Ma Saiko Jan is a mahjong game with light role-playing elements and a structure reminiscent of board games. The player controls a girl named Saiko who must defeat various magical and demonic creatures in the game of mahjong. Saiko travels on a simple board consisting of various fields; the amount of moves is determined by an invisible dice roll. Landing on different fields leads to different results: Saiko may find treasure, meet a wandering merchant who sells healing potions, or encounter an enemy. Choosing to fight an enemy leads to a mahjong game; winning it increases Saiko's level and hit points.