Michael Starling
For serious Mahjong players and enthusiasts of the Japanese Riichi variant looking for authentic rules and scoring assistance.
Kemono Mahjong
Snapshot
Who is Michael Starling?
Providing authentic Japanese Mahjong experiences and utility tools for enthusiasts seeking strategic depth and mobile-optimized play.
Target audience
Portfolio
Free 1Last updated
Kemono Mahjong
vVARY
8mo ago
Publisher DNA
What defines Michael Starling?
Publisher DNA
Primary focus
Japanese Mahjong games and utility tools
Scale
indie
Target audience
Serious Mahjong players and enthusiasts of the Japanese Riichi variant looking for authentic rules and scoring assistance.
Origin
Operates under the Cyberdog Software brand, focusing on mobile-optimized implementations of traditional tabletop games.
Signature Patterns
- β’Strict adherence to authentic Japanese Riichi Mahjong rules and EMA standards
- β’Hybrid monetization strategy utilizing both paid premium apps and free utility tools
- β’Mobile-first interface design for complex tabletop game mechanics
- β’Consistent maintenance and update cadence for existing portfolio titles
Portfolio momentum
Maintains an active development cycle with 6 updates across the 2-app portfolio in the last 6 months.
Portfolio
What does Michael Starling ship?
Apps
2 apps analysed
Ad-free model sustains premium brand positioning
- Comprehensive tutorial system effectively teaches complex Japanese mahjong rules to complete beginners
- Landscape view layout issues on tablets obscure critical game information during matches
Distributed across 10 markets, strongest in Europe.
Based on 1 of 2 apps with localized market data, more coverage rolling in as scans complete Β· last scanned .
Americas (3)
- Brazil1 / 1
- Mexico1 / 1
- United States1 / 1
Europe (5)
- France1 / 1
- Germany1 / 1
- Netherlands1 / 1
- Portugal1 / 1
- Spain1 / 1
Asia-Pacific (2)
- Japan1 / 1
- South Korea1 / 1
Core markets (1/1 apps)
User Sentiment
How do users feel about their apps?
1
Positive apps
0
Neutral / mixed
0
Negative apps
85/100
Avg sentiment score
Rivals
Who does Michael Starling compete with?
The rivals identified
Nemeses(2)
Dominates the Riichi Mahjong niche with a massive, highly engaged user base and a live-service model that defines the current market standard.
Both apps compete for the same utility-focused user base by providing automated scoring tools for Mahjong matches.
Contenders(8)
Directly competes in the multiplayer Riichi Mahjong space by focusing on private, customizable social gaming.
Both apps target Mahjong players by automating score calculations and match tracking, directly competing for the same user base during in-person sessions.
Both apps target Riichi Mahjong players by providing digital scoring utilities, creating direct competition for users seeking to automate hand calculations.
Both apps target Mahjong players needing automated hand scoring, creating direct competition for users seeking to simplify match-day arithmetic.
Both apps target the same casual Mahjong player base by providing digital scoring utilities that replace manual point tracking for social games.
Both apps target Mahjong players by automating score calculation and match tracking, directly competing for the same utility-seeking user base.
Both apps target Mahjong players needing automated scoring and payment calculation, creating direct competition for users seeking digital match management.
Both apps target Mahjong players needing automated scoring and match tracking, creating direct competition for users seeking digital alternatives to manual scorekeeping.
Same space(4)
This app serves casual players who prioritize manual control over automated scoring logic during social sessions.
A high-traffic solitaire app that captures the casual audience searching for 'Mahjong' in the App Store.
Represents the broader 'Solitaire' sub-genre which dominates the App Store category but lacks the Riichi mechanics of the target.
A long-standing solitaire title that serves as a benchmark for the casual tile-matching market.
The Analyst's Read
The bottom line on Michael Starling
Bottom line
Michael Starling is a well-positioned indie developer with a clear monopoly on the high-fidelity Riichi Mahjong niche. Their high weighted rating signals exceptional product-market fit among a dedicated audience that prioritizes mechanical accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
How many apps does Michael Starling publish?
What kind of apps does Michael Starling make?
What is Michael Starling's top app?
In how many countries are Michael Starling's apps available?
What fed this analysis
- Apps analyzed:
- 2
- With full intel:
- 0
- With overview:
- 2
- Website scraped:
- yes
- Social presence:
- no