List of games included with Windows

Short description: Windows bundled video games list

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 1.0x, 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

* 1 History
* 1.1 Microsoft Casual Games
* 2 Included games
* 3 See also
* 4 Notes
* 5 References
* 6 External links

## 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]

* Solitaire Collection
* Minesweeper / Treasure Hunt
* Mahjong
* Ultimate Word Games
* Sudoku
* Jigsaw

## Included games

Games included with Microsoft Windows releases

| 1.0x | 2.0x and 2.1x | 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
Reversi |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Solitaire |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | [lower-alpha 1] | [lower-alpha 1]
Minesweeper |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
FreeCell |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | [lower-alpha 1] | [lower-alpha 1]
Hover! |  |  |  |  |  | [lower-alpha 2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Hearts |  |  |  | [lower-alpha 3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Spider Solitaire |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | [lower-alpha 1] | [lower-alpha 1]
Internet Hearts |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Internet Backgammon |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Internet Checkers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Internet Reversi |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Internet Spades |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Inkball |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | [lower-alpha 4] | [lower-alpha 5] |  |  |  |
Purble Place |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mahjong Titans |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | [lower-alpha 5] | [lower-alpha 6] |  |  |
Chess Titans |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | [lower-alpha 5] | [lower-alpha 6] |  |  |
Tinker |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | [lower-alpha 7] |  |  |  |
Hold 'Em |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | [lower-alpha 7] |  |  |  |
Solitaire Collection |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Surf |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | [lower-alpha 8] | [lower-alpha 9]

## See also

* Microsoft Entertainment Pack
* List of Microsoft Windows components

## Notes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 As part of Microsoft Solitaire Collection
2. ↑ Only included with CD-ROM version
3. ↑ Only included with Windows for Workgroups 3.1
4. ↑ Only included with Tablet PC Edition
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Only included with Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Only included with Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Only included with Ultimate edition
8. ↑ Included via the Microsoft Edge browser from 2020 onwards
9. ↑ Included via the Microsoft Edge browser

## References

1. ↑ "PUZZLE on Windows 1.01, Windows 2.03 and Windows 3.00 – BetaArchive". https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38080.
2. ↑ Farokhmanesh, Megan (April 13, 2017). "A bored intern created the original Windows Solitaire". Vox Media. https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/13/15285780/windows-solitaire-original-bored-intern.
3. ↑ Cherry, Wes. "Interview with Wes Cherry – B3TA.com 2008". B3ta.com. http://b3ta.com/interview/solitaire/.
4. ↑ "Wes Cherry on Reddit about Solitaire". 4 January 2016. https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3zfadv/til_that_microsoft_solitaire_was_developed_by_a/cylwpua.
5. ↑ "Susan Kare personal website showing her design for Microsoft Solitaire". Kare.com. http://kare.com/portfolio/17_microsoft_solataire.html.
6. ↑ Garreau, Joel (March 9, 1994). "Office Minefield". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/03/09/office-minefield/3b74132a-5f0a-455f-a04e-6171d023149b/.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Dear, Brian (2017). "27. Leaving the Nest". The Friendly Orange Glow. New York: Pantheon Books. pp. 502–503. ISBN 978-1-101-87156-0.
8. ↑ Church, George J. (October 12, 1998). "Quarterly Business Report: Do Computers Really Save Money?". Time (magazine) (Time Inc.). http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,989274-4,00.html.
9. ↑ Craig Stinson (June 15, 1993). "Open Windows for Workgroups". PC Magazine: p. 292. https://books.google.com/books?id=jMKfH6i9OcYC&q=PC+Magazine&pg=PA292.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Farewell to Microsoft Internet Games on Windows XP, Windows ME, and Windows 7". Microsoft Community. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_other-gaming/farewell-to-microsoft-internet-games-on-windows-xp/035d5144-6c1b-49bb-b3d5-37f6355fec39?auth=1.
11. ↑ updated, Zac Bowden last (May 20, 2022). "Windows features we loved and miss from earlier OS versions" (in en). https://www.windowscentral.com/look-back-some-best-features-older-versions-windows.
12. ↑ "Column from Tony "Tablesaw" Delgado about puzzle games". Gamesetwatch.com. 2007-02-26. http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2007/02/column_beyond_tetris_minesweep.php.
13. ↑ Kaushik (10 February 2010). "The Minesweeper Controversy: How Flower Garden came into Windows Vista" (in en-US). https://www.instantfundas.com/2010/02/minesweeper-controversy-how-flower.html.
14. ↑ Webster, Andrew (2015-05-14). "Candy Crush will be automatically installed on Windows 10" (in en). https://www.theverge.com/2015/5/14/8606925/candy-crush-saga-windows-10.
15. ↑ Bott, Ed. "Avoid Windows 10 crapware: How to get rid of Candy Crush and all the rest" (in en). https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-steer-clear-of-windows-10s-built-in-crapware/.
16. ↑ Tuttle, Will (4 October 2021). "Available Now: Windows 11 is Built for Gaming". https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2021/10/04/windows-11-built-for-gaming/.
17. ↑ Minor, Jordan (23 November 2021). "With Windows 11, Microsoft Makes Every PC an Xbox" (in en-in). https://in.pcmag.com/migrated-65955-windows-10/146461/with-windows-11-microsoft-makes-every-pc-an-xbox.
18. ↑ Warren, Tom (26 February 2020). "Microsoft is adding a secret SkiFree-like surfing game into its Edge browser". https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/26/21154821/microsoft-edge-surf-game-easter-egg-secret-skifree-modes.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Microsoft is bringing Solitaire back to Windows 10 – The Verge". 23 April 2015. https://www.theverge.com/2015/4/23/8477521/windows-10-solitaire-returns.
20. ↑ "Microsoft Casual Games FAQ". Microsoft. https://support.xbox.com/en-us/help/games-apps/game-titles/microsoft-casual-games-faq.
21. ↑ Walker, Alissa (29 July 2015). "If You Want Microsoft Solitaire Ad-Free It'll Cost You $10/Year". Gizmodo. Gawker Media. https://gizmodo.com/if-you-want-microsoft-solitaire-ad-free-itll-cost-you-1720951270.
22. ↑ Hackman, Mark. "Microsoft wants you to pay for Solitaire, again, in Windows 10" (in en). https://www.pcworld.com/article/422732/microsoft-wants-you-to-pay-for-solitaire-again-in-windows-10.html.
23. ↑ "Microsoft Casual Games". https://microsoftcasualgames.com/.
24. ↑ "Microsoft Reversi for Windows 3.x – Archive". 1990. https://archive.org/details/REVERSI_201612.
25. ↑ "Which Games Come With Windows Vista?". https://www.lifewire.com/games-included-with-windows-vista-4064083.
26. ↑ "Learn about games in Windows 7". http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/learn-about-windows-games.

## External links

* Microsoft Casual Games website

* v
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Microsoft Windows components

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Games|

* Solitaire Collection

Discontinued|

| Games|

* 3D Pinball
* Chess Titans
* FreeCell
* Hearts
* InkBall
* Hold 'Em
* Purble Place
* Reversi
* Spider Solitaire
* Solitaire
* Tinker

|

Apps|

* ActiveMovie
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Others|

* ScanDisk
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Spun off to
Microsoft Store|

* DVD Player
* Hover!
* Mahjong
* Minesweeper

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