How to Play Classic Windows Games on Your Phone
I think the last time I played a Windows game — for example, a Microsoft game built into the Windows operating system — was back in Windows 95. Ah, FreeCell. This isn’t to say that Microsoft’s games were bad , it’s just that it’s not very often that I find myself having to hire a Minesweeper to kill the time.
However, I spend a lot of time on my smartphone, the perfect place for some of these Windows classics to reappear and disappoint you again – I’m looking at you SkiFree . Here’s a quick overview of some of the best apps you can download to fix Windows gaming nostalgia on your mobile device:
Solitaire 95 ( iOS , Android )
Making these cards bounce is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Getting stuck with a setting you can’t do anything to save (or clear) is one of life’s biggest frustrations. You will love and hate Solitaire 95.
Microsoft Solitaire Collection ( iOS , Android )
Never mind the name. Not only will you get good old solitaire in the official Microsoft mobile package, but you can also play FreeCell, Klondike, Spider and other fun options.
Minesweeper Q ( iOS ) or Minesweeper Classic ( Android )
There is no great dual platform version of Minesweeper, so we share our recommendations on that. Minesweeper Q is a great iOS version of the game that should give you countless hours of frustrating mine action.
On Android, Minesweeper Classic is the perfect homage to the original Windows, including happy and frowning faces when you make the perfect or problematic choice.
Hearts + ( iOS , Android )
With Hearts +, you can play a card game with friends or other random online players, or you can relax and challenge the computer to unlock many in-game achievements. Yes, advances in the card game – I bet Windows 95 didn’t.
Mahjong!! ( iOS ) or Mahjong Titan ( Android )
There are a million different mahjong apps for iOS and Android, and they all tend to have one thing in common: you have to deal with some kind of advertisements, pop-ups or interstitial videos while you clear the tiles. Fortunately, if one game starts to bother you, you can always check out any of the many other versions of mahjong that are available until you find the one that suits you perfectly.
Mahjong!! for iOS and Mahjong Titan for Android are two great games to start with, but feel free to explore the category, especially if you’re looking for a new challenge (or tired of looking at the same background for your tiles).
Ink ( iOS ) or Zen Pinball ( iOS or Android )
We’ll do it quickly. Inks is a great iOS-only pinball game that leaves large smudges of digital paint around the level whenever your balls hit something. Careful.
Zen Pinball is your classic pinball experience: fins, balls, targets, jumps, the lanes your ball lands on that you can’t recover from, and so on. However, what really sets the game apart from others is the sheer number of franchises. From Marvel to Star Wars to The Walking Dead, you’ll find tons of fun, fan-style tables (after you buy them). You can even opt for the Bethesda Pinball Pack – also a separate title for iOS and Android – for a more game-themed pinball game.
WebCC ( iOS )
If you really need to go back to Chip’s Challenge – yes, the late 1980s title – you’ll find its quirky little clone for iOS. Is it worth $ 3? As a game, probably not, but if you’re looking for a full retro Windows experience, this is the best you can do on your device. (You can also save another $ 2 and get Chip’s Challenge 2 on Steam.)
Yeti Run for SkiFree ( iOS ) or Chilly Snow ( Android )
Again, there is no perfect SkiFree clone to be found on both iOS and Android, so we share our recommendation. Yeti Run for SkiFree is a true homage to this exceptionally frustrating Windows game, though you’ll probably get bored after a while. This is SkiFree for you.
Chilly Snow for Android looks a lot prettier, but this little graphical update really takes you away from the retro style of classic SkiFree. The gameplay is solid, but it’s not quite … ugly enough … to truly capture Microsoft’s original title. (If you want to go the other way, be sure to check out Skiing Yeti Mountain for iOS or Android , which is a great interpretation of SkiFree.)
Rodent Rush ( iOS or Android )
I definitely remember , as a child spending too much time playing Rodent’s Revenge , and I like that Rodent Rush is a pretty accurate recreation of the original game for Windows. Take this cheese. Avoid dire traps. Repetition. Be delighted that pesky yellow cats don’t chase you in this version of the game.
JezzBall Classic Lite ( iOS or Android )
It’s Jezzball! This mobile version of the classic “cut smaller and smaller portions of the screen as the balls bounce off everywhere” is a great clone of the original. I can’t tell you how long the gameplay will keep you engaged (or frustrated), but at least it feels like a classic from the 1990s.
Flow Free ( iOS or Android )
I’m cheating on this a bit because I couldn’t find a great recreation of Pipe Mania for iOS and Android, so what the hell. Instead, just play Flow Free, a great plumbing puzzle for both iOS and Android. (And if you really can’t live without the navy-inspired Pipe Mania gameplay, you can play it at least online .)