American Mahjong for iPhone & iPad
The beautiful way to play American Mahjong
Real four-player Mah Jongg with the 2026 NMJL card. Practice against friendly bots, host your group at a private table, or match online whenever you want a game.
4.8 · 223 App Store ratings- Free to download
- 2026 NMJL card
- 12 free lessons
- No ads
Everything you need to play American Mah Jongg
Real rules, real opponents, and tiles worth looking at, thoughtfully designed for your iPhone and iPad.
Play American Mahjong online with friends
Create a private table, send one invite link, and your Tuesday group is playing together in real time, across town or across the country. No group to gather tonight? Quick match pairs you with other players at your level.
How online games with friends work
Practice against smart bots. No pressure, no timer.
Sharpen your game with solo rounds against computer opponents, get a hint when you're stuck, and watch your stats climb. Badges and streaks keep practice fun between game nights.
Built for the 2026 NMJL card
Every game follows official National Mah Jongg League rules: the Charleston, jokers, exposures, and the hands on this year's card. Suggested hands and hints help you learn it faster, and when the new card arrives each April, Mahj Parlour is ready. An official NMJL card is required to play. Purchase yours at nationalmahjonggleague.org.
How to read the NMJL card
Designer tile sets worth looking at
From Classic Porcelain to Vacay in Venice, Safari Sunset, and St. Lucia Shores, every collection is hand-illustrated, and you unlock new sets as you play. No ads, no clutter. Just mahj.
Never played before?
Learn how to play American Mahjong for free
Interactive, step-by-step lessons walk you from your very first tile to reading the card, surviving the Charleston, and winning your first hand. Every lesson is free, and you can practice what you learn against bots right away.
Loved by the mahj community
Rated 4.8 out of 5 by 223+ players on the App Store“So glad I found this! It's seamless to use, I love that I can play with my friends and best of all, everything about it is beautiful.”
“I always wanted to learn. After a couple of in person classes and this app, I completely understand the game now!”
“This is the prettiest app game I have seen! The lightbulb/hint is a great feature. Great for beginners”
“Have been searching for an equivalent to live Mahj and this is it! Hope to see harder play levels!”
“The app is so helpful for learning Mahj. I love the recommended hands. They are so helpful”
“I'm so glad I found this app. I love it. Easy to use and looks beautiful too.”
What is American Mahjong?
American Mahjong (also spelled Mah Jongg) is a four-player tile game governed by the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL). Players race to build a hand that matches one of the patterns on the League's annual card, with a fresh card released every April. The American game grew out of Chinese Mahjong in the 1930s and is set apart by the Charleston, eight jokers, and the card-based hands.
It is a different game from the tile-matching "mahjong solitaire" you may have seen online. Real American Mahjong is played against three opponents with 152 tiles in play, live discards, and strategy. That's exactly what Mahj Parlour brings to your iPhone and iPad.
How the game works
Each player starts with 13 tiles and takes turns drawing and discarding. The goal is to build a hand that matches one of the patterns on the NMJL card. Before the first draw, players exchange tiles through several rounds of structured passing known as the Charleston.
An American Mahjong set has 166 tiles: three number suits (Craks, Bams, and Dots), four Winds, three Dragons, eight Flowers, and eight Jokers that can stand in for other tiles under specific rules. Our glossary explains every term, and our complete rules guide covers every step of play.
How to learn the game
Most players learn from a teacher, a family member, or a self-paced app. The rules feel complex on paper but click quickly in practice. Our beginner's guide walks through your first game step by step, and our 12 free lessons inside Mahj Parlour cover everything from reading the card to defensive play.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an app for American Mahjong?
Can you play American Mahjong online with friends?
Do I need a physical NMJL card to play?
Is Mahj Parlour free?
What's the difference between American Mahjong and mahjong solitaire?
Does Mahj Parlour work on iPad?
More questions? Visit our support page or read the beginner's guide.
Start Here
If you're new to Mahj Parlour or American Mahjong, these are the first guides to read.
Beginner's Guide
Learn the core flow of American Mahjong before your first real game.
Rules Guide
Get the full rules for dealing, calling, exposures, Jokers, and scoring.
NMJL Card Guide
Decode the notation, colors, and hand structure on the 2026 card.
Play Online With Friends
Set up private online games when your regular table can't meet in person.
Joker Rules
When you can use a joker, when you can't, and how to exchange one.
Best American Mahjong Apps
Compare the main iPhone options for real NMJL-style play.
Your table is waiting
Download Mahj Parlour free and find out why players call it the most beautiful way to play American Mahjong on iPhone and iPad.
Download on the App Store