Mahjong is a 4-player Chinese tile game that originated in the Qing Dynasty during the late 19th century. The game is often compared to Rummy, players draw and discard 144 (166+ if playing American style) tiles (suits, winds, dragons) to perform specific sets and pairs. The goal of the game is to be the first player to complete a legal hand of four sets and a pair. The game can be played in many different styles including; traditional Chinese, Japanese Riichi, and American Mahjong. Each style uses a different card which shows the sets and pairs necessary to win.
Mahjong is notorious for being a pricey hobby, with tiles retailing for upwards of $900. Unlike most affordable board games, Mahjong sets are manufactured using high quality materials that are created to be passed down for generations. Each set includes anywhere from 144 to 166 hand engraved and hand painted tiles that contribute to the steep price. As the game has grown in popularity, the demand for tile sets has increased, leading to more and more high-end sets being manufactured. Alongside pricey tiles, the game is played with a number of accessories that can drive up the price even more. Brands like Oh My Mahjong!, My Fair Mahjong, and The Mahjong Line are all known for having cute Mahjong tiles, racks, mats, and other accessories. Recently, Mahjong brands have been releasing greek-life themed titles appealing to more college aged students.
Since the Covid-19 lockdown, screen-free hobbies have dramatically risen in popularity. Activities like needlepoint, reading, and gardening have taken over. What used to be known as “grandma-hobbies” are now what all the “cool-girls” are occupying their time with. Unlike most of these individual “grandma-hobbies,” Mahjong is played with four people, making it an ideal activity for making friends and sharing a sense of community. Mahjong is also known as an extremely aesthetically appealing game, with curated Mahjong tablescapes showing up all over social media apps like Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram. It has created an entire community over social media, where members attend tournaments, meetups, and even themed events like “Mahj on the Beach.” The game has even been seen in popular shows and movies like “Crazy Rich Asians” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
Senior Libby Pearson explains how she got interested in the game,
“A lot of my friends from Mississippi and Alabama have been playing Mahjong and they introduced me to the game a few months ago,” Pearson said.
Pearson explains how she learned,
“Some of my moms friends in Lexington have been teaching me to play and now I am obsessed. It is a little bit tricky to learn at first, but once you get the hang
of it it’s so fun,” Pearson said.
Mahjong has been around for hundreds of years, so what’s making it so popular in 2026? The rise of beginners classes and sets has modernized the ancient game and allowed new players to join in on a seemingly complex game. Alongside people craving more screen-free hobbies, people also enjoy the culture behind the game. While the game was once known as a traditional game, it is now modernized with the creation of American Mahjong. American Mahjong has introduced unique rules that help the game appeal to a broader audience, making the game more appealing to players of all ages and skill levels.
