How both PG Soft Mahjong Ways slots work, from cascades to free spins

01 · Review

What is Mahjong Ways?

Mahjong Ways is a video slot built around mahjong tiles, not a digital version of the traditional mahjong tile game. The aim is to form winning symbol combinations according to the slot’s paytable. Wins can trigger cascades, in which winning symbols disappear and replacement symbols fall into the grid. The game checks the new layout for further wins as part of the same spin.

PG Soft, also called Pocket Games Soft or PG SOFT, developed and owns both Mahjong Ways and Mahjong Ways 2. PG Soft announced Mahjong Ways in December 2019 as its first mahjong-themed slot. It announced Mahjong Ways 2 as the sequel in April 2020. These are announcement months, not launch-day claims.

Both games are listed as Classic / Chinese games, with a mahjong-tile theme. The official game information lists support for iOS, Android, HTML5, MacOS and Windows. Their optimal display is 1080 × 2340 in portrait orientation, with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The games are also available in the public PG Soft demo, which offers several interface languages. This India section describes the English interface; the game is called “Cara Mahyong” in Indonesian.

PG Soft’s game information identifies Gaming Associates as a testing organisation. The public demo splash screen displays the wording “Dilisensi di Malta” with an MGA logo, and “Disertifikasi oleh GA / BMM”. Those screen elements are not a statement about whether playing for real money is lawful in India. The games’ details and published figures are summarised in this Mahjong Ways series overview.

02 · Review

Mahjong Ways and Mahjong Ways 2: key differences

The sequel changes the grid layout and raises the number of ways to win. It also changes how the free-spins feature works on reel 3. Both titles share the same basic cascade sequence, the same regular-game multiplier ladder and the same free-spins multiplier ladder.

The “ways” count describes the game’s ways-to-win layout, not a promise that a spin will win. Mahjong Ways has 1,024 ways on a 5-reel, 4-row grid. Mahjong Ways 2 has 2,000 ways, using an extra row on the three middle reels. The extra positions make the sequel’s grid taller in the centre, while the outer reels remain four rows high.

RTP is a theoretical return figure for the game version over a very large number of plays. It is not a forecast for an individual spin or session. The hit-rate figures are also game statistics, not a schedule for when a win or feature will occur. Both games are classified as medium volatility in the published information. For the figures and their limits, see the guide to RTP and maximum win.

The maximum-win figures need a separate qualification. Mahjong Ways has an advertised maximum win of 25,000x the bet, while the maximum exposure observed in 1 billion simulated spins was 2,893x. Mahjong Ways 2 has an advertised maximum win of 100,000x the bet, while the maximum exposure observed in 1 billion simulated spins was 1,708x. The advertised value and the observed simulation result are different measures; a simulation does not establish what a player will experience or guarantee that either figure can be reached in a session.

03 · Review

How a Mahjong Ways spin works

A spin starts with a layout of symbols on the reels. The game checks for wins using its ways-to-win rules. If symbols form a winning combination, those winning symbols are removed, new symbols fall into the open spaces, and the game checks the refreshed layout again. A single spin can therefore contain several rounds of wins and cascades.

The visible multiplier above the reels tracks winning cascade rounds. It begins at x1 in the first round. A win in that round advances the multiplier for the next round to x2. A win in round two advances it to x3 for round three. A win in round three advances it to x5 for round four and any later rounds of that spin. The ladder resets when a new spin begins.

Gold Plated symbols and Wilds

The Wild symbol is shown as a gold ingot bearing the word WILD. It substitutes for all symbols except the Scatter. Both games can show Gold Plated symbols on reels 2, 3 and/or 4 during a spin. These are symbols other than Wilds and Scatters that appear in gold.

After a winning round, the game removes the winning symbols and drops in new ones. Any Gold Plated symbol involved in the win in the previous round transforms into a Wild in the new layout. The new Wild can then be part of a later winning combination, after which the cascade and symbol check continue. A gold symbol that is not involved in the previous round’s win does not meet the stated condition for transformation.

A multiplier-only example

Suppose a spin has a win in each of its first four cascade rounds. The multiplier sequence displayed for those rounds is x1, x2, x3 and x5. If another cascade round follows and wins, the multiplier remains x5. This example describes only the multiplier ladder; it does not calculate a win amount or suggest that a particular sequence is likely.

