# HSK Hero: Learn Chinese Hanzi — Mandarin Words · HSK 3.0 1–9 > Gamified Chinese character learning app for HSK 3.0 syllabus. (iPhone/iPad app by Handtechnics.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsk-hero-learn-chinese-hanzi/id1105794226 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Handtechnics](https://appshunter.io/developer/505784461) - Category: Education, Games, Word - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.40/5 from 173 App Store ratings · 117 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.0 · 178 MB - Languages: Canadian English, Arabic, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French (France), German (Germany) and 23 more - Released: 2016-04-25 - Data updated: 2026-11-11 - Monetization: freemium - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsk-hero-learn-chinese-hanzi/id1105794226/reviews.md ## What is HSK Hero? Learn Chinese characters with a game you'll want to keep playing. HSK Hero now covers the new HSK 3.0 syllabus: all nine levels, HSK 1 to HSK 7–9, with 11,000 words and over 3,000 characters. See the meaning, hear the word, then find its characters on the grid. It's fast, it's fun, and it makes you recall each word instead of just recognizing it. Learners around the world have been playing HSK Hero since 2016. THE NEW HSK 3.0, LEVELS 1 TO 9 • Every word of the new syllabus: HSK 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and the advanced 7–9 band • Short packs, most useful words first, grouped into units on the big levels • Simplified and traditional characters, switch any time • Pinyin with tone colors and clear audio for every word • Meanings for every word and character in 34 languages, and the whole app in 33: choose yours in Settings › Language, switch to English with one tap in the game, or show English alongside A GAME THAT TEACHES • Find the characters on a 2×2, 3×3 or 4×4 grid as little martial-arts heroes leap onto your tiles • Stuck on a word? Tap Learn: see its characters shown on the board, then the board shuffles and it's your turn • Write your answers by hand right on the game board, or tap the tiles: your choice • Every word climbs four stages, from Learning to Familiar, Strong and finally locked in • Missed words return in Review, and a Smart Pack mixes reviews with new words • A Daily Challenge to play and share with friends WRITE CHARACTERS BY HAND • Brush practice with stroke order for every character, with a real ink brush and Apple Pencil pressure • Guided, Trace or Recall: follow numbered strokes, trace an outline, or write from memory • Live coaching on stroke order, direction and proportion, plus the parts each character is built from • A daily writing goal, practice by HSK level, and a copybook of every character in your own hand HEAR EVERY WORD • Audio mode says each word as it appears: turn off the meaning and pinyin for pure listening practice • Slow pronunciation whenever you need it A WORLD TO PLAY IN • Ten painted Chinese landscapes, from Guilin and the Great Wall to the lakes of Jiuzhai • Seasons, weather, day and night, and calm birdsong if you like it • 20 celebrations, red seal stamps and 87 badges for streaks, festivals and the 24 solar terms • Color themes, light and dark mode, iPhone and iPad FREE TO START Play the first packs of every level, the Daily Challenge, and a free Brush round every day. HSK Hero Pro unlocks all 11,000 words, unlimited writing practice, every theme and more: monthly, yearly with a free week, or once for life. No ads. No account. Works offline. Your progress stays on your device. Questions or ideas? Write to handtechnics@gmail.com. I read every message. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.handtechnics.com/hskhero_privacy.html 加油! ## Key features - Covers HSK 3.0 levels 1-9 - Interactive character grid game - Handwriting practice with stroke order - Audio pronunciation for all words - Simplified and traditional character support - Offline play and progress saving - Daily Challenge feature ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Pro Yearly: All HSK 3.0 Words | $49.99 | per year | | Pro Monthly: All HSK 3.0 Words | $9.99 | per month | **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Pro Lifetime: All HSK 3.0 Words | $99.99 | one-time | ## What do users think of HSK Hero? Reviews of HSK Hero are mostly positive: the Education app is rated 4.4/5 from 173 App Store ratings. What users like most: intuitive and well-designed interface, engaging game format makes learning fun and addictive. Top complaints: high purchase price ($39) relative to app simplicity, limited free version content requires paid unlock. Summarized from real user reviews. **Pros** - 👍 Intuitive and well-designed interface - 🎮 Engaging game format makes learning fun and addictive - 📚 Effective character and vocabulary recognition practice - 💰 No subscription required, one-time purchase - 🎯 Organized by HSK levels for structured learning - 📱 Portable and convenient for on-the-go practice - 🔄 Remembers progress and where you left off - ✅ Free version provides substantial content - ⚡ Simple