Comparison

Shanghai Mahjong Lite vs Solitaire Challenges

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Shanghai Mahjong Lite

Experience a visually stunning and highly customizable digital version of the classic tile-matching game. Enjoy various game modes, compelling animations, and an extensive online library of artwork to keep the gameplay fresh and engaging.

Highlights
  • Tile-matching gameplay
  • Multiple game modes
  • Extensive customization options
  • High-resolution artwork library
  • Compelling animations and sound
  • Windstorm mode
Features
Read full description

★ WINNER "BEST GAME" 2009 ★ 3rd PLACE WINNER "BEST APP EVER" 2010 "Quite honestly, if you enjoy the game of Mahjong even a little bit, you’d be nuts not to buy this game. It’s the best mahjong available for the iPad or the iPhone" — 148Apps "Shanghai Mahjong app is the best Mahjong app available on iTunes" — slapapp.com "This is arguably the best digital version of the game I’ve ever played" — macgamer.com "absolutely gorgeous!" — gear diary "If you've been stuck trying to decide which mahjong solitaire game in the App Store will get you the most bang for your buck, it’s time to stop wracking your brain and give Shanghai a try. It’s a gorgeous and über customizable version of the game you know and love" — appadvice.com "With solid controls, a variety of game modes, and nearly endless customization via direct downloads, Shanghai Mahjong came away the winner in our Games category. — iLounge.com "13th Top iOS App of all time" - 148Apps "You’d be seriously hard-pressed to find a nicer looking mahjong app than Shanghai" — appsafari Shanghai Mahjong, one of the most popular games of all time, returns in this definitive edition. Whether you play it on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch Shanghai looks stunning. Shanghai also fully supports the iPhone 4 Retina display Pair tiles to dismantle intricate structures or try to predict the ever-changing matches in the unique Windstorm mode. Shanghai's compelling animation, sound and one-tap access to an extensive online collection of high resolution artwork ensures the game will always stay fresh.

About

Solitaire Challenges

A card game where you clear the board by matching cards one above or below the deck card. It features 160 levels with varied missions and a wild card to help build sequences. Success requires both luck and strategic card selection.

Highlights
  • Clear board by matching cards
  • 160 levels with varied missions
  • Wild card for sequence building
  • Scoring based on card value and sequences
  • Skill-based gameplay beyond luck
Features
Read full description

Solitaire Challenges is a card game that consists in clearing the board by taking a card that is one above or below than the card on the deck. Among the 160 levels available to play, you would find several missions such as: - Have a sequence of X number of cards. - Obtain X points. - Find the card-key to open the lock. - Solve the game in X amount of time. - Get a golden card by having a sequence of 5 cards. - Solve 2 rounds of the game. From level 5 you would have available a wild card, that you would be able to use any time replacing the card that you need. It's very useful for building long sequences. Each card taken off from the board has a value of 100 points, and if it follows a sequence then its value would have 50 bonus points. This means that the longer the sequence is then more points you get. Solitaire Challenges doesn't only involves luck but the skill of selecting the necessary cards to solve the game.

Screenshots

Shanghai Mahjong Lite2 screens
Solitaire Challenges4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Shanghai Mahjong Lite at every 5 months against Solitaire Challenges's every 40 months. Shanghai Mahjong Lite also leads on ratings volume (549 vs 7) and rating (3.7 vs 3.4). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Shanghai Mahjong Lite sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Solitaire Challenges sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Shanghai Mahjong Lite holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shanghai Mahjong Lite has 549 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Shanghai Mahjong Lite's written reviews are positive against 54% of Solitaire Challenges's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shanghai Mahjong Lite ships an update every 5 months, Solitaire Challenges every 40 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Shanghai Mahjong Lite versus Solitaire Challenges: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShanghai Mahjong LiteSolitaire Challenges
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (549 ratings) — better3.4 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews59.5% of reviews — better53.6% of reviews
Number of ratings549 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 40 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS3.0 — better13
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB97 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperMobileAge LLCJose Varela

Customer experience

Shanghai Mahjong Lite

All ratings552 ratings
Positive64.1%
Neutral12.0%
Negative23.9%
Written reviews449 reviews
Positive59.5%
Neutral13.4%
Negative27.2%

Solitaire Challenges

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive53.6%
Neutral21.4%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Shanghai Mahjong Lite

One-time2
  • Tilesets Unlimited$0.99
  • Layout Pack$0.99
6 purchases

Solitaire Challenges

One-time6
  • 3 extra lives$1.99
  • Undo button$1.99
  • 5 Extra Cards$1.99
Show 3 more
  • Extra Joker$1.99
  • Extra Time$1.99
  • Set of 5 lives$2.99

Questions

Is Shanghai Mahjong Lite free?
Shanghai Mahjong Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Solitaire Challenges free?
Solitaire Challenges is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Shanghai Mahjong Lite or Solitaire Challenges?
Shanghai Mahjong Lite is rated higher. Shanghai Mahjong Lite averages 3.7 out of 5 from 549 ratings, while Solitaire Challenges averages 3.4 from 7 ratings.
Do Shanghai Mahjong Lite or Solitaire Challenges have ads?
Neither Shanghai Mahjong Lite nor Solitaire Challenges shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shanghai Mahjong Lite or Solitaire Challenges?
Shanghai Mahjong Lite ships an update every 5 months, and Solitaire Challenges every 40 months. Most recently, Shanghai Mahjong Lite was updated on October 21, 2026 and Solitaire Challenges on October 22, 2026.

Other comparisons