Have a look at the top foreign apps and games by download, and see how they're winning in China.

1. Wandoujia
2014: How Foreign
Apps Are Stacking Up
The Mobile Search Index
June 2014
China’s Mobile Search
Top Trend:

2. Top Trends
Sex and the City
Guardian Angels for Over-Sleepers
2014: How Foreign Apps Are Stacking Up
1
2
3

3. We decided to look at how the top foreign apps and games in China stack up by
downloads over the past 6 months. What we found gives us a look at how successful
foreign developers win in China and stay on top. What’s the secret sauce? Get local!
(Or give away great content for free…)
2014: How Foreign Apps
Are Stacking Up1
Rank Game Name 1H 2014 Downloads Strategy
1 Plants vs. Zombies 2 4,051,627 Local Studio
2 Temple Run 2 3,871,581 Local Publisher
3 Subway Surf Rome 3,039,335 Local Publisher
4 Minion Rush 2,905,701 Local Publisher
5 Cut the Rope 2 1,958,599 Local Publisher
6 Ski Safari 1,691,451 Local Publisher
7 Shoot Bubble Deluxe 1,066,185 Free
8 Clash of Clans 956,456 Free
9 Fruit Ninja 904,864 Local Publisher
10 Temple Run 860,782 Local Publisher
11 Where's My Water 749,453 Local Publisher
12 Talking Tom 2 744,481 Localized
Foreign Games

4. Most of the top games have found local partners to work with. These publishers take care of
localization, promotion, and even devise original content to appeal to Chinese audiences. For
Western mobile games to succeed in China, they need to undergo "deep culturalization," which
includes a total re-scripting for a game's story, says Henry Fong, CEO of publisher Yodo1.1
2014: How Foreign Apps
Are Stacking Up1
1Quote and slide taken from http://gamasutra.com/view/news/194420/Video_How_Western_mobile_games_conquered_China.php
Ski Safari (Yodo1)
In addition to linguistic localization,
Yodo1 promoted Ski Safari on local
ad networks, set up local billing
systems, and added new content
catering to the Chinese market such
as Chinese New Year, Terracotta
Warrior, and Panda costumes for
main character Sven. Launched in
2013, it’s still one of the most
downloaded foreign games in the
first half of 2014.
6-Month Downloads: 1.7 million

5. Other top performing games went beyond translation and added China-specific
content. For Plants vs. Zombies 2, this was a means to wrestle back players from
pirated versions that beat them to market.2
2014: How Foreign Apps
Are Stacking Up1
2 http://e27.co/popcap-shanghais-easternise-bet-plants-vs-zombies-2-paid/
To “Easternize” PvZ 2 for local players,
PopCap Shanghai added new plants
as well as kung fu-themed zombies.
Temple Run 2 added
un-lockable characters
such as sexy Chinese
celebrity Liu Yan to
generate local interest.
In the most recent
update, she appears in
World Cup soccer kits.

6. Many of the top foreign apps in China come from larger companies who have decided
to establish a firm footing in the market with a local office. This helps them connect with
their local user base and guide the development of a non-game software product.
2014: How Foreign Apps
Are Stacking Up1
Rank App Name 1H 2014 Downloads Strategy
1 LINE 2,566,669 Local Operator
2 Adobe Flash Player 1,208,580 Local Office
3 Amazon 1,038,873 Local Office
4 Root Explorer 583,142 Free
5 Adobe PDF Reader 389,731 Local Office
6 Opera 362,084 Local Office
7 MX Player 328,388 Free
8 Evernote 256,660 Local Office
9 Facebook 237,569 Free
10 Pixlr Express 234,556 Free
11 LINE Camera 219,031 Free
12 RealCalc 205,387 Free
Foreign Apps

7. Amy Gu, General Manager for Evernote in China says, “It’s always about the users.
The users create the product, define the product, improve the product and polish
the product.”
2014: How Foreign Apps
Are Stacking Up1
“The Chinese users are among the most creative
and innovative users in the world, and by having
Evernote's office located in China has helped us
get the user feedback in the most productive way.
We then bring back that feedback to Silicon Valley
to make Evernote a better product.”
"Getting a wonderful Chinese name is the
starter. Our Chinese name Yinxiang Biji has
been able to capture what Evernote is as
the memory note, as well as highlight the
elephant character with the story of an
‘Elephant never forgets’ behind it. That's
exactly why we are here in China—to help
our Chinese users remember forever.”

