Tel-Tel Mahjong on the Sega Genesis is one of those no-frills, straight-to-the-point mahjong solitaire games. You’ve got a big pile of beautifully detailed tiles stacked in layers, and your job is to match identical pairs to clear the board. The patterns are satisfying to unravel—like peeling back layers of a puzzle—but don’t expect flashy animations or wild power-ups. It’s just you, the tiles, and that quiet satisfaction when you finally spot the one match you missed.

The music’s got that classic Genesis synth sound, which is either charmingly retro or grating, depending on how long you’ve been staring at the same stubborn layout. And yeah, some of the tile designs can be tricky if you’re not familiar with traditional mahjong symbols—I definitely spent a few minutes squinting at what turned out to be bamboo shoots. But once you get into the rhythm, it’s weirdly relaxing in that "just one more round" way. Perfect for when you want something simple but still need to use your brain a little.

If you’re into old-school mahjong without gimmicks, this one’s a solid pick. Just don’t blame me when you lose track of time.