Shanghai , a PC Engine game from 1987, is based on the popular tile-based game played with Chinese mahjong stones. This puzzle game has little to do with real mahjong rules and is more about strategy and pattern recognition.
The gameplay involves 144 tiles, each with unique images, which must be removed by matching them into pairs. The tiles are arranged in a grid pattern that gets denser near the center of the board. A tile can only be removed if it has no adjacent tiles on at least one side.
Players can compete against each other in multiplayer mode or take on a random board layout with five preset challenges. Some challenges have time limits, adding an extra layer of pressure to the game. With its simple yet challenging gameplay, Shanghai is a classic PC Engine title that remains enjoyable today.