Basics and Improvement for Solo, Offline Mahjong
Published
Many beginners want to learn mahjong from scratch, but feel anxious about time limits or pressure when facing real players. Having an environment where you can play mahjong solo and offline solves this. You can progress through matches at your own pace even without an internet signal, making it ideal for cementing the basics.
Playing solo lets you set the discard turn timer to "None" (it is set to None by default), allowing you to evaluate your hand structure and yaku requirements with complete calm before making choices.
Basics of Four-Player Mahjong and the Benefits of Solo Practice
Standard Japanese play uses 4-player Japanese riichi mahjong rules. Matches start with each player holding 25,000 points and use 136 tiles across characters, circles, and bamboo suit tiles plus honor tiles. Solo East-only games (a short match lasting through East 4) are optimal for experiencing the full flow in a short time.
Here is a summary of essential terms and concepts that beginners should grasp when playing a match.
- Tenpai: The state where your hand is just 1 tile away from completion to achieve a win.
- Riichi: A 1-han yaku you can declare when tenpai with a closed hand (no calling), having at least 1,000 points and at least 4 tiles remaining in your wall. You deposit 1,000 points, and all subsequent draws are tsumogiri.
- Calling (chii, pon, kan): Taking another player's discard to complete a set. Chii can only be called from the player on the left, while pon can be called from any opponent.
- One-han minimum: The rule stating you must satisfy at least 1 yaku to win. Holding dora alone does not allow you to win.
Against computer opponents offline, you can deliberate for as many minutes as needed before calling or discarding. Trying various wait formations without fear of failure is a major advantage unique to solo play.
Play in the app
The quickest way to absorb the concepts is to play and test them. Face computer opponents solo at your own pace, even where there is no internet connection.
Free to play. Contains ads. No in-app purchases.
Begin Your Conquest with Jankokushi: Features and How to Play
For practicing the basics on your own, look no further than "Jankokushi: A Mahjong March". Journeying across the Three Kingdoms era, this mahjong title pits you against computer players in 4-player East-only games. All match processing takes place directly on your device, allowing you to play offline with total peace of mind.
For first-timers, an 8-step "How to Play" mode guides you through actual tile actions: checking starting hands, discarding, declaring riichi, claiming wins by ron or tsumo, and understanding scoring.
The key rules and settings featured in this title are shown in the table below.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tiles used | 136 tiles (1 red five each in characters, circles, bamboo; 3 total) |
| Core rules | Open Tanyao allowed, atozuke allowed, one-han minimum |
| Match format | East-only game (through East 4), starting with 25,000 points each |
| Connection and timer | On-device play (no connection required); discard timer selectable from None / 15s / 30s (starts at None) |
| Account | No registration required; save data stored locally on device |
Requiring no account registration, the game is designed to let anyone take their first steps into mahjong effortlessly.
Mastering Yaku with the Yaku Compendium and Ranked Matches
Learning yaku is essential to achieve a win in mahjong. The fastest route to improvement is gradually learning basic 1-han yaku such as Pinfu, All Simples (Tanyao), and yakuhai like White, Green, and Red dragons.
Tapping the name of a yaku on the victory screen displays an explanation of it. Between matches, you can review a list covering all 45 yaku, and any yaku you have won with is recorded in the "Yaku Compendium." The fun of filling in unknown yaku helps naturally reinforce your knowledge.
There are 12 "March Ranks" that rise with your match performance against the computer. In ranked matches, you face opponents matching your current skill level, enabling a smooth, step-by-step progression.
Across 3 strongholds visited during your journey, 9 distinct opponents appear, including a special rule set in Hanzhong where calling is disabled. Take advantage of an environment where you can focus solo without worrying about connectivity, and hone your ability to spot yaku and read waits.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play even when there is no mobile reception?
Yes, you can. Match processing runs entirely on your device, so you can play solo without any issues in areas with poor reception or completely offline.
Is there a time limit for discarding tiles from the hand?
You can choose between None, 15 seconds, and 30 seconds. It defaults to "None," so you can play at your own pace. You can think through wait shapes and yaku requirements before discarding a tile.
Can I win just by holding dora tiles?
You cannot win with dora alone. Because of the one-han minimum rule, you need at least 1 yaku such as riichi, All Simples, or yakuhai.
Can acquired points be exchanged for physical prizes?
They cannot be exchanged. Points are strictly for in-game use and cannot be converted into physical prizes.
Play in the app
Sit at the table with Three Kingdoms heroes and embark on a march for the realm in the mahjong RPG Jankokushi—ready to test your riichi and newly learned yaku?
Free to play. Contains ads. No in-app purchases.