Solitaire

The game runs on Android 6.0 and newer. The first thing worth checking is the draw setting, because the app includes a 3 Draw mode that makes deals harder than the standard turn. Players who hold the phone in their left hand can switch on left-hand mode so the controls sit on the more comfortable side.

The goal is the familiar one. Move all four suits to the foundations in order from Ace to King, and build columns in descending order with alternating red and black cards. Only a King can fill an empty column, and you can drag a whole stack to another column in one move.

The Daily Challenge gives each day a set game to start with. The statistics section tracks your results over time, which suits anyone who wants to see whether their play is improving.

Hints and undo are unlimited, so a wrong move costs nothing and you can learn the layout of a deal by trial. For players who treat solitaire as a way to unwind rather than a test, that removes most of the friction.

The Joker card is a further aid when a deal stalls. Some deals cannot be won under classic rules, and the game says so. In that case you can start a new deal or use boosters for help.

Looks are adjustable too. You can choose from various backgrounds, from the classic green to scenery and animals, plus different card faces and card backs, including snowman, dog and cat designs. A dynamic background animation is also included. The developer states this is not a social casino game, so there is no money put in or paid out.

Solitaire fits a single-player, slow-paced habit. If you want match puzzles with a story, Gardenscapes or Royal Kingdom are closer to that. For fast reflex play, Geometry Dash Lite is a different kind of game, and Tiles Hop Music & Ball Game suits those who prefer rhythm.

The game contains ads and in-app purchases, so anyone who wants a completely uninterrupted session should expect some of both. Players who want other card variants will find the store text names games of a similar kind, such as FreeCell, Spider, TriPeaks, Pyramid, Golf and Yukon, but this app centers on Klondike, also called Patience in Europe.

Solitaire is distributed through Google Play, which is where Google Play ratings and install counts come from. The publisher is Guru Puzzle Game, and the developer site is solitaire.gurugame.ai. The game is rated Everyone, though it shows ads and offers in-app purchases. Nothing beyond that is stated about its data handling, so check the permissions and data safety section in the store before installing.