Mahjong Games Online
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Mahjong Online Games
Play mahjong in your browser right now. Pick a mode classic Solitaire, Connect, or 3D and match open tiles to clear the board. No download needed, works on desktop and mobile. New to mahjong? Start with an easy layout and use hints only when stuck.
Start here: choose your style
- Mahjong Solitaire (tile-matching, single-player) the most common online mode.
- Mahjong Connect pair identical tiles that can be linked with 1-3 lines.
- 3D Mahjong rotate a 3D stack and match open pairs.
- Traditional (Chinese/Hong Kong/Riichi) & American Mah Jongg 4-player tabletop rules; usually not the same as online Solitaire.
How to play (quick guide)
- Find two identical tiles that are unblocked: nothing on top, and at least one free side (left or right).
- Match pairs to remove them and open lower layers.
- Prefer pairs that free up the most tiles; avoid locking the board early.
- Use hint or shuffle only if you're stuck; shuffles often add time.
Common tiles and suits you'll see: Dots (Circles), Bamboo, Characters, plus Winds and Dragons; some sets also include Flowers and Seasons.
Mahjong variants: what's different?
Most online games use Mahjong Solitaire logic. Traditional 4-player mahjong uses 136 tiles (or 144 with Flowers and Seasons) and aims for a 14-tile winning hand built from four sets and a pair.
Solitaire vs. Traditional vs. American
| Variant | Objective | Tiles | Avg. session | Key skills | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahjong Solitaire | Clear the board by matching open pairs | Typically 144 layout tiles | 2-10 minutes | Pattern recognition, planning | Easy → Medium |
| Mahjong Connect | Match pairs that can be linked by up to 3 lines | Varies by layout | 3-10 minutes | Speed, pathfinding | Easy → Medium |
| 3D Mahjong | Rotate a 3D stack, match open pairs | Varies by levels | 3-8 minutes | Spatial vision, quick decisions | Medium |
| Traditional (Chinese/HK/Riichi) | Make 4 sets + 1 pair (14 tiles) via draws/discards | 136; 144 with Flowers/Seasons | ~15 min per hand | Tile efficiency, defense, reading | Medium → Hard |
| American Mah Jongg | Form hands from the yearly card (NMJL) | Typically 152+ incl. jokers | ~10-15 min per hand | Card knowledge, set building | Medium → Hard |
Rules basics: sets, tiles, timing
- Sets in traditional mahjong: Chow (sequence of 3 in one suit), Pung (three of a kind), Kong (four of a kind), plus a Pair.
- Tile suits: Bamboo, Characters, Dots; Honors: Winds, Dragons; Bonuses: Flowers, Seasons.
- Timers and scoring: some online games reward faster clears with multipliers; others are relaxed with no timer.
- Hints and shuffles: useful, but can reduce your score or add time penalties.
Beginner tips
- Open the board: match pairs that free the most covered tiles.
- Avoid removing the only two copies of a tile early if it blocks progress later.
- Horizontal long tiles are harder to free; prioritize them when it helps.
- It's ok to take a hint when truly stuck, just don't rely on it every time.
FAQ
What's the difference between Mahjong and Mahjong Solitaire?
Mahjong (traditional) is a 4-player draw-and-discard game. Mahjong Solitaire is a single‑player tile-matching puzzle common online.
How many tiles are in a mahjong set?
Often 136. Many sets add Flowers and Seasons for a total of 144. American sets include jokers and can be larger.
How do I know a tile is "open" in Solitaire?
It has no tile on top and at least one free side (left or right). Only open tiles can be matched.
How long does one game take?
Online Solitaire/Connect/3D boards usually take a few minutes. A traditional 4-player hand is about 15 minutes.
Is mahjong luck or skill?
Both. Good pattern recognition and planning consistently improve results; luck still affects draws and layouts.
Ready to play? Choose a mode you like, start with an easy layout, then ramp up the challenge at your pace.