Mahjong comes back for 2026

I remember sitting in my grandmother’s living room, opening an old box full of small, painted tiles. She used to let me play with them on the floor on the condition that all the tiles went back into the box. She tried to explain the game of Mahjong to me once or twice, but it never stuck in my young brain. I always understood it as a pastime for people who didn’t understand how to open a web browser. 

However, Mahjong is not just a game for grandparents anymore. The classic game has started to permeate the younger generations, causing a new trend of gaming.  

Mahjong  originated in China in the 1800s, but  many different versions are played all over the world. The name comes from the Chinese word for “sparrow,” as the clinking of the tiles sounds like the twittering of the birds. American Mahjong became popular in the 1920s, notably due to Joseph Park Babcock and his book “Babcock’s Rules for Mah-jongg.” 

It is typically played with 144 tiles, broken into three suits as well as some neutral tiles.

Four players  get 12-14 tiles each. The dealer starts, discarding one tile for the next person. The next person picks it up to see if it fits in one of their suits. They either keep it and discard another or pass it along. The game keeps going, and the goal is to get a winning combination of tiles.  

In a way, the game is similar to Rummy. 

Many cities, including New York and San Francisco, have restaurants that promote the game. They hold Mahjong nights and rent out tables to Mahjong clubs to encourage people to come together and play.  Tournaments with cash prizes are also held, encouraging people to play. 

So how did a game that was popular with previous generations have a complete rebrand among the generations that grew up with the Internet? 

There are a few different reasons for this. One small reason might be that the game was featured in a popular romcom a few years ago, “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018). One of the pivotal moments of the film takes place during a game of Mahjong. This scene might have helped boost the game’s popularity. 

A big reason is because of the sense of community that it creates. People can come together for a few hours for some light fun without distractions. Mahjong  requires concentration, so phones are detrimental to the game and winning. Some people just want to unplug for a few hours and socialize with others.  

In a world where people are having a hard time meeting new friends, Mahjong offers a space to get to know one another in a relaxed environment. There is no stress if someone is new to the game. . Everyone is welcome. 

Despite its analog nature, Mahjong can attribute some of its newfound popularity to social media. People are posting Instagram pictures and aesthetic TikTok videos of Mahjong  or preparing for games with friends. The setup has become a whole ritual in and of itself, not to mention the game  has been played for centuries. 

Mahjong’s rise in popularity amongst the younger generation has roots both in and out of technology, but people are drawn to the socialization and aesthetics of it. Being able to go play  at a friend’s house or at a restaurant or café is appealing to the younger generations. 

With the stress of constant information on the Internet, Mahjong has created an environment to naturally unplug, causing an explosion of popularity in a digital age.