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Mahjong Solitaire Animal Mahjong

Animal Mahjong

Seven of our layouts are shaped like animals: a turtle, a butterfly, a cat, a crab, a fish, an owl and a spider. They use the usual 144 tiles and the usual rules, but each shape plays differently.

The game above is the Owl, with its big stacked eyes and two little feet. Pick any of the others below and the board switches straight away.

From easy to hard

The animals cover the whole range. Butterfly and Spider are easy, because their wings and legs are thin and every row is short. The Turtle, Crab and Fish sit in the middle. Cat and Owl are hard: the cat's face is a wide solid block, and the owl hides tiles under its tall eyes.

Tips for animal layouts

  • Start with the highest part. On most of these it is the eyes, the head or the shell, and those tiles block the most.
  • Save the thin parts. Legs, claws, tails and wing tips are usually free from the start and stay free. Keep them for when you need a partner.
  • Clear both sides evenly. Animals are symmetrical, so the four copies of a tile are often split between the left and right halves.

Looking for something seasonal? Try the six Christmas layouts, or see all 24 layouts sorted by difficulty.

The seven animal layouts

The game above is Owl Mahjong. Pick any of these to play a different one.

Turtle MahjongClassic The classic 144-tile board. Five layers, a long tail at each end. 5 layers · 35 free at start · 50% cleared Butterfly MahjongEasy Two open wings and a slim body. The gentlest board to learn on. 3 layers · 68 free at start · 85% cleared Cat MahjongHard A cat face with pointed ears, raised eyes and a nose. 3 layers · 22 free at start · 25% cleared Crab MahjongMedium A domed shell with claws reaching out at each corner. 4 layers · 34 free at start · 50% cleared Fish MahjongMedium A rounded body with a raised middle and a split tail. 4 layers · 40 free at start · 35% cleared Owl MahjongHard Big stacked eyes, ear tufts and two little feet. 4 layers · 48 free at start · 30% cleared Spider MahjongEasy A tall body with eight thin legs spread wide. 5 layers · 50 free at start · 70% cleared

See all 24 layouts, sorted by difficulty

Questions people ask

What is Animal Mahjong?

Mahjong Solitaire played on layouts shaped like animals. The tiles and rules are the same as any Mahjong Solitaire game. Only the shape of the board changes.

Which animal layouts are there?

Seven: Turtle, Butterfly, Cat, Crab, Fish, Owl and Spider.

Which animal layout is easiest?

Butterfly, cleared in about 85% of our test games. Cat and Owl are the hardest of the seven.

Is Animal Mahjong good for children?

Yes. The shapes are easy to recognise, and Butterfly and Spider are gentle enough for beginners. You can turn on large tile faces in Settings.