Solitaire Josephine and the Forty Thieves

Solitaire Josephine and the Forty Thieves - Play Online

If you thought regular solitaire was easy, think again. This is classic card sorting cranked up to hardcore difficulty, where you're juggling two full decks and ten columns at once. Your goal? Stack every single card from Ace to King across eight foundation piles while clearing out a dense battlefield of face-up cards. It's a mind-bending puzzle that demands attention and patience—perfect for those who want their solitaire with a side of challenge.

Key Features

• Two Solitaire Modes: Play either Josephine (move card sequences) or Forty Thieves (single card only) for completely different difficulty levels.
• Dual Deck Complexity: 104 cards on the board means way more planning and strategy than your typical Windows solitaire.
• Easy/Hard Toggles: Adjust difficulty before starting so beginners and veterans both get their challenge fix.
• Browser-First Design: Runs smoothly in any browser, fullscreen mode available, no download required.

How to Play Solitaire Josephine and the Forty Thieves

Getting started is easy, but clearing the board takes serious focus.

Understanding Your Battlefield

You start with ten columns of four face-up cards each—that's 40 cards staring at you right away. Above those sit eight empty foundation spots waiting for Aces. The remaining 64 cards hide in your stock pile. You drag cards around using your mouse or finger, and every move counts. In Josephine mode, you can move entire sequences of cards if they're properly ordered by suit. In Forty Thieves mode, you're limited to one card at a time, which makes everything way trickier.

Building Down, Stacking Up

The core puzzle is all about organizing chaos. You build descending sequences in the columns (like 9 of Hearts on 10 of Hearts), but you need to alternate suits while doing it. Meanwhile, you're hunting for Aces to start your foundation piles, then stacking cards upward by suit from Ace to King. The trick is figuring out which column moves unlock the cards you desperately need buried three layers deep.

Clearing All Eight Stacks

Victory means getting all 104 cards sorted into those eight foundation piles. You'll burn through your stock pile multiple times, use the undo button religiously (no shame in that), and probably restart a few hands when you paint yourself into a corner. The game doesn't punish you for taking your time—there's no timer—so you can plan your moves like a chess player.

Who is Solitaire Josephine and the Forty Thieves for?

This is for solitaire veterans who find Spider Solitaire too easy and want something that actually makes them think. If you like logic puzzles, planning several moves ahead, and don't mind restarting when you mess up, you'll love this. It's also perfect for anyone over 40 who grew up on classic card games and wants that familiar comfort with extra depth. Not great for kids or super casual players—the complexity will frustrate anyone looking for a quick, brainless distraction.

The Gameplay Vibe

It's calm but intense. The jewel-themed card designs and basic 2D graphics won't blow your mind—this looks like a mobile game from 2015—but that's not the point. The green and blue felt backgrounds are easy on the eyes during long sessions. There's no music to speak of, just quiet card-flipping sounds, which makes it perfect for throwing on a podcast or music in the background. The pace is entirely yours; you could spend twenty minutes on a single hand or blitz through in five if the cards cooperate. It feels more like solving a Rubik's Cube than playing a game.

Technical Check: Saves & Performance

The game saves your progress automatically using browser cache, so you can close the tab mid-game and pick up where you left off—just don't go clearing your browsing data. Performance-wise, this runs on a potato. The low-complexity graphics mean even older phones and budget laptops handle it without lag. The oversized buttons and card fonts are clearly designed for touchscreens, which makes mobile play surprisingly comfortable despite the visual clutter.

Quick Verdict: Pros & Cons

A solid brain workout for solitaire fans who want more than the basics.

• ✅ Pro: Two distinct rule sets keep the challenge fresh across multiple sessions.
• ✅ Pro: No timer or scoring pressure—just pure strategy and problem-solving.
• ❌ Con: The generic "jewel aesthetic" feels like it's trying too hard to look like a match-3 game instead of owning its card game roots.

Controls

Drag-and-drop works smoothly with no weird hitbox issues. The undo button is a lifesaver.

• Desktop: Click and drag cards with your mouse. Left-click to auto-send cards to foundations when possible.
• Mobile: Tap and drag with your finger. The large card sizes make accidental moves rare.

Release Date & Developer

Developed by AVSDream and released on November 13, 2024. It's part of their catalog of browser-based card games aimed at the desktop and mobile casual market.