Games Talk

  Advanced Bridge is a competitive version of the classic card game Bridge, meant for skilled players.   What is the goal of the game? The goal of the game is to get the most points, winning two games before the other team can.   I don’t understand how to play Bridge. What do I do? Start by playing Bridge [link: https://games.aarp.org/games/bridge] at AARP Games, which will ease you into the terminology and rules of the game. When you understand the basics, come back to Advanced Bridge to test your skills!   Who is my partner in Advanced Bridge? Your partner is a skilled computer-controlled player.   Who are my opponents in Advanced Bridge? Your opponents are skilled computer-controlled players, as well.   I don’t want the game to give me tips. Can I turn that feature off? Yes. On the top bar, there is a toggle for “Enable tips” that you can click on and off.   Can I see a bidding recap? Yes. Click the menu button in the top right of the screen. From

Mahjongg seems to be everywhere lately—from online games to local groups getting together to play. Are you already a fan, just learning, or wondering what all the excitement is about? Do you prefer playing online or around a table with friends? Share how you got started, your favorite way to play, or your best advice for someone who wants to learn!

Garden Bloom is a Match 3 game where you match different color flowers. The better you do, the more opportunities you have to repair Lucy’s dilapidated garden in between levels!   What is the goal of the game? The goal of the game is to complete each level by succeeding in the level’s goals. Each level has different goals – a score to reach, a certain number of flowers to clear – and you have a certain number of moves to complete them. The fewer moves you need to reach your goals, the more stars you get.   When do I beat a level?You beat a level if you complete the goals – which are listed on the left-hand side of the screen – before you run out of moves.   What are stars for? When you complete a level, you’ll get stars – more if you complete it quickly. In between each level, you can use those stars to help repair Lucy’s garden.   What happens if I run out of moves? If you run out of moves, you lose one heart. You start the game with five hearts.   What happen

Jewel Quest is a match-3 puzzle game where you match gems to solve challenges and uncover relics.   What is the goal of the game? The goal is to complete level-specific objectives by matching gems and progressing through the adventure. Early on, you’ll need to make a match in every square; soon after, you’ll be matching gold coins for the Midas Touch, which turns any square gold. Keep playing to find more ways to score points and win!   How do I play? Swap adjacent gems to create matches of three or more, either by clicking and dragging your mouse or swiping on your tablet or mobile device. Complete objectives to advance.   What happens if I run out of time? If you run out of time in a level (which you can see at the bottom of the screen), you will lose and need to retry the level.   Are there different modes? The game features a campaign mode with progressive levels.   How are scores calculated? Scores are based on matches, combos, and completion speed.  

Canasta is a classic card game that involves creating melds of cards and forming canastas—sets of seven or more cards of the same rank. It’s a game of strategy, memory, and tactical decision-making.   What is the goal of the game? The goal is to score more points than your opponent by creating melds and canastas. The game ends when one player goes out by playing all their cards.   How do I play? Players draw cards, create melds, and discard cards each turn. You can pick up the discard pile if you can use the top card in a meld. The game includes wild cards (2s and Jokers) that can be used to complete melds.   What are melds and canastas? Melds are sets of three or more cards of the same rank. Canastas are melds of seven or more cards. Red canastas are pure (no wild cards), while black canastas include wild cards.   Can I play with a partner? Yes, Canasta is traditionally played with four players in two partnerships, but this version allows solo play against AI or gr

​@AARPConsumerCare There are a number of games I stopped playing because they aren’t working correctly and don’t award points. I’m aware of per day limits; clearing cache; and win/lose factors for the games I play. The script you use does not apply here. Some will award points after GAME OVER if you hit PLAY AGAIN. Some will award points if you play the game 3 or 4 times on the same day.  I’ve contacted AARP previously with no effect. Today, I contacted Arkadium who stated that AARP has complete control as to when points are awarded.I didn’t bother with a screenprint, but Sudoku penalizes you if you finish too quickly. NO points awarded if you get the answer in 3 minutes. What’s the point of a timer? I have screenshots of the following games to assist you in correcting the problem. CodeWord does not award points 20260907Outspell_20260907ScrambleWords does not award points 20260907WordWipe does not award points 20260907Arkadium says its AARP 2026 09 07

