Riichi City
A modern riichi mahjong platform featuring realistic 3D tiles, clean interface, and robust AI training mode—perfect for players who want a polished experience without anime aesthetics.
Strengths
- Realistic 3D tile rendering (closest to physical mahjong)
- Clean, professional UI without anime elements
- Excellent AI training mode with adjustable difficulty
- Full English support and localization
- Active ranked play with clear progression
- Replay analysis with AI suggestions
- Modern codebase (no Flash, fast performance)
- Regular updates and community engagement
Limitations
- Smaller player base than Mahjong Soul (slower queues at off-peak hours)
- Fewer cosmetic customization options
- Mobile version still in development (iOS coming soon)
- Less established than Tenhou (launched 2020)
Overview
Riichi City is the newest major riichi mahjong platform, launched in 2020 as a modern alternative to Tenhou’s minimalism and Mahjong Soul’s anime aesthetic. It strikes a balance: polished and beginner-friendly like Mahjong Soul, but with realistic tiles and a professional presentation.
Think of it as “Mahjong Soul for people who don’t want anime characters.”
Why Choose Riichi City?
Best Visual Presentation
Riichi City’s 3D tiles are gorgeous:
- Realistic tile models with accurate Chinese characters and bamboo designs
- Smooth animations for drawing, discarding, and calling
- Customizable table views (overhead, angled, first-person)
- Clean, modern UI with excellent readability
If you’ve ever played physical mahjong, Riichi City feels the most authentic digitally.
Excellent for Learning
Riichi City is beginner-friendly without hand-holding:
- AI training mode: Practice against bots at 5 difficulty levels
- Replay analysis: AI highlights your mistakes and suggests better plays
- Built-in yaku reference: Full yaku list with examples
- Tutorial missions (similar to Mahjong Soul)
- Full English UI and comprehensive settings
Growing Community
While smaller than Mahjong Soul, Riichi City has:
- Active ranked ladder with ~5,000-10,000 concurrent players (peak hours)
- Regular tournaments and community events
- Developer engagement: Frequent updates and bug fixes
- Responsive support: English-language Discord and bug reporting
Who Riichi City Is For
✅ Good fit if you:
- Want realistic tiles without anime aesthetics
- Prefer a clean, modern UI
- Value strong AI practice mode
- Like replay analysis and learning tools
- Want full English support
- Play primarily on desktop/Steam
✅ Also great if you:
- Bounced off Mahjong Soul due to the anime style
- Want something more modern than Tenhou
- Need a platform for practicing before ranked play
- Appreciate regular updates and active development
❌ Not ideal if you:
- Primarily play on mobile (iOS version pending)
- Want instant queues 24/7 (smaller player base means longer waits at off-peak hours)
- Enjoy cosmetic customization and gacha systems
- Prefer the minimal, ultra-fast Tenhou style
Getting Started
1. Create an Account
Web version:
- Visit riichi.city
- Click “Register” and create an account
- Verify your email
Steam version (recommended):
- Search “Riichi City” on Steam
- Download and install (free)
- Launch and log in with your riichi.city account
Why Steam?: Better performance, auto-updates, and Steam integration (friends, achievements).
2. Complete the Tutorial
Riichi City’s tutorial covers:
- Tile recognition and hand structure
- How to form melds and reach tenpai
- Common yaku (riichi, tanyao, yakuhai, pinfu)
- Scoring basics
Tip: Even if you’re experienced, complete the tutorial to earn in-game currency and unlock ranked play.
3. Practice Against AI
Before jumping into ranked, try AI Practice Mode:
AI difficulty levels:
- Beginner: Makes obvious mistakes, good for first-time players
- Casual: Plays competently but not optimally
- Intermediate: Average human player level
- Advanced: Strong player, punishes mistakes
- Expert: Near-optimal play, very challenging
Recommendation: Play 10-20 games against Casual or Intermediate AI to build confidence, then move to ranked.
