About Mahjong Match
Mahjong solitaire is one of the most-played tile games in the world, with Vita Mahjong, Mahjong Blast and similar titles ranking highly in the board and puzzle charts. Our version uses large, easy-to-read ivory tiles in layers.
It is a single-player matching game: it uses tiles similar to traditional Mahjong but not the rules of the four-player game.
Mahjong Match at a glance
| Genre | Match game |
|---|---|
| Price | Free, no download or sign-up |
| Controls | Tap |
| Typical game length | 3 to 8 minutes per level |
| Lives | 3 per level |
| Works on | Phones, tablets and computers, in any modern browser |
| Daily challenge | Yes, the same puzzle for everyone each day |
How to play Mahjong Match
- Find a free tile. Blocked tiles look dimmed.
- Tap two matching free tiles. They clear together.
- Open up the stack. Clearing edge and top tiles frees the tiles beneath.
- Clear every tile. To finish the level.
Rules
- If no pairs are left, you lose a heart and the tiles reshuffle. 3 hearts per level.
- Hint shows a matching pair (3 per game). Shuffle mixes the tiles left (2 per game).
Levels and difficulty
Layouts grow from about 40 tiles on 2 layers to over 100 tiles on 5 layers.
Scoring
Each pair scores points, with a bonus for each cleared level. Harder tags multiply points. Daily challenge scores can be shared with friends.
Tips and strategy for Mahjong Match
- Prioritize tiles on top of tall stacks: they are blocking the most tiles.
- If four copies of a tile are free, clear the pair that frees more tiles.
- Work from the ends of long rows inward.
- Save Shuffle for real dead ends.
History of the game
Computer Mahjong solitaire was popularized by "Mah-Jongg", created by Brodie Lockard for the PLATO system in 1981, and later by many home-computer versions.
How we built and tested Mahjong Match
Every layout is built from a guaranteed clearing order: we pair tiles only when both are free at the same time, so every level can be fully cleared.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a tile free?
Nothing is on top of it, and its left or right side is open.
Is this real Mahjong?
It is Mahjong solitaire, a matching puzzle using Mahjong-style tiles, not the four-player game.
Can I get stuck?
Rarely, if you pick pairs in an unlucky order. Then the tiles reshuffle at the cost of a heart.