The multiplier is one part of the cascade feature, not a separate guarantee. A spin can end when the game finds no further win after the symbols drop. A new spin starts again at x1 in the regular game. For a step-by-step guide to the mechanics, see how to play Mahjong Ways.

04 · Review

Free spins in both games

Three Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels trigger the Free Spins Feature in either title. The Scatter is shown with the red character 胡 (hu). Mahjong Ways starts the feature with 12 free spins; Mahjong Ways 2 starts with 10. Each additional Scatter adds two more free spins. The feature can be retriggered.

During free spins, the multiplier ladder is x2, x4, x6 and x10 in both games. This differs from the regular-game ladder, which starts at x1 and advances to x2, x3 and x5. The free-spins multipliers apply as the free-spin cascades progress; the game’s feature rules define the sequence.

Mahjong Ways 2 adds a specific Gold Plated condition during its free-spins feature: all symbols on reel 3 appear in gold, apart from Wilds and Scatters. When a gold symbol on that reel is involved in a win, it can turn into a Wild after the winning symbols are removed and the next symbols drop in. This is the sequel’s stated feature distinction; it does not mean that every symbol on every reel becomes a Wild.

The original Mahjong Ways has the Gold Plated symbol mechanic on reels 2, 3 and/or 4 during spins. Its published free-spins rules specify the free spins, additional-Scatter rule, retriggering and multiplier ladder. Mahjong Ways 2 specifies the all-gold condition for reel 3 during free spins. See the separate explanation of free spins and Scatter symbols for the feature rules in more detail.

05 · Review

Mahjong Ways controls and interface

The public demo’s controls are designed around the reels and the game’s information panels. Exact placement can vary with screen layout, but the official game information describes the following controls and displays:

On a PC, the Space key starts a spin. Holding Space enables continuous spins. These controls do not change the game’s underlying outcome rules. The provided official PDFs do not describe a Feature Buy or bonus-buy option for either game, so this guide does not present one as a feature.

In the bet panel, the game has a bet size and a bet level; the listed bet level range is 1 to 10. The interface also includes a Max Bet control. This guide does not list bet amounts. Check the paytable and rules in the game itself to understand its symbols, ways and displayed settings before using the controls. If you want to inspect the game without playing for real money, use the Mahjong Ways demo guide.

06 · Review

Demo and real-money play: what is different?

The public PG Soft demo uses virtual credits. It lets a reader view the reels, controls, paytable and game features without staking money. A demo session can be useful for learning how cascades, multipliers and free spins appear on screen, but it does not establish what will happen in a real-money session.

Real-money play is offered through third-party gaming platforms, not through an account belonging to Mahjong Ways itself. The games do not have their own account system: registration and login take place on the gaming platform. PG Soft lists the games as HTML5 titles, so a standalone PG Soft Mahjong Ways APK is not confirmed. They can run in a browser or within a gaming platform, depending on that platform’s service.

A demo is not a promise about later results. Likewise, changing platforms or switching between demo and real-money modes does not make a spin predictable. For device details and the APK question, see the app and APK guide.

07 · Review

Mobile play and device support

Mahjong Ways and Mahjong Ways 2 are listed for iOS, Android, HTML5, MacOS and Windows. Their listed optimal display is portrait, at 1080 × 2340 and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The public demo can therefore be viewed on supported devices through the available web or platform interface, rather than requiring a confirmed standalone game app.

On a phone, the main actions remain the same: start or stop a spin, adjust the bet setting, open the paytable or rules, and view history. The display may arrange the controls differently to fit the screen. That layout change does not alter the published game rules, the number of ways or the multiplier sequence.

Use the official game listing as a reference for PG Soft’s catalogue and title information: PG Soft game information. A page or download claiming to be an official standalone APK should not be treated as verified on the basis of its name alone. The stated information is that the games are HTML5 and run in a browser or inside a gaming platform.

08 · Review

Myths and lookalike game names

Does PG Soft have a Mahjong Ways 3? No official Mahjong Ways 3 was found in PG Soft’s official catalogue, which lists Mahjong Ways and Mahjong Ways 2. Games with that name on gaming platforms are from other studios, including Playstar or 5G; they are not the PG Soft sequel described here. This guide does not attribute their features to PG Soft. More clarification is available in the guide to Mahjong Ways 3, Super Scatter and common myths.

