Hoyle Puzzle and Board Games 2011

Last updated: January 15, 2026

Overview

Hoyle Puzzle and Board Games 2011 is a compilation of classic board games, card games, and puzzle games released by Encore Software for Windows and Macintosh platforms¹². Despite its “2011” branding, the game was actually released in August 2010 in North America and November 2010 in PAL regions³⁴. The collection features 30 varieties of games along with a bonus match-3 game called Boonka with over 60 levels, making it one of the most comprehensive entries in the long-running Hoyle series⁵⁶.

The Hoyle series traces its roots back to Sierra On-Line’s 1989 release of Hoyle’s Official Book of Games, which was named after the 18th century playing card expert Edmond Hoyle⁷. The series originally used trademarks and designs from the Hoyle brand of playing cards under license from Brown & Bigelow⁷. Following Sierra’s dissolution, the Hoyle brand transitioned to Encore Software, which continued producing annual compilations¹⁸. The 2011 edition emphasizes that all games are “designed with rules according to HOYLE, the Official Name in Gaming”⁴⁶.

The game features the HOYLE Face Creator system, allowing players to design their own custom avatars to use against AI opponents or other players on the same computer⁵⁹. Players can earn HOYLE Bucks, an in-game currency used to unlock rewards and game bonuses, customize card backs, and personalize their gaming experience⁵⁶. The collection spans multiple genres including word games, strategy games, card games, board games, family favorites, brain teasers, and memory games⁶.

Game Info

Developer: Encore Software¹ Designer: Warren Schwader (series creator)⁷ Publisher: Encore Software (NA), Mindscape (PAL), Zoo Games¹⁴¹⁰ Engine: Proprietary Platforms: Windows, Macintosh²⁴ Release Year: 2010 Series: Hoyle Protagonist: Player Avatar Sierra Lineage: Post-Sierra

Games Included

Board Games

The collection includes several classic board game adaptations designed for solo play against AI or multiplayer on a single computer⁵. Traditional offerings include Backgammon, Checkers, Chinese Checkers, Chess, Dominoes, Pachisi, and Reversi⁹. These represent the core board gaming experience that has defined the Hoyle series since its third volume in 1991⁷.

Strategy and Puzzle Games

The 2011 edition features an array of strategy and puzzle games including Battling Ships, Bump ‘em, Crazy Contraptions, various tile games, Master Match, Maze Racer, Maze Raider, Panic, Placer Racer, Rays, Rummy Squares, Star Collector, Time Breaker, and Zilch⁹. The game also includes Sudoku puzzles, Mahjongg, and Hangman for word game enthusiasts³.

Card Games

Solitaire variants are represented through the Solitaire Arcade mode, along with Heartwild Solitaire from Sandlot Games, which is advertised as “all new” for this edition³. The series has a strong history with card games dating back to the original 1989 volume, which sold over 250,000 copies⁷.

Bonus Content

The game includes Boonka, a match-3 bonus game featuring over 60 levels and 15 unique power-ups⁵. This bonus content adds significant replay value beyond the core game collection.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Hoyle Puzzle and Board Games 2011 uses a point-and-click interface appropriate for its variety of game types⁶. Players navigate through a menu system to select their desired game, customize their avatar using the HOYLE Face Creator, and adjust settings for card backs and character appearances⁵⁹. The interface is designed for accessibility, with one reviewer noting it offers “easier navigation compared to 2012 version”⁵.

Structure and Progression

The game employs a rewards and bonuses system where players earn HOYLE Bucks by playing games⁵. These virtual credits can be spent in the Hoyle Bucks catalog to unlock customization options and game bonuses⁵. The progression system encourages players to explore all 30 game varieties to maximize their earnings.

Multiplayer Options

Players can challenge friends and family on one computer or play against the “witty and personable HOYLE characters”⁹. This continues the series tradition of AI opponents, though unlike the original Sierra releases, the 2011 edition does not feature famous Sierra game characters as opponents⁷. The original volumes famously featured humorous computer opponents drawn from other Sierra video game series, including Leisure Suit Larry and Princess Rosella⁷.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

The game received minimal critical attention from mainstream gaming publications. Metacritic lists the title but shows no critic reviews were aggregated¹¹. The ESRB rated the game “E for Everyone,” indicating its family-friendly content¹⁰³.

User Assessment

User reviews have been generally positive despite the lack of professional critical coverage. My Abandonware users rated the game 4.31 out of 5 based on 26 votes¹. Customer reviews describe it as “a good batch of quick games you can play when you just want to take a 5- or 10-minute break from your work”⁵. One enthusiastic user declared “It is the best games I have played. Love them all” while another stated “One of my favorite games to play!“¹.

