Tabletop Freecell Fun: Hats on Cats and Dogs in Blogs
Move cards one at a time from columns into foundations based on suits, taking care to untangle the thoughtful puzzle in Freecell.
Simple solo card games might almost seem to be too simple, and I recall spending many hours playing the computer versions of some back in the day! Freecell was one of them, yet it fell off my radar and I never considered playing for at least the last few decades. With a little inspiration, I brought out a couple of physical decks of cards to enjoy this classic!
Gameward Bound Update
Happy 900th post! I was hoping to reach the excellent tier of 1,000 posts by the end of this year, but alas, that looks like something that will happen closer to the blog’s anniversary next February. Very cool to see this milestone coming up, though, and 900 is still a lot! Thanks to everyone for stopping by and following along on my solo game adventures!
Game Overview
Game Name: Freecell
Publication Year: Unknown
Designer: Uncredited
Artist: None
Publisher: Public Domain
Solo Mode: Designed for Solo (Included in the Base Game)
With a standard 52-card deck, 8 columns are laid out. The goal is to start each foundation with the ace of a suit, then continue in ascending order for each suit. The trick is in moving cards around to access others, which can be a challenge! Most layouts are solvable with some planning.
First Play
October 7, 2026
Complexity
2
Latest Play
October 9, 2026
Expansions
0
Setup Time
Almost None
Lifetime Plays
12
Play Time
10 Minutes
High Score
N/A
Game Area
24" x 18"
Low Score
N/A
All the Columns
Woof! I picked out a pair of decks to enjoy a session of this one, and I began with the dogs. This deck from Ridley’s is delightful with a unique dog on all of the cards… And jokers!
I put out this pair to easily mark the middle point of my play area and make sure I didn’t accidentally mix up my cells and foundations. This was a little large, but hardly unruly.
In a game that’s devoid of any sense of a theme, I often lean into the ones about untangling or otherwise organizing.
Perfect! That’s exactly what this one does, and I had some quiet moments just looking at and assessing the columns.
The Cutest Dogs
This deck is amazing for its sheer number of dogs! Each one features a little flavor text that I sometimes ignore, but often get a little chuckle out of. Look at this tiny pug!
I started untangling. The computer version, for some reason, felt like it auto-played with the way it offered up hints. Would you believe I never learned all the rules?
That’s right: I had to remind myself that this was about moving 1 card at a time, not any ordered amount.
Playing a physical version can be great for thinking things through a little more. No hints here: I was on my own!
Final Foundations
I did it! This was the final arrangement of the foundations with all of the cards neatly stacked up. Very fun!
Note the dogs in crowns, which added to the enjoyment. I easily reset to play again and again, carefully looking at the columns. At times, I thought I had definitely lost.
But the free cells and ability to stack a card on another made for a few exciting moments. Not that this one is overflowing with the greatest game memories, yet it was a nice time.
Being able to see the big picture and working towards clearing out a column felt like a pleasant accomplishment.
Peeking Out
For a solo game like this with cards stacked so tightly, being able to read the card values and suits is vital. I wouldn’t say these are enormous, yet they’re very clear without frills.
And look out for the slightly hidden faces! Depending on the card’s value, a dog might be positioned closer to the top. This resulted in silly scenes like this peeking face. I see you!
I was a little concerned that I kept on winning, although with a solution to around 99.9% of setups, a win is common.
The trick is in figuring out how to get there. I almost boxed myself into a corner a few times, but chose a different move!
From Computer to Tabletop: Subtle Benefits
It almost seems silly to admit I didn’t quite understand all the rules when I played the computer version, but there it is! Most of those plays were during my angsty teenage years, so was it any surprise I didn’t pay attention? Ha ha! The hints made me play it on auto-pilot most of the time, which worked back then, yet didn’t really teach me anything.
To play the physical version made me more engaged. I finally figured out the single card rule! Nothing here is particularly difficult, but this felt like I could puzzle away rather than mindlessly click. The latter is sometimes desirable, though, and I’m sure my younger self enjoyed clicking the highlighted cards without a care in the world. So much angst. Ha ha!
I think there was a way to import custom decks, yet this is certainly my preferred way to play. I have plenty of other decks to try out. Just knowing I can return for some laughs with these dogs and cats is all I need, though. A fantastic experience!
Over to the Cats
I spent some time with the deck of dog cards, then decided it was time to shine the spotlight on the other deck that patiently waited nearby… Time for all the cats to jump in!
This deck was very similar, featuring the same card fonts that I could spot at a distance. Cats seemed to have more fun, though, as several brought cat toys or accessories!
Again, the illustrated jokers helped frame my play area. I loved when an ace was within reach, though it was rare.
The variety was minimal, though I had a great time with the puzzle. I vastly preferred this to the computer version.
Hats on King Cats
More fun with crowns! The kings feature these adorable hats. You know this is fantasy cat artwork because no cat would ever allow this attire for more than a millisecond!
I remember the rather plain decks from the computer version when I was growing up. Nothing wrong with them, yet I love how the physical version can be customized.
These dogs and cats made me smile as I organized the cards, and I doubt I’ll ever use a plain deck again!
Winning took a few minutes of unraveling each puzzle. While this wasn’t the best game, it was still a great time!
Session Overview
Play Number: 1-12
Solo Mode: Designed for Solo (Included in the Base Game)
Outcome: 12 Wins
Success! All the cats with hats sat on their thrones, also known as ordered stacks of cards. Ha ha! I didn’t expect much from this session. This is a pretty basic, abstract sort of card game… And that’s all it needs to be. There’s nothing fancy here, save for the card deck that’s used. It was fun to remember the old times and see how a computer version could be enjoyed in a physical format. Great times with these cute dog and cat decks that I plan to use again soon!
%
10 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
9
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
10
Originality
Design & Theme
5
Quality
Components & Rules
10
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
5
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
2
+ Pros (Positives)
- Simple rules make gameplay very straightforward without any ambiguities or need to look up what to do.
- Untangling or unraveling the columns is a lot of fun, and involves seeing the puzzle in a way that’s very rewarding.
- Most setups are solvable, so sitting with the cards for a few minutes can reveal moves that aren’t always obvious.
- Play time is pretty quick, but not rushed: There’s no penalty for thinking through multiple moves to make progress.
- Only a standard deck of cards is needed to play and a computer version is also fun in its own sort of way.
- Even difficult plays with locked aces usually aren’t impossible, and winning feels like a small accomplishment.
– Cons (Negatives)
- Setup isn’t that lengthy, but does require a little patience in stacking the columns neatly and overlapping the cards.
- The arrangement may change from play to play, yet the overall experience is very similar and repetitive.
- Since the cards get sorted during play, shuffling requires a little more time to properly mix up all of the cards.
- Columns take up a bit of table space and can be a little tricky to keep organized when cards move around a lot.
Victory Conditions
Move Every Card Into the Foundations
- Overall Goal Progress 100%
Goals and Milestones
Win at least 1 game.
Continue the Conversation
Do you play Freecell, either the computer version or in a physical format? Is there a particularly lengthy win streak you accomplished? I had a lovely time! Part of me wondered if this would offer any level of fun on my table, yet it delivered a very solid experience. This is a solo game that leans into its simplicity to offer a fun puzzle… Especially with the right deck!
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