Is “black Scatter” or “scatter hitam” part of these games? The official game information does not list a black Scatter for either title. The Scatter described for Mahjong Ways is the symbol with the red character 胡. The black-Scatter term circulates on unofficial sites and should not be mistaken for an official feature.

Is Mahjong Ways Super Scatter another name for the series? No. “Mahjong Ways Super Scatter” is a search phrase sometimes used for Mahjong Wins Super Scatter, a different mahjong-themed slot by Pragmatic Play. It is not one of PG Soft’s Mahjong Ways games. No features or figures for that separate game are covered here.

Do Mahjong Ways 2 tricks, predictors, patterns or hacks work? They do not make the next result knowable or controllable. Outcomes are generated by a random number generator, and every spin is independent. A sequence of past spins does not provide a reliable prediction of the next spin. Hour-by-hour “RTP live” figures published by third-party sites are not official; the RTP stated for a game version is a fixed theoretical long-term value.

09 · Review

India: legal context and responsible play

Readers in India should distinguish the free demo from real-money play. The free demo uses virtual credits and involves no money. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (Act No. 32 of 2025) received assent on 22 August 2025 and applies across India, including to services operated from outside India. It imposes a complete ban on online money games, whether based on chance, skill or a mix, and prohibits offering, advertising and promoting them. It also bars banks and payment systems from processing transactions for them. The Act provides for authorities to block access to unlawful platforms under the Information Technology Act, 2000.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 came into force on 1 May 2026. Under Indian law, an authority determines whether a game is an online money game. Playing Mahjong Ways for real money is an online money game under this law. This is a neutral explanation of the stated legal position, not advice about a particular service or a claim that a platform is lawful. The demo with virtual credits does not involve money. For the broader country information, see Mahjong Ways and India’s legal context.

These games are for adults aged 18 and over. If play is affecting your wellbeing, relationships or day-to-day responsibilities, stop and seek support rather than trying to recover losses. India’s Tele MANAS national tele mental health helpline is available free, 24 hours a day, in 20 languages, on 14416 or 1-800-891-4416. Further information is available from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

For suspected cyber fraud, use the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or call helpline 1930. Do not share account credentials or personal information with someone claiming they can predict a result, provide a hack or guarantee a win. A responsible approach starts with understanding that demo play and real-money services are different, and that an independent spin cannot be forecast from earlier outcomes. Read the site’s responsible gaming information for additional guidance.

10 · Review

Which Mahjong Ways game should a reader understand first?

Start with the distinction between the two official titles. Mahjong Ways is the earlier game, with a 5 × 4 grid and 1,024 ways. Mahjong Ways 2 is the sequel, with an extra row on each of reels 2, 3 and 4, creating a 4-5-5-5-4 layout and 2,000 ways. Both use cascading wins, Gold Plated symbols that can turn into Wilds after a qualifying win, and the regular multiplier ladder x1, x2, x3 and x5.

Their free-spins rules are not identical. Three Scatters award 12 free spins in Mahjong Ways and 10 in Mahjong Ways 2; additional Scatters add two spins in either title. Both use x2, x4, x6 and x10 multipliers during free spins. Mahjong Ways 2 additionally makes all eligible symbols on reel 3 gold during its free-spins feature, while excluding Wilds and Scatters.

The published RTPs are close, at 96.92% and 96.95%, and both games are medium volatility. Those figures describe theoretical game characteristics, not a way to choose a guaranteed outcome. The advertised maximum win values also need to be read beside the separate simulation observations: 25,000x versus 2,893x in the original game, and 100,000x versus 1,708x in the sequel. The advertised values are maximum-win claims; the simulated figures are the maximum exposures observed in 1 billion simulated spins, not promises or session targets.

For readers learning the interface, the demo provides a way to see the reels and controls with virtual credits. For readers in India, the legal distinction is essential: the text of Indian law treats real-money Mahjong Ways play as an online money game, while the public demo involves no money. The game mechanics can be explained separately from any claim about the legality or availability of a third-party service.

Verdict

Mahjong Ways pros and cons