Mahjong Deluxe HD

While it's not quite as old as the proverbial hills, the game Mahjong is at least as old as a gentle incline.

According to mythos, the Chinese philospher Confucius created the simple tile-matching concept in 40BC, but the version we're reviewing today actually emerged in the mid-19th century - back when a game patch was a bit of wood glued onto a broken board.

Mahjong Deluxe HD brings the design bang up-to-date, with tap controls instead of fiddly tiles that you move by hand, but it lacks the presentational flair necessary to make it a must-buy.

Match-two

In case you’ve never played virtual Mahjong, which means you’ve never been stuck in a cubicle office with only the default Windows games for company, it’s one of the easiest experiences to pick up.

Although this Android game doesn’t feature a tutorial, the rules are explained simply enough in the help menu, and in a matter of minutes you’ll be playing like an old master.

Tiles are stacked in eye-catching patterns and shapes across the screen, and it’s your job to clear the whole lot by matching the symbols etched into their surfaces. Unlike in modern titles like Bejeweled, you can only match one pair at a time from the edge of a shape.

Controls are straightforward - you tap a tile to select it, then tap the one you think it matches - but they inevitably lack the tactile joy of picking up real pieces. A dragging mechanic may have felt more natural.

Zen times

Depending on your viewpoint, clearing Mahjong Deluxe HD’s generous 168 stages (which gradually pile on the tiles, and the amount of time needed to complete them) is either a relaxing challenge or a painstakingly tedious endeavour.

The simple presentation also does little to fire a newcomer’s enthusiasm.

Backgrounds, for example, are only enlivened by a choice of Eastern-themed backgrounds and the odd lack of a zoom option means the shape-hunting will wear out your eyes before your battery.

Meanwhile, the grating panpipe-infused soundtrack will set on edge the teeth of even the most masochistic muzak fans.

Still, while the game’s uninspired looks, sounds, and controls are hardly likely to set the world ablaze, Mahjong Deluxe HD remains a solid spin on an ancient pastime that offers a sizeable amount of content for dedicated tile-fiends.