Rising Sun Mahjong

Lucky me gets to be the first to warn more gamers about yet another asset flip from 8Floor, copying + pasting and reskinning the same handful of mobile app templates onto Steam hundreds of time... with zero value as a real game for gamers, and this is no exception. Rising Sun Mahjong is a basic mobile-app like mahjong tile matching/solitaire game. Solve various puzzle levels made of stacked mahjong tiles, removing tiles by clicking on matching pairs. It's been done a million times before, for free, and free on mobile app stores too... yet this one has a hefty price tag on it. Who knew you can just charge $5 for mobile trash? I guess Creobit/8Floor does. The developer, Creobit/8Floor, has copy + pasted this game TWENTY FIVE TIMES onto Steam with minor reskins... why cash in on one asset if you can cash in on multiple copies of the same game? Asset flipping begins at home! Here's a list of Creobit's copy + pastes of this asset: [list] [*] Mahjong Travel [*] The Empress of Mahjong [*] Royal Mahjong King's Journey [*] Mahjong Business Style [*] Mahjong Carnaval (sic) [*] Mahjong Gold 2, Pirate's Style [*] Jurassic Mahjong [*] Spooky Mahjong [*] Mahjong Carnaval 2 (sic) [*] Halloween Night Mahjong 2 [*] Asian Mahjong [*] Halloween Night Mahjong [*] Mahjong World Contest 2 [*] Mahjong Gold [*] Mahjong Royal Towers [*] Mahjong Valentine's Day [*] Christmas Mahjong [*] Mahjong Magic Journey 2 [*] Sakura Day 2 Mahjong [*] Mahjong Magic Journey 3 [*] Sakura Day Mahjong [*] Mahjong Magic Journey [*] Mahjong World Contest [*] Rising Sun Mahjong [/list] [i]These are all reskins of exactly the same game![/i] What value is there in this spam/pollution glutting the Steam store for gamers? From a technical perspective, the game doesn't meet basic minimum requirements that most PC gamers expect as standard. There's no options to change the resolution for the game or customise the graphics settings. There's no way for gamers to ensure this is running at the native resolution of their displays... there's no guarantee this game will look right on any PC as a result of this hamfisted design decision. There's no way for gamers to try improve the low quality graphics. The game features simple, cartoony 2D graphics, of the type you normally expect to see in low effort mobile apps. 3D graphics programming does require a degree of skill and competence and unfortunately not all developers have the budget or talent to deliver this, despite 3D graphics cards hitting the mainstream in the 1990's. Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing. The game only displays in 4:3 pillarboxed aspect ratio. It's possible they developed this using an old CRT they found in a dumpster, or this game has been specifically designed for people gaming on PC's from 1995... either way, this isn't really acceptable in the modern era of PC gaming. The controls can't be customised because the game has such a dumbed down, simplified interface that it's just iPhone screen tapping stuff. The fact that the interface is this dumbed down might be seen as a problem in itself, however... this is a fairly shallow experience if you're the kind of gamer that likes to play games with deep, rich control schemes and interaction. You'll get none of that here. This looks and feels like a mobile app, but I wasn't able to find it on the app stores. Maybe it was removed, maybe it was rejected by Apple and Google (they do have more rigorous quality standards than Valve does for Steam, after all). Regardless, for all intents and purposes this might as well be a mobile app, it has the same limitations and dumbed down qualities. It's impossible to recommend such a game to PC gamers. We don't spend all this money building gaming rigs so we can pretend they're iPhones and play games that might as well be mobile apps. These technical defects push this game below acceptable standards for any modern PC game. The poor quality of this game is reflected by how many people spent time with it. At the time of this review, SteamDB shows the all-time peak player number was only 2 players. This is a remarkably low number, and now, the only player activity occurs once or twice a month, presumably someone loading it up to see what it is then quickly uninstalling it. Considering there's over 120 million gamers on Steam and well over 50,000 games for gamers to choose from (over 9,000 completely free titles), the overwhelming lack of interest in this low quality game is to be expected. Rising Sun Mahjong has the ridiculous price of around $5 USD, it's not worth it given the defects and shortcomings with the product, especially considering the sheer number of completely free, much higher quality games on Steam. Because this is the kind of game you can just play for free on mobile phones, it's impossible to recommend anyone should pay money for the same experience on Steam.

