Cub3d also has a versus mode that uses your 3DS' download feature to allow you to play the game with nearby friends. This mode works extremely well, and the fact that you only need a single game card is a huge benefit, as you can play Mahjong with people who might not know much about the game. For extra fun, you can also enable trick tiles that will handicap your opponent. These trick tiles include a blindness title that makes all your opponent's tiles gray, an earthquake title that shakes your opponent's cube, and a hint mode that gives you 5 freebies in a row. These elements make the competitive mode a must to try out; they're an absolute blast to play with a friend.

Mahjong Cub3d also has some great production values. Though you wouldn't expect a puzzle game to harness the true visual capabilities of the 3DS, Cub3d does an excellent job. The background is constantly moving and looks like a vortex, while the puzzle itself pops out from the screen. The 3D isn't jarring and works perfectly with the game content. The only mode where the 3D doesn't enhance the overall experience is the Classic mode; the playable surface is a little bit big and requires too much scrolling to be enjoyable in 3D. Though the graphics themselves aren't terribly complex, they get the job done and work perfectly in the context of the game.

Sound in the game is minimal but inoffensive. The background music is varied enough to not get repetitive unless you are going on a Mahjong binge, in which case you may want to turn down the volume after awhile. Sound in the game also features a decent amount of stock sound effects, which are also inoffensive. Though nothing really stands out in the audio department, it isn't horrible either, and seems about par for the course for a puzzler.

Mahjong definitely isn't the most popular puzzle game out there, but Cub3d makes it feel modern and relevant. Simply put, if you are a puzzle fan, you'll enjoy Cub3d. It has plenty of modes, a great multiplayer component, and presents enough challenge for hardcore puzzlers, but has enough accessibility for those who are looking for something with a bit more casual appeal. If you're done with Tetris and are looking for something a bit different, Mahjong Cub3d will fit the bill nicely and give you plenty of hours of fun and challenging gameplay.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Senior Contributing Writer

Game Features:

Addictive matching puzzles using Mahjong tiles enter a new dimension on the Nintendo 3DS in Mahjong Cub3d, an all-new twist on an all time classic puzzler.

Take on a huge number of increasingly more fiendish block puzzles, rotating the fully three dimensional play field to find the next two tiles to match and remove.

Versus mode adds replay value and allows multiple people to enjoy the uniquely strategic, endlessly addictive nature of 3D Cube together.