Fairway Solitaire
Platform: iOS
Golf and cards rarely seem like a fitting pair, but when you see them combined as elegantly as in Fairway Solitaire, you'll start to wonder if other crazy sorts of combinations might work. Like peanuts and pickles! A new mobile port of the previously reviewed PC and Mac release, Fairway Solitaire builds on the game of solitaire using golf terms and rules in a very casual sort of way. Add to that an epic story about gopher revenge, mini-games, an in-game store, and hundreds of courses to play, and you've got a card game that'll keep you busy until the gophers come home. That's a saying, right?
Since the dawn of time, golfers have been at war with gophers. Now, one gopher is making a stand. And you're kinda standing against him, since you're a golfer and all. The story isn't really necessary to enjoy the game, but it's hilarious, and you'll have a good time following it all the same. You're here to play cards/golf, and that's what you're going to do! Fairway Solitaire features a simple premise of clearing the screen, moving face-up cards that are one above or one below the target card to reveal hidden cards below. Clear as many as you can in one "shot", then, when you can't remove any more, click your deck to turn over another card. Repeat the process until you clear the screen or run out of cards in the deck!
Fairway Solitaire is filled with neat puzzle-like challenges that force you to think and be creative with your moves. Hazards, for example, often need to be cleared before you can get down to the real work, and getting rid of them can sometimes require special cards. The in-game shop allows you to spend golf bucks to buy power-ups and other items (X-ray goggles! Yay!), and the mini-games and high score boards are more than enough to encourage you to shoot for perfection.
Fairway Solitaire is available for both iPhone and iPad. You can check out our review of the downloadable version for more details. There's a free browser demo that showcases the basic gameplay, but note that it lacks most of the extras the mobile and downloadable versions contain, like movies, the shop, etc. And, if you're worried you need to know a lot of golf terms to play the game, you can relax, as Fairway Solitaire is pure card gaming entertainment with a little golf theme thrown in for fun!
Play Fairway (free browser version)
First! Also, I've already been playing this game weeks before JIG reviewed it, and it's pretty good for a card game with a theme. The Wild Shots add an element of chance to what would otherwise be a well-planned hole, and hazard cards are a great addition in keeping with the golf theme. The items and bonus courses are worth the in-game currency used to purchase them, and it's a fun challenge to try and earn more by making long runs and earning trophies. All in all, it's a great game, and anyone with some money to spare and a propensity towards puzzle/card games should take a look at it.
I own both the iOS game and the original download title. The revamped visuals are beautiful and the whole thing animates wonderfully. If you don't own it yet and you have an iPad, this is the perfect casual card game to carry around and fiddle with when you're supposed to be doing something productive.
I've been playing the free version, too. The last level is pretty hard to win, but I'm going to keep trying :).
I am on a level, and sometimes when I go to use the ace of diamonds, it won't let me. Is it a glitch, or is it something I have to figure out to keep on?
Have you tried restarting the level to see if it happens again? If so, and you are trying to play it on a 2 or king, you might want to contact tech support wherever you purchased the game.
I have just opened my game of Fairway Solitaire, and one of my courses is flashing as if available for play with a dollar sign next to the name of the course. What does this mean because I am unable to open the course?
If you are playing the free mobile version, it might want you to upgrade to be able to play the course.
Update