Whether you are looking for mahjong for seniors, for a parent whose eyes tire on busy screens, or simply for a game you can read without leaning in, the same things matter: tiles you can see, rules that stay out of the way, and no rush. This page explains what Plum Mahjong does about each of them, in specifics rather than promises.
Why the tiles stay big
Many mahjong solitaire games use the traditional 144-tile layout, which is wide and low. Squeeze one onto a phone and each tile becomes a thumbnail. Plum Mahjong takes a different approach: every one of its 17 layouts fits within six tiles across and seven rows down, and builds depth with layers stacked on top instead of width. A phone held upright shows every tile at a comfortable size.
- Boards range from 12 tiles on the first level to 110 on the largest layouts, but never get wider.
- As you clear a board, the remaining tiles grow larger, up to almost half again their starting size. The zoom only changes after a large part of the board has cleared, never after each match, so tiles do not move out from under your finger.
- On a tablet or computer, the board simply has more room, and the tiles grow to match.
Seeing which tiles are free
In mahjong solitaire you may only take a tile that is free: nothing lies on top of it, and its left or right side is open. Working that out by eye is the most tiring part of many versions. Plum Mahjong does it for you.
- Free tiles get a bright top edge, and blocked tiles sit in a soft shade. The difference is in light and shadow, not only in color, so it works for color-blind players too.
- Tiles that are stacked show their thickness, so you can see which layer is on top.
- Peek: press and hold any tile you cannot take yet to see it. A partly covered tile lifts so its whole face shows, and a face-down tile shows a soft preview. Let go and it settles back. Peeking never makes a move.
Tiles you can tell apart
Plum Mahjong mixes traditional mahjong tiles with illustrated picture tiles: a koi, a paper lantern, a whale, a teacup. The pictures are drawn large and simple, with strong outlines, so they read at a glance. Picture sets that look alike, such as garden plants and flowers, or sky and winter scenes, are never put on the same board.
Traditional tiles carry small corner numbers by default: 1 to 9 on the suit tiles and N, E, S or W on the winds. You do not need to read Chinese characters to play. If you prefer, a single setting changes every picture into a traditional tile, and the board plays exactly the same. The guide to mahjong tiles shows both kinds.
Your own pace
Solo boards and the Daily have no time limit. A clock records your time, but it only matters if you want to compare it, and it does not start until your first tap, so you can study the board first. Leave in the middle of a board and it is kept for you.
- No sign-up, no email and no password.
- There are no ads and no in-app purchases.
- New ideas, such as hidden tiles, ice and locks, arrive one at a time, each with a short note the first time you meet it. The first ten levels use pictures only, starting with a board of just 12 tiles.
- Every board can be solved. Each deal is built backwards from a cleared table.
Help when you want it
Three helpers sit under the board: Hint shows a good next move, Undo takes back your last move, and Shuffle rearranges the remaining tiles into a new position that can still be solved. You start with three of each and earn coins for more just by playing.
If the tray fills up, the first rescue on each board is free: your last tile goes back and you carry on. Lose the same board three times in a row and the game gives you a free Shuffle.
For a completely unhurried game, open Free Play and choose Relaxed: fewer kinds of tile, no obstacles, and unlimited helpers that cost no stars.
Settings worth knowing
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Game mode | Tray mode (the default) or classic pairs, where you simply pick two matching free tiles. Classic pairs has no tray to manage. |
| Tile style | Illustrated, or Classic only, which shows traditional tiles throughout. |
| Corner numbers | Small numbers on suit tiles and compass letters on winds. On by default. |
| Dim blocked tiles | Puts blocked tiles in shade so the free ones stand out. On by default. |
| Tray hints | An optional assist: free tiles that match something in your tray glow softly. |
| Sound | On or off. |
Settings also has Practice the tray tutorial, a short guided board you can replay any time.
Large text, motion and screen readers
- Large text and zoom: the game’s screens are built to hold up at 200% browser zoom and with Android’s largest font size. The home screen scrolls rather than squeezing.
- Reduced motion: if your device is set to reduce motion, the game turns its animations off.
- Screen readers: each tile has a spoken name, such as “3 of Circles” or “Koi, blocked”, and the game announces matches and what is in the tray.
- Keyboard: on a computer, Tab moves between free tiles and Enter or Space takes one. Hold Space on a tile to peek.
Tablets, computers and the home screen
Plum Mahjong runs in the web browser on phones, tablets and computers. A tablet is a lovely way to play: the board gets more room and the tiles get bigger. On a computer, make the window full screen for the largest tiles of all.
Add the game to your home screen from the browser’s share or menu button and it opens like an app, without the browser’s bars. Once it has loaded, it keeps working offline. Apps for iPhone, iPad and Android are coming soon.
New to mahjong solitaire? The how to play guide covers the rules in two minutes, and the Daily gives you one fresh board each day.