Mahjong is a tile game that comes from China, where it took shape in the 1800s. It is usually played by four players around a table. Each player works to complete a hand of tiles. In Mahjong Island, you win by matching 14 tiles to one hand on the Island Card.
Where did Mahjong Island spread?
Mahjong spread around the world in the 1900s. It became popular in the United States in the 1920s. Today there are many regional styles. They include Chinese, Hong Kong, Japanese Riichi, and American mahjong.
What is Mahjong Island?
Mahjong Island is American-style mahjong on its own card of hands, the Island Card. It keeps the familiar tiles, the Charleston, Jokers, and Flowers. The Island Card 2027 has 45 hands in 9 sections. Each month adds 3 new Bonus Hands.
What does a hand look like?
Each hand on the card is written as groups of identical tiles. A Pair is 2 identical tiles. A Set (called a pung in traditional mahjong) is 3 identical tiles. A Quad is 4.
Your 14 tiles must match one line on the card. Some lines also ask for numbers in a row, like 1-2-3-4-5, as Singles. A Joker can fill a Set, Quad, Quint, or Sextet. It can never fill a Single or a Pair.
One tip for your first hand
How can you try it?
Mahjong Island is free to play at mahjongisland.com. You play a hand against 3 bots in your browser, with no sign-up and no download. The bots play by the same rules and never see your hidden tiles.
For a step-by-step start, read how to play Mahjong Island. To see the hands on the card, browse Mahjong Island winning hands. For a short challenge each day, try the Daily Puzzle.