Install Windows 7 Games on Windows 10

Martin Brinkmann
Dec 14, 2015
Updated • Nov 14, 2019
Games, Windows 10
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Games that Microsoft shipped with Windows 7 are fundamentally different from those that it included in Windows 8 or 10.

Windows 7 games were the last that were shipped as programs for example, and there were significant differences in the selection of games when compared to Windows 8 or 10.

All Windows games are Modern Apps or Universal Apps in newer versions of Windows, and while that may appeal to some, others may prefer the older games over their newer counterparts.

There are quite a few reasons for that. Most Windows Store games feel bloated when compared to the games that shipped with Windows 7. The older games usually start up faster and the interface they use is a lot simpler as well. Plus, most don't require Internet connections at all.

Another reasons is that these games are not identical, and that some Windows 7 games are not available on Windows 10 at all.

Windows 7 Games for Windows 10

windows 7 games for windows 10

If your favorite Windows 7 game is not available on Windows 10, or if you prefer classic Solitaire over Microsoft's Solitaire Collection, then you may be interested in installing those classic Windows 7 games on Windows 10 (or Windows 8 if you still run this version of the operating system).

Here is what you need to do:

  1. Download the Windows 7 Games for Windows 8 and 10 installer from WinAero.
  2. Extract the contents of the 146 Megabyte archive to the local system and run the installer afterwards.
  3. The installer displays all Windows 7 games, and it is up to you to install all of them or only select ones.
  4. Games included: Chess Titans, FreeCell, Hearts, Mahjong Titans, Minesweeper, Purble Place, Solitaire, Spider Solitaire, Internet Backgammon, Internet Checkers, Internet Spades
  5. Once installed, you can run all games from the start menu.

install windows 7 games

The package is multi-lingual, and the games have been prepared specifically to run on newer versions of Windows.

Windows 7 games and their Windows 10 version

The following table lists games that Microsoft shipped with its Windows 7 operating system and games that the company shipped with Windows 10.

Windows 7 Windows 10
Chess Titans not available
FreeCell Microsoft Solitaire Collection
Hearts not available
Mahjong Titans Microsoft Mahjong
Minesweeper Microsoft Minesweeper
Purble Place not available
Solitaire Microsoft Solitaire Collection
Spider Solitaire Microsoft Solitaire Collection
Internet Backgammon not available
Internet Checkers not available
Internet Spades not available

As you can see, quite a few games are missing, and the ones that are available, have all been modernized. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but if don't like those new games, or prefer games without ads, then you may want to play those old games instead.

Now You: Do you prefer Windows 7 or Windows 10 games?

Summary
Install Windows 7 Games on Windows 10
Article Name
Install Windows 7 Games on Windows 10
Description
Find out out to install missing or classic games of Windows 7 on Microsoft's new operating system Windows 10.
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Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. Brian said on October 14, 2019 at 1:15 pm
    Reply

    I’ve loaded the games, but although the Internet Checkers will work, the statistics are set permanently to:
    Games Played: 99999
    Games won: 99999
    Win percentage: 100%
    Longest Winning streak: 99999
    Longest Losing streak: 99999
    How can I correct this please?

  2. Bob Kossman said on October 6, 2019 at 4:33 am
    Reply

    I just got a new computer with Windows 10. Many things I dislike including all the above comments about the loss of the Windows 7 games. I tried the site that is supposed to download the 7 games but it doesn’t work for me. Other things missing are Word and Excell. I did manage to get a knockoff version that works.

  3. R.MCQUISTEN said on August 31, 2019 at 5:20 pm
    Reply

    I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU PEOPLE MORE. MICROSOFT ARE LIVING ON ANOTHER PLANET. WHY WOULD ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK TO A COMPUTER INSTEAD OF USING A KEY BOARD I WILL NEVER KNOW.
    PROBABLY SOME IDIOT LOOKING FOR BROWNY POINTS OR TRYING TO GET A BROWN NOSE.

  4. Peter from France said on October 7, 2016 at 4:27 pm
    Reply

    Those a***holes at MS stopped me from getting my daily fix of Hearts; they didn’t even have the decency to tell me or ask my permission! The new apps are rubbish.
    Many, many thanks for your advice. It worked & I’ve even got my stats back. Grateful donation on its way.

