Report updated May 7, 2026
Solitaire by Staple Games
For casual mobile gamers seeking a minimalist, accessible, and classic card game experience.
Solitaire by Staple Games is a well-regarded games app that is completely free. With a 4.7/5 rating from 855K reviews, it maintains solid user satisfaction. Users particularly appreciate simple and clean visual design makes the game accessible for casual daily play sessions, though aggressive ad frequency post-update disrupts the flow of the classic solitaire experience remains a common concern.
What is Solitaire by Staple Games?
Solitaire by Staple Games is a minimalist card game app for iOS and Android featuring classic Klondike and Patience modes.
Users hire the app for low-stakes mental stimulation and a relaxing, accessible daily habit that avoids the visual clutter of more complex titles.
Current Momentum
v4.00 · today
Maintenance- Added dark mode support on iOS
- Implemented Auto Helper move assistance
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
What Are The Key Features?
In-game events and custom tiles allow players to generate donations for charities like St. Jude and TeamWater through gameplay.
Automated move suggestion system triggered by user inactivity or manual request.
User-defined options for Draw 1 or Draw 3 card modes and left/right-handed layouts.
How much does it cost?
- Free-to-play with ad support
Ad-supported model monetizes 5,000,000+ Android installs through interstitial and banner ad inventory.
Who Built It?
Staple Games
Providing minimalist, ad-supported digital versions of classic board and card games for casual players seeking a distraction-free experience.
Portfolio
13
Apps
What other apps does Staple Games make?
FreeCell by Staple Games
FreeCell (Classic Card Game)
Block Puzzle - Classic Style
Block Puzzle - Sudoku Style
Sudoku by Staple Games
Match Collector
Explore the full Staple Games report
Portfolio breakdown, audience, momentum, and every app published by Staple Games.
What do users think recently?
High confidence · Latest 100 of 106 total reviews analyzed · Based on 106 reviews. Signal may be noisy.
How did the latest release land?
What is the recent mood?
Recent user voice shows a excited sentiment. Users appreciate simple and clean visual design makes the game accessible for casual daily play sessions and core solitaire mechanics provide a reliable and relaxing way to pass time daily, but report aggressive ad frequency post-update disrupts the flow of the classic solitaire experience.
What Users Love
What Frustrates Users
What Users Want
View the full user-sentiment analysis
Mood gauge, ratings & review-volume history, every praise / complaint / request, and sentiment over time.
What is the competitive landscape for Solitaire by Staple Games?
How's The Games Market?
How does it evolve in the Games market?
The app maintains a 4.78 rating on iOS with over 540,000 ratings, signaling strong historical retention. However, the lack of a paid monetization tier leaves it vulnerable to competitors like MobilityWare that offer more diverse revenue models.
Rank progression
25 active rankings tracked — 30-day window
The rivals identified
Nemeses(1)
Directly targets the same accessibility-focused audience with a high-frequency update cadence that matches our target's core value proposition.
Differentiators
- Specialized UI design for seniors with high-contrast elements and simplified navigation menus
- Aggressive release schedule with 20 updates in six months signals rapid feature iteration
- Focuses on accessibility-first UX which directly challenges our 'easier on the eyes' positioning
Head to head
To defend our position, we must accelerate our feature release cycle and consider adding specific accessibility toggles to neutralize their niche dominance.
Contenders(3)
Leverages the iconic Windows brand to provide a multi-game collection that dwarfs single-mode apps.
Differentiators
- Bundles multiple card game variants into one app, increasing session length and user retention
- Integrates with Microsoft account services for cross-platform progress and achievement tracking
The industry standard for classic solitaire, setting the baseline for feature expectations in the category.
Differentiators
- Offers the most comprehensive set of classic solitaire variations and rule configurations available
- Deeply entrenched in the market with over a decade of continuous operation and user trust
A high-scale, classic solitaire experience that competes directly for the general casual gaming audience.
Differentiators
- Maintains a massive, highly engaged user base through consistent, polished classic gameplay loops
- Leverages strong brand recognition in the card game category to dominate organic search results
Same space(3)
A narrative-driven card game that uses the King 'Saga' model to monetize through level-based progression.
Differentiators
- Employs a level-based map progression system that creates a sense of narrative advancement
- Utilizes King's proven monetization and difficulty-balancing mechanics to maximize player lifetime value
Uses a well-known physical card game brand to attract users looking for familiar, rule-based card experiences.
Differentiators
- Capitalizes on established physical card game rules to reduce the learning curve for new players
- High-quality visual production values create a premium feel compared to standard solitaire apps
Represents the 'Solitaire-plus' sub-genre, adding meta-progression layers to the core card game.
Differentiators
- Integrates farming simulation mechanics to provide a secondary loop beyond standard card play
- High-frequency live events and seasonal content updates drive consistent daily active usage
Compare Solitaire by Staple Games against every rival
All rivals in one side-by-side table — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel — plus a head-to-head page for each.
The outtake for Solitaire by Staple Games
Strengths to defend, gaps to attack
Core Strengths
- Charitable integration builds brand loyalty through social impact
- Minimalist interface reduces cognitive load for casual users
- Auto-complete mechanics sustain retention by reducing frustration
Critical Frictions
- Aggressive ad frequency post-update disrupts gameplay flow
- No paid ad-free tier limits monetization for power users
- Perceived win-rate manipulation erodes long-term user trust
Growth Levers
- Introduce one-time purchase for ad-free experience
- Expand accessibility toggles to neutralize senior-focused rivals
- Integrate wearable-specific game modes for platform expansion
Market Threats
- Vita Studio's 20-update cadence outpaces current release velocity
- Microsoft's cross-platform account integration increases switching costs
- Rising user frustration with ad-driven win rates increases churn
What are the next best moves?
Ship one-time purchase for ad-free play because ad frequency is the #1 complaint → recover sentiment
Sentiment data shows users explicitly request a paid alternative to avoid current ad interruptions.
Trade-off: Pause the planned UI theme expansion — ad-free revenue has a higher impact on retention.
Audit win-rate logic because users report perceived manipulation → restore trust
Sentiment analysis identifies win-rate manipulation as a medium-frequency complaint that damages brand credibility.
Trade-off: Same-quarter capacity available — no major lever displaced.
A counter-intuitive read
The app's minimalist design is its greatest vulnerability, as it leaves no room for the complex live-ops features that drive high-LTV engagement in the current market.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- Cross-platform progress sync (available in Microsoft Solitaire but absent here)
- High-contrast accessibility modes (available in Vita Solitaire but absent here)
Key Takeaways
The app sustains a strong category position through minimalist design, but aggressive ad monetization is actively eroding user trust, so the PM should prioritize a paid ad-free tier to stabilize retention.
Where Is It Heading?
Declining
The casual card game market is consolidating around apps that balance classic loops with diverse monetization, leaving this app exposed. Without a paid ad-free option, the current ad-heavy strategy will continue to erode the user base, so the PM must pivot to a hybrid model to retain power users.
Aggressive ad frequency post-update disrupts gameplay flow, which directly correlates with the recent decline in user sentiment.
The lack of a paid ad-free tier forces power users to churn, reducing the lifetime value of the most loyal players.