8. With steamy summer rolling in across the country, “urban romance” shows took the top
three positions among Top New Videos. Each of these shows centers on the lives of
characters found in metropolitan 21st-century China and their romantic dramas.
Sex and the City2
The Accoucheur focuses a
male obstetrician and his
colleagues.
Only If I Love You follows a
vineyard-owning family running
their business in Shanghai.
After a Naked Wedding picks
up where the its predecessor,
Naked Wedding, leaves off,
following a young married
couple that doesn’t own their
own home.

9. Ranking 17th among Top New Apps, Babes Wake You Up is an app too interesting not to
mention. It combines the power of user-generated content with an SNS platform to
connect babes with those in desperate need of a more rousing wake-up call.
Guardian Angels for Over-Sleepers3
Babes Wake You Up
(⼥女神叫你起床)
Monthly Downloads: 7k
Browse the app for male or
female babes and select one
of their recorded videos for
your wake-up call. You can
like and comment on the
videos, as well as follow your
favorites to be alerted of new
videos. If you feel like paying
it forward, you can record
your own wake-up video for
others to use. Browse Alarms Me

10. June 2014
Star Apps

11. Top Apps
Top New App Fastest Growing App
View My Life
(视景⽣生活)
Citywide Dating
(同城热恋)

12. Rank Name Downloads
1 Citywide Dating (同城热恋) 68,261
2 Dating (谈恋爱) 60,325
3 Don't Step on White (别踩⽩白块⼉儿) 48,856
4 Cool Sweep (酷划) 41,337
5 Gaokao Exam Assistant (⾼高考志愿辅助填报) 37,549
6 Secret Circle (私密圈) 21,990
7 Ji Zhi Investment (集智返佣) 21,579
8 Baidu Lebo Player (百度乐播) 18,482
9 Beibei on Sale (⻉贝⻉贝特卖) 17,556
10 Voice Changer (我的变声器) 13,805
Top New Apps

13. Rank Name Downloads Growth rate
1 View My Life (视景⽣生活) 157,435 1,749,177%
2 ReadingJoy (爱阅读书) 231,377 550,797%
3 Microshop (微店) 171,738 59,739%
4 56 Video (56视频) 234,751 1,166%
5 Yingcai Winner (盈彩⼤大赢家) 225,769 974%
6 Movies Fast Player (电影赶快播) 294,241 940%
7 258 Lottery (竞彩258彩票) 192,788 697%
8 Video Master (看⽚片神器) 242,456 566%
9 Jingcai Winner (竞彩⼤大赢家) 202,376 416%
10 Suning Easy Buy (苏宁易购) 243,140 304%
Fastest Growing Apps

14. June 2014
Star Games

15. Top Games
Top New Game Fastest Growing Game
The End of School 2
(崩坏学园2)
No One Dies
(⼀一个都不能死)

16. Rank Name Downloads
1 No One Dies (⼀一个都不能死) 493,465
2 Aika 3D Racing (爱卡3D⻜飞⻋车) 255,909
3 Super Heroes (The Amazing Spider-Man)
(超级英雄 [超凡蜘蛛侠])
192,594
4 Ninja Must Die 2 (忍者必须死2) 163,582
5 Crazy Money Chaser (疯狂来找钱) 140,970
6 Crazy Fishing (疯狂捕⻥鱼) 105,448
7 Flappy-48-Don’t Step on White (Flappy48别踩⽩白块⼉儿) 99,399
8 YY Empire (YY帝国) 59,864
9 Metal Slug Defense 59,363
10 Crazy Bull Fighting (疯狂⽃斗⽜牛⽜牛) 57,253
Top New Games