One week ago, User JohnT417883 “placed” a score of 4,660 on the leaderboard for the game 5ROLL. That is an IMPOSSIBLE SCORE based on my years of playing this game supplied by Arkadium for this web site. Yesterday, this same User, JohnT417883, again “placed” a score of 2380, an improbable, but possible score. In my many years of playing this game at this web site, I have had a score as high as this ONE TIME. I ask either AARP or ARKADIUM to investigate these spurious scores for their validity. 

I am so sick of the ridiculous ads that show while trying to play games. They are distracting and horrible when on the side of your screen; absolutely none of them would ever make me click on the link out of interest. People moving fast, putting down plants, walking around a rug that looks like a hole in the ground, what is that??? Now, in between almost ever game when attempting to start a new one, a woman in the kitchen cooking and dancing around and a man comes to the door with flowers, so she picks up her wet wipe package and starts cleaning under her arms before she goes to greet him.  Give us a break please.  I pay for AARP and don't choose to see this nonsense.  AT LEAST please cut down on them.  They are awful and some of the dumbest and insulting I've ever seen.  You are such a good site AARP, but wow, those ads have got to go. 

What is 2 Minute Mini Crossword? 2 Minute Mini Crossword is a daily crossword game that’s perfect for crossword lovers looking for a quick fix. It’s a simple, small version of a larger crossword with easy answers and just 10 clues to solve. It’s perfect if you’re on the go or taking a quick break!   How do I start? On the home screen, you’ll see today’s game – and puzzles from previous days. Click on any of them to get started.   How do I play? Click on a box to select it and click it again to switch from vertical to horizontal (and back again). Whichever clue you’ve selected will be highlighted in the list on the right-hand side of the screen. Type your answer and move on to the next clue!   Do I need to solve the clues in order? No. In fact, starting with the clues you know will start to fill in the grid, making future answers easier to figure out!   What happens if I get a clue wrong? By default, the game doesn’t let you know if you guessed incorrectly. You’ll li

Anyone else frustrated by the ads when playing games?  Some are so long, sometimes they just freeze and you can’t get past them.  I think the bugs surrounding the ads on games should be addressed.  It’s just frustrating.

As evidenced by this ridiculous disparate score of 4460 points, one can readily see that the game 5ROLL has had its leader board hacked once again. Having played this game for years, I am well aware of an excellent score for 5ROLL. An excellent score is in the 2200 to 2500 point range, not double that. A score double that like the 4460 posted to the leader board now is an IMPOSSIBLE SCORE. It can only be posted by spurious means, NOT legitimate play of the game. And yet, it will be allowed to stay on the leader board for the rest of the month. It is disappointing to legitimate players of this game to allow this IMPOSSIBLE SCORE  to continue on the gaming platform. AARP needs to investigate how these scores are posted and, by whom, they are posted.

What is Hex Puzzle Adventure? Hex Puzzle Adventure is a puzzle game that’s as relaxing and satisfying as it is challenging. Match like-colored hexagonal pieces on a hexagonal board to remove as many stacks as you can!   What is the goal of the game? The goal of the game is to remove enough stacks to beat the level and move on to the next one.   How do I beat a level? To beat a level, place two stacks next to each other on the board with the same color piece at the top. The pieces will automatically jump to form one larger stack. When the stack is ten or more pieces, that color will be removed from the game, adding that many points to your total. When your total reaches your goal, you beat the level.   Can I lose? Yes. If you are unable to place a stack due to a full board, you lose a life.   How do lives/hearts work? You will start the game with five lives, or hearts. Every time you fail a level, you lose a life. If you lose all five lives, you won’t be able to play

Klondike shows the same Moderna 1 minute ad between EVERY game! I’ve already had my covid shot so I don’t need to see the ad. I know this is trivial but at my age every minute counts. You’ve taken the fun out of your game.

