Lost Lands: Mahjong
- November 13, 2015
- FIVE-BN GAMES
- 121h median play time
"Lost Lands: Mahjong" is an adventure-style mahjong game where players help elves survive on a lost island and seek to return home. The game features hundreds of tile-sets, quests, and character interactions as players work to lift a magical storm surrounding the island. Along with solving mahjong puzzles, players collect prizes and uncover an overarching plot in this journey of epic proportions.
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and engaging twist on traditional Mahjong with a storyline and quests.
- Graphics and music are well done, creating a relaxing atmosphere for gameplay.
- The energy system, while limiting playtime, encourages casual gaming sessions and prevents excessive play.
- The energy system restricts gameplay, requiring players to wait or spend money to continue playing.
- Many players find the game repetitive, with fixed tile layouts that can lead to frustration.
- Microtransactions are heavily promoted, which can detract from the overall experience.
- story426 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as engaging and adds depth to the traditional mahjong gameplay, with quests that provide motivation and variety. While some players appreciate the fantasy elements and the integration of quests, others find the storyline simplistic or unnecessary, often feeling it serves primarily as a vehicle for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. Overall, the combination of quests and a light story enhances the experience for many, though some critiques focus on the repetitive nature of the quests and the reliance on energy mechanics typical of mobile games.
“The storyline keeps me interested, and the game just pulls me in; I never want to stop playing!”
“I love this game because it gives a great mahjong experience with nice music, nice effects, and a great story!”
“I like the story and the game of mahjong.”
“The story is disconnected from the gameplay.”
“The storyline is unnecessary.”
“The quests are disjointed and collections can be an awful nightmare.”
- graphics125 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics in this game receive a generally positive reception, with many users praising their beauty and detail, particularly in the artwork and backgrounds. While some reviews note that the graphics are simplistic or low-resolution, especially for mobile devices, the overall consensus highlights that the visuals enhance the gameplay experience, making it engaging and enjoyable. However, a few critiques mention inconsistencies in quality and a desire for more cohesive design elements that align with the storyline.
“I have to say, the graphics are stunning.”
“The graphics are beautiful and I love that it's not just the same puzzles one after the other.”
“The graphics are incredible without glitches or lags.”
“The graphics are very low res, to cater to the mobile phones it was designed for.”
“The gameplay itself seemed competent, and I'll come back to this one, but the aesthetics and first impression were a real negative for me.”
“Also, the graphics aren't good, and it can be hard to 'see' the various matching mahjong tiles (they look very similar as well).”
- music84 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its relaxing and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the calming background tracks and ambient sounds, which contribute to a pleasant atmosphere while solving puzzles. However, some users find certain music tracks distracting or repetitive, suggesting a mixed reception regarding the soundtrack's suitability for a puzzle game.
“This is a lovely mahjong game with an engaging plot and very nice graphics and music.”
“The music is wonderful and the quests provide incentive to keep playing.”
“The music is relaxing and one of the tracks in particular I enjoy a lot.”
“The music isn't relaxing.”
“Traditional Japanese variants of this game have much better relaxing music/rainfall or whatever.”
“Turned the music off pretty quickly, got a bit too distracting for longer plays.”
- gameplay82 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this mahjong game is generally considered enjoyable and straightforward, featuring standard tile-matching mechanics complemented by quests and mini-games. However, many players express frustration with the energy system, which limits playtime and feels like a monetization tactic rather than a genuine gameplay mechanic. While the core mahjong experience is solid, the game is often compared unfavorably to previous releases, leading to mixed feelings about its overall innovation and replayability.
“I was searching for a free mahjong puzzle to play sometimes, but in addition, I got a cool story game with nice mechanics.”
“The core gameplay is great and offers a challenge.”
“I like how the main gameplay is still mahjong (and so many variations of tile formations), but the quests and storyline give you something to aim for as you play.”
“It's a Facebook/Zynga style 'freemium' game with that same old rechargeable energy bar and wait times, using mahjong as its main mechanic.”
“The gameplay itself is fairly straightforward, and the UI feels like most of the free games with micro-transactions.”
“This game is all about spending energy, and time limits on puzzles and a bunch of other stressful mechanics.”
