Objective
Remove all the tiles from the board by matching pairs. You can only match free tiles, so careful planning is essential.
Mahjong Solitaire
Rules
Free Tiles
A tile is free if:
- No tile is covering it.
- At least one of its long sides (left or right) is completely open.
Only free tiles can be selected and removed.
Making Matches
- Select one free tile.
- Select a second free tile with the same design.
- If they match, both tiles are removed from the board.
Removing tiles may uncover or free additional tiles.
Special Tiles
Flowers
Flower tiles are considered a matching set. Any free Flower tile can be matched with any other free Flower tile.
Seasons
Season tiles also form a matching set. Any free Season tile can be matched with any other free Season tile.
Winning
You win by removing every tile from the layout.
Losing
If no matching pairs of free tiles remain, the game cannot continue.
History
Although it uses traditional Mahjong tiles, Mahjong Solitaire is not the same as the classic four-player Chinese game. Instead, it is a single-player puzzle that challenges players to remove matching pairs of tiles from a layered arrangement.
The game was created in 1981 by computer programmer Brodie Lockard for the PLATO computer system. Its popularity grew rapidly after Activision released "Shanghai" in 1986, introducing Mahjong Solitaire to millions of home computer players. The game's simple rules, strategic gameplay, and relaxing pace made it an enduring favorite.
Today, Mahjong Solitaire is available on nearly every gaming platform, from desktop computers to smartphones and web browsers. Hundreds of layouts, themes, and rule variations have been created, but the core objective remains the same: clear the board by matching free pairs of tiles using careful planning and strategy.
- Release Date
- June 21, 2026
- Related
- Fruition, Mahjong Toss, T2K
- Categories
- games, casual, mobile, new, classic