# Japanese Dungeon: Learn J-Word — user reviews > 140 indexed App Store user reviews of Japanese Dungeon by Jong Jin Kim, rated 4.70/5 from 1,016 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-dungeon-learn-j-word/id1431631504/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-dungeon-learn-j-word/id1431631504.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 816 · 4★ 155 · 3★ 26 · 2★ 7 · 1★ 12 ## What do users think of Japanese Dungeon? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Fun and engaging way to learn Japanese - 🚀 Helps with memorization and speed - 💡 Unique RPG-style learning concept - 🎨 Cute and retro art style **Cons** - 🔒 Locked content behind paywall or grind - ⏱️ Short time limits in battles - 🐛 Audio quality issues - 📱 Display issues on newer iPhones **Commonly reported bugs** - Crashes when exiting certain levels - Repeating the same characters too often **Most requested features** - More content and levels beyond hiragana - Placement test to start at appropriate level - Option to disable victory music - More ways to earn in-game currency ## Newest reviews (17 of 140) ### 3/5 — Decent *2026-06-11, version 1.0.0* It’s a solidly okay take on teaching Japanese, and may be good for beginners. But the English of Lancelot isn’t great, and the sounds of the words are often obscured by other parts of the game when you get the right answer. Also, the screen of the game was too big for my phone screen and j couldn’t see how much money I had. ### 4/5 — Fast *2026-02-16, version 1.0.0* Forces you to act quickly and learn through repetition. ### 4/5 — Love this game!! *2025-10-23, version 1.0.0* I absolutely love this game, perfect for memorization, although i wish it wasn’t as difficult to access the other chapters ### 4/5 — If only! *2025-01-11, version 1.0.0* I love the game, but! I wish there was more quests! Like lots of quests, so I didn’t just have to do the daily quests! ### 4/5 — Needs a little more spice into it *2024-12-20, version 1.0.0* It gets a little boring after a few tries, I wish it would have other means of leveling up but its really helpful and fun ### 2/5 — Can’t progress *2024-05-14, version 1.0.0* I finished the first level dungeon and started the first level of the second one but when I came back to the app after closing it the second level is still locked…even though it shows I beat the first level of the second dungeon ### 4/5 — This is great for review *2024-01-22, version 1.0.0* I was going through the Japanese learning apps and downloading a few that caught my eye when I came across this cute little app. I started playing and I will say, it's absolutely worth it. I HIGHLY suggest getting another app to teach you the basics mainly because it doesn't do a lesson or any other kind of study method and you only see the key to what everything means once before you start playing, but if you have any other app and want to review, this is certainly something I suggest. ### 3/5 — Sound problem *2024-01-20, version 1.0.0* The game has a sound problem, and it’s muted. ### 4/5 — Neat idea, but execution needs understanding *2024-01-12, version 1.0.0* I’m still looking for a game that’s fun and helps me learn Japanese, well. This one isn’t there yet. Gamewise, there’s a lot that could be improved, including the economy. More importantly, the language aspects are lacking. I unlocked dungeon level 4 (by watching too many ads). Looks like 130+ levels of flash cards. Except they’re multiple choice, which I believe is worse than pure recall (eg a normal flashcard). Also, I saw hiragana and katakana, but no kanji. Try another game/app. There’s always Anki! ### 5/5 — Very clever and fun learning *2023-05-17, version 1.0.0* Game is fun to learn on the music is good and the art style is amazing like final fantasy love it and will use often ### 2/5 — It’s rigged to pay *2023-05-10, version 1.0.0* You will have to pay to get anywhere. Which is sad and disappointing considering this game could be great but is blinded by money. ### 5/5 — Dungeon Japanese *2023-03-27, version 1.0.0* This is a good way to learn Japanese! One question, if you purchase the master key does that mean unlimited energy or it unlocks all the dungeons… ### 5/5 — Good. *2023-02-24, version 1.0.0* It’s good, the only complaint I have is that some of the English could use a bit of work, but it’s still understandable. ### 5/5 — Love it!!! *2022-12-28, version 1.0.0* I just started using the app and it’s so fun, the animation style reminds me of MARIO and flappy bird back in the day. The MC looks a bit like Owen Wilson (American actor) the resemblance is uncanny and amusing lol. I hope the game gets better as I level up! あなたの努力に感謝します！ ### 4/5 — Ok game for learning *2022-11-27, version 1.0.0* I play this for 10 minutes but I see that sometimes there is Korean and not japanese in some parts such as when you buy characters It just looks like the developer just copied Korean dungeon and didn’t bother to change all the Korean to Japanese But seems like that’s the only issue ### 3/5 — Potential *2022-11-10, version 1.0.0* This game shows potential however to unlock levels you need rubies (50) and you don't earn that much from completing the first level and don't gain more from replaying. You can get rubies from watching ads, which is overkill and the ads are boring and long. Can't recommend for now. ### 5/5 — Wow *2022-10-08, version 1.0.0* Absolutely love it much more fun than expecting definitely download ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Very good *2025-11-01, version 1.0.0* Very good for beginners ### 1/5 — No sound *2024-01-24, version 1.0.0* Audio doesn’t play. ### 1/5 — Go do something else. *2021-12-31, version 1.0.0* The first few levels are probably hiraganas, and will not be useful to you if you really want to learn the language. I was only able to play the first three levels, and not because they were boring and slow paced, but because I lacked of