Microsoft Hearts

Microsoft Hearts is a digital adaptation of the classic trick-taking card game, and it became another famously distracting member of the Windows software family. The objective is simple enough: avoid taking hearts and, especially, avoid the dreaded Queen of Spades unless you have a very good reason. The computer opponents provide enough competition to make each hand interesting, while the straightforward interface keeps attention firmly on the cards. There is something wonderfully old-fashioned about the experience. No elaborate animations are necessary; four players, a deck, and a collection of increasingly questionable decisions are enough. The game is easy to pick up but rewards careful thinking, particularly when deciding which cards to pass at the start of a round. It is the sort of title that can quietly consume an afternoon while pretending to be a harmless five-minute break.