and easy to use - 🌐 Ability to switch between simplified and traditional characters **Cons** - 💸 High purchase price ($39) relative to app simplicity - 🚫 Limited free version content requires paid unlock - 📊 No detailed results or statistics after completing levels - 🔍 Lacks comprehensive dictionary or character breakdown features - 🎯 Large level sizes (100-400 words) difficult for daily sessions - 🔤 Missing audio pronunciation for pinyin and word intonation - 📱 Incompatible with some devices (iPad Mini 6) - 🔐 Accidental in-app purchase issue with unclear payment confirmation - ❌ Incorrect/invalid support email address - 🔇 Sound feature advertised but non-functional **Commonly reported bugs** - Sound feature not working despite being advertised - App incompatible with iPad Mini 6 - Invalid support email address - Accidental purchase without clear confirmation dialog - Missed characters completely hidden instead of faded **Most requested features** - Review mode for missed characters after each session - Ability to toggle between simplified/traditional on any screen - Audio pronunciation for pinyin and word intonation - Dictionary lookup or character breakdown feature - Detailed results showing correct and incorrect answers - Practice mode focused on frequently missed characters - Reverse mode: identify pinyin given Chinese characters - Radical practice sections - Smaller level chunks for better daily practice sessions - Character stroke sketching feature - Integration with dictionary apps like Pleco - Limit on wrong attempts before revealing correct answer ## Is HSK Hero safe? HSK Hero: Learn Chinese Hanzi appears safe based on user ratings. The AppsHunter Safety Score for HSK Hero is 86 out of 100. This assessment is based on 173 user ratings, with an App Store average of 4.4 out of 5. Of 173 App Store ratings, 90.8% point to a safe experience, 5.8% suggest some concerns, and 3.5% point to a risky experience. ## Is HSK Hero legit? HSK Hero: Learn Chinese Hanzi appears to be a legitimate app. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for HSK Hero is 95 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data. ## Recent user reviews (10 of 117) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsk-hero-learn-chinese-hanzi/id1105794226/reviews.md ### 5/5 — I think it is good *2026-10-22* Can you put the gimme button away from the next button because I keep accidentally pressing it and then the word doesn’t move up a stage. ### 5/5 — One of my favorite apps for learning/reviewing Mandarin! *2026-09-27* This app is great for learning or reviewing Mandarin, especially if you’re studying for the HSK. Combined with class materials, this app helped me study for and pass the HSK 5! Highly recommend! ### 5/5 — Great App *2026-04-02, version 5.2* I use this app all the time to keep practicing the words I have already learned. ### 5/5 — Great learning tool *2025-12-29* Recommend using this with your learning, helps keep your mind on the characters instead of being on social media. Price is not bad if you compare it to time spent on irl lessons. Plus no subscription so even better. ### 5/5 — Best app for HSK! *2025-06-25, version 5.2* Super intuitive and well designed. ### 5/5 — Great Practice App *2025-06-15, version 5.2* Very nice ### 4/5 — so close to being great *2024-11-18, version 4.9* I pretty much have the exact same comments as others… 1) Don’t completely hide the missed characters 2) There should be a mode to go over the ones you missed But so far so good, I am learning the characters much more quickly this way. A good supplement to duolingo! ### 5/5 — Great learning tool *2024-11-12, version 4.9* Recommend using this with your learning, helps keep your mind on the characters instead of being on social media. Price is not bad if you compare it to time spent on irl lessons. Plus no subscription so even better. ### 4/5 — One design choice makes me sad, otherwise excellent *2023-05-15* Props for a solid app. I’m sad I can’t switch the display back and forth between classical and simplified on any screen, whenever I feel like it. That would delight me beyond expressing. ### 5/5 — Great! *2023-01-16* This is just what I’ve been looking for. Fun and easy way to learn Characters. ## Frequently asked questions about HSK Hero ### What is HSK Hero's learning methodology? HSK Hero uses a game-based approach where users find characters on a grid, write them by hand with stroke order guidance, and progress through stages from Learning to Locked-in. It focuses on active recall rather than passive recognition. ### Does HSK Hero have ads? No, HSK Hero is ad-free. The app explicitly states 'No ads' and focuses on a premium experience for its users. ### What are the subscription options for HSK Hero Pro? HSK Hero Pro offers monthly ($9.99/P1M) and yearly ($49.99/P1Y) subscription plans, both of which unlock all 11,000 words, unlimited writing practice, and all themes. A lifetime purchase option is also available. ### How does HSK Hero track user progress? Every word progresses through four stages: Learning, Familiar, Strong, and Locked-in. Missed