Solitaire [Unlicensed] (NES) Playthrough

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Published on June 13, 2025 12:00:00 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYJBN2jV_bM

Game:

Solitaire (2016)

Duration: 0:00

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Playthrough of Solitaire, American Video Entertainment's 1992 unlicensed game for the NES.

Solitaire is an unlicensed puzzle and card game developed by Odysseus Software and published by American Video Entertainment for the NES in 1992. As its title suggests, the game is a digital adaptation of the classic card game Klondike Solitaire. Released late in the NES's life cycle, it stands out as one of the few card-based games on the platform and one of the even rarer examples of an unlicensed title focusing entirely on solitaire gameplay.

The game presents a straightforward version of Klondike, where the player must sort a standard 52-card deck into four suit-based foundations in ascending order, starting with the ace. Cards are drawn from a stockpile and arranged into seven tableau columns, with face-down cards that must be revealed by strategic movement. The interface allows players to move cards using the NES controller, with inputs mapped to select, drag, and drop individual cards. While it lacks the convenience of a mouse or touch input, the controls are responsive enough to manage the game’s slow pace.

Graphically, Solitaire is functional but minimal. The cards are clearly labeled and easy to distinguish, with suits and numbers rendered in a blocky but legible font. The game uses basic colors and sparse backgrounds, with no animations or visual effects beyond simple card flipping. There is minimal audio, limited to basic sound cues for card movements and occasional background music that loops quietly, reinforcing the calm and solitary nature of the gameplay.

As an unlicensed title, Solitaire bypassed Nintendo’s official approval process, like all of American Video Entertainment’s releases. Despite its limited appeal and simple presentation, it served a niche audience of NES owners interested in quiet, casual games amid a library dominated by action and platformers. It holds a modest place in NES history as a rare example of a traditional card game on the system and as part of the broader story of unlicensed developers pushing the console’s boundaries in unconventional directions.