  5. Bonnie said on October 5, 2016 at 4:51 am
    Reply

    Yup, mine, too. Last Windows 10 update completely deleted the Windows 7 games I had searched for and finally found on the internet. Now, gone. They came in my Windows 7 computer so weren’t they a Microsoft item? Why delete them every time Windows 10 updates? Frustrating.

  6. Jan said on September 30, 2016 at 4:38 pm
    Reply

    Thanks so much! Why is Microsoft so adamant to deny these games to those who want them? It’s so fascist!

  7. Peter from Canada said on September 26, 2016 at 4:12 pm
    Reply

    Thank you so much, Alex and Martin. They worked !!!!

  8. Alex Atkin said on September 26, 2016 at 5:59 am
    Reply

    Anyone having problems with the games make sure you use the Winaero link to get to the updated download link.

    If it gets disabled/removed, always download a fresh copy from Winaero as they update it.

    1. DC said on September 29, 2016 at 1:29 am
      Reply

      It worked! Thank you :)

    2. Martin Brinkmann said on September 26, 2016 at 6:46 am
      Reply

      Alex thanks, I have updated the article to reflect that.

      1. K said on October 20, 2016 at 8:20 am
        Reply

        When I go to the link in the article, (1) the page indicates the installer is from April 2016, before the latest Win10 update; and (2) nothing downloads.

  9. Rickesh John said on September 24, 2016 at 7:48 am
    Reply

    Hi, the games have stopped working after a recent update. I have re-installed, restarted the game couple of times but it does not work. On clicking the shortcut to the game (spider solitaire), nothing happens. No application launches. I have tried to run with compatibility settings of Windows 7 & Windows 8. I have also ran it with administrator privileges but the game just doesn’t start. Tried running the main exe and not the shortcut, same result, nothing happens. Please advice.

    OS Details:
    Windows 10 Professional
    Version: 1607
    OS Build 14393.187

  10. DC said on September 21, 2016 at 6:18 pm
    Reply

    Hi-

    I had used this quite happily, but a week or so ago, the computer updated. Without asking. Again. And now the games won’t work. I tries reinstalling, like last time, but that still didn’t work. Anyone know how to fix this?

    1. DC said on September 29, 2016 at 1:28 am
      Reply

      Did new download for their update version. It seems to have worked! :)

      Thanks guys!

  11. Donna B. Reynolds said on September 19, 2016 at 2:35 am
    Reply

    Windows 10
    Why would anyone in their right mind even consider Windows 10 if they knew the frustration it would bring into their lives? Just because a programmer is able to design their ‘high-tech’ rubbish doesn’t necessarily make it useful/desired/wanted by the masses.
    If a program is an intricate trap to the unsuspecting, then it is probably not compatible with the general public.
    Possibly these engineers could spend their time designing obstacle courses for themselves.
    This is one maze that is not needed!!!

  12. John said on September 15, 2016 at 5:39 pm
    Reply

    Since updating to the Windows 10 anniversary edition I can no longer play my Windows 7 games. Hopefully this was not intentional and Microsoft will fix the problem so I can play them again. Being retired there are days when I play them a lot.

    1. Sheldon said on September 29, 2016 at 6:21 pm
      Reply

      It was intentional. Apparently after the new update microsoft enforced a long held right which allows them to delete what they deem to be unauthorized programs. Apparently all the games from this product just stop working. If you trace the errors back you find that these products did not make proper calls to certain object which microsoft sees as some security violation. Or that is what they say. Hopefully the people who wrote this installation will evaluate the issue and re-release the product.

  13. eralper said on September 6, 2016 at 4:28 pm
    Reply

    for missing games in the pack, I got them from http://www.kodyaz.com/articles/download-mahjong-titans-game-on-windows-10.aspx you can check other web sites as well

  14. DF said on August 18, 2016 at 2:05 pm
    Reply

    Microsoft really sucks for doing this.

  15. Heidy said on August 8, 2016 at 6:16 pm
    Reply

    Also missing my windows 7 Majong also tried saving and loading the old files.

