About

<h2>Overview</h2><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/10/103881/1771593-yakuman3.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1771593" data-ratio="0.90140845070423" data-width="639" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 639px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:90.1%" href="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/10/103881/1771593-yakuman3.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1771593"><img alt="Now you can take the game of mahjong on-the-go!" src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_small/10/103881/1771593-yakuman3.jpg" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/10/103881/1771593-yakuman3.jpg 639w, https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_medium/10/103881/1771593-yakuman3.jpg 480w, https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_small/10/103881/1771593-yakuman3.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" data-width="320"></a><figcaption>Now you can take the game of mahjong on-the-go!</figcaption></figure><p>Yakuman is a <a href="/mahjong/3015-6519/" data-ref-id="3015-6519">riichi mahjong</a> (two-player variant) game developed by <a href="/intelligent-systems-co-ltd/3010-333/" data-ref-id="3010-333">Intelligent Systems Co., Ltd.</a> and published by <a href="/nintendo/3010-90/" data-ref-id="3010-90">Nintendo</a> for the <a href="/game-boy/3045-3/" data-ref-id="3045-3">Game Boy</a> exclusively in Japan on April 21, 1989. It is one of the system's <a href="/launch-title/3015-238/" data-ref-id="3015-238">launch titles</a> alongside <a href="/alleyway/3030-4381/" data-ref-id="3030-4381">Alleyway</a>, <a href="/baseball/3030-8145/" data-ref-id="3030-8145">Baseball</a>, and <a href="/super-mario-land/3030-19834/" data-ref-id="3030-19834">Super Mario Land</a>.</p><p>Sharing the name with Nintendo's earlier "Yakuman" brand of mahjong tiles, as well as their 1983 handheld electronic game <a href="https://ja.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BD%B9%E6%BA%80_%28%E4%BB%BB%E5%A4%A9%E5%A0%82%29#%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%94%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BF%E3%83%9E%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%B3%E5%BD%B9%E6%BA%80" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Computer Mah-jong YAKUMAN</a>, Yakuman is a handheld successor to Nintendo's earlier <a href="/nintendo-entertainment-system/3045-21/" data-ref-id="3045-21">Family Computer</a> game <a href="/mahjong/3030-37123/" data-ref-id="3030-37123">Mahjong</a>.</p><p>The earliest known adaptation of the game of mahjong for a handheld game console, this version features multiple A.I. opponents to choose from and two-player multiplayer support via the Game Link Cable accessory. It was also one of the games for the <a href="/nintendo-power/3015-8760/" data-ref-id="3015-8760">Nintendo Power</a> cartridge-download service a decade later.</p><p>Along with <a href="/yakuman/3025-2709/" data-ref-id="3025-2709">multiple sequels</a>, it was later included in the Japanese version of the <a href="/game-boy-nintendo-switch-online/3015-12674/" data-ref-id="3015-12674">Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online</a> subscription service for the <a href="/nintendo-switch/3045-157/" data-ref-id="3045-157">Nintendo Switch</a> on February 8, 2023.</p><h2>Rules</h2><ul><li><strong>クイタン アトヅケ (Kuitan Atozuke)</strong> - Defaults to "on".</li><li><strong>フリテンリーチ (Furiten-riichi)</strong> - Allows the player to declare riichi while in furiten. Defaults to "off".</li><li><strong>ノーテン オヤナガレ (Noten Oyanagare)</strong> - Defaults to "on".</li><li><strong>ナンニュウ (Nan'nyuu)</strong> - Defaults to "on".</li><li><strong>ツモ ピンフ (Tsumo Pinfu)</strong> - Defaults to "on".</li><li><strong>BGM</strong> - Turn on background music. Defaults to "on".</li></ul><h2>Opponents</h2><ul><li><strong>Kimajime Tarou</strong> - Average player.</li><li><strong>Yamino Hanzo</strong> - Tends to keep their hand closed and avoid declaring riichi.</li><li><strong>Ritsumo Himeko</strong> - Tends to keep their hand closed, but declare riichi at each opportunity.</li><li><strong>Nakino Joe</strong> - Tends to form open melds at each opportunity.</li><li><strong>Yakuman Sen'nin</strong> - Has unusually great luck.</li></ul>