The History of Spider Solitaire
Anna | March 2, 2025
Spider Solitaire is one of the most popular single player card games of the digital age. While solitaire itself has been played for centuries, Spider is a more recent addition with an interesting history. First mentioned in the early 1900s and later made famous by Microsoft Windows, Spider Solitaire has become a favorite for players around the world and it is easy to see why...
Where It All Began
Solitaire games, known as Patience games in Europe, originated in Northern Europe in the late 18th century. The first time Patience was mentioned was in a 1788 German game collection book. From there, the games slowly spread across the world, with people creating new variations along the way. By the 19th century, Solitaire games were widely mentioned in French and English literature.
Spider Solitaire was first recorded in the 20th century, in a 1917 book written by the famous American bridge expert Ely Culbertson, titled Culbertson’s Card Game Complete with Official Rules. While it’s unclear if Culbertson created the game himself, his book provides the earliest solid evidence of Spider’s existence.
The above image, taken from Culbertson’s book, shows how many of Spider Solitaire’s core features have remained the same over time. It used 2 full decks of cards, dealt into ten piles, a layout that is still the standard today. Players built sequences in descending order within the same suit, clearing completed runs from King to Ace off the table.
While other solitaire games used similar descending sequence mechanics, Spider stood out because of its 2 deck setup and its focus on clearing suit specific sequences. This made it more strategic and complex than the simpler single deck games of its time.
The Move to Personal Computers
For much of its history, Spider Solitaire was overshadowed by more popular games like Klondike Solitaire. Early computer card games focused on Klondike because it was easier to program and was already well known from being played with physical cards. But in the late 1980s, solitaire game collections started to appear, giving Spider Solitaire a chance to finally get noticed although its journey was not easy.
The first notable collection was Solitaire Royale, developed in 1978 by Brad Fregger. It included classics like Golf and Pyramid but left out Spider. So, what did this show? There was a growing interest in computer solitaire and also, players enjoyed skipping the hassle of dealing and setting up cards by hand every time.
Then in 1990, software developer Sierra released Hoyle: Official Book of Games - Volume 2 (yes it was a game although it sounds like a book). This collection took another step forward by including a game somewhat similar to Spider, called Spiderette. This was basically a scaled down version using a single deck and while Spiderette captured Spider’s mechanics, it offered a simpler, quicker experience and was still far from the full Spider Solitaire challenge. Once again, Spider itself was overlooked.
But why Spider was left out of these early collections you might wonder... well, in the early days of programming, creating computer games was much harder than it is today. There was no AI and programmers had to build everything from scratch, since they were the first to ever create games like this. So they chose simpler games like Klondike or Spiderette because Spider Solitaire’s mechanics were more complex. Its 10 pile layout, 2 deck setup, multiple suits and overlapping cards demanded significantly more resources and programming. Early computers, especially those running DOS, had limited processing power and memory, making simpler games a more practical choice for developers.
Finally, in 1992, as computers were getting faster and more capable, Solitaire’s Journey by Quantum Quality Productions, created by Andrew Visscher and Bruce Williams Zaccagnino, hit the scene. As you can see in the above figure, this collection included a variety of solitaire games (a whopping 105 in total) and marked a major milestone... it was the first to include Spider Solitaire. For the first time, players could enjoy the full complexity and strategy of Spider on their computers. The collection also included Tournaments, Journeys, and Quests, adding fun and variety to the games.
Solitaire’s Journey was a big commercial success, proving that players were ready for more challenging and strategic solitaire games. Including Spider Solitaire marked a turning point, paving the way for it to become one of the most loved digital card games ever.
How Microsoft Made Spider Solitaire a Classic
Quantum Quality Productions brought Spider Solitaire to a dedicated audience but it was still far from being a household name. This all changed when Microsoft stepped in and introduced Spider Solitaire to millions of users through its Windows operating system. They already added Klondike Solitaire to Windows 3.0 in 1990 using it as a tool to help people learn how to use a mouse, especially the then new skill of clicking and dragging. As Windows evolved, so did its collection of built in games, each one designed to show off how user friendly the system was.
In 1998, Spider Solitaire finally made its debut as part of the Microsoft Plus package for Windows 98 and it quickly built a loyal fanbase. Oddly enough it was left out of Windows 2000 but returned with Windows ME, this time not as part of an add on package but they included the game directly in the operating system. By the time Windows XP came out in 2001, Spider Solitaire had become a favorite. Its simple controls, subtle sound effects and clean design made it one of the most popular features of early 2000s PCs and to this day, many still consider it the best version ever made.
A Timeless Classic
As technology advanced, Spider Solitaire moved beyond desktops. With mobile apps and web based versions like our site FreeSolitaire.com, the game now became available anytime, anywhere.
So why is Spider Solitaire still so popular after all these years? Because it challenges your mind in a way that few other games do. Every move tests your memory, logical thinking and ability to plan... not to mention the thrill you get from clearing a full sequence or uncovering a crucial hidden card. Unlike other solitaire games that rely more on luck, Spider gives players just enough control to keep them coming back. It is no surprise people still cannot resist playing “just one more round.”
