One year ago, on July 17, Demonic Mahjong launched on Steam. We were excited, but also a little nervous: would anyone enjoy this strange Underworld mahjong game with its fondness for internet humor?
To our surprise, just days after launch, the game reached Overwhelmingly Positive reviews on July 25.
We have not stood still over the past year. Last September, the Ksitigarbha update introduced the new boss Ksitigarbha.
This February, the free DLC The Snake & Horse added seven new characters, including King Taishan, Day Warden, Night Warden, and four Ghost Brides.
And today, the all-new free DLC Heatwave Carnival is officially here. It is both our anniversary gift and the start of a new round we hope to share with you.
Heatwave Carnival adds six new characters: Dragonvine, Sweetie, Monotropa, Lycoris, Mandra, and King Dushi; nearly 40 new Figurines and 15 new Patterns; a new Underworld area and match scenes; and a new Difficulty 9.
More importantly, this update introduces the new Scoring system. It brings more variety and surprises to deckbuilding and matches. Whether you enjoy fine-tuning strategies or simply trying something new, this DLC has something different to offer.
Please note that Heatwave Carnival is released as a Steam DLC, so it must be enabled differently from our previous updates that were included directly in the main game:
1. Once the DLC launches, visit the DLC page on Steam and claim Heatwave Carnival.
2. Update the main game to the latest version.
3. On the main menu, open Content Management and check "Expansion: Heatwave Carnival" to enable the DLC. You can uncheck it at any time to disable it.
From our first meeting to this first anniversary, Demonic Mahjong has come this far because of more than just us. Every game you start, every thoughtful comment you leave, and every recommendation you make to a friend has brought more life and liveliness to this little Underworld. Thank you for always being here.
Many players have also asked us: why do we keep updating the game for free?
To be honest, paid DLC would bring more immediate revenue. But for our small team, something else matters just as much: giving more people a chance to discover Demonic Mahjong and the game we have poured our hearts into. Put simply, we want to make friends with you.
Keeping free content updates coming is not easy. But if one new player enters this world, or one old friend decides to return for another round, we think it is worth it. We are not a big team, and we may not do everything perfectly, but we will keep putting care into every update and gradually bring you the stories and gameplay ideas we want to share.
We expect to release another major update in the second half of this year, with a little mystery hidden inside. At the same time, we have begun work on a brand-new UE5 project, which we will share with you when the time is right.
Demonic Mahjong's first year is coming to a close, but the story is far from over.
If you enjoy Demonic Mahjong, we would be grateful if you recommended it to your friends. One share from you may be the encouragement that helps us keep going.
Finally, we hope you have a wonderful time in Heatwave Carnival. The Underworld table stays open. See you in the next round!