    Don’t like the new Majong – the rules are different, the scoring is different. I can’t minimize the game and come back to it later……… :(

  16. DavidB said on August 5, 2016 at 7:53 am
    Reply

    I had exactly the same experience as Bob with the just installed Windows 10 Update. That’s why I’m here looking for a solution. MICROSOFT IS A THIEF!

  17. Iona PC said on August 5, 2016 at 3:22 am
    Reply

    The Windows 7 Games for Windows 8 & 10 will no longer run after installing the Anniversary update to Win10 (Aug 2016)! Bummer It is also necessary to reset all of your Privacy settings as the update turns all the MS “spyware” ON.

  18. Bob Craig said on August 4, 2016 at 11:29 pm
    Reply

    WARNING!
    Windows 10 Anniversary Update uninstalls this package and re-installs the Win10 version.
    Upon re-installation, everything appears normal but the games won’t run when launched.

  19. I hate Microsoft said on June 30, 2016 at 1:02 pm
    Reply

    Like many I miss some of the features of Windows 7 which Microsoft removed from Windows 10. Like Chess Titans. I’ve tried numerous chess games for Windows 10 but still haven’t found one I like as much as Chess Titans.

    But I’m very wary about downloading a zip file or executable file from an unknown source and running it on my PC. It’s a big security threat. Sure, you can scan it for viruses, but that’s not the point. When you run an executable file you are giving it permission to do make changes to your system. It doesn’t need to contain a known virus to be up to no good. Who knows what it might be doing in the background if I give it permission to run.

    Don’t do this unless you don’t care about the security of your PC.

  20. Claire Slater said on June 20, 2016 at 9:42 pm
    Reply

    I really miss mahjong titans…..It looks like microsoft didn’t care about that aspect of upgrading to windows 10 and the versions on windows 10 are so simple they’re boring ….Bring back majong titans you thoughtless lot at microsoft

  21. Disgruntled said on May 29, 2016 at 1:44 am
    Reply

    I can’t play Chess Titans or Internet Spades.

    Someone should be fired for this oversight -or- just plain taken out back and murdered.

  22. Joey said on April 8, 2016 at 10:13 am
    Reply

    Every time Windows 10 gets a new build update (the last one was in November IIRC) that process will delete the Windows 7 games, as it did last time. There’s also a provision in the Windows 10 EULA that allows Microsoft to delete “unauthorised” software automatically. AFAIK this hasn’t been used in anger yet, but again the Windows 7 games could come under fire from that. So make sure you keep the archive you download somewhere safe as you’ll need to restore them every time this happens.
    Windows 8 vs. 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxB1vwEyTio
    Windows 10, where being user-friendly doesn’t mean being friendly to users…
    By the way, flurry of negative comments that appeared after the issue with old games appeared proves how significant are the effects of technology.

  23. Lynn Marques said on April 6, 2016 at 2:59 pm
    Reply

    Please re-install Classic Solitaire on our computer.

  24. Jane Marion said on April 3, 2016 at 1:23 am
    Reply

    Please fiduew a simple exlanation on how to get Win7 Mahjong Titans (all six sets) onto Win 10, or I will revert to 7. I didn’t have to sign in, it was just there on my hard drive.

    Thank you.

  25. Lisa Martin said on March 14, 2016 at 6:06 pm
    Reply

    I tried this method, after installation, you hit on it and it just keeps prompting installation. You can’t change destination of the program, and its faded out so I believe it just isn’t compatible with Win10. This thing just sends you around in circles.

  26. Anonymous said on February 23, 2016 at 9:20 pm
    Reply

    When I do this, the file is empty..

  27. Tiki said on February 2, 2016 at 6:26 pm
    Reply

    Microsoft Internet Checkers … from Windows 7 to Windows 10 here:

    http://www.filedropper.com/internetcheckers-fromwin7towin10

    Enjoy!

  28. lester beeman said on January 10, 2016 at 12:46 am
    Reply

    I upg from win7 to win10 and after I upg win10 didn’t keep my win7 games. So I formatted my HDD and re-installed win7!

