Best Options for Every Linux Distribu

Quick Answer: The best solitaire options on Linux are AisleRiot Solitaire (GNOME's built-in card game with 80+ variants), PySol Fan Club Edition (an open-source powerhouse with 1,000+ games), and browser-based solitaire at soliatre.us in Firefox or Chrome. Install AisleRiot on Ubuntu with sudo apt install aisleriot and PySol via Flatpak or direct download.

Linux users have excellent solitaire options in 2026, ranging from deeply integrated GNOME desktop apps to cross-platform open-source gems and browser-based play. Unlike Windows or macOS, Linux doesn't include solitaire by default in most distributions — but installing one takes a single terminal command. This guide covers the best options for Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch Linux, and other popular distributions.

Option 1: AisleRiot Solitaire (GNOME)

AisleRiot Solitaire is the most widely available native solitaire app for Linux. It's part of the GNOME project and comes pre-installed on Ubuntu GNOME editions. With over 80 solitaire game variants, it's one of the most comprehensive free solitaire applications available on any platform.

Installing AisleRiot on Ubuntu/Debian

Open a terminal and run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install aisleriot

Once installed, find it in your application menu under Games > AisleRiot Solitaire or launch it with:

sol

Installing AisleRiot on Fedora

sudo dnf install aisleriot

Installing AisleRiot on Arch Linux

sudo pacman -S aisleriot

AisleRiot Game Variants

AisleRiot includes 80+ variants, many not available elsewhere:

• Klondike (the classic)
• Freecell (similar to FreeCell)
• Spider (similar to Spider Solitaire)
• Yukon (similar to Yukon)
• Pyramid (similar to Pyramid Solitaire)
• Canfield, Forty Thieves, Golf, and dozens more

Each variant includes rules accessible from the Help > Rules menu within the game.

Option 2: PySol Fan Club Edition

PySol Fan Club Edition (PySolFC) is an open-source solitaire megapack featuring over 1,000 solitaire and card game variants. It's the most comprehensive solitaire experience available on Linux and runs on Python/Pygame.

Installing PySol via Flatpak (Recommended for Most Distributions)

Flatpak works across almost all Linux distributions:

1. Ensure Flatpak is installed: sudo apt install flatpak (Ubuntu/Debian) or sudo dnf install flatpak (Fedora).
2. Add Flathub repository:

   flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
   

3. Install PySolFC:

   flatpak install flathub io.sourceforge.pysolfc.PySolFC
   

4. Launch it:

   flatpak run io.sourceforge.pysolfc.PySolFC
   

Installing PySol via Snap

On Ubuntu and Snap-enabled distributions:

sudo snap install pysolfc

Installing PySol via pip (Advanced)

For users comfortable with Python environments:

pip install PySolFC
pysol.py

PySol Key Features

• Over 1,000 game variants including rare solitaire types not found elsewhere
• Customizable card backs and themes
• Undo/redo support
• Game statistics and history tracking
• Fully open source (GPL license)
• Active development community

Option 3: Browser-Based Solitaire on Linux

For Linux users who prefer not to install additional software, browser solitaire at soliatre.us works on any Linux distribution with a modern browser:

Firefox (Pre-installed on Many Distributions)

Firefox is included in most Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian installations. Open it and navigate to soliatre.us to play Klondike, Spider, or FreeCell instantly. Firefox on Linux renders the site with full WebGL support for smooth card animations.

Chromium/Chrome on Linux

Install Chromium (open-source Chrome):

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt install chromium-browser

Fedora:

sudo dnf install chromium

Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S chromium

For Google Chrome specifically, download the .deb or .rpm package from Google's website and install it.

Making Browser Solitaire a Desktop App

In Chrome or Chromium, you can install soliatre.us as a Progressive Web App:

1. Navigate to soliatre.us.
2. Click the menu (three dots) > Install soliatre.us.
3. A desktop shortcut is created that launches the game in its own window.

