List of games included with Windows

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Solitaire has been included in every version of Windows since Windows 3.0, except Windows 8 and 8.1. Solitaire 10.png
Solitaire has been included in every version of Windows since Windows 3.0, except Windows 8 and 8.1.

Video games have been included in versions of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting from Windows 1.0, all published by Microsoft. Some games that have appeared in Microsoft Entertainment Pack and Microsoft Plus! have been included in subsequent versions of Windows as well. Microsoft Solitaire has been included in every version of Windows since Windows 3.0, except Windows 8 and 8.1. The latest version of Windows, Windows 11, includes Microsoft Solitaire Collection and Surf .

Contents

History

Microsoft planned to include games when developing Windows 1.0 in 1983–1984. Pre-release versions of Windows 1.0 initially included another game, Puzzle, but it was scrapped in favor of Reversi, based on the board game of the same name. [1] Reversi was included in Windows versions up to Windows 3.1. Solitaire was developed in 1988 by the intern Wes Cherry. [2] [3] [4] The card deck itself was designed by Susan Kare, who was known for her work on icon designs for the original Macintosh. [5]

Microsoft intended Solitaire to "soothe people intimidated by the operating system," and at a time where many users were still unfamiliar with graphical user interfaces, it proved useful in familiarizing them with the use of a mouse, such as the drag-and-drop technique required for moving cards. [6] According to Microsoft telemetry, Solitaire was among the three most-used Windows programs and FreeCell was seventh, ahead of productivity-based applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel. [7] [7] Lost business productivity by employees playing Solitaire became a common concern since the game was included in Windows by default. [8]

The Microsoft Hearts Network was included with Windows for Workgroups 3.1, as a showcase of NetDDE technology by enabling multiple players to play simultaneously across a computer network. [9] The Microsoft Hearts Network would later be renamed Internet Hearts, and included in Windows Me and XP, alongside other online multiplayer-based titles. [10] 3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet is a version of the "Space Cadet" pinball table from the 1995 video game Full Tilt! Pinball . [11]

In Minesweeper for Windows Vista and 7, the game comes with an alternate "Flower Garden" style, alongside the default "Minesweeper" style. [12] This is due to controversy over the original land mine theme of the game being potentially insensitive, and the "Flower Garden" style was used as the default theme in "sensitive areas". [13]

Support for Internet games for Windows Me and XP ended on July 31, 2019, and for Windows 7 on January 22, 2020. [10]

Several third party games, such as Candy Crush Saga and Disney Magic Kingdoms , have been included as advertisements on the Start menu in Windows 10, and may also be automatically installed by the operating system. [14] [15] Windows 11 includes the Xbox app, which allows users to access the PC Game Pass video game subscription service. [16] [17] Additionally, versions of the Microsoft Edge browser from 2020 onwards (bundled with Windows 10 and 11) include the Surf game. [18]

Microsoft Casual Games

Starting from 2012 onwards, with the release of Windows 8, updated versions of previously bundled games are now under the brand Microsoft Casual Games, in addition to several brand new games. With the exception of Solitaire Collection being included in Windows 10 and 11, these games are not included with Windows, and are instead available as ad-supported free downloads in Microsoft Store. [19] [20]

Premium monthly and annual subscriptions are available, which removes advertisements and offers several gameplay benefits, a move that has been criticized by reviewers as a way to "nickel and dime" users, since previous versions of Solitaire and previously bundled games did not include any advertisements or paid subscriptions. [21] [22] There are five Windows games under the Microsoft Casual Games banner: [23]

