Forbidden Solitaire

It's a long way from Regency Solitaire. Or is it? Birkett is a veteran of the era Forbidden Solitaire represents, and there's less distance than you might think between the casual game portals he used to work on and the CD-ROM trash his new game pretends to be.

An innocent-looking charity shop find draws you into a compulsive world of demons, ogres and retro delights

Forbidden Solitaire is at its best when it’s being a new old game, perfectly capturing the look and feel of a spooky, experimental FMV horror game made for PCs in the 1990s.

Forbidden Solitaire is a brilliantly addictive experience that manages to balance a spooky, creepypasta-like narrative with genuinely fun solitaire mechanics. As someone who appreciates both gaming urban myths and a bit of nostalgia, it ticked all of the right boxes for me. And sure, it is guilty of being a bit easy, but between the tantalising setup, the satisfying puzzle-based battling, and the unsettling nature of the overarching tale, Forbidden Solitaire undoubtedly stands out as a wonderful old-school experience.

A unique and solid experience that blends solitaire with FMV and horror. Great for anyone looking to get into the card game or bring some freshness to it!

Forbidden Solitaire takes everything we love about mid-90s CD-ROM full-motion video games and incorporates a well-thought-out and sometimes deep twist to solitaire. With its strong writing, perfectly formed visuals, creepy atmosphere and some interesting fourth-wall-breaking moments, even with its shortcomings, this makes for one of the year’s most original and memorable titles and will forever change the way you play solitaire!

Forbidden Solitaire is a near-perfect game to me. It's quick, it knows what it is and stays true to itself from end to end, and it's created with such heart that you can't help but smile all the way through. Dream games are few and far between in this industry, and for me, Forbidden Solitaire is a dream game. Grey Alien Games and Night Signal Entertainment found each other at just the right time to make something no one else is making, make it right, and pour all they have into it.

As it stands though, this is a compelling package and is more than “just solitaire” that cannot come more recommended. While it revels in being a forgotten, discarded, and controversial game with a storied past, Forbidden Solitaire is one you’ll definitely remember.