A bit different from the other solitaire games we've gotten recently: you can replay levels *right away*, but if you go back to a previous level on the map (not the one you just played), you can't jump forward again (in the easier difficulty mode, anyway). A nice change of pace. Fun bonuses, etc. No gold cards to finish the level instantly.

Ready to collapse in bed, but, after playing about 7 hands, some random comments, at least what I can manage not to forget. Music is VASTLY over praised online. Tinny, canned sounding - in other words, midi sounding files. What I've heard so far ranged from slightly better than average to unremarkable. But that's my only major complaint, and it's more about the over the top reviews, than the music. It's not "Baroque" as 1 reviewer claimed (also, the period they set the story in is "Classical" rather than Baroque, but the music is hybrid classical with late 19th/early 20th century salon orchestra - the quartet on the Titanic anyone? :P ) - nor is it piano music for that matter, as the same person said. What I've heard so far is just one amateur composer's impressions from costume dramas that person no doubt saw on "the telly" (TV for us Americans/Canadians), though the synthesized orchestrations are reasonable. Though no expert, I happen to recognize real classical music when I hear it, or at least reasonable facsimilies. And 1 minor complaint: the spinning flipping of cards into your match pile I found slightly distracting, rather than the cards cleanly sliding into the pile without fanfare.

Corrections to my earlier post. The hard mode appears to be available throughout. There are jokers which popup in the hand and then you can keep and use as needed. Wild cards are actually numbered. You can keep them and use them when the need for that number pops up if you want to keep a play going. They say keep a combo going - which is defined as 6 or more cards, but I believe I used one on a regular play. You have to end your combos, which seems unnecessary, but does allow you to make a mistake if you terminate one too early, so it's a reasonable game mechanic. There is an undo. 1 per hand, unrechargable, as you start the game, but you soon get options to buy more for future hands. Like other games, at least one of the cards you may have missed - you can actually miss more than 1 playable card - will wiggle at you, to let you know this may be time to use your undo/undos.

The extra mechanics - the decorating of the ballroom (I swear the review I read said bathroom, but I just got unlucky there) - actually give you game playable options. The decorating items you purchase (btw, you also find free ones as your playing) also give you game bonuses, like the extra undos I mentioned. So, there is at least a little strategy to the order that you buy things, and it's not just a completely irrelevant interruption (other than it can allow our heroine to catch the man of her dreams - actually this is bad plotting because Sir Henry seems smitten with Bella anyway. He has money, does she need to recapture at least some of the family fortune too to suit him? Ah, to be a woman in a time of social idiocy! Though Bella hardly seems enlightened herself! This game was actually designed by a small British team, if you read the credits. I can't decide whether they couldn't come up with a better idea, were aristocracy worshipers themselves, thought this was an essential part of their English heritage, or were just cynical about their audience.)

Anyway, those extra game details are probably the bottom line of why this is one of the best solitaires of this type. A significant amount of work and thought went into this (though I won't praise all the non-gameplay thought). Btw, 2 impressions, I find Bella's sister more attractive and interesting than the - to me - somewhat childish Bella. Is sis married? And it's funny thinking of Bella's mother helping with her dressing when mom needs some serious coaching in that regard! Not to mention putting a smile on her sour apple face.

If you have to own only 1 solitaire game, I'm no expert for sure, but this looks to be the best I've seen so far, gamewise, anyway.

1st time given away. Reviews on this are plentiful and glowing. Steam, probably as part of the developer's description, even links to reviews on sites such as PC Gamer, and Euro Gamer. Only 40 negatives out of over 650 on Steam. Recommended by a slew of curators. Not nearly as many reviews on Big Fish - over 50 - but almost all rave about it.

This may be a case of the wrapping paper being more valuable than the product. This is a standard up/down solitaire game - which is not meant as an insult - but the vast amount of complements are on the trappings of the game. This has a story, extensive graphics and scenes, an extra project of decorating a bathroom in a neo-baroque/classical period style. This is a game for romantics, for people who like the glitz of the old British aristocracy, for fans of Jane Austen novels. If you are like me - a typical insensitive man, a democrat, and egalitarian; or if you're a woman who prefers today's options and attitudes about women; and who doesn't dream of being a Disney princess; or someone who's eyes aren't sparkled by the British royals - then the story and decorating elements might not be for you. But none of that is meant as an insult, because, on the other hand, we all like a good story now and then. What I mean is, this has mostly a specific audience in mind, and a few will be insulted or bored by the story. One note of widespread complement though is about the Baroque style original piano music - again, a lot more effort than most of these type of solitaires - a definite plus for yours truly if it's any good.

Btw, It's being given away now partly because the developer, Grey Alien games, is about to release a sequel. Also, Steam is offering various bundles with this game, 2 are solitaire bundles, but there's also a bundle of 6 Grey Alien games that also includes 2 RPG card battle games, an old dark house adventure with puzzles, a match 3, and a lighter puzzle adventure with a Xmas theme. 25% off, though at $48 - because of the higher prices on the 2 RPG games - not sure how much of a "deal" that is. You can get at least this game free today, but I mention it in case you see this after the giveaway is over.

As to the game, as I said, it's the usual up/down match, with 2 of the often seen earnable power ups - jokers (though here "wild cards"), and a shuffle, but perhaps not mulligans, and 2 others that allow you to remove cards from the board without a match. Also has accomplishments, which probably reward you with bonuses, and a normal and a hard mode - which likely makes you go back to the beginning of a "chapter", if you leave a deal without completing it. Though not sure if that only applies to the later chapters.

From what I can see from the reviews, if you have any enjoyment of either the outer trappings, the music, or a yen for this type of solitaire game, this is probably a must. If you already have too many of these, this may still be worth it. After all, it's not the fault of this game if you had the opportunity to get quite a few others which didn't have as much work put into them before this one became available.

I'm posting this about reviews because I haven't had a chance to test yet. Been involved in a biggish project and don't want to close the browser just yet, but thought you folks might be able to use the info. now. Sorry this is so late! Hope it will get moderated before the giveaway is over. It certainly will make a few people consider downloading it. If I get a chance to test before it's over - which I should - I'll post more.

Thanks GGOTD and Toomky and Grey Alien.

Here's a partial walkthru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JClHiXwXaeM

Good game! Get it.

Hi everyone it's been a long time. I don't have much to say about today's game but I want to say I really love the story line and the graphics of the game. For a game that's under 75mb they really put some high quality visuals into the way the game plays and looks. It's not the typical solitaire game you play its to match the cards from high to low ranks or the other way around.

When you play the game and defeat the levels on future levels there are tasks to accomplish while you are playing the game. One of them on the second level was to find something hidden within the cards.

It's not something that 8 Floor developed but another company who did. And they did a good job because while I love 8 Floor Solitaire games I feel the same repetitive theme over and over again. This one breathes new life into Solitaire with a decent story line and you will love the game.

This is one of the games that our friend Whiterabbit-uk should write a long review on it.
I hope you come back as soon as possible