Mahjong / Similar games

18 games like Mahjong

The best games like Mahjong are Samurai, Azul Summer Pavilion and War Chest — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Samurai shares abstract strategy, hand management, set collection with Mahjong.

Every alternative below links to its own Mahjong-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s abstract strategy shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Mahjong’s 2.6 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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1. 1. Samurai (1998)
   2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium-light · games like Samurai →
   Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (100%)
   vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · goes down to 2 · ~75 min shorter · same complexity
   View Samurai on Amazon →
2. 2. Azul Summer Pavilion (2019)
   2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light · games like Azul Summer Pavilion →
   Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Set Collection · 1 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (50%)
   vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · goes down to 2 · ~82 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
   View Azul Summer Pavilion on Amazon →
3. 3. War Chest (2018)
   2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-light · games like War Chest →
   Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management · 1 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (50%)
   vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · goes down to 2 · ~90 min shorter · 0.3 lighter
   View War Chest on Amazon →
4. 4. Calico (2020)
   1–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium-light · games like Calico →
   Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Set Collection · 1 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (50%)
   vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · plays solo · ~82 min shorter · 0.4 lighter
5. 5. Illimat (2017)
   2–4 players · 15–60 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light
   Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (100%)
   vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · goes down to 2 · ~82 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
6. 6. Mensa Connections (2004)
   1–4 players · 45 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium-light · games like Mensa Connections →
   Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management · 1 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (50%)
   vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · plays solo · ~75 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
7. 7. Dogs of War (2014)
   3–5 players · 75 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium
   Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management · 1 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (50%)
   vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · scales to 5 · ~45 min shorter · same complexity
8. 8. Tash-Kalar Arena of Legends (2013)
   2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium · games like Tash-Kalar Arena of Legends →
   Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management · 1 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (50%)
   vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · goes down to 2 · ~75 min shorter · +0.3 heavier
9. 9. Torres (1999)
   2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium · games like Torres →
   Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management · 1 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (50%)
   vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · goes down to 2 · ~60 min shorter · +0.3 heavier
10. 10. The King is Dead Second Edition (2020)
    2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-light
    Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management · 1 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (50%)
    vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · goes down to 2 · ~82 min shorter · 0.5 lighter
11. 11. Mandala (2019)
    2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-light
    Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (100%)
    vs Mahjong: no player-count overlap (2–2 vs 3–4) · goes down to 2 · ~100 min shorter · 0.8 lighter
12. 12. Babylonia (2019)
    2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium
    Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management · 1 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (50%)
    vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · goes down to 2 · ~60 min shorter · same complexity
13. 13. Tsuro Phoenix Rising (2019)
    2–8 players · 20–50 min · ★ 6.5 · Medium
    Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (100%)
    vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · goes down to 2 · scales to 8 · ~85 min shorter · +0.2 heavier
14. 14. GYM (2017)
    2–6 players · 10–20 min · ★ 6.3 · Medium-light
    Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (100%)
    vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · goes down to 2 · scales to 6 · ~105 min shorter · same complexity
15. 15. Blokus Trigon (2006)
    2–4 players · 20 min · ★ 6.9 · Medium-light
    Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management · 1 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (50%)
    vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · goes down to 2 · ~100 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
16. 16. Carolvs Magnvs (2000)
    2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium · games like Carolvs Magnvs →
    Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management · 1 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (50%)
    vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · goes down to 2 · ~60 min shorter · same complexity
17. 17. Kahuna (1998)
    2 players · 30–40 min · ★ 6.6 · Medium-light · games like Kahuna →
    Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management · 1 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (50%)
    vs Mahjong: no player-count overlap (2–2 vs 3–4) · goes down to 2 · ~85 min shorter · 0.5 lighter
18. 18. The Rose King (1992)
    2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium-light · games like The Rose King →
    Shares with Mahjong: Abstract Strategy, Hand Management · 1 of Mahjong’s 2 mechanics (50%)
    vs Mahjong: overlaps at 3–4 players · goes down to 2 · ~90 min shorter · 0.6 lighter

Looking for the original? See the full Mahjong fact page — players, play time, age and complexity.