Japanese-themed mahjong. Some skill needed. Decent.

Rising Sun Mahjong is a relaxing puzzle title developed by Melon Games and published by 8Floor that embraces the traditional Mahjong Solitaire formula while wrapping it in a peaceful Japanese-inspired setting. Rather than attempting to reinvent the genre, the game focuses on delivering a calm and accessible experience built around scenic environments, straightforward gameplay, and a large collection of handcrafted tile layouts. From the moment players begin their journey, the game establishes a tranquil atmosphere through its colorful landscapes, gentle visual design, and emphasis on leisurely puzzle solving. The game's strongest feature is its presentation. Inspired by the beauty of rural Japan, the environments showcase serene natural scenery filled with blossoming trees, bright skies, and picturesque locations that create an inviting backdrop for each puzzle. These visual elements do not merely serve as decoration; they contribute significantly to the overall mood, turning what could have been a routine Mahjong experience into something more immersive and relaxing. The peaceful aesthetic makes the game particularly appealing to players looking for a stress-free escape rather than an intense challenge. Content is another area where Rising Sun Mahjong performs well. The game offers 120 levels spread across six unique locations, providing plenty of puzzles to complete. More than 100 different tile layouts ensure that the experience remains varied over time, while increasingly complex board designs gradually raise the difficulty. Early stages are welcoming and easy to understand, but later levels introduce larger layouts and more intricate arrangements that require greater concentration and planning. This steady progression gives players a satisfying sense of advancement without creating unnecessary frustration. The gameplay itself remains faithful to the classic Mahjong Solitaire structure. Players remove matching free tiles from the board until every piece has been cleared. While the mechanics are simple, the game introduces several features to make progression more rewarding. Gold tiles must be collected to complete objectives, bonus tiles grant additional rewards, and combo multipliers encourage efficient matching. These systems add small but meaningful incentives that keep each stage feeling purposeful and provide extra motivation to achieve better results. Accessibility is another strength. The controls are intuitive, making the game suitable for both newcomers and long-time Mahjong enthusiasts. The inclusion of two difficulty settings allows players to customize the experience according to their skill level. Casual players can enjoy the game as a relaxing pastime, while more experienced puzzle fans can seek greater challenges through the tougher layouts and scoring opportunities. This flexibility helps broaden the game's appeal and ensures that it remains enjoyable across a wide range of audiences. Despite its many strengths, Rising Sun Mahjong does have limitations. Its greatest weakness is also its design philosophy: the game rarely moves beyond established genre conventions. Players searching for innovative mechanics or dramatic twists may find the experience somewhat predictable. The core gameplay loop remains largely unchanged throughout the adventure, relying on new layouts and visual variety rather than introducing significant mechanical evolution. However, for many Mahjong fans, this familiarity may actually be considered a positive trait rather than a drawback. The game's relaxing pace, attractive visuals, and generous amount of content ultimately make it a solid entry in the casual puzzle genre. It succeeds by understanding exactly what its target audience wants: a comfortable and enjoyable Mahjong experience that can be played in short sessions or for extended periods of time. The progression systems, scenic locations, and large number of puzzles provide enough variety to maintain interest while preserving the simple charm that defines the genre. Rising Sun Mahjong may not revolutionize Mahjong Solitaire, but it delivers a polished and enjoyable package that stays true to the formula. Players who appreciate calming puzzle games, beautiful scenery, and traditional tile-matching gameplay will find plenty to enjoy here. Its combination of accessibility, content variety, and relaxing atmosphere makes it a worthwhile choice for fans of casual puzzle experiences. Rating: 6/10