Hey Mahjong Masters! The launch of Aotenjo: Infinite Hands is just around the corner—only 3 days to go! Mark your calendars: the game officially releases [u][b]on Monday, the 20th, at 11 AM (UTC+8)[/b][/u]—no delays, we promise! In our last dev blog, we shared details about the [b]Early Access launch[/b] and our [b]2025 update roadmap[/b]. This time, we want to introduce some [b]handy tips[/b] for new players! While Aotenjo is a [b]mahjong-inspired roguelike deckbuilder[/b], [b]it doesn’t[/b] require deep mahjong knowledge to enjoy. The mechanics are designed to be approachable, and you’ll pick them up as you play! [h3]Which Mahjong Should I Start With?[/h3] We highly recommend starting with [b]Green Mahjong[/b]. It has a streamlined rule set, a built-in tutorial, and [b]5 extra discards[/b] (we’ll explain these later). The difficulty is also relatively low, making it the perfect starting point. Once you’ve mastered Green Mahjong, you’ll unlock more complex styles! The [b]Early Access version [/b]includes six mahjong types: [b]Green, Blue, Galaxy, Bamboo, Rainbow, and Schemer Mahjong[/b]—each with unique mechanics and challenges! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45104517/66455a758fb4a7db505c83cc755ad738455c9857.png[/img] [h3]The Goal: Score! Score! And More Score![/h3] The core gameplay is simple: [olist] [*] [b]Each round[/b], add new tiles to your hand and [b]score points[/b] based on your tile combinations. [*] After [b]four rounds[/b], your total score determines whether you clear the level. [*] Any [b]points beyond the required target [/b]convert into in-game [b]currency[/b]—which you can [b]spend on upgrades[/b] in the rest phase. [/olist] Just like traditional mahjong, Aotenjo is about [b]planning, adapting, and maximizing your score[/b]. So don’t hold back—aim for big hands and rack up those points! [h3]Scoring System[/h3] Scoring in Aotenjo follows a system[b] similar to classic mahjong: Base Points × Multipliers.[/b] [b]Base Points (符, Fu)[/b] Each tile has a fixed score value, and here’s an easy way to remember them: [list] [*] [b]Character, Bamboo, and Dot tiles:[/b] [b]1 & 9 = 9 Fu, 2 & 8 = 8 Fu, 3 & 7 = 7 Fu, 4 & 6 = 6 Fu, 5 = 5 Fu[/b] [*] [b]Honor tiles (East, South, West, North, Red, Green, White) = 10 Fu[/b] [/list] (Don’t worry if you can’t memorize this! You can always [b]hover over tiles in-game[/b] to check their Fu value.) [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45104517/9c29c668feea7e0275ee1c7d5d225617660a6bdb.png[/img] [h3]Multipliers (番, Fan)[/h3] Fan comes from specific [b]tile combinations[/b]—these are called [b]Patterns (番种, Yakus).[/b] You might recognize famous ones like [b]Full Flush (清一色) [/b]and [b]Thirteen Orphans (十三幺)[/b]—the rarer and harder a pattern is to complete, the[b] higher the multiplier![/b] Unlike traditional mahjong, in Aotenjo, you can [b]upgrade your patterns[/b] by purchasing[b] Pattern Books[/b], increasing their fan and [b]boosting your score potential![/b] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45104517/fae6fc9bb5d83007887d482b35792f3fc5760959.png[/img] To sum it up: [list] [*] [b]Discard low-value or unwanted tiles[/b] [*] [b]Keep high-Fu tiles[/b] [*] [b]Aim for high-Fan pattern[/b] [/list] Master this, and you’ll be on your way to victory! [h3]Gadget Guide: “Rigging” Your Hand (Legally!)[/h3] Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, [b]your tiles just won’t come together.[/b] That’s where Aotenjo's [b]special items[/b] come in! These items can[b] temporarily modify tile values, suits, or even grant unique effects[/b]—making them invaluable for crafting powerful hands. For example: [list] [*] "[b]Cooked Rice[/b]": Temporarily reduces the number value of a Dot or Bamboo tile by 1. [/list] Use these wisely to [b]turn the tide [/b]in your favor! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45104517/ae7911b878101460028f36f9d9a7af85c69bebe1.gif[/img] [h3]Money Power 1: Map Locations[/h3] Another way to [b]optimize your deck[/b] is by making [b]permanent changes[/b] to your [b]wall (your entire deck of tiles)[/b]. At the end of each round, you can choose [b]different locations[/b] to visit, each offering unique benefits: [list] [*] [b]Malice-Sawmill:[/b] Spend money to [b]remove unwanted tiles[/b] from your deck. [*] [b]Bamboo Forest:[/b] Buy [b]new tiles [/b]to add to your deck. [*] [b]Howling Mountain[/b]: Spend money to [b]enchant tiles[/b] with special effects. [*] [b]Wan's Treasure Shop[/b]: Purchase [b]useful gadgets[/b] for your run. [/list] Your [b]currency is key [/b]to shaping your deck—so choose your path carefully! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45104517/220d537785d5417ec6e44e2a64af0ddd53e9fb94.png[/img] [h3]Money Power 2: The Store[/h3] Artifacts are powerful items that provide permanent buffs throughout your run. They can: [list] [*] Boost Pattern multipliers [*] Increase overall scoring potential [*] Evolve specific tiles [/list] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45104517/93eb5874262cdc4b5477898de69c3706c9e76bb8.png[/img] At the [b]Artifact Shop[/b], you can buy [b]various Artifacts[/b]—rarer ones cost more but provide stronger effects! Additionally,[b] Pattern Packs [/b]are a great way to[b] level up your patterns[/b], unlocking [b]rare multipliers [/b]and enhancing your strategy. We recommend [b]prioritizing the Pattern Packs that match your preferred playstyle![/b] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45104517/dbb0a8668df3738b7d64fbee1c72e719103e2c57.png[/img] [h3]Final Developer Tips[/h3] Unlike traditional mahjong, where you need to form a [b]complete 14-tile hand,[/b] Aotenjo breaks it down into[b] four rounds.[/b] In each round: [list] [*] You[b] play a Triplet/Sequence + a Pair[/b] per turn. [*] [b]The previous Pair is replaced each turn[/b]—use this to cycle out unwanted tiles. [/list] Some [b]pro strategies[/b] to keep in mind: [olist] [*] [b]Your final move is crucial! [/b]Each turn scores points, but the [b]last turn includes ALL previous tiles, so set up for big Pattern early[/b] and cash in at the end! [*] [b]Use the Pair slot strategically[/b]—discard unwanted tiles by playing them as Pair in early turns to set up [b]a strong hand for the final Play.[/b] [*] [b]You don’t necessarily need Malice-Sawmill to remove tiles! [/b]Some [b]items and artifacts [/b]can [b]shrink your deck[/b], helping you focus on key tiles faster. [/olist] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45104517/e2f60a559c4915fcb99d2716ce1230a405a81cce.png[/img] [h3]Join the Community[/h3] To all our [b]closed beta and open test players—[/b]thank you for your support! We’d love for you to [b]share your own gameplay tips in the comments[/b] and in our [url=https://discord.gg/FMTMJz3UJN]Official Discord[/url]. [h3]Launch Discount![/h3] Aotenjo: Infinite Hands will launch with a [u][b]12% discount for the first two weeks at $8.71 USD! [/b][/u]