Home Mahjong (1984)

by Nish
written by Nish 5 minutes read

Summary

Home Mahjong (1984)

Home Mahjong is a digital rendition of the classic Chinese game of mahjong, released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1984. It is a single-player game where the player plays against three computer-controlled opponents. The goal of the game is to be the first player to complete a hand of 14 tiles, consisting of four melds (groups of three or four tiles) and a pair (two identical tiles).

Gameplay

The game is played on a square table with a raised edge. The tiles are stacked in the center of the table, and each player has a rack in front of them. The player’s rack can hold up to 13 tiles.

To start the game, each player draws 13 tiles from the stack. The player to the left of the dealer then draws one tile from the stack and adds it to their hand. The player then discards one tile from their hand. Play continues clockwise around the table, with each player drawing and discarding one tile until one player completes a hand.

There are four different types of melds:

  • Pong: A set of three identical tiles.
  • Kong: A set of four identical tiles.
  • Chow: A sequence of three tiles in the same suit.
  • Eye: A pair of identical tiles.

A hand must consist of four melds and a pair. The melds can be of any type, but the pair must be an eye.

Once a player has completed a hand, they can call out “Mahjong!” and the game is over. The player who called Mahjong wins the game, and the other players lose.

Scoring

The scoring in Home Mahjong is based on the tiles that are used to complete the hand. The following table shows the points for each type of tile:

Tile Points
Numbered tile 1
Wind tile 5
Dragon tile 10

The player who wins the game receives the total number of points for the tiles in their hand. The other players lose the number of points that they have in their hands.

Strategy

There are many different strategies that can be used to win at Home Mahjong. Some of the most common strategies include:

  • Going for a concealed hand: A concealed hand is a hand that is completed without drawing any tiles from the stack. Concealed hands are worth more points than hands that are completed with drawn tiles.
  • Going for a big hand: A big hand is a hand that has a lot of high-scoring tiles. Big hands are worth more points than small hands.
  • Blocking your opponents: Blocking your opponents is a strategy that involves discarding tiles that your opponents need to complete their hands. This can help you to prevent your opponents from winning the game.

Reception

Home Mahjong was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its accurate gameplay, challenging AI, and fun factor. The game has been ported to many different platforms over the years, and it remains popular today.

Conclusion

Home Mahjong is a classic mahjong game that is still enjoyed by many people today. It is a challenging and rewarding game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you are a fan of mahjong, then you should definitely check out Home Mahjong.

Additional Information

  • Developer: Nintendo
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Release Date: 1984
  • Platform: NES
  • Genre: Puzzle
  • Number of Players: 1-4

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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Nish is a software engineer by day and avid gamer who loves to play video games after he puts his two boys to bed. His insights delve into the mechanics, and storytelling of the games he plays with the aim to share his passion with the audience. He loves to travel back to his native India and travel the country on his restored Royal Enfield Bullet 350, a relic from a simpler time, like some of the games he plays.

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