Image credit: OpenGenus IQ
Want to play those old-school Windows games on your modern PC? Games like Spider, Minesweeper, and Hearts—along with favorites like Solitaire and Freecell—vanished after Windows 8 hit the scene in 2012. Sure, you can find versions in the Microsoft Store, but they’re full of ads and don’t feel quite the same as the classics we loved. Good news, though—there’s a simple way to get those original time-wasters back!
It’s not tricky at all. Winaero, a website known for handy system tools, has created an installer that lets you run these classic games on Windows 8, 10, or 11. The games have been slightly updated to look better on high-resolution screens, but they’re still the same ones you remember. You’ll get Chess, FreeCell, Hearts, Mahjong, Minesweeper, Purble Place, Solitaire, and Spider Solitaire. There’s even an option for the old “Internet Games” from the 2000s, though with Microsoft’s server long gone, it’s not really worth it.
Just download and run the installer, then pick the games you want to add.
Once it’s done, find them in your Start menu by searching for a specific game or checking the All tab for a new Games folder.
They play just like you recall, with that classic Windows 7 look—no ads, no nagging to try other games, and no online leaderboards. It’s a perfect way to unwind between tasks. Honestly, these are the best versions Microsoft ever put out, and it’s great to have them back!
One thing to keep in mind: the games might stop working after a big Windows update. If that happens, just run the installer again—according to the developer, that’ll get them running smoothly in no time.
What do you think about bringing back these classics? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Source: Life Hacker
