Shanghai 2 – Dragon’s Eye is one of those weird little Genesis gems that somehow makes mahjong solitaire feel epic. You’re still matching tiles like the classic game, but now there’s this whole mystical Chinese folklore vibe—dragon motifs, gongs in the soundtrack, even these occasional cutscenes that make it feel like you’re uncovering some ancient secret. The tile patterns get seriously devious later on, with layers that force you to think three moves ahead.

What surprised me was how much the atmosphere adds to the experience. It’s still fundamentally a puzzle game, but the way the music swells when you clear a section or how the dragon’s eye symbol glows when you’re close to finishing a board gives it weight. Early levels ease you in, but around stage 5, you’ll start getting those “wait, how do I even reach THAT tile?” moments. Perfect for when you want something methodical but with just enough flair to keep it from feeling sterile. Definitely the best version of Shanghai if you’re playing on Genesis.