Board & Card

Istaka Okey is a race to 7 points against three computer players of different strength: finishing a hand scores 2, seven pairs double it, and finishing on an okey doubles it again. Kordon Pishti plays as a duel or as four-player partners, and its three computer levels differ in memory: easy forgets what has been played, normal counts every card, hard works through the rest of the deal once the stock runs out.

Mizan Spades covers three ways to play Batak (bidding, spades trump and partners) and a five-table league where each table adds a house rule. Juniper Gin Rummy and Vesper Hearts each have a six-room ladder of regular opponents, so there is always a next table to beat.

Goldfield Solitaire (Klondike with Draw 1 or Draw 3), Alcove FreeCell, Octet Spider Solitaire, Karnak Pyramid Solitaire and Talus TriPeaks Solitaire all deal layouts that can be won. If a position stops being winnable, the game says so and offers Undo instead of letting you play on into a dead end. Karnak adds a 60-stage journey through six chambers and Talus a 120-stage one through ten mountain ranges.

Boxwood Chess has five levels, from a beginner who blunders to one that punishes every loose piece. Sedef Checkers switches between seven rule sets, Turkish dama and English checkers included, with one tap. Zarif Backgammon plays matches to 1, 3 or 5 points, where a gammon counts 2 and a backgammon 3. Cowrie Mancala, Onyx Reversi and Trellis Four in a Row each add a ladder of opponents and a set of puzzles on top of free play.

For longer sessions, Bastide Tactics is a turn-based grid campaign where every enemy shows where it will strike, and Oxbow Deckbuilder is a card roguelite across three river acts.