Mahjong Solitaire
A single-player tile-matching puzzle game that uses Mahjong tiles but has no relation to the actual game of Mahjong. Players remove matching pairs of tiles from a layered formation until the board is cleared.
What Is Mahjong Solitaire?
Mahjong Solitaire, also known as Shanghai, Taipei, or simply "Mahjong" on many gaming websites, is a single-player puzzle game that uses Mahjong tiles arranged in a multi-layered formation. The player removes tiles by clicking matching pairs that are "free" (not blocked by adjacent or overlying tiles). The goal is to clear all tiles from the board.
Despite sharing a name and using the same tile imagery, Mahjong Solitaire has nothing to do with actual Mah Jongg. It is not a simplified version of the game, not a practice tool, and not related to American or Asian Mahjong in any strategic or mechanical way. The only connection is that both use tiles decorated with suits, Dragons, Winds, and Flowers.
Mahjong Solitaire was created in 1981 by Brodie Lockard for the PLATO computer system and was later popularized as "Shanghai" by Activision in 1986. It became one of the most widely played computer games of all time, preinstalled on millions of PCs and available on every major gaming platform. Its enormous popularity has had an ironic side effect: many people believe they are playing "Mahjong" when they play the solitaire version, creating widespread confusion about what the real game actually is.
Mahjong Solitaire vs. Real Mahjong
If you have only played Mahjong Solitaire and are curious about the real game, here are the key differences:
- Players, Real Mahjong is a four-player game. Solitaire is single-player
- Objective, In real Mahjong, you build a specific hand pattern from the NMJL card. In Solitaire, you match and remove pairs
- Strategy, Real Mahjong involves hand selection, defense, reading opponents, and risk management. Solitaire is a pattern-recognition puzzle
- Social element, Real Mahjong is fundamentally a social game played with other people. Solitaire is a solo pastime
- Skill involved, Real Mahjong combines skill, strategy, and luck over hundreds of decisions per game. Solitaire involves some strategy in choosing which pairs to remove first, but most of the outcome depends on the initial layout
If you enjoy Mahjong Solitaire, you may well enjoy learning the real game, but understand that they are completely different experiences. The real game of American Mahjong offers far more depth, social interaction, and strategic challenge. Many players who discover real Mahjong after years of playing the solitaire version wish they had found it sooner.