# Mandarin Shooter Quest — Learn Chinese The Fun Way > Gamified Mandarin Chinese learning app with over 150 levels and 2,000 words. (iPhone/iPad app by William Abbott.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandarin-shooter-quest/id963026318 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [William Abbott](https://appshunter.io/developer/963026317) - Category: Education, Productivity - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.82/5 from 11 App Store ratings · 14 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 8.0 · 181 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2017-06-15 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandarin-shooter-quest/id963026318/reviews.md ## What is Mandarin Shooter Quest? LEARN MANDARIN BY BLASTING YOUR WAY THROUGH CHINA! MANDARIN SHOOTER QUEST (MSQ) is a competitive, addictive and gamified way to learn Mandarin...and it works. Our initial test group saw students improve from 30% accuracy to 86% accuracy in one week after just 14 minutes of gameplay per day. Choose from three characters to help you navigate through 150+ levels on your quest to master learning Chinese! Over 2,000 words are included, broken down into sections so everyone from the first time learner to more advanced speakers can gain value. Players will learn Mandarin while exploring metropolises such as Shanghai and masterpieces of nature like Yellow Mountain and Yangshuo, play with pandas in Chengdu, discover ornaments of history including Xi’an and Lhasa, venture across the Gobi Desert from Xinjiang into Inner Mongolia and explore the icy splendours of what was once known as Manchuria in the form of Harbin. Chose to learn the characters (Black Belt) or just the way to speak Chinese words through pinyin (White Belt). The game leverages the latest scientific principles including: - 80/20 Principle - Memory Repetition - Thematic Group Sets - The Rule of 7 - Competitive Motivation and more Shoot your way through up to six different combinations of the same word, creating those extra hooks needed for higher recall rates of any given word just when you need! The Master Level at the end of every stage acts as a review tool to refresh all words learned during a given Stage. Two game streams to choose from: MOST USED WORD STREAM Scientifically selected words broken down into three sections: - Foundation (Stages 1-5: 200 words) - General (Stages 6-17: 600 words) - Specialist (Stages 18-24: 350+ words) OFFICIAL HSK WORD STREAM The official standardised Mandarin examination (Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì) structured to follow the HSK Standard Course Textbooks by Beijing Language and Culture University Press. Sectioned as follows: - HSK 1 (Stages 1-4: 163 words) - HSK 2 (Stages 5-8: 154 words) - HSK 3 (Stages 9-14: 293 words) - HSK 4 (Stages 15-24: 590 words) Enhance your Mandarin learning outcomes by using the Cheats to provide on the spot help when you get stuck, or select a better weapon for faster shooting! ********************************************************************************* Important "If you thought education was expensive, try ignorance" ********************************************************************************* Features - SHOP function - 24 City Stages - Containing Over 150 Levels - 2,000+ Vocabulary Words - ‘Most Used’ Word Stream - Learn characters or just pinyin - Official HSK Exam Word Stream - HSK Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4 - 5 x Weapons Choices - 4 x In-game Cheats - Learn Faster! - 3 x Characters to Choose From - Native sound playback for each word - HSK Vocab Follows Textbook - Poster Word Lists Available for HSK and General ********************************************************************************* VISIT US: mandarinshooterquest.com LIKE US: facebook.com/mandarinshooterquest ## Key features - Gamified Mandarin learning - Over 150 levels - 2,000+ vocabulary words - Learn characters or pinyin - Official HSK word stream - Native sound playback ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Dragon Gun Weapon | $0.99 | one-time | | Laser Weapon | $1.99 | one-time | | "5 Hearing Cheats Pack" | $0.99 | one-time | | "5 Monocular Cheats Pack" | $0.99 | one-time | | "5 Gold Monocular Cheats Pack" | $1.99 | one-time | | "5 Ancient Clock Cheats Pack" | $0.99 | one-time | | Bronze Key | $0.99 | one-time | | Silver Key | $2.99 | one-time | | Golden Key | $3.99 | one-time | | Unlock All Features | $6.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (10 of 14) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandarin-shooter-quest/id963026318/reviews.md ### 3/5 — Not free!! *2020-08-08* I downloaded and finished the Shanghai part with all the top scores and I thought I would get a key to unlock the next content but no, I have to pay for it. I really hoped I would learn chinese finally in a game way because other apps are all the same, drilling you all the time. I get bored so easily. So I’ve deleted your app already. It’s good app. I expected more from it though. ### 5/5 — Awesome game!! *2019-03-11* I love this concept!! ### 5/5 — Fun learning *2018-08-19* And the music is great! ### 5/5 — Great Tool for Prepping HSK Testing *2018-08-08* I used this to prep fro the HSK 3, and it really quickly got me up to speed. I passed the reading section with high marks, 80% of my reading study time was with this app. ### 