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Introduced in 1990 as part of Windows 3.0 as a way to teach users how to use a mouse, Solitaire has been a staple of Windows ever since. It wasn"t until 2012 that the game actually got a real facelift, becoming Microsoft Solitaire Collection and including the ability to save your game, more varieties of games, and advertisements.
Today, Microsoft Solitaire was inducted into The Strong"s World Video Game Hall of Fame alongside Mortal Kombat, Super Mario Kart, and Collossal Cave Adventure.
“The game proved that sometimes analog games can be even more popular in the digital world and demonstrated that a market existed for games that appeal to people of all types,” says Jeremy Saucier, assistant vice president for electronic games and interpretation. “In many ways, it helped pave the way for the growth of the casual gaming market that remains so popular today.”
Indeed, the casual gaming market has exploded in recent years with the rise of the smartphone, and more powerful components in those device. Just as you"d expect, Microsoft Solitaire Collection also expanded to support mobile devices in 2016.
The four games inducted today join the likes of classics like Super Mario Bros., Tetris, The Oregon Trail, Halo: Combat Evolved, Street Fighter II, The Legend of Zelda, DOOM, and more. You can check out the full list here.