Traditional mahjong is usually played by four players around a table. On Mahjong Island you need only yourself, because the other three seats are bots. You can sit down and play a full hand on your own.
Mahjong is a tile game from China, where it took shape in the 1800s. It became popular in the United States in the 1920s. Mahjong Island is American-style mahjong, played on its own Island Card.
Can you play Mahjong Island alone?
Yes. On Mahjong Island you play alone against 3 bots. The bots play by the same rules as you. They never see your hidden tiles.
Mahjong Island is free at mahjongisland.com. You can start a hand in your browser right away. There is no sign-up and no download. The guide to playing Mahjong Island online free shows how to begin.
What is each player trying to build?
All four players race to finish one hand on the Island Card. The Island Card is Mahjong Island's own card of hands. A winning hand is 14 tiles that match one line on the card.
Each line is written as groups of identical tiles. A Pair is 2 identical tiles. A Set is 3, and a Quad is 4. Some lines also ask for numbers in a row, like 1-2-3-4-5.
The Island Card 2027 has 45 hands in 9 sections. Each month adds 3 Bonus Hands. You can see them all in Mahjong Island Winning Hands.
Want the full picture first? Read how to play Mahjong Island, step by step. Or meet the suits, Winds, and Dragons in Mahjong Island Tiles Explained.