Click the picture to download Fairway Solitaire's Demo

Let’s start out by expelling all the bad. Faerie Solitaire by Subsoap is a blatant clone of last year’s Fairway Solitaire. The gameplay is nearly identical and there’s even a dubious similarity in the game’s name. While the game is not a unique concept, the execution is absolutely sublime. I guess the moral of the story is: If you’re going to copy a game, do it better.

Last year Fairway Solitaire took the already simplistic card game and adapted it for the casual game space. The gameplay in Fairway Solitaire (and now Faerie) doesn’t have much to do with Solitaire. Instead of alternating suits and arranging cards from high to low, you simply click away cards based on the active card at the top of the deck. It’s more like counting than Solitaire. If a two is active, click 3, 4, 5, and then back down to 4… It’s all explained in both games better, but hopefully you get the idea. While the gameplay is simplistic, it’s also utterly addictive. There’s something about getting that long combo that is very satisfying and each level challenges the player to rid the field of ALL the cards.

So what makes Faerie Solitaire better? Faerie Solitaire has superior graphics, effects and beautiful cutscenes that tie into a cohesive story. The single player is comprised of an adventure mode that progresses through a wide range of different locales. There are also a plethora of additional features which keep players utterly addicted to clicking cards. There’s a Tamagotchi-esque minigame that involves collecting eggs, hatching pets, and evolving them. Not to mention the upgrade store, achievements and appropriately named ‘Challenge Mode’. While I vastly prefer the Fairway Solitaire golf motif and scoring system, Faerie Solitaire outshines it in presentation, features, graphics, and music.

Faerie Solitaire is a shining example of how to make a successful indie/casual game. The developer found a successful portal game online, copied it, improved it, and cast it with fantastic production values. Both Fairway and Faerie Solitaire have the simple, fun and addictive card gameplay, but Faerie wraps it up in a much tighter and feature packed game. The game is simply enchanting.

Click the screeshot to download Faerie Solitaire's pc demo

Gameplay: Fairway Solitaire
While the games play nearly identical, Fairway Solitaire came up with it first and Faerie doesn’t really mess with their original formula. Plus Fairway’s golf motif and par scoring system is great.

Graphics: Faerie Solitaire
This is a close one, but ultimately Faerie edges out Fairway. While Fairway has a great cartoon look to it, Faerie’s cards are significantly more detailed and its locales vary a lot more than the greens of a golf course….not to mention the highly detailed cutscenes.

Sound/Music: Fairway
This is another really close call. Both Games music feature laidback and unintrusive music, but Fairway’s golf sound effects give it a slight edge. Maybe it’s just the golfer in me.

Lasting Appeal: Faerie
Faerie’s magical creatures, story, and chellenge mode and Faerie Land upgrade store means there’s a lot more game than Fairway. The challenge mode is especially difficult and fun.

WINNER: FAERIE SOLITAIRE