5/5 — Making Learning fun again! *2017-08-01, version 1.1* This is exactly what I needed to motivate me to get back into my Mandarin study! Highly recommend! ### 5/5 — Best language learning App! *2017-07-10* Mandarin Shooter Quest is a game changer! I'm already seeing a massive improvement in my vocabulary and memory retention, and having a lot of fun while learning! I'm hooked! ### 5/5 — Great Learning Game for Chinese Learners *2017-06-19* I've been studying Chinese for 2 years, and have tried about every Chinese learning game on the App Store. This is by far the best for me. Only thing that could possibly make this any better, would be an integrated flashcard system, in the learning section. But, even without that, it's definitely 5 star anyway! Less than 24 hours after downloading, I purchased the full unlock! ### 5/5 — Kids love it *2017-06-18, version 1.0* Gave this to my 9 & 11 year old for a trail. They love it! Not only is it fun they are enhancing what they are learning at school without really noticing. Strongly recommend to anyone with kids doing Chinese at school. ### 5/5 — Can't stop playing! *2017-06-17, version 1.0* Been addicted to this ahead of my upcoming semester abroad in China. A much more fun and interactive way of expanding your vocab, especially if you hate being buried in text books all the time. ### 5/5 — Funtastic *2017-06-17, version 1.0* Simple to play, easy to learn and fun. ## Frequently asked questions about Mandarin Shooter Quest ### How effective is Mandarin Shooter Quest for learning Chinese? An initial test group saw students improve from 30% accuracy to 86% accuracy in one week with just 14 minutes of gameplay daily. The app utilizes scientific learning principles like memory repetition and thematic grouping for enhanced recall. ### What learning paths does Mandarin Shooter Quest offer? Mandarin Shooter Quest offers two main learning paths: the 'Most Used Word Stream' focusing on common vocabulary, and the 'Official HSK Word Stream' which aligns with the standardized Mandarin proficiency test. ### Can I learn characters or just pronunciation with Mandarin Shooter Quest? Yes, you can choose to learn Mandarin characters (Black Belt) or focus solely on speaking Chinese words through pinyin (White Belt), catering to different learning preferences. ### What is the HSK word stream in Mandarin Shooter Quest? The Official HSK Word Stream in Mandarin Shooter Quest is structured to follow the HSK Standard Course Textbooks, covering HSK levels 1 through 4 with specific word counts and stages for each level. ### Does Mandarin Shooter Quest have ads? No, Mandarin Shooter Quest does not contain advertisements, allowing for an uninterrupted learning experience. ### What devices is Mandarin Shooter Quest available on? Mandarin Shooter Quest is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod, making it accessible to a wide range of Apple users. ### How often is Mandarin Shooter Quest updated? The latest version of Mandarin Shooter Quest is 1.3, which was last updated on April 6, 2020. Future updates may introduce new content or features. ### What is the age rating for Mandarin Shooter Quest? Mandarin Shooter Quest has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for young learners and children interested in the Chinese language. ## Version history (last 4 releases) ### 1.3 — 2020-04-06 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. • Introductory explainer slides • New explainer button for slides • Added clearer subtitles and description for belts • Changed in-app purchases descriptions for cheats • Updated descriptions for all in-app purchase items for clarity ### 1.2 — 2017-08-29 Shanghai Stage 1: - Easier access to the 6 free levels (40 words) - Button update for easier access - Based on user feedback ### 1.1 — 2017-07-18 - REFERENCE ARROWS to better guide first time players through the game and highlight in-game features like CHEATS. - LEARN section updated with bronze, silver or gold key reference for easier review of each cities corresponding word list to unlocking of the paid sections. Allows a more informed purchase when unlocking groups of city stages. - Added ANALYTICS section under the OPTIONS menu. Track correct word ratio, total study time, percentage complete of key group sections and more. ### 1.0 — 2017-06-15 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Mandarin Shooter Quest | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Chinese Begin](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chinese-begin/id1610955220) | — | Free | Education | | [HSK 5 Hero - Learn Chinese](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsk-5-hero-learn-chinese/id1141142649) | 4.0 (25) | Free | Education | | [Learn Mandarin - HSK5 Hero Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-mandarin-hsk5-hero-pro/id1206550778) | 4.0 (2) | $19.99 | Education | | [New HSK Test 3.0 Vocabulary](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/new-hsk-test-30-vocabulary/id1637060905) | 1.0 (1) | $6.99 | Education | | [Learn Chinese Words HSK 5](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-chinese-words-hsk-5/id1463344435) | — | Free | Education | | [Emojis - flashcard game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emojis-flashcard-game/id1071641493) | 4.8 (26) | Free | Education | --- *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 2026-06-10.*