Summary
- Over the years, Microsoft has bundled in some downright iconic PC games into its Windows operating system.
- Some of these legendary titles live on via modern incarnations, while others have fallen by the wayside.
- Here are 5 of my personal favorite in-box Windows PC games from back in the day.
When it comes to PC gaming, often the first thing to spring to mind are platforms like
Steam
and
Xbox
, which host a variety of both indie and big-budget AAA titles. These video games play a major role in the modern PC gaming ecosystem, to be sure, but we mustn’t forget that they stand on the shoulders of giants.
In the early era of the
Windows
-based PC, there was already a rich and growing catalog of high-quality gaming experiences to be had, with roots extending as far back as the MS-DOS days. Soon enough, we were being treated to a number of all-time greats, some of which were packed into the operating system out-of-the-box by
Here are 5 legacy pack-in PC games that have stood the test of time, and that I look back on with both fondness and nostalgia.
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1
3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet
The most iconic of them all
Pocket-lint / Microsoft
3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet
3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet was an out-of-box PC game on older versions of Windows. It plays like a virtual game of Pinball, complete with a flashy and iconic space aesthetic.
Arguably one of the best-remembered classic PC games of all time, 3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet has gone down in infamy. At its core, the title is a simple enough virtual approximation of the real-world pinball arcade game, with a hearty dose of flashy space-age visuals and sound effects to keep things interesting.
Unfortunately, Microsoft stripped the game out of Windows starting with Vista, and we’ve yet to receive an official remake or reimagining from the company. That being said, the title’s code has been reverse-engineered and open-sourced, and it can now be played on a web browser or on an Android device without a hitch. One dedicated YouTuber has even gone as far as to re-create the original game’s visuals using proper 3D models.
2
Minesweeper
A puzzle game classic
Pocket-lint / Microsoft
Minesweeper
Minesweeper is one of the most iconic and long-enduring Windows PC games, featuring both puzzle and strategy elements within its gameplay loop.
Minesweeper is a classic puzzle and strategy video game that first hit the scene in the 1990s. The game has you attempting to clear your game board without accidentally detonating any of the on-screen mines, which becomes an addictive gameplay loop just about immediately.
If you’re a fan of classic Minesweeper, but find Microsoft’s modern version of the game to be too ‘mobile game-esque,’ then I’d heartily recommend checking out OurSweeper — a faithful adaptation of the original game that offers Fluent Design visuals.
Minesweeper has been a core part of the Windows OS going as far back as Windows 3.1, and it later received a visual refresh to coincide with the release of Windows Vista. Today, the game lives on via Microsoft Minesweeper, an official modernized variant that’s listed on the Microsoft Store.
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3
Solitaire
A card game classic
Pocket-lint / Microsoft
Solitaire
Solitaire is a classic WIndows PC game that serves as a virtual approximation of the age-old playing card game of the same name.
Solitaire is an age-old playing card game that has been digitized time and time again on PC. Also known as Klondike, the game sees you attempt to sort cards from Ace to King. A standard fifty-two-card deck is used by default, and cards are sorted from a main pile into four smaller ones as the game progresses.
Today, Windows Solitaire lives on via the Microsoft Store.
Microsoft’s version of Solitaire was first bundled into Windows 3.0, where it quickly went on to become an all-time classic. Today, Windows Solitaire lives on via the Microsoft Store, where the company has published the official Microsoft Solitaire Collection — a modern ground-up reimagining of the tried and true title.
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4
Chess Titans
An Aero graphical showcase
Pocket-lint / Microsoft
Chess Titans
Chess Titans was a pack-in Windows game that served the purpose of showcasing Vista’s impressive Aero design language, with glassy and translucent visuals throughout.
When Microsoft released Windows Vista in 2006, there was a lot of hype surrounding the operating system’s new
Aero design language
. Aero featured glassy user interface elements, and it made liberal use of translucency across most surfaces. To showcase Auro to the world, a number of games were packed into the system, including Chess Titans. The title operates just like any other version of virtual chess, but its attractive (for the time) visuals are what sets it apart from its contemporaries.
Unfortunately, Chess Titans was removed from the PC starting with Windows 8, though there are a plethora of modern digital chess apps and websites worth checking out if you’re a fan of the board game. Two of the biggest online chess websites today are Lichess and Chess.com. At this time, there’s no official Windows Chess app available on the Microsoft Store.
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5
InkBall
A Tablet PC Edition showcase
InkBall
InkBall was introduced alongside the Tablet PC Edition of Windows XP, and it served as a showcase for the type of games that a touch screen and stylus input could unlock.
Back in the Windows XP days, Microsoft was busy experimenting with the then-novel tablet PC form factor. To accommodate the stylus input used by early slates, the company released a dedicated Windows XP Tablet PC Edition of its flagship operating system. To showcase the utility of WIndows pen input, Microsoft developed InkBall — a game where you draw lines on screen to direct balls into corresponding holes.
It’s so good, in fact, that you’d think it was (still) a native Windows app.
Microsoft removed InkBall from the equation starting with Windows 7, which is a genuine shame: the game is a ton of fun to play, and it’s a wholly unique experience. If you’d like to check out a modernized version of the title, then look no further than the third-party Ink Ball game published on the Microsoft Store. This rendition is a faithful remake of the original, but with modernized Fluent Design graphics. It’s so good, in fact, that you’d think it was (still) a native Windows app.
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