Description
Faerie Solitaire: Remastered is a remastered version of the original card game, offered as a free bonus to owners of the original. Players embark on a magical adventure in the land of Avalon, where they play through over 400 hands of solitaire across 8 worlds and 40 levels. The goal is to earn gold, purchase unique powerups and upgrades, chain together combos to fill an energy meter, and ultimately save the Faeries to repopulate the enchanted world.
Faerie Solitaire: Remastered: Review
Introduction
In the vast and often overlooked archives of casual gaming, few titles manage to carve out a legacy that endures for over a decade. Faerie Solitaire: Remastered is not just a fresh coat of paint on a forgotten relic; it is a testament to the enduring appeal of a perfectly executed hybrid genre. Released in 2017 by the indie studio Subsoap, this remaster serves as both a preservation effort and a generous gift to the fans of the 2009 original. This review posits that Faerie Solitaire: Remastered stands as a quintessential example of how to modernize a casual classic, blending addictive solitaire mechanics with light meta-progression and a charming narrative into a package that offers staggering value and timeless comfort.
Development History & Context
To understand Faerie Solitaire: Remastered, one must first look to its progenitor. The original Faerie Solitaire was released in 2009, a period dominated by the rise of digital distribution platforms like Steam and a burgeoning indie scene. Developed by Subsoap, a studio founded by brothers Mathew and Brian Kramer, the game was a product of its time—a clever fusion of the ubiquitous card solitaire formula, popularized by titles like Microsoft Solitaire, with the nascent trends of light RPG elements and collectible mechanics.
The 2017 remaster was developed using the Defold engine, a move that likely provided more modern rendering capabilities and stability compared to the original’s technology. Crucially, Subsoap’s approach to this re-release was remarkably player-friendly. As the official description states, it was offered as “a free additional game for current and future owners of the original.” This wasn’t a simple cash grab; it was an act of preservation and gratitude. The development credits reveal a core team with long-standing collaborations, including music by Jeff Tolbert and additional classic credits to original team members like Andrew Sum and Jessica Lindsay. This continuity of talent ensured the remaster was handled by those who understood the soul of the original, preserving its intent while technically enhancing it for a new era.
Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive
Beneath its straightforward card-playing surface lies a surprisingly earnest narrative. The player is tasked with a noble quest: to “repopulate the magical land of Avalon” by rescuing captive faerie eggs and raising them as pets. The plot, while simple, provides a compelling and wholesome motivation that elevates the gameplay beyond mere score-chasing. Each cleared level isn’t just a victory; it’s a step toward rejuvenating a dying world.
The narrative framework employs a classic archetype—the restoration of a fallen paradise—which resonates on a thematic level. It’s a story about conservation, care, and the cumulative power of small actions. The “Faeries” themselves are more than collectibles; they are characters to be nurtured, each rescue a minor narrative beat in a larger story of ecological and magical recovery. The dialogue and story delivery are light, but they effectively frame the gameplay loops, providing a sense of purpose that is often absent in pure puzzle games. The theme of nurturing life and rebuilding a community through patience and strategy is a poignant, if subtle, undercurrent that gives the game its heart.
Gameplay Mechanics & Systems
At its core, Faerie Solitaire: Remastered is built upon a variant of the classic “Golf” solitaire rules. Cards can be cleared from the tableau if they are one rank higher or lower than the card currently in the waste pile. This creates a gameplay loop that is instantly familiar yet strategically engaging.
The genius of the design lies in its layered meta-systems:
* The Core Loop: Players progress through over 400 hands across 40 levels and 8 worlds. Each hand is a self-contained puzzle where the goal is to clear all cards. Failing to clear a hand is not a game-over state; it simply means a reduced gold reward, encouraging persistence over punishment.
* Progression & Economy: Gold earned from each hand fuels the game’s progression systems. It can be spent on “unique powerups and specialized upgrades” that make subsequent levels easier. This includes abilities to see hidden cards, shuffle the deck, or undo moves. This creates a compelling risk-reward dynamic and a constant sense of advancement.
* The Combo & Energy System: “Chaining together combos” by clearing multiple cards in sequence fills an energy meter. This meter is directly tied to the narrative—it is used to “save the Faeries” trapped within certain cards. This mechanic brilliantly connects the moment-to-moment action to the overarching goal, making every strategic move feel meaningful.
* Collection & Pets: The rescued faerie eggs become pets that the player can raise, adding a light tamagotchi-like element of collection and care. This system provides a long-term goal that persists across the entire game.
The UI in a solitaire game is paramount, and the remaster’s clean, clear presentation ensures that information is readily available without cluttering the serene visual field. The gameplay is a masterclass in additive design, taking a simple concept and enriching it with systems that provide depth, purpose, and a powerful “just one more hand” addictiveness.
World-Building, Art & Sound
The world of Avalon is built not through expansive 3D environments, but through a cohesive aesthetic presented in a fixed, top-down perspective. The art style is bright, colorful, and whimsical, perfectly capturing the fairy-tale atmosphere the title promises. Each of the eight worlds likely possesses a unique visual theme, though the source material doesn’t detail them, suggesting a journey through diverse magical biomes.
The sound design, helmed by composer Jeff Tolbert, is critical to establishing the game’s relaxing tone. One can infer a soundtrack of gentle, melodic tunes that complement the thoughtful pace of the card gameplay without becoming intrusive. The audio cues for actions like card flips, combos, and faerie rescues would be satisfying and crisp, providing essential feedback that reinforces player actions. The overall audiovisual package works in harmony to create a tranquil, inviting atmosphere—a digital comfort food that is as pleasant to listen to as it is to play.
Reception & Legacy
Documented critical reception for the remaster is sparse, with the source material noting an average player score of 3.5/5 based on only 2 ratings. This lack of extensive data points to a game that, while cherished by its niche audience, flew under the radar of mainstream critical circles. Its legacy, therefore, is not one of sweeping industry influence but of cult status and enduring quality.
The game’s true impact is twofold. First, it represents a high-water mark for the genre of “adventure solitaire,” a niche that includes titles like Fairway Solitaire. It demonstrated how narrative and progression could be seamlessly woven into a classic card game format. Second, Subsoap’s consumer-friendly approach to the remaster—essentially giving it away to existing owners—set a commendable precedent for how developers can honor their legacy and community.
The game’s influence is subtle but can be seen in the continued popularity of casual games that blend simple core loops with meta-progression and collection mechanics. It proved that depth doesn’t always require complexity; it can be built upon a foundation of accessibility and charm.
Conclusion
Faerie Solitaire: Remastered is a fascinating artifact in the indie game landscape. It is not a revolutionary title, but it is an exceptionally refined one. It takes the solid foundation of the 2009 original and polishes it to a shine, offering a breathtaking amount of content—”over 400 hands”—and a perfectly balanced blend of puzzle strategy, light RPG elements, and collectathon appeal.
Its place in video game history is secure as a pinnacle of its specific subgenre. It is the definitive version of a beloved casual classic, a game that understands the hypnotic, meditative appeal of solitaire and enhances it with just enough purpose and charm to keep players hooked for months. It is a generous, well-crafted, and deeply satisfying experience that offers arguably “the very best value over any other game available today” for those seeking a thoughtful and relaxing puzzle adventure. For fans of card games, cozy games, or expertly crafted casual experiences, Faerie Solitaire: Remastered is not just a recommendation; it is an essential play.