- monetization68 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game primarily relies on microtransactions and an energy system, which some players find intrusive and reminiscent of mobile cash grabs. While in-game purchases can enhance the experience and speed up progression, many reviews indicate that patience allows players to enjoy the game without spending money. Overall, the game is described as free-to-play with optional purchases, but the energy mechanics and frequent prompts for spending can detract from the enjoyment for some players.
“Recommended f2p game in which, like most, the in-game purchases will speed up your journey but are not necessary to proceed!”
“Still, the game is free, and while there are in-game purchases, those are not needed to complete the game.”
“Microtransactions are riddled throughout, but a patient player will have no need of them and will get many months out of this game.”
“Unfortunately... they murder the game with the whole 'energy' concept that we frequently see in games with microtransactions.”
“This is just a cash grab with a pretty skin over it.”
“However, microtransactions and energy system are a major turnoff... :( I really would prefer to pay for the game and not have those instead, because the game is pretty sweet otherwise.”
- grinding20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- -10 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed bag; while some enjoy the relaxing nature of grinding and the traditional mahjong elements, many criticize it for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the late game where significant grinding is required for progression. The need for extensive grinding to acquire necessary resources and level up can lead to frustration, especially for those unwilling to engage in microtransactions to expedite their progress. Overall, while grinding is integral to the experience, it can detract from enjoyment for some players.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
“Edit: lol I originally called it an MMO :p but hey, you know what type of game I mean: there's a cliché excuse story with fetch quests and you progress very slowly by grinding, and the story is not important anyway, you just want to level up and reach certain milestones.”
“Downside is the XP required between levels is pretty big (progress in the game requires a certain level to go further), so you'll be grinding for a while.”
“You have no way to reliably acquire these ladders, which makes for a lot of unnecessary grinding to progress in the game.”
- stability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Overall, user reviews on stability are mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with no glitches and impressive graphics, others encounter significant bugs, particularly in the Android version, leading to frustrating gameplay issues such as unresponsive quests and freezing. The Steam version is noted to be less problematic, but persistent bugs can hinder progress and enjoyment for many users.
“Runs smoothly, with no glitches, and looks great at default settings.”
“The game maintains a stable frame rate, providing a seamless experience.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, making for a reliable gameplay experience.”
“How do you recommend a buggy game that, when I looked for information on how to fix this, the devs aren't responding to any of the posts.”
“Little bit buggy - hard to get past certain points in the game due to items not dropping, which is annoying.”
“It takes over my computer, it hangs/freezes and you can't alt-tab out, force quit, or shift-tab!”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its relaxing and immersive qualities, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and atmospheric sounds that create a calming experience during gameplay. Players find it conducive to relaxation and enjoyment, making it an excellent choice for those looking to unwind.
“Great atmosphere, especially through the fitting and chill music.”
“If you like mahjong, this is a great mix of challenge and atmosphere with the relaxing soundtrack.”
“Atmospheric sounds during puzzles are relaxing and let one forget about time (even the puzzle time limit).”
“The campaign does help with the overall atmosphere, but it feels like it lacks depth.”
“I can recommend it to anyone who wants to kill some time or needs to relax, since the atmosphere in the game offers this possibility.”
“The atmosphere is decent, but it doesn't leave a lasting impression.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it both funny and engaging, particularly in the context of its adventure mode. The combination of amusing elements and simple gameplay contributes to its addictiveness, making it a standout in the genre. Overall, the game's comedic aspects enhance the overall experience, keeping players entertained.
“To make things even more hilarious, they made a bunch of these games!”
“I like mahjong games, plus with the adventure mode, it's even more funny :D”
“This is a very funny and addicting game.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is rated low, with a score of 4/10, indicating limited incentive to play again. While some players appreciate the clarity of the tile setup, they express a desire for an option to disable this feature for a more challenging experience akin to traditional mahjong.
“At first, I was going to complain about the setup showing which tiles are playable and which aren't... now I'm thankful. An option to turn this off for more of a challenge to traditional Mahjong games would be awesome.”
“I would give it the following: gameplay 7/20, aesthetics 7/10, music 7/10, replayability 4/10.”
“At first, I was going to complain about the setup showing which tiles are playable and which aren't... now I'm thankful, although an option to turn this off for more of a challenge to traditional mahjong games would be awesome.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, with users noting that it runs smoothly and features impressive sound quality.
“The sounds are awesome and run smoothly.”
“Optimization is top-notch, making the gameplay experience seamless.”
“The game runs flawlessly on my system, showcasing excellent optimization.”