Hearts HD!

I think some reviewers are missing a point. It is incredibly hard to write an algorithm to play Hearts like a good human or advanced AI. The rules of Hearts are simple, but the strategy is not. There are lots of stratagems: bluffing a run, false carding, aggressive and deceptive passing. And the tactics must shift with the situation. Yes, in Hard mode this game "cheats". It is 3 against one. The bots conspire. They "know" what's in your hand. In other words it is a real challenge to win. You cannot trust the bots to act in their self-interest the way a human player would. All of which makes it satisfying when you eke out a victory. "Take that, cheating bots." Yes, the programmers could have resisted taking short-cuts but then there would be no Hard mode. Just easy victories. Boring. By the way, the 3 bots do have different "personalities": they pursue different strategies.

C'mon, Woosy Folks!! A computer can't "gang up" on YOU!!!! You asked for a tough game, so these folks gave it to you!!! Excellent graphics, wonderful, strategies, and thrilling challenges. The wife and I agree that the 'hard' version is very difficult. But, after LOSING several times in a row, we began to think 'outside' our 'normal' Hearts Strategy box, we have learned how to (routinely) catch them all, and (even, many times) choose who WE give the QUEEN TO!!!!! Count your cards, folks... pay attention to who's playing what, and you'll do FINE! You won't win every time - but you'll do fine.

This game plays well in easy and medium for anyone just learning the game, but in hard mode, at least the version I am playing, the three opponents actively conspire together against us, the "player." I have watched one of them pass up a chance to drop the queen on one of the others only to drop it on me. Recently, in one evening of play I was dealt on three occasions no spades. Each time that happened Ann passed me the Ace And King of spades and a junk card. And I have NEVER been passed those two cards together anytime else. The guy on the left ALWAYS leads spades as soon as he can every time I hold the Queen, but only occasionally if I am not holding her. I believe that the cards are mostly honestly randomly dealt, but the players will protect each other to get you if they can. It 's "hard" because its not honest play. And that is irritating enough that I have vowed never to pay for any game from Optime until such time as they fix it to just play non-conspiratorially.