Riichi City

About

Riichi City is a single player and multiplayer casual sport game. It was developed by Formirai Co., Ltd. and was released on September 8, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

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.

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77%

Audience ScoreBased on 804 reviews

gameplay12 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Riichi City offers a great learning experience for beginners with its comprehensive tutorials and in-game resources.
The game is more generous to free-to-play players compared to competitors, providing ample opportunities to earn gacha tickets and rewards.
The user interface is modern and visually appealing, with animated characters and emotes that enhance the overall gameplay experience.

The game features overly sexualized character designs, which can be off-putting for some players and may limit its appeal in public settings.
The ranking system can be frustrating, as players lose points for finishing in third place, discouraging defensive play and leading to potential demotion.
There are concerns about the gacha mechanics being predatory, with low drop rates for characters and expensive in-game purchases.

gameplay
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
76%
6%
The gameplay of the mahjong game is generally smooth and intuitive, with many players appreciating its polished mechanics and helpful tutorials. While it shares similarities with Mahjong Soul, some users find it more casual and visually appealing due to its gacha elements and character customization. However, criticisms include a perceived lack of depth in gameplay and frustrating mechanics that may deter casual players, alongside concerns about the impact of gacha systems on the overall experience.
- “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.”
- “The gameplay itself is smooth and the UI is intuitive.”
- “Moreover, the tournament-style gameplay mode keeps things fast-paced and enjoyable, even if you don't win every time.”
- “It is one of the oldest and most frustrating strategy games mixed with the most boring waiting gameplay.”
- “Just play mahjong soul, this game sucks, super predatory, borderline pornographic, and the gameplay feels incredibly off.”
- “Despite its cultural authenticity, 麻雀一番街 lags behind competitors in terms of graphics and gameplay mechanics.”
graphics
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
72%
6%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their modern aesthetics and appealing art style, with many users noting the clean UI and vibrant visuals. However, there are significant concerns regarding the overt sexualization in the artwork, which may not be suitable for all players, and some users express a desire for options to disable such content. Comparatively, while the graphics are considered better than some competitors, they still fall short of the quality found in titles like Mahjong Soul, which is noted for its superior visuals and smoother gameplay.
- “The graphics, art, and animations are much cleaner and modern when compared to Mahjong Soul.”
- “The UI is pretty clean and the visuals are the best out of any of the mahjong games I've played.”
- “Riichi City is a good mahjong game, fun to play with some nice graphics and a good and fun multiplayer.”
- “The art style, on the other hand, is noticeably cheaper than Mahjong Soul, which uses some kind of 2.5D technology to animate the few skins that do have animations, versus the tween animation (think Flash games) of this game.”
- “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.”
story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
78%
11%
The story in Riichi City is considered an improvement over Mahjong Soul, featuring a basic plot introduced during the tutorial and additional narrative elements through events and character interactions. While the storytelling is described as "bare bones," it includes engaging visual novel segments and character backstories that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some players feel that the narrative could be more substantial, as there are moments where the story seems to drop off after the initial introduction.
- “Riichi City actually offers some narrative with a basic plot at the tutorial and has some story in the events.”
- “There was a greater attempt to add some story into the game, evidenced by the lengthy opening cutscene, the diary entries you unlock by bonding characters, etc. Very bare bones, but notably better than the two sentences you get in Mahjong Soul.”
- “The visual novel elements (when they happen, for their limited time run) are actually engaging and incentivize playing more mahjong matches in order to get points to continue the story and unlock more items for gacha and unlockables.”
- “Confusingly, there is no story after the intro part; I thought there was going to be more.”
- “It's riichi mahjong with a side serving of gacha game, and it even has a needlessly long opening story.”
- “Regular events mix a small story (nothing to write home about) with some mini-games.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
57%
13%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its high quality and ability to enhance the gaming experience, while others find it repetitive and distracting. Many appreciate the option to customize audio settings, allowing them to play their own music, but some criticize the soundtrack for lacking originality and depth. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the atmosphere, it may not appeal to everyone due to its repetitiveness and occasional annoyance.
- “The music bops too (and you can't hear it loop like in other games).”
- “The music and animation make the game enjoyable.”
- “Cool game to listen to music and just vibe out to.”
- “The music is a little annoying after a while, so go to audio settings and then turn on your own music.”
