Not all the features of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 are available in Windows 10. Some of the cool features that were part of Windows 7 have been dropped from the latest Windows 10 for reasons known only to Microsoft. Classic games, desktop gadgets, and Windows Media Center are some of the many features that are not part of Windows 10.
Those of you upgraded your Windows 7 installation to Windows 10 probably have noticed that the classic games such as Chess, Solitaire, SpiderSolitaire, Hearts, FreeCell, Minesweeper, Mahjong, and Purble Place have been missing from Windows 10.
This is because, when you upgrade any edition of Windows 7 to Windows 10, the Windows 10 setup automatically removed the desktop version of these games as well as some other features.
Although there is no specific reason why these classic games are not part of Windows 10, it could be because Microsoft wants users to play the metro or universal version of these games, which are although free, offer in-app purchases and display ads in the free version. It could also be because the modern version of these games is optimized for touch devices as well.
Windows 7 games in Windows 10
If you’re really missing the classic Solitaire, SpiderSolitaire, and other Windows 7 games in Windows 10, you will be happy to know that it’s possible to get classic Windows 7 games in Windows 10 as well.
Luckily, restoring classic games in Windows 10 is fairly simple thanks to our friends at WinAero. The Windows 7 Games for Windows 8 and Windows 10 software brings back Chess Titans, Solitaire, Spider Solitaire, Purble Place, Mahjong Titans, and Hearts games to Windows 10.
Installing classic Windows 7 games in Windows 10
Follow the given below instructions to get classic games in Windows 10.
NOTE: It’s not possible to get these classic games by simply coping Microsoft Games folder from Windows 7 installation to Windows 10. You will need to patch out the version check using a hex editor. So it’s a good idea to use an installer instead of manually copying and editing those files.
Step 1: Click here to visit the developer page of Microsoft Games for Windows 8 and Windows 10. The download size of the RAR file is about 150 MB.
Although the installer was originally released for Windows 8/8.1, it has since been updatd to support Windows 10 as well. Extract the ZIP file to a new folder or desktop using 7-Zip or WinRAR to get the installer.
Note that there is a single installer for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 10.
Step 2: Run the installer, click the Next button, deselect the games that you don’t want to install (all games are selected by default), and then click the Next button to install these classic games. That’s it!
Once installed, you can launch your favorite classic game by typing its name in the Start menu or taskbar search box.
