Shisen-sho

Clear the board by linking matching tiles with up to three straight lines — can you spot the pair before the hint does?

I’ll be honest: I clicked expecting another Mahjong clone, but Shisen-sho plays its own game. Instead of matching free tiles by stacking rules, you’re hunting for any two identical icons that can be linked by a path with at most three straight segments. The catch? Those segments can’t pass through other tiles. So a pair might be on opposite edges, and you’ll trace the line in your head — down, across, up — and suddenly it clears. That little mental click is addictive. The board starts dense and colorful, but the challenge ramps up quickly. I kept misreading similar symbols under pressure, especially the flower and fruit tiles when they’re tiny. The Hint button is a lifesaver, but using it too often feels like cheating. My advice: scan rows and columns first, look for pairs that share an empty edge, then work inward. The Undo button has saved me more than once after a careless tap that blocked a later move. There’s no timer, so you can take your time and think three steps ahead. What surprised me is how much strategy sneaks in. You’re not just clearing random pairs; you need to avoid stranding tiles in isolated pockets. Removing the wrong pair can leave a tile with no matching partner accessible, and then you’re stuck. It’s a cozy puzzle, but it will quietly test your spatial reasoning. Perfect for a lunch break, and the unblocked version runs smooth in any browser.

2 pieces with same picture can be removed at a time. 2 pieces can be removed only if they can be connected with a maximum of three lines. Click the Hint button to show a pair of tiles which can be removed. Click the Undo button to undo a last action.

Use the Hint button when you’re truly stuck, not just lazy — it reveals one valid pair without costing points. Scan the outer edges first; tiles on the border have more open pathways for two-line connections. Trace paths mentally: a pair can be connected if you see an L-shape or a U-shape with no obstacles. Don’t just grab the first match — pause and check if removing it will isolate any identical tiles left behind. The Undo button is your best friend for experimenting with risky clears. If the board looks impossible, look for tiles with only one open side; those are often the key to unlocking the rest.

Q: Is Shisen-sho free to play? A: Yes, Shisen-sho is completely free in your browser. No hidden fees or trials. Q: Can I play Shisen-sho on my phone? A: Yes, it works on mobile browsers with touch controls. Pinch to zoom if tiles are small. Q: Do I need to download anything to play Shisen-sho? A: No download needed. It runs on HTML5, so just open the page and start playing. Q: What’s the difference between Shisen-sho and Mahjong Solitaire? A: Shisen-sho lets you connect any two matching tiles with up to three lines, not just stacked free tiles. Q: Does Shisen-sho have a time limit? A: No timer. Take as long as you need to plan each move carefully. Q: Can I undo my last move in Shisen-sho? A: Yes, the Undo button reverts your last removal, which helps fix mistakes.