Sankokushi (Japan)

Sankokushi is a tabletop puzzle game for two players that reimagines the classic solitaire experience. Instead of matching pairs, players identify and clear groups of three tiles—either identical images or sequential numbers—before time expires. Each stage presents four specific three-tile groupings that must be removed to progress, with helpful visual cues illuminating potential matches or number sequences on the board. Hints are available for those struggling, while a back button allows for strategic tile repositioning. The game’s aesthetic is unique, featuring background images of young women; completing a stage reveals a full image of each character. Points earned from clearing stages can be used to acquire power-ups that aid in gameplay, such as extra hints or faster cursor movement. A "deadlocked" board—where no legal moves remain—or running out of time ends the game, offering the option to replay the current layout or attempt a new one. Released in Japan in 1996, Sankokushi’s title is inspired by the epic “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” though it uses different characters to evoke the matching tiles central to its gameplay. The game utilizes a Motorola 68000 processor and sound chips from OKI and Yamaha to provide an engaging audio-visual experience on its horizontal, 320x240 pixel screen.