting, but I find that when it does, it's the bow that ties the package together.”
“A genealogy of solitaire games, both aesthetically and mechanically inspired, with virtually no fluff.”
“Sawayama/Proletariat's/Cluj/Shenzen play like you'd expect from the visuals, each with their own little unique twist to keep things interesting - Shenzen is my pick of the bunch, and though it's marked as the most challenging returning title of the collection, I'd not be put off by that.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization aspect of "Cribbage Solitaire" is viewed as a mixed experience; while some players find the game to be a tedious optimization challenge, others appreciate the improved performance and faster load times compared to previous titles, making it suitable for quick gameplay sessions.
“I think the performance is a lot better than it was in the previous games, so it is very fast to boot this up and play a quick game as a break from something else.”
“Cribbage Solitaire: a boring optimization problem.”
“Zachtronics games are about optimization and extreme problem-solving puzzles and engineering.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive, particularly regarding the achievements that require repeated playthroughs of each solitaire variant. While some enjoy the challenge, many feel that the grind is tedious and not inherently rewarding, with one player humorously noting that it led to dreams about tarot cards.
“They added them after I bought the game; they are technically the only real goal of the game, and they are ungodly grindy.”
“One word of warning though, the achievements include quite a lot of grinding unless you really get addicted to all of the included games.”
“I personally ran through it in a couple of days and beat each solitaire at least 10 times to get those achievements, but I have no real intention of purposefully grinding out the game to get 100 in each solitaire.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its long-term value, challenging gameplay, and the ability to strategize with different tarot major arcana. Each solitaire variant offers distinct experiences, enhancing replay potential with variable difficulty levels based on card selection.
“It offers lots of long-term replay value.”
“Fortune's Foundation is difficult enough to be satisfying; the games are long and complex enough for the player to need to formulate a well-thought-out plan, and it is replayable (beyond the inherent characteristic of a solitaire game) in that one can attempt to finish the game with each of the 21 tarot major arcana.”
“The solitaire games are very distinct from one another, and the new one has a significant amount of replay value and variable difficulty if you want certain cards.”
“Fortune's foundation is difficult enough to be satisfying, the games are long and complex enough for the player to need to formulate a well-thought-out plan, and is replayable (beyond the inherent characteristic of a solitaire game) in that one can attempt to finish the game with each of the 21 tarot major arcana.”
“The solitaire games are very distinct from one another and the new one has a significant amount of replay value and variable difficulty if you want certain cards.”
- story3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is perceived as unnecessary, with many users finding added narrative elements in solitaire games to be distracting and unengaging. Instead, players appreciate the strategic depth of the gameplay, likening it to chess, where careful planning and foresight are essential for success. Overall, the focus remains on the mechanics rather than a compelling narrative.
“And I know that in the plot of a lot of the games these are from, the solitaires are basically procrastination tools to distract yourself from a gamified workplace.”
“After trying quite a few versions of solitaire on Steam and refunding them due to unnecessary added story campaigns, annoying simple click play styles, and card layouts... this is hands down the best package of solitaire here.”
“It very much has a feeling of chess-as-solitaire: you need to be able to look many, many moves ahead and plot out your course because it is so easy to go down to a point of no return.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its cleanliness and polish, making it an ideal choice for short gaming sessions that offer both a captivating environment and a moderate level of challenge.
“Great game for short sessions where you need a time-wasting game with great atmosphere and some challenge.”
“This feels incredibly clean, polished, and atmospheric.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is praised for being respectful and not exploitative, described as a "love letter" rather than a cash grab. The mobile port is recommended for its ad-free experience, although the user interface may feel cramped on smaller screens.
“The monetization model feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
“I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, which ruins the experience.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a self-deprecating and absurd tone, as players express feelings of being out of place and ridiculed in a lighthearted manner. This blend of personal anecdotes and exaggerated scenarios adds a unique comedic flair to the overall experience.
“The humor in this game is absolutely top-notch, with clever puns and witty dialogue that keep me laughing throughout.”
“I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, making every failure feel like a hilarious adventure rather than a setback.”
“The quirky characters and their ridiculous antics add a delightful layer of humor that makes the gameplay even more enjoyable.”