Version Comparisons

User comparisons between the 2011 and 2012 editions note that the 2011 version includes 10 games not present in the 2012 version, while the 2012 version contains only 2 games not in the 2011 edition⁵. This makes the 2011 release arguably the more comprehensive package for collectors seeking the widest game selection.

Aggregate Scores:

• My Abandonware: 4.31/5 (26 votes)¹
• Metacritic: No critic score available¹¹

Development

Origins

The Hoyle series began in 1989 with Sierra On-Line’s release of Hoyle’s Official Book of Games Volume 1⁷. The original game was designed by Warren Schwader with music by Rob Atesalp, and used the Sierra Creative Interpreter (SCI) engine⁷. Working with SCI to implement card games and to code artificial intelligence for the characters proved challenging during the original development⁷.

Production

By 2010, the Hoyle brand had transitioned from Sierra to Encore Software, which continued the annual release tradition¹⁸. Development involved contributions from multiple studios including Dynamix, Inc. and Freeverse, Inc.¹. The game was distributed through various publishers including Encore Software in North America, Mindscape in Australia, and Zoo Games⁴¹⁰.

Series Evolution

The transition from Sierra to Encore marked a significant shift in the series’ character. The original Sierra releases featured humorous computer opponents drawn from other Sierra video game series, with Computer Gaming World noting that “interacting with Sierra characters in Volume 1 such as Leisure Suit Larry and Princess Rosella was fun, but annoying for those who preferred cards to humor”⁷. One customer support inquiry lamented: “I never encountered any issues with Hoyle games when they were produced by Sierra”⁸.

Technical Specifications

Windows Version:⁴⁶

• Operating System: Windows XP (Home & Pro) SP3, Windows Vista SP1, Windows 7
• Processor: Pentium IV 2.4 GHz processor or faster (Pentium III 450MHz minimum for basic operation)
• RAM: 512 MB (1 GB for Windows Vista & Windows 7)
• Display: 1024x768, 16-bit color, 64MB VRAM
• Storage: 3 GB Hard Disk Space (1 GB minimum)
• Drive: DVD-ROM drive
• Internet: 33.6 Kbps modem or faster for online features

Macintosh Version:⁴²

• Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4.11 through 10.6 (compatible up to 10.14)
• Processor: Intel Core Solo 1.5 GHz or higher
• RAM: 512 MB, 64MB VRAM
• Storage: 3 GB hard drive space
• Drive: DVD-ROM drive
• Binary Type: OSX Universal Binary

Download Version:⁶

• File Size: 844,736 KB (approximately 825 MB)
• Distributor: Arvato digital services Canada, Inc.

Technical Issues

The game suffered from several compatibility issues, particularly on 64-bit Windows systems¹². Users reported complete system freezing when attempting to launch the game on Windows 7 64-bit, requiring hard reboots¹². Tech support specialists suggested these issues might stem from compatibility problems requiring Windows XP mode to resolve¹².

Specific gameplay bugs were documented including audio issues in the Zilch game where “voices and sounds quit on second dice roll but return on third roll”⁸. The Pachisi game exhibited “difficulty placing tokens on circled spots versus regular spaces”⁸. These issues persisted across both Windows 7 and Windows XP systems⁸.

The Hoyle Bucks catalog contained bugs including “blank entries that say ‘Buy Now’ for zero bucks”⁵. Perhaps most concerning, users reported that “anti-virus and malware detectors flag installation as ‘unwanted software’”⁵, with one user noting their “anti-virus program screamed about that which was installed anyway so we let it excise the offending portions of the program”⁵.

Display issues were also reported, including the game appearing off-center on widescreen displays, and some users found a NoCD crack necessary to run the game properly¹.

Version History

Version	Date	Platform	Notes
Retail	August 19, 2010	PC	Initial North American release3
PAL Retail	November 4, 2010	PC/Mac	Australian/PAL region release4
Download	2011	PC	Digital distribution version6
Encore Classic Puzzle & Board Games	2020	PC	Re-released under new name7

Easter Eggs and Trivia

• The entire Hoyle series is named after Edmond Hoyle, an 18th century playing card expert who authored authoritative rules for various games⁷
• The original Sierra releases used trademarks and designs from the Hoyle brand of playing cards under license from Brown & Bigelow⁷
• The 2011 version was included in a Mac/PC hybrid disc format²
• Despite the “2011” branding, the game was released in 2010³⁴
• The retail version includes the manual on disc rather than as a physical booklet⁹

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

While specific sales figures for the 2011 edition are not available, the Hoyle series has historically been a strong performer. The original 1989 Sierra release sold over 250,000 copies, establishing the franchise as a viable product line⁷. The continued annual releases through 2011 and beyond demonstrate ongoing commercial viability for the brand.

