Shanghai III (World)

Shanghai III is a tabletop game released in 1993 by Sunsoft that offers a two-player variation on the classic Chinese solitaire game of mahjong. Players strategically swap tiles to create matching sets and clear the board, drawing upon Szechuan regional traditions for its aesthetic. The gameplay combines elements of skill and chance as you attempt to outmaneuver your opponent in this engaging puzzle experience. The game features a vibrant visual style with a palette of over two thousand colors displayed across a horizontal screen. Using an eight-way joystick, players manipulate the tiles, aiming to create sequences while blocking their competitor’s progress. Shanghai III is part of a larger series that began with the original Shanghai in 1988 and has continued through numerous subsequent releases on various platforms. This arcade version allows for head-to-head competition, presenting a unique twist on the traditional solitaire formula. Two players can challenge each other to see who can most efficiently clear their respective mahjong layouts.