Mahjong Solitaire
Mahjong Solitaire is the single-player tile puzzle most people mean when they search for mahjong online. You clear a stacked layout by matching identical free tiles until the board is empty. It is not the four-player table game — there is no turn order, no scoring patterns to declare, and no opponents. Overseas players who type “mahjong” into a search box are often looking for this relaxing match-and-clear experience first.
What Mahjong Solitaire is — and what it is not
Mahjong Solitaire and Mahjong Connect use the same tiles but are different puzzles. Solitaire stacks tiles in layers: you only take a tile that is free on top with an open side. Connect lays every tile flat on a grid and asks you to join two identical faces with a path of at most two turns. If you want a layered clear-the-mountain feel, stay with Solitaire. If you prefer a flat maze, open Mahjong Connect instead.
Layouts differ mainly by shape and height. Turtle builds a tall, symmetric mountain that feels dense in the middle. Pyramid rises in stepped tiers and usually plays a little more open. Both are the same matching game — the difference is how crowded the free edges feel as you dig down.
Traditional four-player mahjong is a turn-based table game of melds, discards and scoring. Solitaire is a solitary puzzle that only shares the artwork. When you want a fixed classic layout such as turtle or pyramid, open Mahjong Solitaire Classic for the playable board.
Want a fixed classic layout (turtle / pyramid)? Open Mahjong Solitaire Classic.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I play Solitaire or Connect?
- Choose Solitaire for stacked layouts and matching free tiles. Choose Connect when you want a flat grid and path-finding between identical tiles. They are siblings, not the same game.
- Which is better for absolute beginners?
- Solitaire is usually gentler: the goal is simply to clear the board. Connect adds path limits that can feel trickier on the first try.
- How does this relate to four-player mahjong?
- Only the tiles look familiar. Four-player mahjong is a multiplayer table game with scoring. Solitaire is a one-player puzzle with no discards and no fan counting.
- Do I need to download or register?
- No. Open the classic board in your browser and play free. An account is optional and only saves progress if you want it.
Related reading
Guides that help you choose a game and learn the tiles.