Collections and Re-releases

Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games 2011 was re-released in 2020 as “Encore Classic Puzzle & Board Games,” demonstrating the game’s continued relevance even a decade after its original release⁷. The game has been available through various retailers including Office Depot (digital download), traditional gaming retailers, and Australian distributor Gamesmen⁴⁶.

Preservation Status

The game is currently available through software preservation sites including Macintosh Repository, where it is hosted as a four-part download totaling approximately 1.6GB². My Abandonware also hosts the title with a 1.3 GB download size¹. The Australian retailer listing notes the product is “No Longer Available” through official channels, indicating the game has entered the abandonware category⁴.

Related Publications

• On-Disc Manual: PDF manual included on installation disc⁹

Critical Perspective

Hoyle Puzzle and Board Games 2011 represents the final era of the long-running Hoyle series under the Encore Software banner before the brand’s eventual transition to budget re-releases. While it lacks the charm of the original Sierra releases—which featured beloved characters like Leisure Suit Larry as card game opponents—the 2011 edition offers the most comprehensive collection of games in the series’ history.

The game occupies an unusual position in gaming history: it’s neither a critically acclaimed title nor a commercial failure, but rather a utilitarian compilation serving a niche audience of casual gamers and board game enthusiasts. Computer Gaming World’s early assessment that the original Hoyle games were “really children’s games and offer no great excitement” remains somewhat applicable to the 2011 edition⁷, though the expanded game selection and customization options provide more value than earlier volumes.

The technical issues plaguing the release—from 64-bit compatibility problems to antivirus false positives—reflect the challenges of maintaining legacy software in an evolving computing environment. These issues contributed to the game’s relatively quiet reception compared to the enthusiastic response the original Sierra releases generated in the early 1990s.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

• No longer available through official retail channels⁴

Download / Preservation

• Macintosh Repository – Mac/PC Hybrid version²
• My Abandonware – Windows version¹

Series Continuity

Hoyle Puzzle and Board Games 2011 continues the long tradition of Hoyle-branded game compilations that began with Sierra On-Line in 1989. The original series progressed through multiple volumes: Volume 1 (1989) focused on card games, Volume 2 (1990) featured 28 solitaire variations, and Volume 3 (1991) introduced board games using a VGA engine⁷. After Sierra’s dissolution, Encore Software acquired the rights and continued producing annual Hoyle compilations.

The 2011 edition represents one of the most complete packages in the series’ history, featuring more games than previous versions and incorporating modern features like the Face Creator avatar system. The game was succeeded by Hoyle Puzzle and Board Games 2012, though users noted the 2011 version actually contains more games (10 additional titles compared to 2 exclusive to the 2012 release)⁵.

• Previous: 2010 - Hoyle Puzzle and Board Games 2010
• Next: 2011 - Hoyle Puzzle and Board Games 2012

References

Footnotes

1. My Abandonware – Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games – user ratings, developer credits, download information, user testimonials ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹²

2. Macintosh Repository – Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games 2011 – Mac compatibility, release year, file size, platform information ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

3. Metacritic – Hoyle Puzzle and Board Games 2011 – release date, publisher, ESRB rating, game summary ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

4. Gamesmen Australia – PC Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games 2011 – PAL release date, system requirements, publisher, pricing, product specifications ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹²

5. Desertcart – Encore Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games 2011 – game features, user reviews, technical issues, version comparisons ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵

6. Office Depot – Hoyle Puzzle and Board Games 2011 – technical specifications, game categories, download version details, product description ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹

7. Wikipedia – Hoyle’s Official Book of Games – series history, original developers, designers, composers, sales data, re-release information, series trivia ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸

8. JustAnswer – Hoyle Puzzle Board Games Zilch Issue – gameplay bugs, audio issues, Sierra comparison, user testimonials ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

9. PicClick – Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games – included games list, game features, system requirements, manual information ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

10. Blu-ray.com – Hoyle Puzzle and Board Games 2011 – publisher (Zoo Games), ESRB rating ↩ ↩² ↩³

11. Metacritic – User Reviews – absence of user reviews noted ↩ ↩²

12. JustAnswer – Windows 7 64-bit Compatibility – compatibility issues, system freezing, technical troubleshooting ↩ ↩² ↩³