Improving on solitaire is a pretty tall order... it's already evolved a lot over the past few centuries.

The Solitaire Conspiracy sidesteps this a bit by focusing more on the scenario and less on the substance of the game. Sure, the introduction of varying powers for Jacks, Queens and Kings depending on their suit does vary the gameplay. But ultimately these differences are overshadowed by the game's neon visuals, bombastic score and entertaining FMV sequences (most starring Greg Miller).

I would never have thought to mix a game as pedestrian as solitaire with the aesthetics of a spy thriller, and that unusual mixture is really fun and entertaining for what it is. But now that I've completed its story, the new mechanics aren't compelling enough for me to stick with long-term.