Still reminiscing about playing a few rounds of Spider Solitaire or Space Cadet pinball? Here’s how to bring them back on Windows 10 and 11.
Windows 7 included 11 casual games users can play, such as Solitaire, FreeCell, Minesweeper, and Hearts. However, Microsoft removed all those casual games in Windows 8. The Solitaire Collection app that comes with Windows 11 has only restored three of those casual games on that platform.
Do you want all 11 of the casual games from Windows 7 back in Microsoft’s latest desktop platform? If so, there are two ways you can restore them in Windows 11. This is how you can revive all those classic casual games from Windows 7 and XP on Microsoft’s newest PC platform.
Windows 7 Games for Windows 11 and Windows 10 is a third-party software package that includes all the casual games that came with Windows 7. That software enables you to selectively install the classic casual games from Windows 7 you want to play. These are all the casual games you can install with it:
As Windows 11’s Solitaire Collection app includes three of those games, you won’t need to install them all. However, Spades, Backgammon, Checkers, Minesweeper, Hearts, Purple Place, Mahjong, and Chess are all missing. This is how to restore those casual games with Windows 7 Games for Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Now you can play some restored Windows 7 games. To do so, click the Start button. Select the All apps option, and click the Games folder on the Start menu. Then click a game in that folder to open and play it.
Read also: The Best Websites to Play Backgammon Online
Alternatively, you can get most of Windows 7’s casual games by downloading freely available apps for them from Microsoft Store. For example, you can download Microsoft Minesweeper and Mahjong apps from there. These are some freely available MS Store apps you can download and install to play casual games included with Windows 7:
Those might not be the very same casual game apps that came with Windows 7. However, they’re still the same games nonetheless. You can download and install those Microsoft Store apps like this.
Read also: How to Play Minesweeper on Windows 10
Aside from restoring casual Windows 7 games, there’s another XP game worth reviving. 3D Pinball Space Cadet is a casual game included with Windows XP/Me. Some users have missed that fun pinball simulator in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11.
You can’t install it with Windows 7 Games for Windows 11 and Windows 10, and that game isn't available on Microsoft Store either. However, you can download and install 3D Pinball from Softpedia in the following steps.
Exactly why Microsoft removed the casual games from Windows is a mystery. Minesweeper and 3D Pinball are two more unique games users have especially missed in Windows 11/10/8. Now you can have fun with all those Windows 7 and XP casual games once again.
Fancy a game of cards? Install one of these apps on your iPhone or Android device and get dealing.
Jack has been a freelance tech journalist for more than a decade. He has covered Windows Vista, 7, 10, and 11 topics within a multitude of guides for Make Use Of and numerous other websites.
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