    1. Lind said on March 14, 2016 at 4:35 pm
      Reply

      I have been trying to get windows 7 games on windows 10 Pleas share how you did that

    2. john said on February 14, 2016 at 5:28 pm
      Reply

      how did you do it?

      1. Keith said on March 28, 2020 at 1:17 pm
        Reply

        He didn`t, because even if you go back to windows 7 the windows 7 games are now shut off by Microsoft those games that need the internet, you can`t even get them to work on windows 7

  29. Robert Patterson said on December 28, 2015 at 6:04 am
    Reply

    Geek Squad told me that I can uninstall W10 and return to W7 within 30 days.

    1. Harry Thorpe said on February 29, 2016 at 4:06 am
      Reply

      Sooner or later MS will orphan Windows 7, and then you will have to pay for the upgrade. Why complain about the air when that is all there is to breathe? I don’t dislike Windows 10. Just try to focus on the positive. Or go write yourself your own operating system.

  30. Richard Otley said on December 16, 2015 at 12:50 pm
    Reply

    Threshold 2 (Win 10 v1511) update removed this Win 7 game suite from my Win 10 machine. Piracy issues? I don’t know. But in addition to that, all the customization tweaks that I had worked so hard for, were removed. I cannot use Windows 10 as a Desktop P(ersonal)C(omputer) operating system.

  31. Ken Mason said on December 16, 2015 at 12:23 am
    Reply

    You left out Tinker, HoldEm and Inkball. Please see the link below for their install files:
    http://www.magnetdl.com/file/1393376/win7-games-for-windows-8-8.1-multilanguage-plus-3-vista-games/

  32. Ariadna said on December 14, 2015 at 11:02 pm
    Reply

    I like the modern Solitaire only because of its integration with Xbox achievements. Its ads are terrible, though. Thanks for sharing this tip!

  33. Earl said on December 14, 2015 at 9:10 pm
    Reply

    Hearts = a beautiful time-waster –> an excellent blend of strategy and luck (perfected on Win7)

  34. 7 forever said on December 14, 2015 at 12:49 pm
    Reply

    or dont install w10 at all. u wont miss anything.

    1. Dennis said on June 2, 2016 at 10:32 am
      Reply

      When you install it un-tick everything and keep the games download on a usb stick,,,,simple really … Never have a problem with 10

      1. Gazzer said on September 28, 2016 at 4:22 pm
        Reply

        L has a point. Win7 games woked fine under Win10 build 1511. However, auto update to Win10 Build 1607 has not only removed these games, reinstalling makes no difference as Windows seems to do NOTHING when trying to invoke them. Thanks Microsoft … Monopoly is a game I never really took to!

      2. Linda said on September 1, 2016 at 9:48 pm
        Reply

        Since last night’s update, the games won’t play again. I have uninstalled and reinstalled twice. I will disable my anti-virus next and if that doesn’t work, I will try you usb trick. If that doesn’t work, guess I won’t be playing games on my pc anymore.

        Thanks,

    2. john said on February 14, 2016 at 5:27 pm
      Reply

      installed window 10 yesterday. Hate it. Would like 7 back.

      1. Anonymous said on September 7, 2016 at 8:43 pm
        Reply

        I hate windows 10 windows 7 was far superior

      2. Josephine said on September 21, 2019 at 12:24 am
        Reply

        Agree with you all, 7 was better

      3. robert lazarz said on May 4, 2016 at 9:38 pm
        Reply

        I agree, I enjoyed playing internet backgammon against other players, now you play against some lame ass computer program and have to pay for it.

      4. Anonymous said on April 17, 2016 at 1:48 am
        Reply

        i agree

      5. Charlie said on March 13, 2016 at 5:28 am
        Reply

        Totally agree, John. It’s crap.

    3. Jeff said on December 14, 2015 at 3:44 pm
      Reply

      “u wont miss anything.”

      Actually, you will! You’ll miss paying for things MS once gave you for free.

      You’ll miss captive audience advertising… er excuse me, an “app store” built in to the OS.

      You’ll miss being spied on, er excuse me “customer experience enhancement telemetry”.

      1. John said on December 14, 2015 at 8:12 pm
        Reply

        With Windows 10 you’ll miss one thing really: Privacy…

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