4. Join Ranked Play
Ranking tiers:
- Copper (starting rank)
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- Diamond
- Master (top ~1%)
Progression is based on rating points (similar to Elo):
- 1st place: +30 to +50 points
- 2nd place: +10 to +20 points
- 3rd place: -10 to -20 points
- 4th place: -30 to -50 points
Tip: Unlike Mahjong Soul’s Bronze Room, Riichi City’s Copper/Bronze lobbies include all skill levels, so expect tougher competition early on.
Interface Guide
Main Menu
Top navigation:
- Play: Access ranked, casual, and AI practice modes
- Replays: View and analyze your past games
- Leaderboard: See top players globally and by region
- Settings: Customize UI, controls, and game options
- Shop: Purchase cosmetic items with earned currency (optional)
Key settings (highly recommended):
- Camera angle: Choose overhead, 3/4 view, or first-person
- Auto no-call for chi: Automatically skip chi prompts (helps you stay closed)
- Tile size: Adjust for your screen resolution
- Animation speed: Fast, Normal, or Slow (Fast recommended for ranked)
In-Game UI
Your hand (bottom):
- 3D tiles arranged automatically by suit
- Click to discard or use keyboard shortcuts (1-9 keys)
- Hover for details (tile name, dora status)
Table center:
- Discard pools: Each player’s discards in neat rows
- Dora indicator: Visible on the left side of the table
- Round/Honba counters: Top center
Right panel:
- Call buttons: Chi, Pon, Kan, Riichi, Ron, Tsumo
- Timer: 10 seconds for most actions, 15 for riichi/kan
- Player info: Scores, winds, riichi sticks
Keyboard shortcuts:
- 1-9: Discard tile at position 1-9
- Spacebar: Riichi (when in tenpai)
- Enter: Confirm call (ron, tsumo, pon)
- Esc: Pass on call
Replay Analysis
After each game, click “Replay” to review:
Standard replay:
- Step through each turn
- See all players’ hands (revealed after the game)
- Identify what you missed or could have done better
AI analysis (Premium feature or earned via in-game currency):
- AI highlights mistakes (suboptimal discards, missed tenpai)
- Suggests better plays with win probability percentages
- Calculates tile efficiency for each discard choice
This feature alone makes Riichi City invaluable for improving.
Strategy Tips for Riichi City
Take Advantage of AI Practice
Before trying a new strategy:
- Test against AI at Intermediate or Advanced level
- Review replays to see where your strategy failed
- Iterate and refine before taking it to ranked
For example, if you want to learn honitsu (half-flush), practice building it against AI 10 times before risking rating points.
Use Replay Analysis to Improve
After each ranked session:
- Review your losses (especially 4th place finishes)
- Identify patterns: Are you dealing into riichi too often? Missing tenpai opportunities?
- Focus on one improvement per session (e.g., “This week I’ll work on defensive play”)
Understand the Meta
Riichi City players tend to:
- Stay closed more than Mahjong Soul players (riichi is king)
- Play defensively when multiple riichi are declared
- Value speed (getting to tenpai early matters)
Adapt your strategy to the platform’s playstyle.
Ranked Play and Progression
Climbing the Ladder
Copper to Bronze: Easy, just play 10-15 games with positive win rate Bronze to Silver: Requires consistent 2nd place or better finishes Silver to Gold: Need to understand tile efficiency and defensive play Gold to Platinum: Advanced strategies (defensive folding, reading discards) required Platinum to Diamond: Top ~5% of players, very strong fundamentals needed Diamond to Master: Top ~1%, near-professional level
Tip: Don’t rush. Each tier teaches you something new. Spend time mastering each before pushing higher.
Seasonal Resets
Riichi City has seasonal resets (every 3 months):
- Your rank is soft-reset (Gold → Silver, Platinum → Gold, etc.)
- Rating points are partially preserved
- Climb again for seasonal rewards
This keeps the ladder fresh and prevents rating inflation.
