Zachtronics LLC is a game company popularly known for its puzzle-solving and mind games. Founded in 2000 by Zach Barth, Zachtronics has released hit games of the genre that have become popular worldwide. The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection is an amalgamation of the best Solitaire games the company has released.

The collection comprises eight unique Solitaire games, seven played with cards and one using marbles representing alchemical elements. Each Solitaire variation has its distinctive look and feel, with a game interface that is as clear, clean, and straightforward as can be to provide the player with an easy way to get right into the game.

Likewise, Zachtronics has provided additional instructions for each game to instruct those who are new to Solitaire or give additional gameplay modification instructions to those who are already generally familiar with Solitaire.

Getting Into Solitaire

The game collection can give one an idea of how to play solitaire and a number of its variants. However, it is suggested that a player at least have some past solitaire gaming experience or go through solitaire tutorials before playing the games in the collection. This is a suggestion for maximum enjoyment of the games. Windows usually comes with its games collection loaded with a few solitaire variants like FreeCell, Spider, and others. There are also other variants from other game sites like Master Tripeaks Solitaire.

Learning them first will make The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection much easier. Another Solitaire variant worth trying out is Master Pyramid Solitaire, which can provide the player with additional Solitaire experience and fun. Solitaire is more a game of strategy and luck once you get the hang of it. With that said, let's look at the Solitaire variations in the Zachtronic Collection.

Sawayama Solitaire

The variant plays just like Klondike or the original Solitaire card game. You have seven columns of cards arranged in order with an increasing number of turned/hidden cards per column. If you get stuck in the game, you also have a stack of cards to draw. Also, you will have four slots to fill up for the suites (Ace, Hearts, Clubs, and Diamonds), and you will have to transfer the cards on the columns to complete the suites. If you understand Klondike gameplay, Sawayama Solitaire will immerse you in no time.

Sigmar’s Garden (Opus Magnum)

The game isn't a card game but more of a hexagonal board matching game that kind of looks like checkers but plays totally differently. You have to match alchemical elements represented by marbles by placing them in the proper slots. It is as immersive as card solitaire, and just like the rest, you have to clear the board to win the game. It is worth learning to play as it is quite unique as a game.

Proletariat’s Patience

You have to have the cards in the columns matched by descending values by suite or color. Like many other Solitaire variants, you are to arrange a group of cards in the proper descending order (in this game, a group of four cards) and add them to another column that can complete the card descending order to clear the column. It may sound confusing if one has not yet been initiated into Solitaire. The artwork of the suites, though, is fantastic.

Cribbage Solitaire

This game is far easier if you are familiar with Cribbage, as it plays like cribbage. However, it uses a suite based on aircraft used during the Cold War Era, including fighter jets, bombers, and air transports of all kinds. The rules are also displayed on the game board to help solitaire players unfamiliar with Cribbage.

Cluj Solitaire

It's a strange-looking card game but Solitaire. To begin with, the cards and board are colored black and white. The cards have strange designs, but the rules use the same descending card column deck to remove them from the board. You can use unique cards to cheat by adding them to fill out the needed valued cards. However, when added, you can no longer move them unless they are included in a group of cards needed to complete the descending order of a card column. These unique cards do not have a suite they belong to, so it's like having Joker wildcards added to the game.

Kabufuda Solitaire

It plays like FreeCell Solitaire. However, the game makes use of Japanese-styled cards called Kabufuda Cards. Kabufuda, however, relies on matching the cards so you can collapse the columns. The gameplay is unique as the rules differ from the usual solitaire game. Regardless, the goal is still collapsing the cards and clearing them off the board. Once you get the hang of the game, you'll become immersed, just like in any other Solitaire game.

Shenzhen Solitaire

The game plays like FreeCell. However, you'll be surprised to see cards resembling Mahjong blocks. The symbols are Mahjong, and the gameplay makes you feel like you are playing FreeCell. Combining mahjong and cards is weird, although Mahjong solitaire is quite fun and immersive. Freecell is probably the easiest Solitaire as it gives you the flexibility to move unwanted cards to the "free cells" temporarily to be able to manipulate your card columns to a more favorable order and clear them out.

Fortune's Foundation

It's a genuinely challenging Solitaire game. Whether the Suites being from the Tarot has something to do with the difficulty involved (or not), this eerie feeling still accompanies moving the Arcana symbols on a board. The game rules are Solitaire, so learning how to play will be needed to appreciate the game. Nevertheless, the game is fantastic but gives some shivers to those who believe in the Occult as Fortune Tellers and historically use solitaire variations for their tarot readings. It will be up to the player to treat the game as a unique Solitaire variation or something that may foretell and alter one's fortune.

The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection is a game compilation worth experiencing and having for avid computer card and Solitaire players. The graphics are impressive, and the accompanying soundtrack will reel you into the game.