Riichi City

About

Supported by lots of known players, RiichiCity is a competitive urban-style Japanese mahjong (riichi-mahjong) game that more focus on getting 1st in each game. It also provides some fast-paced modes for gamer to choose.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 599 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and engaging way to learn and play Riichi Mahjong, with a good tutorial and helpful features for beginners.
The gacha system is more generous compared to other Mahjong games, allowing players to earn free pulls and cosmetics through gameplay.
The visuals and animations are appealing, with characters having unique designs and voice lines that enhance the overall experience.

The ranking system can be punishing, as players lose points for finishing in third place, which discourages defensive play.
There are concerns about the sexualization of characters, making it uncomfortable for some players to enjoy the game in public settings.
The player base is smaller compared to competitors, leading to longer wait times for matches, especially at higher ranks.

gameplay
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
73%
6%
The gameplay of the mahjong game is generally well-received, offering a familiar experience with some unique mechanics and customization options, particularly in its tournament mode and daily missions. While it shares similarities with other mahjong titles like Mahjong Soul, it is noted for its more casual approach and generous gacha system, although some players find the animations and pacing to be slow. Overall, it provides a functional and enjoyable mahjong experience, especially for those who appreciate its aesthetic and social elements.
- “A captivating blend of strategy and luck, 麻雀一番街 offers a unique take on the classic mahjong game, surpassing its peers with its immersive atmosphere and intricate mechanics.”
- “Gameplay wise, Riichi City is more casual, has more visual gameplay with its animation, skins, fan-service art style, and just more mainstream induced marketing to its gameplay, while Mahjong Soul locks all that behind a paywall with little to non-existent free-to-play options. I find Riichi City a more enjoyable and fun game for those reasons alone.”
- “The gameplay itself is smooth and the UI is intuitive.”
- “Just play Mahjong Soul; this game is terrible, super predatory, borderline pornographic, and the gameplay feels incredibly off.”
- “The biggest problem when it comes to the actual gameplay is the way ranked and rating works.”
- “Gameplay is slow as a snail, combined with a slow player base that takes 5-10 seconds to overthink a tile deal, yakuhai pon, or outright purposefully delay an agari just to tilt people.”
graphics
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
67%
9%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their clean UI, modern aesthetics, and improved animations compared to competitors like Mahjong Soul, though some users criticize the art style for being overly suggestive and lacking originality. While the visuals are considered appealing and suitable for casual play, there are mixed feelings about the balance between aesthetics and gameplay functionality, with some players finding the gacha elements distracting. Overall, the game offers a visually engaging experience, but opinions vary on the appropriateness and creativity of its artwork.
- “The UI is pretty clean and the visuals are the best out of any of the mahjong games I've played.”
- “The graphics, art, and animations are much cleaner and modern when compared to Mahjong Soul.”
- “I like the interface of it compared to Mahjong Soul; if you are looking for a casual game to only play mahjong with clean and pretty graphics, this game is for you.”
- “Despite its cultural authenticity, 麻雀一番街 lags behind competitors in terms of graphics and gameplay mechanics.”
- “Very generic art style, and on top of that, most unlockable costumes are painfully uninspired and outright worse than the base ones.”
- “The game is a mahjong soul copy except with zero sense of aesthetic, an extremely loud UI that attacks you with gacha popups and menus you don't care about every time you open the game, a title screen that drags your attention into a thousand things that aren't playing the actual game, and distracting music that doesn't fit a game where you need to think fast.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
65%
18%
The story aspect of the game is engaging, particularly through its visual novel elements that encourage players to participate in mahjong matches for progression. While the character backstories and world-building are appreciated, the overall narrative is considered underwhelming compared to other mahjong titles. Daily missions and events provide motivation for gameplay, but the storyline itself lacks depth and is not a standout feature.
- “The visual novel elements are actually engaging and incentivize playing more mahjong matches in order to get points to continue the story and unlock more items.”
- “Characters are far preferred, collab or no collab, and the characters actually have backstory and world building.”
- “There are a bunch of missions to do daily, which I find to be one of the best aspects of this game and motivates gameplay.”
- “Comparing to other mahjong games, 麻雀一番街 impresses with its intuitive mechanics, but falls short in terms of graphics and storyline.”
- “- regular events mixing a small story (nothing to write home about) and some mini-games.”
- “But having more missions and meaningful rewards would go a long way to making the game a more rewarding experience.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the chill background tracks and engaging riichi themes that enhance gameplay, while others find the soundtrack repetitive, uninspired, and distracting. Critics highlight issues with the overall audio design, noting that it can detract from the game's focus and enjoyment. There are suggestions for improvement, such as incorporating more diverse and unique musical elements to differentiate it from similar titles.
