Mahjongplay the classic tile-matching solitaire online, free
Clear the 144-tile Turtle by matching pairs of free tiles. Unlimited undo, hints, and a shuffle that keeps every board solvable — no download, no sign-up, right in your browser.
Time
0:00
Pairs
72
Matches
0
Match free tiles two at a time to clear all 144 tiles of the Turtle.
Match every pair of free tiles to clear the board
What is Mahjong solitaire
The 144-tile matching puzzle
Mahjong solitaire is a single-player game played with the tiles of a mahjong set, stacked face-up in the Turtle shape. You clear the board by matching pairs of free tiles — a tile is free when nothing covers it and one side is open. Any two Flowers match, and any two Seasons match; everything else needs its exact twin. Remove all 72 pairs to win.
- Every board is solvable
- Each deal is built from a known solution, so a complete path always exists. Undo and a solvable shuffle are there for when you take a wrong turn.
- Plays in your browser
- No download, no install, no plugins. mahjonggame.app deals a board the moment the page loads, on desktop and mobile.
- Undo, hints, shuffle
- Unlimited one-tap undo, a hint that points to a live matching pair, and a shuffle that rearranges the remaining tiles without ending the game.
- Progress saved locally
- Best time, best score, win rate, and win streak are stored on your device — never on a server, and no account needed.
How to play
How to play Mahjong solitaire
Read the Turtle, find the free tiles, and match identical pairs to lift them off. Clear all 72 pairs to win.
- 1
Read the layout
All 144 tiles are stacked face-up in the Turtle shape — an eight-row base with a tail and neck, then smaller blocks stepping up to a single tile on top. The centre rises five layers high, so most tiles start buried.
- 2
Find the free tiles
A tile is free when no tile lies on top of it and either its left or its right long edge is clear. Only free tiles can be taken. Free tiles sit full-strength; blocked tiles are dimmed.
- 3
Match pairs to remove them
Tap one free tile to pick it up, then tap a second free tile with the same face to lift both off. Any two Flowers match each other, and any two Seasons match each other; every other tile matches only its exact twin.
- 4
Clear the board
Removing tiles frees the ones they were covering or blocking. Keep pairing until all 72 pairs are gone. If you run out of moves, Shuffle re-deals the remaining tiles into a position that can still be solved.
Tips to clear more boards
- Always take the tile that opens the most new tiles — usually one from the top layers or the end of a long row.
- Free the long bottom rows early. Tiles trapped in the middle of a row need both ends cleared before they move.
- Before you match a pair, check where the other two copies of that face are. Removing one pair can strand the other.
- When all four copies of a face are free, it is usually safe to clear two of them right away.
- Keep at least one matchable pair in reserve rather than clearing every free match the instant you see it.
- Use a hint when you have scanned the board and genuinely cannot find a move — it points at a live pair, not the best one.
- Shuffle is a reset, not a defeat. It is better to shuffle a stuck board than to undo twenty moves guessing.
FAQ
Mahjong, answered
Straight answers about the free Mahjong solitaire tile game you can play online in your browser.
What is Mahjong solitaire?
Mahjong solitaire is a single-player puzzle played with the 144 tiles of a mahjong set. The tiles are stacked face-up in a fixed shape — most often the Turtle. You remove tiles two at a time by matching identical free tiles, and you win when the whole layout is cleared. It is also sold as Mahjong, Mahjong Tiles, or Shanghai.
Is Mahjong free to play online here?
Yes. mahjonggame.app is completely free and runs entirely in your browser. There is nothing to buy, download, or install, and there are no interruptive video ads, premium tiers, or paywalls. Open the page and a board is already dealt.
How is this different from four-player mahjong?
Four-player mahjong is a game of draw-and-discard where players build a winning hand, similar in spirit to rummy. Mahjong solitaire uses the same tiles but is a single-player matching puzzle with no opponents, no scoring hands, and no betting. This site is the solitaire version.
When is a tile "free"?
A tile is free — and therefore selectable — when no tile covers any part of it from a higher layer, and at least one of its left or right long edges has no tile beside it on the same layer. A tile boxed in on both sides, or with anything resting on top, is locked until those tiles are removed.
Which tiles match which?
Two free tiles match when they show the same face: the same number and suit (for Circles, Bamboo, and Characters), the same Wind, or the same Dragon. The four Flower tiles all match one another, and the four Season tiles all match one another, so those eight bonus tiles do not need an exact twin.
What tiles are in the set?
The 144 tiles are: Circles, Bamboo, and Characters numbered 1–9 with four copies each (108); four copies each of the East, South, West, and North Winds (16); four copies each of the Red, Green, and White Dragons (12); and one each of four Flowers and four Seasons (8).
What layout do you use?
The classic Turtle (also called the Dragon): an eight-row base slab with a one-tile tail on the left and a two-tile neck on the right, topped by a 6×6 block, a 4×4 block, a 2×2 block, and a single head tile — five layers at the centre.
Is every Mahjong solitaire board winnable?
On this site, yes — every board is dealt from a known solution, so a complete path always exists. That does not make it easy: removing the wrong pair can still strand tiles. If you reach a dead end, Undo steps back through your matches and Shuffle rearranges the remaining tiles into a fresh solvable position.
Does the game save my progress?
Your best time, best score, games played, win rate, and current and longest win streak are saved locally in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server and there is no account. Because the save lives on the device, a different phone, a new browser profile, or cleared site data looks like a fresh start. A board in progress is not saved if you close the tab.
Can I play Mahjong on mobile?
Yes. The layout is built for touch: the full Turtle and its toolbar fit on one portrait screen, tiles are sized for a thumb, and dealing a new board is instant with no page reload.