Mahjong Cub3D

Mahjong Cub3D is a puzzle game that is both the classic Mahjong (sometimes known as Shanghai) solitaire game, and a new puzzle game based on Mahjong rules and tiles. Mahjong Cub3D features three gameplay modes: Cube Mode, Vs. Mode, and Classic Mode. The game also features detailed records and statistics covering completions rates, the number of times a puzzle is played, and the time it took for completion. Also, along with other typical Mahjong video games, each mode has the option for players to utilize a hint system, but there are limited uses.

Cube Mode is the primary focus of the title, and the mode which most emphasizes the 3-D capabilities of the 3DS. Here, rather than traditional Mahjong tiles, the gameplay pieces are cubes. Like traditional Mahjong, the goal is the same: remove the tiles from the puzzle one pair at a time. As with the classic game, players can only select pieces that aren't "blocked in", either against the face area of the cube or on the sides. The sides of the blocks are annotated with notches on the cubes, and at least one notched side must be open (with no cubes against it) in order for players to select and remove the cube. Players have the ability to zoom the camera in and out of the entire puzzle, and to rotate the 3-D structure in order to find matches. The Mahjong cubes feature traditional patterns on them including chinese characters, numbers of dots or other items, flowers, and the like. When playing any puzzle, players may choose the difficulty, time limit, and whether or not there are hidden tiles, although time limits may only be toggled on completed puzzles.

Vs. Mode is a multiplayer mode based on Cube Mode and works with a single game card and challenges two players against each other. In this mode, there are two gold tiles inside the puzzles, and the first player to remove both of them in their puzzle wins. There are tiles that affect gameplay which launch attacks against the opponent player. Hint tiles temporarily display the best possible next matches, Blind tiles temporarily obscure the faces of the opponent's tiles, and Quake tiles cause the opponent board to shake, disrupting gameplay. During Vs. Mode, the opponent's puzzle is visible in the background, and updated in real-time during gameplay.

Classic Mode is exactly as expected for anyone familiar with Mahjong or Shanghai. Tiles are stacked in a variety of shapes on a 2-D plane, with the same goal as the rest of the game: clear the board by matching open or "free" tiles. Tiles are only considered free when they are open on either the left or right side and have nothing stacked on top of them. The game ends when no more pairs can be selected, but it is only beaten when all the tiles are cleared from the board. As with Cube Mode, players may choose whether or not to have time limits or hidden tiles. Since this mode takes place on a 2-D plane, players have no need to rotate the puzzles, but they can zoom in and out.

Completing puzzles in either Cube or Classic mode unlocks more puzzles in the game. Initially, only three Cube courses are available, and each course contains 20 puzzles, with five more courses eventually available. There are also 20 Classic maps.