- “Sure has multiple currencies and junk but it's got a nice soundtrack and seamless connectivity between PC and phone.”
- “The music and animation make the game enjoyable.”
- “[*] Chill BGM during the match and hype riichi music without paying anything.”
- “The game is a Mahjong Soul copy except with zero sense of aesthetic, an extremely loud UI that attacks you with gacha popups and menus you don't care about every time you open the game, and distracting music that doesn't fit a game where you need to think fast.”
- “However, the soundtrack leaves a lot to be desired.”
- “The melodies in the soundtracks generally don't stick to your mind, because they're rather uninspired and feel closer to a mashup of many commonly heard tunes.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as chaotic and entertaining, with players appreciating its quirky elements, such as imaginative character designs and amusing emotes. While some find the humor to be a highlight, others feel it can be hit-or-miss, with a few noting that certain aspects may not resonate with everyone. Overall, the game offers a mix of funny moments that contribute to its addictive nature.
- “Hilarious, chaotic, and surprisingly addictive - it's a gem in the mahjong genre.”
- “Cute and funny girls in some really imaginative outfits and a board game.. count me in!”
- “Very funny and cunning.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Character development in the game is heavily focused on provocative and lewd designs, often prioritizing sexual appeal over depth or narrative substance. While there are options for a family-friendly mode, players note that it inconsistently alters character appearances, leading to frustration. Overall, the character designs are visually appealing but lack meaningful development beyond their aesthetic.
- “Covers pretty much all operating systems, has an unusually clean user interface and really nice character designs.”
- “Got some cute character designs though, plus I love myself some gambling for them!”
- “I can understand some of the character design like the starter character and the club owner.”
- “The character designs are more focused on being lewd/ecchi than having actual good designs.”
- “Edit: Family friendly mode really doesn't fix this when it turns off the totally safe-for-work skins like Awakened Seibi (who is wearing more than her base outfit) and Cartoonist Kanna (who doesn't let you see up her thighs) but totally allows the rather not-safe-for-work base character designs of Elise the BDSM nun and Reizei Emeko, who seems to have fashioned a dress out of a totally see-through shower curtain.”
- “Character design and outfits are definitely pushing the boundaries, but there is a setting that can be toggled for safe mode if you aren't interested in seeing the more salacious models.”
monetization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
The monetization strategies in these games are heavily criticized for being aggressive and intrusive, often prioritizing profit over player experience. Players report a perception of unfair advantages for those who spend money, leading to claims of cash grab tactics, particularly in titles like Riichi City and Majsoul. Additionally, there are concerns that the monetization approach may not resonate well with Western audiences, raising questions about the long-term sustainability of these games.
- “Monetization is a tricky one.”
- “The monetization is somewhat insensitive to the western audience.”
- “Monetization options that slap you in the face at every opportunity.”
- “All around, Riichi City is blatantly just a cash grab clone that is more hostile to free/limited money players and has a much lower standard for cash cosmetics.”
- “For a long time now, Majsoul has been focused on more monetization and events to get people playing more, but there have been little to no improvements on the player experience and UI. It's pretty safe to say they are for the most part content with it as it is.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some find it less tedious and more manageable compared to other platforms, others feel that the effort required to unlock characters can be frustrating. The user experience is generally considered better, but the need to navigate multiple submenus for rewards can become cumbersome.
- “I've been grinding tasks and buying character tickets, but after all that effort, I only unlocked three characters.”
- “Fetching rewards from several separate submenus can get kind of tedious.”
- “A more sensible ranking system than Mahjong Soul, which takes a lot of grinding.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant lag and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. Many users feel that even simpler web games perform better, leading to frustration and disappointment.
- “Even a web game is better optimized than this.”
- “I wanted to like and support this game, but the bad optimization with the lag and the character work just kills it for me.”
- “However, the performance is not that good; the connection is lagging constantly. (Though, yes, a really quick connection is not crucial in a game of mahjong, it's still annoying.)”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
麻雀一番街 is praised for its immersive atmosphere that enhances the classic mahjong experience, making it a standout choice for players seeking a strategic yet enjoyable environment. The game's intricate mechanics further contribute to its captivating ambiance, appealing to both seasoned players and newcomers.
- “A captivating blend of strategy and luck, 麻雀一番街 offers a unique take on the classic mahjong game, surpassing its peers with its immersive atmosphere and intricate mechanics.”
- “If you know how to play and just want to enjoy some riichi mahjong in a nice atmosphere on Steam, this is the game for you.”