There are thousands of games released each year, and many of them good — and yet, we’d be extremely surprised if any of those new titles are still being played twenty years down the line. If a game’s shelflife runs into many decades, then you know it’s a hit.
And what about games that people have been playing for hundreds of years? Those games, such as solitaire, belong in a category of their own.
What’s interesting about solitaire isn’t that people are still playing it more than 250 years after it was invented. It’s that more people than ever are playing it today. It’s never been more popular than it is right now, with billions of hands played each year.
But why is that? Here are just a few reasons why solitaire is having a moment.
It’s Easily Accessible
There are many games that require a lot of expensive equipment. Other games require a lot of fellow players.
Solitaire isn’t like that. You can play solitaire online for free on mobile, desktop, or tablet, and what’s more, you don’t need to wait for someone else to agree to play with you, since it’s a one-person game. It’s even accessible from a time perspective, with most games only lasting around 5 – 10 minutes.
It’s Easy To Play, Difficult to Master
It’s unlikely that a game would be too popular if it was difficult to play. Equally, it would probably struggle if it was too easy. People like the right level of challenge, and that’s just what solitaire provides.
It’s easy to learn how to play solitaire, but it’s difficult to master. Plus, the best solitaire websites offer a range of difficulty levels, which makes the game appealing to both beginners and highly experienced players.
It’s Low-Stakes
The world can be stressful, and finding a soothing activity — one that you can do online, no less — can be surprisingly challenging. Solitaire has long been lauded for its calming, soothing effect on players. It allows for a low-pressure experience, one in which it’s nice to win, but no great disaster if you don’t.
It Offers Cognitive Benefits
It’s also increasingly difficult to find activities that are fun and good for you. Solitaire fits that bill. It’s an enjoyable way to pass the time, but it also offers benefits that extend far beyond that. Studies have shown solitaire can boost problem-solving skills, memory, and cognitive thinking. Just through the simple act of sitting down to play a few cards of solitaire, you’ll be giving your brain a few of the good things that it needs to be at its best.
It Offers A Quick Dose of Nostalgia
Finally, for nineties kids, nostalgia might be a factor behind the current popularity of solitaire. People who grew up with Microsoft computers know solitaire well, since it was included on every computer. With the nineties now regarded as an all-around awesome time to be alive, many are turning to solitaire as a reminder of how simple things used to be.
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