By YOSTAR
Report updated Apr 17, 2026
Mahjong Soul
For fans of Japanese Mahjong and anime culture who enjoy character-driven progression and social, competitive gaming.
Mahjong Soul is a well-regarded games app that is free with in-app purchases. With a 4.7/5 rating from 37.9K reviews, it maintains solid user satisfaction. Users particularly appreciate educational value, though perceived rigging/unfairness remains a common concern.
What is Mahjong Soul?
Current Momentum
v2.7
- Optimized gaming experience. - Account System Update.
Active Nemesis
Riichi City
By City Next
Other Rivals
Rating Pulse 🇺🇸
Recent User MoodAI-powered deep analysis surfacing high-signal insights. Still in beta, accuracy improves daily. For informational purposes only.
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
How Is The App's Momentum Right Now?
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What Are The Key Features?
Playable anime-style characters with full voice acting by famous Japanese voice actors.
Deep character development systems that go beyond standard gameplay.
Organized competitive events and tournaments for players to test their skills.
Allows players to practice and play Mahjong with friends.
Extensive item lineup for customization and expressive character emojis.
Guided learning system to help beginners grasp the rules of Japanese Mahjong.
How much does it cost?
- Free to play
- In-app purchases for customization and items
Standard Gacha-style monetization. Core gameplay is free, but character acquisition and high-tier cosmetics are gated behind premium currency, creating a high-LTV ceiling from 'whales' while maintaining a large F2P player base for liquidity.
Who Built It?
YOSTAR
Bridging high-production Eastern anime titles to global markets through deep strategic gameplay and immersive storytelling.
Portfolio
6
Apps
Who is YOSTAR?
Yostar has established a distinct position as a specialized bridge for high-production Eastern 'ACG' titles entering global markets, prioritizing deep narrative integration over broad-market appeal. Their moat is built on exclusive publishing partnerships with top-tier creative studios and a proven capability for high-fidelity localization of complex live-service titles. A key strategic signal is their current transition from established genre-hybrids toward narrative-first JRPGs, even as they manage significant technical debt in their legacy flagship portfolio.
Who is YOSTAR for?
- Hardcore anime fans
- Strategy enthusiasts who value deep lore
- Character collection
- Complex meta-progression
Portfolio momentum
Released 13 updates across 6 apps in the last 6 months with 5 active titles — maintaining an intense development cycle.
What other apps does YOSTAR make?
What do users think recently?
High confidence · Latest 100 of 37.8K total reviews analyzed
How did the latest release land?
What is the recent mood?
Recent user voice shows a excited sentiment. Users appreciate educational value and gameplay quality, but report perceived rigging/unfairness and technical stability.
What Users Love
What Frustrates Users
What is the competitive landscape for Mahjong Soul?
How's The Games Market?
How does it evolve in the Games market?
| Country | Category | Chart | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇦 Panama | Board | iOSGrossing | #81 | ▲2 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Board | iOSGrossing | #85 | NEW |
The rivals identified
The Nemesis
Riichi City
City Next
The most direct rival in the ACG-themed Riichi Mahjong space, mirroring the gacha-driven character progression and global community focus.
Head to Head
Mahjong Soul remains the dominant force in the ACG Mahjong space due to its massive scale and superior live-ops. While Riichi City is a credible alternative, it currently functions as a secondary option for players seeking a fresh character roster rather than a platform-displacing threat.
What sets Mahjong Soul apart
Significantly larger active player base and community ecosystem
Superior production values in character art, animations, and high-profile Japanese voice talent
What's Riichi City's Edge
Perceived by some segments of the community as having more frequent or accessible event rewards
Different aesthetic style that appeals to users looking for an alternative to the YoStar art direction
Peers
Kemono Mahjong
★4.8 (1.6K)Michael Starling
🚀A premium, ad-free Riichi Mahjong app that focuses on core gameplay and learning without gacha elements.
Uses a one-time purchase model instead of freemium gacha mechanics
Features a unique animal-themed (furry) aesthetic that differentiates it from standard ACG titles
麻雀格闘倶楽部Sp |麻雀の初心者におすすめ! 麻雀ゲーム
KONAMI
A long-standing competitive Mahjong title with a dedicated player base and professional branding.
Heavy emphasis on competitive ranking and professional-style play
Direct lineage from the popular Konami arcade Mahjong series
The outtake for Mahjong Soul
Strengths to defend, gaps to attack
Core Strengths
- Superior production values in character art and voice acting
- Best-in-class onboarding tutorial for new players
- Massive active player base ensuring low matchmaking wait times
Critical Frictions
- Technical instability on new OS versions (Android 16)
- Persistent user perception of 'rigged' RNG mechanics
- Controversial sexualized content for young-looking characters
Growth Levers
- Integration with professional Mahjong leagues to rival Sega NET Mahjong MJ
- More accessible event reward structures to counter Riichi City's growth
Market Threats
- High-action competitors like Mahjong Fight Girl (Konami)
- Agile content updates and collaborations from Riichi City
What are the next best moves?
Resolve Android 16 launch and login verification errors
Directly cited in sentiment data as a cause for app failure and potential churn on new devices.
Publish RNG transparency report or certification
Medium-frequency complaint theme regarding 'rigged' gameplay is damaging long-term player trust.
Review skin design guidelines for 'young' characters
User sentiment indicates discomfort with 'goonbait' skins, which could pose brand and platform policy risks.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- Professional league tie-ins (available in Sega NET Mahjong MJ)
- High-intensity 'battle' visual effects (available in Mahjong Fight Girl)
- More accessible/frequent event rewards (perceived advantage in Riichi City)
Key Takeaways
Mahjong Soul is the dominant incumbent in the ACG-Mahjong space, but it is beginning to show signs of technical debt and brand friction. To maintain its lead against agile rivals like Riichi City, the PM must prioritize OS-level stability and address the 'rigged RNG' narrative through transparency rather than just content updates.
Where Is It Heading?
Stable
Active seasonal event cycle (Onsen Riddle, Mar 2026) indicates strong live-ops investment.
Technical friction on Android 16 and login errors suggest growing technical debt.
User mood is 'Excited' regarding core gameplay but 'Frustrated' by perceived RNG rigging.