Hell Wait Review Summary

A fresh Riichi mahjong roguelike hybrid that's beginner-friendly and addictively one-more-run, though overpowered AI waits and clunky menus/UI hold it back.

Accessible to beginners: The tutorial makes learning Japanese mahjong intuitive, and knowing only the basics is enough to enjoy the game, helping players understand other mahjong media.

Universally fun and engaging: Players consistently describe the game as super fun, very good, and enjoyable to play, highlighting its broad appeal.

Appealing to Akagi/Kaiji fans: References to Akagi and Kaiji, such as the Washizu-like villain and Akagi on a tile, are appreciated and evoke the feel of those series.

Addictive one-more-run gameplay: The gameplay loop is satisfying and hooks players into a 'one more run' mentality, making the game hard to put down.

Fresh mahjong roguelike hybrid: The combination of riichi mahjong with Balatro-style roguelike deckbuilding is seen as innovative and enjoyable, offering a unique experience.

AI opponents have overpowered waits: Opponents rapidly develop multi-sided and five-sided waits even in early rounds, and can steal victories with tsumo with little chance for the player to intervene. This makes higher difficulties feel like rerolling into a lucky seed.

Steep learning curve for newcomers: The game assumes familiarity with Riichi Mahjong and the Balatro-like scoring model, which may leave players without basic mahjong knowledge struggling early on. The tutorial is not in-depth or interactive enough to compensate.

Poor menu and UI quality of life: Menus are cumbersome, with no way to back out of certain screens without hitting escape and returning to the main menu. Keybinds for viewing han types described in settings do nothing, and closing menus also requires escape, preventing comfortable one-handed play.

Feels unfinished and derivative: The game does not feel like a finished product, and aside from the art style it is not much like Inscryption, feeling like a derivative of other games with wonky presentation.

Deck modification backfires on player: Modifying the deck tends to benefit the opponent more than the player, with good tiles flowing to the AI while the player ends up dealing into others despite holding wild tiles and multi-sided waits. Strategies rarely come to fruition as unwanted dragons keep being drawn.

Mahjong is core mechanic: The game is fundamentally a Mahjong game, using Mahjong rules and gameplay as its main mechanic. Players engage in Riichi Mahjong against opponents, and the rules are central to play.

Uses Riichi Mahjong rules: The game specifically uses Japanese Riichi Mahjong rules, including standard scoring and yaku. This is emphasized across multiple clusters.

Mahjong meets Balatro gameplay: The game combines Riichi Mahjong with Balatro-style roguelike deckbuilding, creating a unique hybrid. It adapts Mahjong to a Balatro-like scoring and progression system.

High difficulty and tough opponents: The game is difficult, with opponents capable of multiwaits and five-sided waits early on. Higher difficulties involve rerolling into gold seeds.

Deck modification mechanics: Deck modification is a system, allowing players to edit decks and shape strategies. Deck editing is a core mechanic, with different deck types like all-odd tile decks.

Steam Deck performance mostly good: Players report the game runs great on Steam Deck, with one noting it works 95% correctly. This indicates strong compatibility with minor issues.

Freezing on complex winning hands: Occasional freezing happens when winning hands with many wild tiles. This indicates instability under specific gameplay conditions.

Smooth performance overall: A reviewer noted the game runs smoothly with no rough spots. This aligns with other positive performance reports.

Slowdown at super high scores: One player experienced the game getting slow when reaching very high scores. This suggests a performance bottleneck tied to score magnitude.

Initial performance issues reported: One player experienced performance issues when first trying to play. The exact nature is vague, but indicates potential startup problems.

Strong recommendation for Riichi fans: Multiple reviewers strongly recommend the game to anyone who enjoys Riichi Mahjong, citing it as a great experience for players with prior Riichi experience.

Simple and easy to recommend: Short positive remarks like 'Easy sell' and 'Buy it and play it' suggest a straightforward recommendation without deep caveats.

Not ideal for comfy Balatro-style play: A reviewer advises holding off if you want a comfortable, Balatro-like experience, suggesting the game may be more demanding or different in feel.

Other mahjong roguelikes recommended instead: One reviewer suggests playing a different mahjong roguelike if that is what you are seeking, implying this game may not fully satisfy that niche.

Room for improvement noted: One reviewer recommends the game but mentions that some aspects could be improved, indicating minor flaws.

Players report a satisfying core loop and strong one-more-run pull, with unlock variety sustaining interest. However, the tutorial is shallow for newcomers and later rounds can become a repetitive slog, so enjoyment may decline over time.

Friction: Tutorial is not in-depth or interactive enough for newcomers; Game assumes prior Riichi Mahjong familiarity; Later rounds can become a repetitive slog.

Unlock drivers: Unlocking new jokers or decks opens fresh ideas to try; Unlocks strengthen the one-more-run pull.

Experienced Riichi Player: Plays full hanchan with real riichi rules and evaluates how the game affects table skill. Motivation: Authentic riichi mahjong play that tests and affects real table habits. Stance: buy.

Curious Mahjong Beginner: Learns by starting runs, losing, and immediately retrying with beginner-friendly support. Motivation: Accessible mahjong fun with a run-based loop that makes failure easy to retry. Stance: buy.

Solo-Dev Indie Supporter: Tries current builds, notes technical rough edges, and follows patch progress. Motivation: Supporting a solo developer and seeing the project improve through updates. Stance: buy.

Linux and Proton: The available feedback is sparse but positive for Linux/SteamOS compatibility: the game is reported to run great on Steam Deck, with only a minor SteamOS-associated mouse/UI quirk during a slot machine segment. No launch failures, crashes, performance issues, anti-cheat/DRM blockers, or Proton tweaks are mentioned.

Frequent Balatro and Inscryption comparisons: Many reviewers compare the game to Balatro and Inscryption, often as a shorthand for its roguelite deckbuilding style. Some note that the similarity to Inscryption is mainly aesthetic.

Strong post-launch support potential: Reviewers express optimism about future updates and continued developer support, comparing its support potential to Balatro. They look forward to further developments from the developer.

Comparisons to Akagi and Kaiji: The game is compared to Akagi and Kaiji, with themes and music inspired by these works. The Akagi anime soundtrack is specifically noted as a vibe influence.

Solo developer project: The game is developed by what is assumed to be a nearly one-person project. Reviewers note the personal touch, including one-on-one troubleshooting from the developer.

Draws from Buckshot Roulette: Reviewers note heavy inspiration from Buckshot Roulette, combining its elements with Mahjong and Balatro. This mix creates a unique roguelite experience.