- “The music is also terrible and the animations feel too extra and distracting.”
- “However, the soundtrack leaves a lot to be desired.”
character development
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
Character development in the game has evolved significantly, with initial criticisms of cheap animations and designs giving way to a more polished and diverse array of character designs and outfits. While the game features a fanservice-heavy approach that may not appeal to everyone, it offers a "family-friendly mode" to cater to different preferences. Overall, the character designs are noted for their fluid animations and engaging aesthetics, though some players feel the focus on lewdness overshadows the quality of the designs.
- “In the beginning, this game had cheap animations, emotes, and character designs, but as of the time of writing this review, they have released a lot of incredible character designs and outfit designs.”
- “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.”
- “Covers pretty much all operating systems, has an unusually clean user interface, and really nice character designs.”
- “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.”
- “This game, with its exceptionally fanservice-forward approach to character design, might not be to everyone's taste (though there is a 'family-friendly mode' that removes some of the more risqué optional outfits and animations!) but it is one of the aspects I enjoy!”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players finding amusement in the chaotic gameplay and matchmaking, as well as the quirky emotes and features like split banners. While some aspects are deemed funny, others are criticized for being poorly executed, leading to a blend of hilarity and frustration. Overall, the game offers a unique comedic charm that resonates with many players, despite its flaws.
- “The ranked system is a little funny; if you don't get first, you're pretty much losing, so defensive play is thrown out the door for pushing any and every hand.”
- “Hilarious, chaotic, and surprisingly addictive - it's a gem in the mahjong genre.”
- “It's not good, but it is pretty funny.”
monetization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The monetization model in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it optional and acceptable for maintaining the game's longevity, while others criticize it as predatory and overly aggressive, particularly towards free-to-play users. Issues such as higher prices on certain platforms and microtransactions that do not enhance gameplay further contribute to the dissatisfaction. Overall, there are concerns about the game's focus on monetization at the expense of player experience and quality improvements.
- “Gacha could be a bit cheaper, but the microtransactions don't provide any advantage.”
- “All of this monetization is optional and totally fine in order to keep the game alive.”
- “Monetization is a tricky one.”
- “While the game is enjoyable, it is not worth the predatory monetization model they use.”
- “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.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be manageable, especially for free-to-play users who can earn gacha tickets at a reasonable rate. However, some express frustration with the effort-to-reward ratio, noting that significant grinding yields limited character unlocks. Overall, the game is perceived as less grindy compared to others in the genre, with a more user-friendly interface, though some tasks can still feel tedious.
- “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.”
- “MJS seems to have more and stronger players, but this platform feels more relaxed and is less grindy.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting frequent stuttering, lag, and connection issues that hinder gameplay. Many feel that even simpler web games outperform it in terms of performance, leading to frustration and disappointment despite a desire to support the title. Overall, the optimization shortcomings significantly detract from the gaming experience.
- “Better UI, better performance, better gacha, better collaborations, more voice lines, more animations, better translations, and a better tutorial.”
- “The very first game of RC, my game always stutters, making me late to join and causing my timer to run out.”
- “I wanted to like and support this game, but the bad optimization with the lag and character work just kills it for me.”
- “Even a web game is better optimized than this.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere of 麻雀一番街 is described as bright, energetic, and immersive, providing a modern twist on the classic riichi mahjong experience. Players appreciate its captivating blend of strategy and luck, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a lively and engaging environment to enjoy the game.
- “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.”
- “Tldr: 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.”
- “To me, this game is a modern riichi mahjong experience; it's a lot brighter, faster, and more energetic than the slower and cozier atmosphere of Souls games.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the browser and Windows clients exhibit significant bugs and lack proper optimization, leading to stability issues.
- “The browser and Windows clients are buggy and poorly optimized.”
- “I frequently experience crashes that disrupt my gameplay.”
- “The game often freezes, making it frustrating to play.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express discomfort with the emotional tone of the game, noting that attempts at wholesome engagement are undermined by inappropriate content, such as the inclusion of a naked girl in a bathtub. This juxtaposition detracts from the overall emotional experience, leading to a sense of unease.