Monetization (F2P Friendly)
Riichi City is 100% free to play with optional cosmetics:
Free players get:
- Full access to all game modes (ranked, casual, AI practice)
- Unlimited games
- Basic replays
- Daily login rewards (in-game currency)
Optional purchases (with real money or earned currency):
- AI analysis credits: Detailed replay breakdowns
- Cosmetic tiles: Alternative tile designs
- Table skins: Different table backgrounds
- Premium subscription: Ad-free, priority matchmaking (minimal ads in free version)
Important: Like Mahjong Soul, there’s no pay-to-win. Cosmetics don’t affect matchmaking or gameplay.
Desktop vs. Web
Steam/Desktop version:
- ✅ Best performance (native app)
- ✅ Auto-updates
- ✅ Steam achievements and friends integration
- ✅ Faster load times
- ❌ Requires download and installation
Web version:
- ✅ Play anywhere (no download)
- ✅ Cross-platform (works on Mac, Linux, Windows)
- ✅ Lightweight
- ❌ Slightly slower performance
- ❌ Requires constant internet (no offline AI practice)
Recommendation: Use Steam if you play regularly, web for occasional games or trying before committing.
Mobile (Coming Soon)
Riichi City’s iOS version is in development (as of Feb 2026):
- Beta testing underway
- Expected release: Q2 2026
- Will have full feature parity with desktop
Android version: Also planned for late 2026
Until then, use Mahjong Soul or Tenhou for mobile play.
Community and Resources
- Official Discord: discord.gg/riichicity (active, English-friendly)
- Subreddit: r/RiichiCity (growing community)
- Official website: riichi.city
- YouTube: Developer posts updates and tutorials
- Twitch: Some streamers play Riichi City regularly
Riichi City vs. Competitors
| Feature | Riichi City | Mahjong Soul | Tenhou |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner-friendly | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Tile graphics | Realistic 3D | Anime-style | Minimalist 2D |
| UI style | Modern, clean | Polished, anime | Spartan, efficient |
| AI practice | ✅ Excellent (5 levels) | ✅ Good | ❌ None |
| Replay analysis | ✅ AI-powered | ✅ Basic | ✅ Detailed stats |
| Player base | ~10K peak | ~100K peak | ~20K peak |
| English support | ✅ Full | ✅ Full | ❌ Minimal |
| Mobile | ⏳ Coming soon | ✅ Excellent | ✅ App available |
| Cost | Free | Free | Free |
Choose Riichi City if: You want realistic tiles, strong AI practice, and don’t need mobile play. Choose Mahjong Soul if: You want the largest player base and mobile support. Choose Tenhou if: You want the most competitive environment.
Common Questions
”Will queue times be long?”
Off-peak hours (early morning US/EU time): Yes, 2-5 minutes for ranked Peak hours (evenings US/EU, Japan daytime): 30 seconds to 2 minutes
Tip: Join the Discord to find players for custom rooms during slow hours.
”Is the AI good for practice?”
Yes! The Advanced and Expert AI are strong enough to mimic high-level human play. You can genuinely improve by playing against them.
”Can I transfer my progress from Mahjong Soul?”
No, each platform has separate accounts and ranking systems. You’ll start fresh on Riichi City.
”When will mobile be released?”
iOS beta is ongoing, full release expected Q2 2026. Android late 2026.
Final Verdict
Pros:
- Stunning realistic 3D tiles
- Excellent AI practice mode (5 difficulty levels)
- Clean, modern UI without anime elements
- AI-powered replay analysis
- Full English support
- Active development and updates
- 100% free to play
Cons:
- Smaller player base (longer queue times at off-peak)
- No mobile version yet (coming soon)
- Less established than Tenhou or Mahjong Soul
- Fewer customization options
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)
Bottom line: Riichi City is the perfect middle ground between Mahjong Soul’s accessibility and Tenhou’s competitive purity. If you want a modern, polished platform with realistic tiles and don’t need mobile play, Riichi City is an excellent choice. The AI practice mode alone makes it worth trying.
Best for: Intermediate players who want to improve, desktop players, anyone who prefers realistic tiles over anime aesthetics.
Ready to play? Download from Steam or play at riichi.city.