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List of games included with Windows

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Solitairehas been included in every version of Windows sinceWindows 3.0,exceptWindows 8and8.1.

Video gameshave been included in versions of theMicrosoft Windowsline ofoperating systems,starting fromWindows 1.0x,all published byMicrosoft.Some games that have appeared inMicrosoft Entertainment PackandMicrosoft Plus!have been included in subsequent versions of Windows as well.Microsoft Solitairehas been included in every version of Windows sinceWindows 3.0,exceptWindows 8and8.1.The latest version of Windows,Windows 11,includesMicrosoft Solitaire CollectionandSurf.

History[edit]

Microsoft planned to include games when developingWindows 1.0in 1983–1984. Pre-release versions of Windows 1.0 initially included another game,Puzzle,but it was scrapped in favor ofReversi,based on theboard game of the same name.[1]Reversiwas included in Windows versions up toWindows 3.1.Solitairewas developed in 1988 by theinternWes Cherry.[2][3][4]The card deck itself was designed bySusan Kare,who was known for her work on icon designs for the originalMacintosh.[5]

Microsoft intendedSolitaireto "soothe people intimidated by the operating system," and at a time where many users were still unfamiliar withgraphical user interfaces,it proved useful in familiarizing them with the use of amouse,such as thedrag-and-droptechnique required for moving cards.[6]According to Microsofttelemetry,Solitairewas among the three most-used Windows programs andFreeCellwas seventh, ahead of productivity-based applications such asMicrosoft WordandExcel.[7][7]Lost business productivity by employees playingSolitairebecame a common concern since the game was included in Windows by default.[8]

The Microsoft Hearts Networkwas included withWindows for Workgroups 3.1,as a showcase ofNetDDEtechnology by enabling multiple players to play simultaneously across acomputer network.[9]The Microsoft Hearts Networkwould later be renamedInternet Hearts,and included inWindows MeandXP,alongside otheronline multiplayer-based titles.[10]3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadetis a version of the "Space Cadet"pinballtable from the 1995 video gameFull Tilt! Pinball.[11]

InMinesweeperforWindows Vistaand7,the game comes with an alternate "Flower Garden" style, alongside the default "Minesweeper" style.[12]This is due to controversy over the originalland minetheme of the game being potentially insensitive, and the "Flower Garden" style was used as the default theme in "sensitive areas".[13]

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

Several third party games, such asCandy Crush SagaandDisney Magic Kingdoms,have been included as advertisements on theStart menuinWindows 10,and may also be automatically installed by the operating system.[14][15]Windows 11 includes theXboxapp, which allows users to access thePC Game Passvideo gamesubscription service.[16][17]Additionally, versions of theMicrosoft Edgebrowser from 2020 onwards (bundled with Windows 10 and 11) include theSurfgame.[18]

Microsoft Casual Games[edit]

Starting from 2012 onwards, with the release ofWindows 8,updated versions of previously bundled games are now under the brandMicrosoft Casual Games,in addition to several brand new games. With the exception ofSolitaire Collectionbeing included in Windows 10 and11,these games are not included with Windows, and are instead available as ad-supported freedownloadsinMicrosoft 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 ofSolitaireand 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[edit]

Games included withMicrosoft Windowsreleases
1.0x 2.0xand2.1x 3.0 3.1[24] NT 3.1,NT 3.5andNT 3.51 95 NT 4.0 98 2000 Me XP Vista[25] 7[26] 8and8.1 10[19] 11
Reversi Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Solitaire No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes[a] Yes[a]
Minesweeper No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
FreeCell No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes[a] Yes[a]
Hover! No No No No No Maybe[b] No No No No No No No No No No
3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet No No No No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No No No No
Hearts No No No Maybe[c] No Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
Spider Solitaire No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes[a] Yes[a]
Internet Hearts No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes No No No No No
Internet Backgammon No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes No Yes No No No
Internet Checkers No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes No Yes No No No
Internet Reversi No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes No No No No No
Internet Spades No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes No Yes No No No
Inkball No No No No No No No No No No Maybe[d] Maybe[e] No No No No
Purble Place No No No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes No No No
Mahjong Titans No No No No No No No No No No No Maybe[e] Maybe[f] No No No
Chess Titans No No No No No No No No No No No Maybe[e] Maybe[f] No No No
Tinker No No No No No No No No No No No Maybe[g] No No No No
Hold 'Em No No No No No No No No No No No Maybe[g] No No No No
Solitaire Collection No No No No No No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes
Surf No No No No No No No No No No No No No No Maybe[h] Yes[i]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^abcdefAs part ofMicrosoft Solitaire Collection
  2. ^Only included withCD-ROMversion
  3. ^Only included withWindows for Workgroups 3.1
  4. ^Only included withTablet PC Edition
  5. ^abcOnly included with Home Premium, Business,Ultimate,and Enterpriseeditions
  6. ^abOnly included with Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, and Enterpriseeditions
  7. ^abOnly included withUltimateedition
  8. ^Included via theMicrosoft Edgebrowser from 2020 onwards
  9. ^Included via theMicrosoft Edgebrowser