Included games

Games included with Microsoft Windows releases
1.0 2.0 and 2.1 3.0 3.1 [24] NT 3.1 , NT 3.5 and NT 3.51 95 NT 4.0 98 2000 Me XP Vista [25] 7 [26] 8 and 8.1 10 [19] 11
ReversiYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Solitaire Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgYes check.svg [a] Yes check.svg [a]
Minesweeper Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Hearts Brown check.svg [b] Dark Red x.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
FreeCell Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgYes check.svg [a] Yes check.svg [a]
Hover! Brown check.svg [c] Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet Yes check.svgDark Red x.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Internet BackgammonYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Internet CheckersYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Internet Hearts Yes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Internet ReversiYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Internet SpadesYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Spider Solitaire Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgYes check.svg [a] Yes check.svg [a]
Inkball Brown check.svg [d] Brown check.svg [e] Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Purble Place Yes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Mahjong Titans Brown check.svg [e] Brown check.svg [f] Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Chess Titans Brown check.svg [e] Brown check.svg [f] Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Tinker Brown check.svg [g] Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Hold 'Em Brown check.svg [g] Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Solitaire Collection Yes check.svgYes check.svg
Surf Brown check.svg [h] Yes check.svg [i]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 As part of Microsoft Solitaire Collection
  2. Only included with Windows for Workgroups 3.1
  3. Only included with CD-ROM version
  4. Only included with Tablet PC Edition
  5. 1 2 3 Only included with Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions
  6. 1 2 Only included with Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions
  7. 1 2 Only included with Ultimate edition
  8. Included via the Microsoft Edge browser from 2020 onwards [18]
  9. Included via the Microsoft Edge browser [18]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows XP</span> Microsoft PC operating system released in 2001

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<i>Full Tilt! Pinball</i> 1995 video game

Full Tilt! Pinball, known as Pinball 95 in Europe, is a pinball video game developed by Cinematronics and published by Maxis in 1995. It features pre-rendered 3D graphics and three tables: Space Cadet, Skulduggery, and Dragon's Keep. On each table, side display show the player score, ball number, player number, various other information, and a table-specific image. A sequel called Full Tilt! Pinball 2 was released in 1996.

A casual game is a video game targeted at a mass market audience, as opposed to a hardcore game, which is targeted at hobbyist gamers. Casual games may exhibit any type of gameplay and genre. They generally involve simpler rules, shorter sessions, and require less learned skill. They do not expect familiarity with a standard set of mechanics, controls, and tropes.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft Spider Solitaire</span> Solitaire game in Microsoft Windows

Spider Solitaire, also known as Microsoft Spider Solitaire, is a solitaire (NA)/patience (EU) card game that is included in Microsoft Windows. It is a version of Spider. As of 2005, it was the most played game on Windows PCs, surpassing the shorter and less challenging Klondike-based Windows Solitaire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft Solitaire</span> Card game that is included in Microsoft Windows

Solitaire is a computer game included with Microsoft Windows, based on a card game of the same name, also known as Klondike. Its original version was programmed by Wes Cherry, and the cards were designed by Susan Kare.

<i>Microsoft Minesweeper</i> Series of video games published by Microsoft

Microsoft Minesweeper is a minesweeper-type video game created by Curt Johnson, originally for IBM's OS/2, that was ported to Microsoft Windows by Robert Donner, both Microsoft employees at the time. First released as part of the Microsoft Entertainment Pack 1 in 1990, it was first included in the standard install of Windows 3.1 in 1992, replacing Reversi from Windows 3.0. Microsoft Minesweeper was included without major changes in all subsequent Windows releases until Windows Vista, at which time an updated version by Oberon Media replaced it. In Windows 8 and later the game is not included with a fresh Windows install, but Microsoft Studios has published an updated version of it, developed by Arkadium, on Microsoft Store.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft FreeCell</span> Video game included in Microsoft Windows

FreeCell, also known as Microsoft FreeCell, is a computer game included in Microsoft Windows, based on a card game with the same name. It is one of the most widely used Windows programs, estimated to be ahead of Word and Microsoft Excel. It has been included with every release of the Windows operating system since 1995, which has greatly contributed to the original game's popularity.

<i>Microsoft Entertainment Pack</i> Series of computer game compilations

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<i>Microsoft Solitaire Collection</i> 2012 video game

Microsoft Solitaire Collection is a video game developed by Microsoft Casual Games and published by Xbox Game Studios for Microsoft Windows. It combines the Solitaire, FreeCell and Spider Solitaire titles that were included with previous versions of Windows. It also introduces Pyramid and TriPeaks to Windows for the first time, as well as new daily challenges and themes. Unlike the games included in Windows 7 and earlier versions, Microsoft Solitaire Collection is freemium adware with Xbox Live integration.

<i>Surf</i> (video game) 2020 video game included in Microsofts Edge browser

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