Disney Solitaire Review (Android & iOS)

Disney Solitaire adds a new lick of paint to the classic TriPeaks-style card game in an attempt to glamorize old habits with magical infusions and the beloved art of Walt Disney’s most iconic franchises, not with the intent to mask tradition, but to give it a well-needed facelift and an opportunity to mesh old-fashioned pastimes with a sense of wonder and beauty. The gameplay, much to the delight of old-school Solitaire fans, isn’t all that different than what you would have seen in past iterations. That said, what sets this board apart from its classic predecessor is its timeless enchantments and modernized features, such as Boosters, Perks, and Coins. But, more on that later.

If you’ve ever owned an older operating system, then you’ve more than likely found yourself stacking cards in Solitaire more times than you’d like admit. Let’s be fair, it was either that or in Minesweeper. But, where Minesweeper failed to survive the battlefield and span multiple generations, Solitaire was able to retain the interest of its players long enough to span multiple operating systems. And as it turned out, the folks at SuperPlay knew all too well that it still had a passive heartbeat—a timeless appeal that it could ultimately modernize and build upon. It just so happened to be Disney that piqued its interest and coerced it to collaborate. A perfect match, really.

Disney Solitaire might not be conceptually unique, though it is a more refined version of the existing card game, with better gameplay mechanics, challenges, and of course, a signature Disney-Pixar essence that doesn’t take a great deal to fall head over heels in love with. It’s still Solitaire, as is it a game that adopts the TriPeaks format that we both know and resonate with on a personal level. But, it’s also something else—a pocket-sized mini-game to remediate boredom; a quick activity to jump into and adopt as a daily exercise. It’s a bit like Candy Crush, in that it provides you with thousands of levels to complete, as well as an ever-evolving carousel of seasonal challenges and perks to unlock.

On paper, Disney Solitaire sounds like the ideal time-wasting application — and, to some extent, it is. But, herein lies a dark cloud: the fact that, despite it being a free-to-play game at heart, Disney Solitaire is, rather frustratingly, also a die-hard advocate for in-game monetization. See, while the game does allow for you to interact with new levels and earn energy—an act that can give you the freedom to explore new cards and Boosters—Disney Solitaire does also rely on in-game Coins to help players progress deeper into the canvas. Unfortunately, this means that, if you do find yourself in a rather sticky situation, without the cards or Boosters to make a suitable match, then you either have to wait for your stock to be replenished, or invest in Coins to continue carving through the level. And, regrettably, this applies to most of the facets in the game, meaning it’s nigh impossible to enjoy it without bumping into the frequent transaction prompt. But, that’s a mobile game for you, I guess.

Of course, if you can turn a blind eye to the cheekiness of the in-game fees and irritable nature of the Coin system, then you can, in all fairness, establish a firm foundation for a clockwork pastime here. Alongside a huge variety of scenes and Disney-based backdrops to work through, you also have access to a plethora of in-game options that can help to alter your experience, including Mega Mode, which allows for greater multipliers and rewards, as well as Wild Cards and other Boosters that can effectively shake up the usual gameplay formula. It isn’t much, but it’s enough to keep you busy, nonetheless.

Verdict

Disney Solitaire is a conceptually timeless card game that has all of its suits stacked in the right places, with its heart in the fundamentals of a classic experience and its aces in the back catalog of Disney’s beloved worlds and characters. Granted, it’s still the same old Solitaire that launched way back when, but with an added bonus that carries over to an enormous variety of stages, Boosters, and themed worlds that ought to appeal to both younger players and Disney Adults alike. Moreover, with a sizable catalog of franchises still available for it to lean into, it’s also a card game with a lot of shelf life and room for expansion.

While it’s no secret that mobile card games are a dime a dozen and, dare I say, a bit of a dying breed in this day and age, I can certainly think of plenty of reasons why Disney Solitaire deserves the benefit of the doubt. In addition to it being incredibly easy to learn on the fly, it also features stacks of picture-perfect artwork and a simple yet elegant gameplay system that’s as equally engaging as it is addictive, to boot. It can cure your boredom, is the general consensus here.

The problem with Disney Solitaire is that it’s a little too “cash motivated,” in that it often forgets itself as a delightful ode to Disney and disgracefully tries a little too hard to monetize its image for no reason other than to pray on those simply down and out of their luck. It’s a shame, too, as there is an adorable tribute to Solitaire here with a lot of fantastic elements of its own. The question is, is it worth investing in at all?

While I personally wouldn’t go out of pocket for a shot at the Disney-themed gauntlet, I can see the benefits of investing in Coins, especially if you’re an avid fan of Solitaire or have an unshakable desire to complete the entire deck whatever the expense. To reiterate, Disney Solitaire is heavily monetized—to the point where it’s almost shameful—so it’s best not to expect a smooth and innocent experience here. If you can comb over its ruthless progression-locked Coin infrastructure, though, then you might just find yourself armed with a new pocket companion.