energy to play the fourth level. If you want to skip levels, gems will be needed. In short, Duolingo is probably more worth your time than this game. ### 1/5 — Too many bug *2021-07-06, version 1.0.0* The dialog are bug when tap tepeatly. The ui hide inside notch on iphone XS. ### 1/5 — Trash *2021-05-14, version 1.0.0* You to pay for level 2 and onwards ### 1/5 — Only hiragana *2021-04-21, version 1.0.0* Words are locked behind in game currency unlocks. The minimization is very heavy handed. You will either have to grind ~ 100 levels to get the gems to unlock the third tier just to get to actual words or pay for in game currency. I’m all for creators making money off their work, but not when you have both in game currency locks and energy restrictions. Choose one! I already know hiragana and katakana. The name should be “Japanese dungeon: learn hiragana and katakana” ### 1/5 — Needs placement test *2020-12-02, version 1.0.0* This is a fun way to practice vocabulary and kana, but there needs to be a placement test. I just want a less boring way to practice vocabulary that isn’t flash cards, but I’ve studied Japanese on and off for 4 yrs now. It’s boring to have to go through the basics of kana again. Not even sure if kanji are introduced tbh bc I got too bored of the A-I-U-E-O alphabet stuff LOL Also is the main character a European crusader? And he’s going to meet a Japanese princess to fall in love? ummmm interesting story premise 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣 not sure I would pick that scenario/concept as a Japanese-American woman. Feels so wrong hahaha ### 1/5 — Needs an update *2020-05-25, version 1.0.0* Crashes when exiting the level 1 infinite dungeon, so you can never unlock the level 2, 3, and 4 infinite dungeons, because you need to clear the level 1 infinite dungeon to unlock them. I really think this could be an amazing app. It just needs someone to invest the time and support in it and it could be a great tool. It needs the bugs patched. It needs more and newer fonts. It needs more actual content. These are good things to need! They mean that the core concept is sound and solid! Unfortunately the bugs also mean the game isn’t usable for me almost at all. I already know the kana, so I don’t need this game for that. I’m taking the JLPT level 3 this year. This game would be AMAZING with expanded content to include fonts and kanji, if they can just patch it. ### 1/5 — ... *2019-03-13* Hi! I play your game, “Japanese Dungeon” and really enjoy it. I think the concept behind it is great! I love that you have child-appropriate ads and would definitely recommend this to others interested in learning Japanese! The ONE downside (that I think could really improve the game) however is that even after completing “Level 1 Dungeon” you still have to pay (in-game currency) to unlock future levels (on the upside you can do the infinite dungeons!). Also, it would be great if you could use rubies/gems to upgrade the maximum amount of energy you can save up. Like 50 rubies to upgrade to a 10 energy maximum. Also, maybe you could make the battle thingy (where you hit L/R to face oncoming orcs to defeat them) somehow related to learning Japanese (にほんご). My idea, should you chose to implement this is to give, instead of L/R you have two hiragana/katakana (katakana to expand learning opportunities) characters and a sound is played representing one of the two characters when an orc appears from the side, and you face & kill the or if you picked the right one, or die if you didn’t. Again, I really like this game and think that it’s especially great because of the lack of games (that teach Japanese) that aren’t, like, memory cards, on IOS. Great job! Someone else said the opening could give a bad impression, and seeing it I thought it was gonna be a kinda lame game, but I was wrong! It was four stars but now it is a ONE STAR because there HAD TO BE a stinkin’ CHOICES AD ### 2/5 — Seem free but it’s not *2025-08-19, version 1.0.0* Cool idea but I don’t like the economy model. I want to buy my once and play, too bad we need to buy energy or diamond to play. If you read me go play another game for less that 10$ or € what even you have much better. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Very helpful for a newb *2026-02-05, version 1.0.0* A lot of fun when you have a note page next to you. ### 5/5 — Класс *2025-11-12, version 1.0.0* Хорошая игра чтобы быстро запоминать иероглифы ### 5/5 — 👍 *2025-10-12, version 1.0.0* Mi profesor de Japonés me la recomendó y es muy buena ### 5/5 — Acing my Kanji *2025-09-25, version 1.0.0* My Japanese sensei is very impressed with how quickly and thoroughly I am learning hiragana, katakana, and beginner kanji. Japanese Dungeon is my ace in the hole - can’t recommend it enough or give it enough stars! ### 5/5 — Simple and Engaging *2024-12-07, version 1.0.0* As an Arthurian Legend enjoyer, I approve the use of Arthurian Knights in learning Japanese. ### 5/5 — Fun and Helpful *2024-06-08, version 1.0.0* Super cute old style game to help with your Japanese, the story is cute and the app has helped me memorize hiragana. Def recommend 😋🫶🏻 ### 5/5 — Great Training *2024-01-25, version 1.0.0* I‘m using this game to repeat my learning. Works greatly. ### 5/5 — Great for Quick Muscle Memory *2023-11-24, version 1.0.0* Being timed is a great way to make you think quickly so that looking at the letters and translating it in your head becomes automatic and get to the goal of knowing and not needing to translate. This app so far has been a good way to solidify what I’ve learned. ### 5/5 — Awesome game *2023-08-14, version 1.0.0* Would recommend to anyone new to learning Japanese ### 5/5 — Speedy learning *2023-07-16, version 1.0.0* It teaches speed over all understanding what they look like and Identity then with speed very good so far and will continue to use --- *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 2026-09-06.*