Word Solitaire
A game you can adjust to suit you
Many word games are hard to enjoy for a simple reason: the letters are small and the screen is busy. We wanted Word Solitaire to work for people with tired eyes, stiff fingers or a favorite hand. These settings are all included, at no cost.
| Setting on the website | What it does |
|---|---|
| Text size | Offers three sizes, so you can choose the one you read most easily |
| High contrast | Makes cards and controls easier to tell apart |
| Reduced motion | Calms movement on screen, and also follows your device setting |
| Left-handed layout | Arranges the game for your left hand |
| Keyboard play | Lets you type words instead of tapping cards |
| Screen-reader labels | Gives every card and control a label your screen reader can use |
The iPhone and iPad app has text size, high contrast, reduce motion and a left-handed layout too, along with VoiceOver.
No clock, no lives, no losing
Plenty of games add a countdown to make them exciting. Word Solitaire has none. You can sit with a table of letters for as long as you please, get up to answer the door, and come back to find the game exactly as patient as you left it.
You can’t lose a deal either. Every deal can be cleared, and Undo is free however many times you use it. If no moves are left, the game does not end. It offers Undo and Back on track, which steps back to a table you can still finish.
Each of the vowels is printed in red with a small mark under it, so the mark is there even if colors are hard to tell apart.
How the game works, in brief
Letter cards sit in piles, and you can use the card on top of each pile. Tap the letters in order to spell a word such as TEA or BREAD, then press Play. Those cards go away and the cards beneath them become playable. When the table is empty, you have won.
If you get stuck, Peek will point out a word that works, free of charge on the website. The full rules are written out in plain language if you would like to read them first.
Playing with a keyboard or a screen reader
Some people prefer keys to a touch screen, particularly with a large computer screen and a familiar keyboard. On the website you can type the letters of a word, press Enter to play it, and press Backspace to take a letter away. The Tab key moves you to the buttons.
If you use a screen reader on the website, you will find a label on every card and control. If you play on an iPhone or iPad, the app works with VoiceOver.
Setting it up for a parent or grandparent
If you are helping someone you love get started, three things are worth knowing.
- There is no password to remember. Nobody signs up, so nothing can be forgotten or locked out.
- Bookmark it on the device they will use. Progress is saved in that browser, so a tablet and a computer will each keep their own.
- Don’t clear the browser data. Doing so erases their progress, including any streak.
Sit with them for the first deal and choose the text size together. After that, there is very little to explain.
An honest word about brain games for seniors
Many people look for brain games for seniors, and we understand why. Word Solitaire is a game, not a medical product, and we make no health claims for it. What we can say is simple: it is a calm way to keep your mind busy, spot words and spend a pleasant half hour with letters.
Other word games seniors enjoy
Word Solitaire is the only game on this site, but it is far from the only good choice.
- Crosswords. A long-time favorite. Large-print books are easy to find, though a hard clue can leave you stuck.
- Word search. Very gentle and a good choice for an easy afternoon. You find words rather than think of them.
- Word Solitaire. A good choice if you like cards, adjustable text and thinking a move ahead.
Where to start
You can play Word Solitaire in your browser and begin with the first deal. The daily deal offers one puzzle per calendar day, if you like a regular habit.
Would you rather have it on your iPad? The iOS app is free with ads, and a one-time purchase removes them. For a slower, softer look at the game, read about relaxing word games, and for vocabulary fans we have a page of word games for adults.