With some 2.9 billion active players worldwide, the video game industry is now worth more than $300 billion.* Many of us, myself included, have watched games evolved from mere black and white blocks found in 1972’s Pong, to more elaborate 8-bit classics like Pac-Man and Contra. As the industry has continued to grow over the decades, we’ve seen more and more technological advances in gaming consoles, as well as the games themselves. Today, many AAA titles are produced in the same fashion as blockbuster movies and on equally large budgets.

Along with the growth and development of the games themselves there has also been huge growth in the online gaming community, with some players generating enough income through affiliate programs that they have been able to turn gaming into a full-time career.

But with all of this accelerated growth, innovation and change in gaming, it may sometimes seem that many who’ve enjoyed gaming over the years may no longer have a way to play the types of games they’ve always enjoyed – especially classic titles. I’ve personally spoken to friends who’ve pointed out how they’d love to play some of the games that their kids play, but those games are sometimes “just too much” for them. On top of that, they have no way to play many of the classic games they’ve enjoyed because the consoles they used to play them on are long gone. They simply have no way to play them.

Now they do with Solitaire.org, although at first glance it may not appear to be the case. From its name to its landing page, you may first think to yourself, “Ok. It’s a site for playing Solitaire.” However, it has some hidden gems up its sleeve!

Of course, if you simply want to play a game of Classic Solitaire, you can from right here on the main page. But if you hover over Solitaire you will find more versions to play – Klondike, Spider, Free Cell, Pyramid, TriPeaks, and Golf. Each version features a list of instructions that include game play, rules, game design, history of the game, and more. Some versions also include casino-styled music to help enhance the gaming experience. But I encourage you not to stop there – hover across the black navigation bar to discover more game categories including Card Games (including my personal favorite Black Jack), Mahjong Games, Hidden Object Games, Match 3 Games, Logic Puzzle Games, and Word Games (including Crossword and Word Search).

Some Of My Favorites

If you’re like me and you’re looking for a bit more than card games, be sure to move further down the black navigation bar to the Logic Puzzle Games section and check out Battle Ships Armada. This naval fleet battle game, reminiscent of the Parker Brothers classic board game, was an instant favorite from the first time I played it! Just as with the board game, you start by placing your fleet of ships strategically, while your computer opponent does the same. You take turns firing missiles – trying to take out your enemies fleet before they take you out. There are 3 difficulty levels – Easy, Normal, and Hard. If you’ve never played this type of game before (or if you’re just a bit rusty), I would suggest starting with the Easy level. Normal is a bit more challenging, and I have yet to beat the computer on the Hard level!

Once you’ve finished your great sea battle, head over to Tetra Blocks if you’re looking for more of a challenging puzzler. Different shaped blocks fall from the top of the screen and it’s up to you to correctly place them to prevent them from piling up. You can flip them and move them from side to side, and as you complete connecting rows across the screen the blocks will clear. Game play progresses faster and faster as you clear blocks and progress through levels. This type of game has been one of my favorites for many years, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it included here!

Last, and certainly not least, navigate to the Hidden Object Games and select China. Truth be told, each of the games in this section have the same objective – you have a set amount of time to find all of the hidden objects in each scene before you can progress. I just happen to like the look of the China Temple.

Did I Mention FREE?

If you’ve been following me long enough, you know my favorite price is FREE, and every game on Solitaire.org can be played for free! So if you’re looking for some classic games – card games, puzzle games, or word games – be sure to check it out. I’m sure you’ll find something you’ll enjoy just as I have. I’ve found myself playing these games often after work when I just want to wind down but without having to power up a game console and grabbing a hand held controller. Simply go to the site, pick a game, and start playing.

Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think!

* According to figures provided by Earthweb, a business and tech site that specializes in gaming, social media, and cryptocurrency.