Latest Reviews

Books, movies, television shows, DVD/VCR challenges, the odd children's novel or interactive CD... Since debuting in 1949, British board game sensation Clue (or Cluedo, as it's known to fans overseas) has been entertaining families across the world. Small wonder then the title's received several PC conversions, the latest being CLUE Classic. While a faithful translation of the tabletop favorite which accurately captures the multiplayer whodunnit's excitement and atmosphere though, the outing also suffers from some of the same drawbacks as the family game night staple it's modeled on. Bummer. Read more»

On the surface, the concept of combining the ancient Chinese tile-matching pastime of mahjong with British author Lewis Carroll's classic fantasy story Alice's Adventures in Wonderland seems as far-fetched as... well, a white rabbit in a waistcoat carrying a pocket watch. But thanks to outstanding production values, solid mahjong gameplay, and well-executed hidden object rounds that don't manage to feel tacked on, Alice's Magical Mahjong is a thoroughly charming outing. Read more»

A journey around China in the sandals of young Kwazi is the backdrop for Mah Jong Quest, iWin's foray into the popular Mah Jong category. iWin has taken the time tested mechanics of Mah Jong and put a story to it. You'll travel from province to province as a child hero of indeterminate gender, solving puzzles and restoring the razed remains of the landscape with the power of the Tao. On your way you'll be guided by all the animals of the Chinese zodiac, coaxing you along your Mah Jong Quest with rhymes and riddles. Read more»

Casual gamers who played last year's Hotel Solitaire might get a sense of deja vu while entering the lobby, elevator and hallways of Hotel Mahjong, as this is the second in the series from Zylom to fuse a luxurious stay at a hotel/casino and classic solitaire games. But don't worry - the similarities end once you step into a hotel room to begin hitting the tiles. Read more»

Considering that the classic game that it's based on is literally centuries of years old, at face value, you'd think it would be hard for Mahjongg Artifacts 2 to innovate on a winning formula. Thankfully, you'd also be wrong, as the popular series strikes gold yet again in its latest installment, which offers more tile-matching, treasure-hunting fun for enthusiasts of all types. Read more»

When you see the word "mahjong" in the title of a computer game, you know what to expect: It will challenge you to clear elaborate stacks of tiles by matching identical game pieces. And as you begin playing, you'll instinctively know that in order to select a tile for elimination, it must be free to either the left or right. What you don't know from a game's title are the twists that differentiate it from the crowd. That's how it works with Aerial Mahjong from Enkord, a game that plays on your expectations of what a mahjong release is and then turns them upside down. Read more»

Pop culture meets ancient puzzles in Cafe Mahjongg, the new game from iWin and Jenkat that is sure to give a "jolt" to casual game fans. Read more»

Confession is good for the soul, so here goes: I like watching Antiques Roadshow on PBS. I enjoy seeing someone's jaw drop when they learn the ratty piece of furniture they bought at a garage sale for twenty bucks is actually worth a few grand. These days, that's close to the feeling I get when I play a casual game that takes a worn-out formula and injects it with new life. Case in point: Mahjong Roadshow from publisher PlayFirst and developer Zemnott. Read more»

Stressful, fast-paced and super-challenging aren't three words that normally come to mind when I think about the Chinese tile-matching game of Mah jong, but it's exactly what happens when Mah Jong and Zuma collide in Liong: The Dragon Dance. Read more»

Casual gamers who want a relaxing time-waster won't find anything more therapeutic than a Mahjong game. These ancient Chinese solitaire diversions are a perfect way to melt away the day's stressors, whether it's during the last few minutes of a coffee break at work, at the end of a hectic day at the office or on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Read more»