References[edit]

  1. ^"PUZZLE on Windows 1.01, Windows 2.03 and Windows 3.00 – BetaArchive".www.betaarchive.com.Archivedfrom the original on August 8, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 5,2022.
  2. ^Farokhmanesh, Megan (April 13, 2017)."A bored intern created the original Windows Solitaire".The Verge.Vox Media.Archivedfrom the original on November 11, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 12,2021.
  3. ^Cherry, Wes."Interview with Wes Cherry – B3TA.com 2008".B3ta.com.Archivedfrom the original on February 22, 2011.RetrievedAugust 22,2014.
  4. ^"Wes Cherry on Reddit about Solitaire".January 4, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on July 11, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 12,2021.
  5. ^"Susan Kare personal website showing her design for Microsoft Solitaire".Kare.com.Archived fromthe originalon August 28, 2008.RetrievedAugust 22,2014.
  6. ^Garreau, Joel(March 9, 1994)."Office Minefield".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on March 23, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 12,2021.
  7. ^abDear, Brian (2017). "27. Leaving the Nest".The Friendly Orange Glow.New York: Pantheon Books. pp. 502–503.ISBN978-1-101-87156-0.
  8. ^Church, George J. (October 12, 1998)."Quarterly Business Report: Do Computers Really Save Money?".Time.Time Inc.Archived fromthe originalon November 7, 2007.
  9. ^Craig Stinson (June 15, 1993)."Open Windows for Workgroups".PC Magazine.p. 292.Archivedfrom the original on August 22, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 20,2017.
  10. ^ab"Farewell to Microsoft Internet Games on Windows XP, Windows ME, and Windows 7".Microsoft Community.Archivedfrom the original on September 25, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 10,2021.
  11. ^updated, Zac Bowden last (May 20, 2022)."Windows features we loved and miss from earlier OS versions".Windows Central.RetrievedDecember 25,2023.
  12. ^"Column from Tony" Tablesaw "Delgado about puzzle games".Gamesetwatch.com. February 26, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon October 11, 2018.RetrievedJune 22,2011.
  13. ^Kaushik (February 10, 2010)."The Minesweeper Controversy: How Flower Garden came into Windows Vista".Archivedfrom the original on January 30, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 28,2019.
  14. ^Webster, Andrew (May 14, 2015)."Candy Crush will be automatically installed on Windows 10".The Verge.Archivedfrom the original on October 31, 2021.RetrievedOctober 31,2021.
  15. ^Bott, Ed."Avoid Windows 10 crapware: How to get rid of Candy Crush and all the rest".ZDNet.Archivedfrom the original on October 31, 2021.RetrievedOctober 31,2021.
  16. ^Tuttle, Will (October 4, 2021)."Available Now: Windows 11 is Built for Gaming".Xbox Wire.Archivedfrom the original on March 24, 2022.RetrievedDecember 13,2021.
  17. ^Minor, Jordan (November 23, 2021)."With Windows 11, Microsoft Makes Every PC an Xbox".PCMag India.Archivedfrom the original on February 24, 2022.RetrievedDecember 13,2021.
  18. ^Warren, Tom (February 26, 2020)."Microsoft is adding a secret SkiFree-like surfing game into its Edge browser".The Verge.Archivedfrom the original on June 2, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 4,2023.
  19. ^ab"Microsoft is bringing Solitaire back to Windows 10 – The Verge".April 23, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on June 4, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 5,2021.
  20. ^"Microsoft Casual Games FAQ".Microsoft.Archivedfrom the original on January 10, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 10,2021.
  21. ^Walker, Alissa (July 29, 2015)."If You Want Microsoft Solitaire Ad-Free It'll Cost You $10/Year".Gizmodo.Gawker Media.Archivedfrom the original on December 16, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 11,2021.
  22. ^Hackman, Mark."Microsoft wants you to pay for Solitaire, again, in Windows 10".PCWorld.Archivedfrom the original on December 6, 2022.RetrievedDecember 6,2022.
  23. ^"Microsoft Casual Games".microsoftcasualgames.com.RetrievedFebruary 15,2023.
  24. ^"Microsoft Reversi for Windows 3.x – Archive".1990.RetrievedAugust 22,2021.
  25. ^"Which Games Come With Windows Vista?".Archivedfrom the original on May 6, 2021.RetrievedAugust 26,2021.
  26. ^"Learn about games in Windows 7".Archived fromthe originalon June 9, 2016.RetrievedAugust 28,2021.

External links[edit]

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