A rich, uncertain history

Mahjong is an ancient matching game of Chinese origin. Its actual creation is a mystery, but there are theories. One of the myths is that it was invented around 500 BC by Confucius. Yes, that Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher. According to the myth, the philosopher was fond of birds, hence the name Mahjong, which means Sparrow. As much as I would love to think that this game was handed down by Confucius himself, most think that this origin is only a legend.

A lot of historians think the game is based on an old card game called Madiao, which comes from the early Ming Dynasty. Another theory also suggests the game came from Madiao, but that it was two brothers from Ningpo that created it around 1850. Some think that it was created by Chinese army officers during the Taiping Rebellion to pass the time. One theory is that the game was invented in the 1800s by a nobleman living around Shanghai.

In 1949, the game was banned in the People's Republic of China, as it was seen as gambling and a symbol of capitalist corruption. Eventually the game was dissociated with gambling and in 1985 the prohibition was lifted, and the game became a favorite pastime in the country.

What makes Mahjong so amazing is its rich, mysterious past. You'll certainly see the game in a different light after knowing of its complex origin.

Mahjong lessons

The first thing that stuck out to me as unique about Mahjong Memoirs is its well-crafted story. Most games of this type don't offer stories, and when they do, they're clearly tacked on. The tale told here is a fairly engaging love story that makes this more than just your average game. It takes place in Kyoto, Japan, and in the beginning of the game you find a photograph of a couple from 1937 just lying in the street. You find the woman it belongs to and it just so happens that she teaches Mahjong, and she offers to give you free lessons for returning her picture.

As you play, more of the story unfolds. Mahjong is a great game and I usually don't need added incentive to play, but I was intrigued by the story and it made the experience a lot more enjoyable.

The rules

I won't go too in-depth here, as the game offers a wonderful tutorial, but I'll cover the basics so you know what you're getting into. In Mahjong, you play with tiles with various symbols on them. The point is to match all of the tiles and clear the board, but this can't alway happen and sometimes you will get stuck. In order to make a match, the tiles must be free, meaning that they can not be underneath another tile and they must have at least one side free. It's simple to understand but complex when you attempt to strategize, which is the beauty of the game.

Classic fun

There's a reason that this simple tile game has maintained its popularity for so long. It's peaceful, challenging, and fun all at the same time. And Mahjong Memoirs takes an already great game and makes it even better.