Option 4: Other Linux Solitaire Options

KDE Patience

If you use KDE Plasma desktop instead of GNOME, KPatience (KDE Patience) is the equivalent of AisleRiot for the KDE ecosystem:

sudo apt install kpat   # Ubuntu/Debian
sudo dnf install kdegames   # Fedora (includes kpat)

KPatience includes Klondike, FreeCell, Spider, and around 15 additional variants with a polished Qt-based interface.

Wine + Windows Solitaire

Advanced users can run the Windows version of Microsoft Solitaire Collection under Wine (Wine Is Not an Emulator):

sudo apt install wine   # Ubuntu/Debian

However, this is generally unnecessary since AisleRiot and PySolFC are superior native alternatives.

Distribution-Specific Notes

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS / Ubuntu 25.04

AisleRiot is available in the Ubuntu repositories and can be installed with a single apt command. The Flatpak version of PySolFC works smoothly on Ubuntu with GNOME.

Linux Mint

Linux Mint includes AisleRiot in its default repositories. It's often pre-installed on Mint Cinnamon edition.

Fedora 41+

Fedora uses DNF for package management. Both AisleRiot and KPatience are available in Fedora repositories.

Arch Linux / Manjaro

Use pacman for AisleRiot. PySolFC is available on the AUR (Arch User Repository):

yay -S pysolfc

Raspberry Pi OS

AisleRiot is available for Raspberry Pi OS (Debian-based):

sudo apt install aisleriot

Runs acceptably on Raspberry Pi 4 and Pi 5, though performance on Pi 3 may be sluggish for complex PySolFC variants.

Linux Terminal Solitaire (Text-Based)

For the most minimalist option, text-based solitaire runs in a Linux terminal:

pip install term-solitaire

Or search for solitaire-tui on PyPI or GitHub for a terminal UI solitaire game. These are novelties rather than primary recommendations, but work on headless servers or minimal installations.

Comparing Linux Solitaire Options

| Option | Install Method | Variants | Offline | Interface | |--------|---------------|----------|---------|-----------| | AisleRiot | apt/dnf/pacman | 80+ | Yes | GTK/GNOME | | PySolFC | Flatpak/Snap/pip | 1,000+ | Yes | Python/Pygame | | KPatience | apt/dnf | ~15 | Yes | Qt/KDE | | soliatre.us | Browser | 5 | Cached | Web |

For most Linux desktop users, AisleRiot (quick install, native GNOME integration) is the starting point, while PySolFC is the destination for anyone who wants depth and variety.

For related solitaire resources, see our offline solitaire guide for cross-platform offline play options, and free solitaire download page for other platforms.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I install solitaire on Ubuntu Linux?

Run sudo apt install aisleriot in a terminal to install AisleRiot Solitaire, which includes 80+ card game variants. Alternatively, install PySolFC via Flatpak with flatpak install flathub io.sourceforge.pysolfc.PySolFC for 1,000+ game variants.

What is the best solitaire app for Linux?

PySol Fan Club Edition offers the most comprehensive solitaire experience on Linux with over 1,000 variants. For a simpler option that integrates with the GNOME desktop, AisleRiot is the go-to choice on Ubuntu and other GNOME-based distributions.

Does Microsoft Solitaire Collection work on Linux?

Microsoft Solitaire Collection is a Windows/iOS/Android app and is not natively available for Linux. You can run it via Wine, but this is generally not recommended — AisleRiot and PySolFC are superior native Linux alternatives.

Can I play solitaire on Linux without installing anything?

Yes. Open Firefox or Chromium, navigate to soliatre.us, and play Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid, or Yukon directly in your browser — no installation required on any Linux distribution.

Is AisleRiot available for all Linux distributions?

AisleRiot is packaged for Debian/Ubuntu (apt), Fedora (dnf), and Arch Linux (pacman). For distributions without a direct package, it can be built from source via GNOME's GitLab repository or installed via Flatpak on Flathub.

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💡 Device Optimization Update (2026)

For mobile and tablet screens, utilize landscape mode to maximize card sizing and touch ergonomics. Disabling background notifications minimizes battery drain during extended play sessions.