words are returned in a Review section, and a Smart Pack mixes reviews with new words to reinforce learning. ### Is HSK Hero suitable for beginners and advanced learners? Yes, HSK Hero covers the new HSK 3.0 syllabus from levels 1 to 9, including the advanced 7-9 band, with over 11,000 words and 3,000 characters. Learners can choose packs grouped into units on the big levels. ### Can I practice writing characters in HSK Hero? Yes, HSK Hero offers brush practice with stroke order for every character, supporting guided, trace, or recall modes. It provides live coaching on stroke order, direction, and proportion. ### What devices is HSK Hero compatible with? HSK Hero is available for iPhone and iPad. While generally compatible, some users have reported issues with specific devices like the iPad Mini 6. ### How often is HSK Hero updated? The latest version is 8.2, and the app was last updated on November 8, 2026. This indicates a consistent update schedule, ensuring the content and features remain current. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 8.3 — 2026-11-11 iPad: HSK Hero now works in landscape too, for example on a keyboard. Turn your iPad upright for the biggest view. Thank you for learning with HSK Hero! Ideas or questions? Settings › Help & feedback. ### 8.2 — 2026-11-08 Small improvements and fixes throughout the app. Thank you for learning with HSK Hero! Ideas or questions? Settings › Help & feedback. ### 8.1 — 2026-11-02 Fresher games, every time. • Mix & match is now a true mix: any word from the levels you choose can come up, all the way to the chengyu of HSK 7–9. Words from your recent mixes wait their turn. • Smart Pack brings more new words: at most 10 of its 25 are review words, and the Review tab keeps the rest. • Fairer boards: in a mix of levels, the other tiles come from each word's own level. • More variety: review words change from game to game, and a half-played pack picks up with a new word. ### 8.0 — 2026-10-31 HSK Hero, now in your language! • The whole app is now available in 33 languages, from Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) and French to Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese. It follows your iPhone's language, or pick one just for HSK Hero in iOS Settings. • Meanings for all 11,000 HSK words and their characters now come in 34 languages. Choose yours in Settings › Language. • In the game, one tap on the meaning switches between your language and English. • Want both? Turn on Show English too to keep English alongside. • Plus small fixes. ### 7.5 — 2026-10-30 • Fixed: the app could close right after opening on iOS 27. Sorry about that! • Review words are back in pack games: a full pack brings in 3 words from other packs (1 or 2 in shorter games), so older words stay fresh. They never affect the pack's star, and you can turn them off in Settings. • Mixed tile style: each word now appears in one style, changing from word to word. • Apple Pencil: writing on the board now follows your pressure, light for a fine line, firm for a bold one. • Fixed: a tap could now and then land on the tile next to the one you tapped. ## Apps similar to HSK Hero | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [HSK Vocabulary and Quiz](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsk-vocabulary-and-quiz/id1449305092) | 4.6 (309) | Free | Education | | [HSK 1 – 6 learn chinese words](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsk-1-6-learn-chinese-words/id1123596461) | — | Free | Education | | [Chinese HSK Exam Prep](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chinese-hsk-exam-prep/id1452882993) | 4.6 (42) | Free | Education | | [HSK-2 online test / HSK exam](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsk-2-online-test-hsk-exam/id1231809686) | 4.7 (200) | Free | Education | | [HSK-3 online test / HSK exam](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsk-3-online-test-hsk-exam/id1231809690) | 4.6 (211) | Free | Education | | [Chinese Piczzle (HSK 图乐)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chinese-piczzle-hsk/id1610928547) | 4.3 (27) | Free | Education | ## More apps by Handtechnics - [HT Pitch Counter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ht-pitch-counter/id505784458) - [HT Baseball Stat Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ht-baseball-stat-tracker/id512140147) - [Ball Strike Clicker Baseball](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ball-strike-clicker-baseball/id519635218) - [Baseball Radar Gun Pro Speed](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/baseball-radar-gun-pro-speed/id521537114) - [Baseball Radar Gun High Heat](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/baseball-radar-gun-high-heat/id521541303) - [Score Tap: Baseball Scoreboard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/score-tap-baseball-scoreboard/id524873412) All apps by Handtechnics: https://appshunter.io/developer/505784461 ## Related topics [hanzihero](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/hanzihero) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-11-11.*