When Was Solitaire Invented? The entire History of the Game

Last updated: Mar 25, 2026

18th-century European gentleman playing solitaire by candlelight, representing the origins and early history of the solitaire card game.

Ever wondered how to invent solitaire, and when solitaire was invented? It is one of the world's favourite single-player card games, and its history is interesting.

Solitaire has an interesting path, tracing its mysterious European heritage to becoming a digital domain conqueror, and how it became easier for people to play solitaire online is kind of revolutionary.

FAQs

Somebody in particular did not invent Solitaire. It developed slowly in late 1700s Europe in aggregate trends and refinement of the players of France, Germany, and Scandinavia.
Solitaire began in Northern Europe, primarily in France and Germany, in the late 18th century, and initially had to do with fortune-telling before becoming a pastime activity.
Solitaire is estimated at 230-240 years of age, with the earliest recorded accounts of the game appearing in German book sources between 1788 and 1791.
There is no historical basis to Napoleon inventing solitaire. These are largely myths that lack sound factual support.
Digital solitaire has reached the world with the release of Microsoft Windows 3.0 in 1990, where millions of people got introduced to the game, and the way people play it nowadays has changed.

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