Shin 4 Nin Uchi Mahjong - Yakuman Tengoku (Japan)

Shin 4 Nin Uchi Mahjong - Yakuman Tengoku is a classic Japanese Mahjong game for the NES, focusing on four-player mahjong (nin uchi) and specifically emphasizing the high-scoring Yakuman hands. Players will engage in intense mahjong matches against three AI opponents.

The main objective of the game is to collect tiles to form a valid winning hand, typically consisting of four sets (sequences or triplets) and one pair. However, the unique aspect of Shin 4 Nin Uchi Mahjong - Yakuman Tengoku is its encouragement for players to pursue complex and rare Yakuman hands, which yield immense scores and often end the game instantly. Yakuman hands include patterns like Kokushi Musou (Thirteen Orphans), Daisangen (Big Three Dragons), Suuankou (Four Concealed Triplets), and many others.

Gameplay adheres to standard Japanese Mahjong rules. On each turn, a player draws a tile and discards an unwanted one. Players can call Chii (to form a sequence), Pon (to form a triplet), or Kan (to form a quad) from another player's discard. When a player completes a valid hand, they can declare Ron (if the last tile was discarded by another player) or Tsumo (if the last tile was drawn by themselves). The game demands a deep understanding of mahjong rules, quick calculation skills, and strategic thinking to both defend and seek opportunities to form Yakuman hands.

Despite being an older NES title, it offers an authentic and challenging mahjong experience, especially for those who appreciate the complexity and depth of Japanese Mahjong.