I really don’t like when ads appear at the top of the screen. They cover part of the game - the part that shows my score! on Mah Jong Dimensions.Let me explain - My vision is poor. So I have set my desktop screen to a larger display. (I think its 125%) So everything is larger, I can see it better, but I lose a small amount around the edges. Normally all is great. But when there is an ad at the top, the ad superimposes over part of my game. And it cannot be deleted like many other ads. I can report it. They it asks why I am reporting it. But the ad space remains, and continues to cover the game.

This about a minor annoyance.  After playing Let’s Crossword, a score pops up.  One of the numbers shows “Your Contribution”.  My contribution is ALWAYS 100% as I do the whole crossword without assistance.  However, the contribution usually shows another lower number, like 70% and one time it was 20%.   The word “Contribution": is obviously not correct.   Even if my score is low because I took a long time, my contribution is always 100%.

Pinochle is a trick-taking card game played in teams, combining bidding, melding, and strategic play.   How do I win in Pinochle? Your team must reach a target score (usually 150 points) through melds and tricks.   What is a meld in Pinochle? A meld is a combination of cards that scores points before trick-taking begins. Examples include runs, marriages, and pinochles.   What is a pinochle? A pinochle is a meld made of the Jack of Diamonds and Queen of Spades.   How is trump declared? Trump is declared by the highest bidder, who must have a marriage (King and Queen) in that suit.   What happens if a team fails to make their bid? They lose the bid amount in points, which can be a major setback.   Can I play Pinochle solo? Yes, there are solo variants, but traditional Pinochle is played with four players in two teams.   What is double-deck Pinochle? Double-deck Pinochle uses two Pinochle decks combined, increasing the number of cards and complexity. &nb

I can’t believe that it AARP is making me watch an almost 10 minute video ad before I can play Today’s Hurdle.  I thought there was a 30 second limit on these things.Ridiculous!

What is your go-to game when you only have 15–20 minutes to play, and what makes it perfect for quick play sessions?   Did you find this post helpful?Give it a kudo to let us know—it helps others discover valuable content too.

Pinochle is a classic card game that rewards clever bidding and smart play. Meld combinations for points, win tricks with high cards, and work with your partner to reach the winning score. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned player, Pinochle offers a deep and rewarding experience.   Want to learn more?  Check out our FAQ: What-is-Pinochle   

Since the last conversation was closed without resolution, I would like to open this up again. I am now getting the error message on both Google Chrome and Apple Safari, where before it was just Chrome. It is NOT an issue of clearing cache. My Macbook just rebooted and I’m getting this error on both browsers now. I have a background/career in software development and I know this can be fixed by a programmer if they would just be assigned the task. Also note that this happens only on the Daily Puzzle that I”ve seen. The Mini Crossword page that I also do every day is working fine, if that helps the developer.   

You know there's something fishy going on when the high score at midnight is over 5000 & the same names always have the highest scores. This is so unfair & dishonest of aarp. I will just play straight through arkadium rather than play through aarp. For christ sakes, make it equal.

I posted a few weeks ago about this but it seems to have disappeared.  In early August I scored 25M on Jewel Shuffle.  It never posted to the leaderboard.  I am not a regular gamer but I have never found that there is a time frame to complete the game.  Today I scored 10M and again it did not post.  Anyone else have issues like this?  It was posting for me earlier but ever since I scored above 4M it has not posted.  

I would like to understand why my score, at the first of the month, is never anywhere near the leader board scores. I'm usually in the list or close. Today they were all at 311,000+ and I only scored 11,000 some. Why does my score start low every month, but not others? I play every day.

We have quite a few versions of Mahjongg to play, and we are curious if you have a favorite one you play here?  Tell us your favorites and how often you play!  

AARP knows by now how annoying those video ads are to people trying to relax and play games. But obviously they don't care. It's very distracting and hard to focus on the game when you have an ad jumping out at you.