Pocket Color Mahjong (Japan) (GBC)

Pocket Color Mahjong is a traditional Japanese-style mahjong game developed for the Game Boy Color system. Players engage in mahjong matches with the objective of forming winning hands from the tiles dealt to them.

The gameplay of Pocket Color Mahjong adheres to the rules of Riichi Mahjong, the most popular variant in Japan. Each round begins with players receiving 13 tiles. The goal is to arrange these into four sets (either three identical tiles – pong, or three consecutive tiles of the same suit – chi) and one pair (two identical tiles).

During their turn, players draw a new tile and then discard an unwanted one. This process continues until a player completes a winning hand (called 'Tsumo' if drawing the winning tile themselves, or 'Ron' if claiming a discarded tile from another player). The game also incorporates deep strategic elements such as 'Riichi' – a declaration made when a player is one tile away from winning, which increases their score but also reveals their intent.

The interface of Pocket Color Mahjong is clearly designed, utilizing the GBC's color capabilities to highlight tile types and on-screen information. Players can compete against the computer with various difficulty levels, providing continuous challenge. The game focuses on accurately simulating the Japanese mahjong experience, helping players hone their tile-reading, calculation, and strategic decision-making skills in a portable environment.