Solitaire Without the Solitude: Solitaire Clash Video Series Episode 3 — Escaping the Holiday Dinner Table

Solitaire Without the Solitude is a Solitaire Clash mockumentary series made by AviaGames in partnership with Leo González. After exploring the 1700s French prison solitaire origins in Episode 1 and the 90s office solitaire era in Episode 2, Episode 3 moves into holiday family dinner chaos and the need for a solid escape plan.

In this episode, Solitaire arrives at the table, where the vibes are festive, the small talk is unavoidable, and nobody ever gets annoyed at all (totally). It's the kind of night where traditions run on schedule, and smiles stay glued on a little too long. All it takes is one "innocent" comment for someone to disappear for a minute... with a full deck of cards waiting nearby.

Too familiar? Watch Episode 3 to see how Holiday Family Humor proves Solitaire was made for family gatherings.

Episode 3 begins with a truth that feels both obvious and deeply inconvenient: the holidays have always been testy.

The holiday season shows up the way it always does: everyone ends up around the table, the same traditions kick in like they're on autopilot, and people suddenly get extra polite in that very specific way that really means, "Let's just get through this." A couple of people are smiling like they've trained for it, a couple of people are mentally somewhere else, and someone is already asking how work is going even though nobody really means it. It's festive, it's warm, and somehow it's also tense in a way we all accept as part of the holiday menu—right between the side dishes and the unresolved history.

Then the story moves forward exactly the way it's expected. The dinner is technically happening… but nobody is really there. Someone looks like they're about to fall asleep at the table, the son passes food around like a robot running on low battery, and the whole thing feels more like a routine than a family moment. And that's when the daughter snaps. No big speech, no dramatic buildup, just boom, she's done. The table's loud, the energy's chaotic, and everyone's pretending this is wholesome, even though it's clearly chaos with food. So she storms off to her room, mid-meal, because apparently she's the only person who didn't come here to perform.

Now she's alone in a quiet room with a full deck of cards. The solitaire game appears the way it always does, not as a hobby, but as a response. One player, one deck, and the only conversation required is with the cards, which thankfully don't have opinions. Officially, she's taking a minute. Unofficially, she's rebuilding her sanity one card at a time.

Then the episode lands on the obvious lesson with complete confidence: Solitaire has always been a solo game, which shows up in moments like this, when someone needs a break from the room, the noise, and, in this case, the holiday dinner chaos. But this is Solitaire Without the Solitude, so it doesn't just end with her sitting on the floor "taking a minute" and pretending everything's fine. That's where Solitaire Clash comes in and changes the vibe, turning that same quiet escape into something competitive, social, and honestly... way more fun than disappearing mid-dinner.

So no, you're not playing solo anymore. Welcome to Solitaire Clash.

Across all three episodes, Solitaire doesn't really change; it just keeps finding new places to hide when people need a break. Here's where it landed before the holiday dinner chaos in Episode 3:

Episode 1: Solitaire Origins: Did Solitaire Originate in a 1700s French Prison?

Episode 2: 90s Office Culture: Solitaire in the 90s Office? Where people sit side by side in cubicles and still play completely alone.

At this point, the pattern is obvious. Different era, different setting, the same reason Solitaire shows up. It's the easiest escape for a minute without making it a whole thing.

And that's where Solitaire Clash changes the vibe. Same cards, same escape, just not solo anymore. Instead of disappearing into your own little corner, you can jump into multiplayer tournaments and turn that break into something competitive and social.

Episode 3 brings Solitaire into its most modern setting yet: The holiday table, where everyone is together, and someone still ends up needing an exit. The series doesn't judge it, it just documents it, and then leaves you with the obvious takeaway: Solitaire has always been the escape, and now it doesn't have to be a lonely one.

The Solitaire Without the Solitude series ends here, but the matches don't. Scan below and join Solitaire Clash today.