Halo-themed solitaire and mahjong is now available, because why not?

What you need to know

• Microsoft has released a brand new Halo theme for the Microsoft Solitaire Collection and Microsoft Mahjong.
• The theme is available on PC and mobile for the Microsoft Solitaire Collection, but is only available on mobile for Microsoft Mahjong.
• Both games are free, though you have to deal with ads if you don't upgrade to the premium versions.

Microsoft has officially announced the arrival of a Halo theme to the Microsoft Solitaire Collection and Microsoft Mahjong, both of which are games that users on Windows 10 and mobile devices can download for free. The Halo theme for Microsoft Solitaire Collection is available on both the PC and mobile versions of the game, while it's (strangely) only available on the mobile version of Microsoft Mahjong.

Microsoft has confirmed that the designs for each game's theme were created by Halo developer 343 Industries, with the themes prominently featuring several Halo characters as well as different pieces of Halo iconography. These include Master Chief, the Arbiter, Cortana, Atriox, the Didact, and more, as well as the UNSC logo and the Forerunner symbols for "Mantle of Responsibility" and "Reclaimer."

Both the Microsoft Solitaire Collection and Microsoft Mahjong are free-to-play, though both games feature ads unless you upgrade to their premium versions. You can get access to the premium version of the Microsoft Solitaire Collection through Xbox Game Pass for PC, though the service unfortunately doesn't give you access to the premium variant of Microsoft Mahjong.

Overall, it's pretty cool to see a theme based on one of Microsoft's best Xbox shooters come to these classic games, and while you'll never catch me playing either of these games, I'd be using this new Halo theme if I did. If you like solitaire and mahjong, give these themes a try while you're waiting for Halo Infinite and the Halo Infinite beta.