Play Shanghai II - Dragon's Eye (Europe) Online

You match mahjong tiles against the clock, surrounded by these dreamy painted landscapes that make you forget you're sweating over impossible layouts. That hourglass ticking down turns chill flute music into pure tension.

Developer: Activision

Genre: Puzzle

Released: 1993

File size: 379 bytes

Game Overview

Shanghai II: Dragon’s Eye is one of those SNES games that sneaks up on you—it looks like a straightforward mahjong solitaire clone at first, but then you notice the little things. The tiles have this gorgeous hand-painted look, and the backgrounds? They’re like scrolling through an old silk painting. I remember getting stuck on one level because I was too busy staring at the scenery.

It’s not just pretty, though. Some of those tile layouts get downright devious, especially in time-attack mode where you’re racing against a slowly draining hourglass. The music’s all soft flutes and chimes, which somehow makes the panic more intense when you’re down to your last few moves. Weirdly peaceful stress, if that makes sense.

Most SNES puzzle games go for flashy or fast, but this one’s content to let you soak in its vibe while your brain works overtime. Still my go-to when I want to unwind without turning my mind completely off.