The Disappearing Runestones

Solitaire is a pretty intuitive and replayable game, even if there are hundreds of variations out there by this point. The very purpose of the game is that you can keep playing it for hours on end without getting bored, because the layout and the card order are never the same. On the other hand, modern gamers rarely have the attention span required for such a simple game.

The Disappearing Runestones is a Solitaire game that features three different variations instead of just one, plus a few other elements that technically make it easier to stay excited about it for longer. Even so, the gimmick gets old after a while, especially since these specific Solitaire variations are not exactly riveting, nor are they very straightforward.

There’s also a story running its course in the background, something that gives the whole thing a sense of purpose. Hence, everything starts when the Chief’s evil brother decides to cast an evil curse and doom the Fountain of Life. Naturally, a group of brave heroes assembles to restore the balance and go on a quest to find a couple of powerful relics required to dispel the curse.

Although one of the Solitaire game is the classic one that requires you to place the next or the previous card on top of the one drawn from the deck, the other two are a tad different. Thus, you either have to select two matching cards, or you have to select two that add up to fourteen. It’s a bit counterintuitive, but you can get used to it after a bit of gameplay.

There are a few other things to keep in mind as well, such as the fact that you can collect wild cards and use them whenever you need a way out of a jam. You can also hoard gold and spent it on undos or additional wild cards, although the prices are steep and never clearly stated, which is a bit annoying. Moreover, the graphics are quite pleasant, even if nothing but the background artwork changes from one level to the other.

Although it has its flaws, The Disappearing Runestones is not a bad game at all, at least not if you do not go in with high expectations. It features a decent collection of levels, steady gameplay mechanics and nice graphics, which are the perfect ingredients for a great time waster.

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