17. Rank Name Downloads Growth rate
1 The End of School 2 (崩坏学园2) 215,684 6,755%
2 Tiantian Fighting (天天炫⽃斗) 600,657 2,592%
3 Riptide GP 2 (激流快艇2) 301,190 324%
4 Contra: Evolution (魂⽃斗罗进化⾰革命) 231,551 216%
5 Ace Fishing (钓⻥鱼发烧友) 242,935 127%
6 Thunderbolt Warplane (雷霆战机) 304,295 80%
7 Mtown (全民⼩小镇) 156,745 71%
8 Minecraft (⼝口袋沙盘 [我的世界]) 190,498 57%
9 Popstar (popstar消灭星星官⽅方正版) 472,032 30%
10 Fantashooting (奇幻射击) 276,974 25%
Fastest Growing Games

18. June 2014
Star Videos

19. Top New Videos
1
2
3
4
5
Accoucheur
(产科男医⽣生)
Plays: 1,612,651
Only If I Love You
(如果我爱你)
Plays: 960,129
After a Naked Wedding
(裸婚之后)
Plays: 528,756
Life Revelation
(⽣生活启⽰示录)
Plays: 419,119
Woman in a Family of
Knivesmen
(⼑刀客家族的⼥女⼈人)
Plays: 385,150

20. 1
2
3
4
5
The Tang Dynasty
Good Man 2
(唐朝好男⼈人2)
Plays: 178,387
Growth: 72,121%
Xiao Bao and Lao Cai
(⼩小宝和⽼老财)
Plays: 550,651
Growth: 4,549%
Xueding Mountain
(薛丁⼭山)
Plays: 337,366
Growth: 1,975%
Scarlet Heart 2
(步步惊情完整版)
Plays: 1,594,498
Growth: 1,176%
Fei the Hero
(⻜飞哥⼤大英雄)
Plays: 520,172
Growth: 1,027%
Fastest Growing Videos

21. China is the world’s largest smartphone market. But it’s a black hole
for app data. Mobile research firms use Google Play data, which
works for most of the world, but not for China. Nine out of ten new
smartphones sold in China run Android, but developers are left in the
dark.
!
Here at Wandoujia, we decided to change that. As an Android
mobile search engine with 400 million total installs, we decided to
shine a light on the market. We hope it will encourage more foreign
developers to come to China.
Methodology:
!
• Top New: Launched within the last 60 days.
• Fastest Growing: Highest growth-rate this month, relative to an average of the previous 3 months.
• App data is carefully screened to eliminate ‘zombie downloads’
• All data is from the Wandoujia platform, with 400 million+ installs in China.
About the Mobile Search Index
http://appindex.wandoujia.com

22. The China partner for app developers
Wandoujia’s editorial team is always on the lookout for the best
new apps. That definitely includes apps from foreign developers!
We’ve partnered with Flipboard, EverNote, Pocket, and LINE to do
exclusive launches and promotions in China.
Complete media management
Wandoujia is for more than just apps. Our PC suite makes it
super-easy for users to manage all of their content. That
includes movies, TV shows, music, and e-books too.
The place for mobile gamers
Wandoujia is the easiest way to reach a massive audience
of gamers in China. For developers, our app promotion
system makes it easy to be discovered and our payment
SDK makes it easy to get paid.
Learn more here:
http://www.slideshare.net/WandouLabs/
brandbook-en?from_search=5
About Wandoujia

23. Benefits for Registered Developers:
!
• Verified developer badge gives developers peace of mind
• Push updates to your Chinese users, quickly and efficiently
• Eligible for campaigns and featured promotions
• Optimized search result ranking
Register today:
http://developer.wandoujia.com/intl/
!
Wandoujia Developer Center
For support contact: zhangyan@wandoujia.com

24. Did you like this?
The Mobile Search Index will arrive in your inbox once a month. Fear not,
we think spam is evil too. And we use MailChimp, so it’s simple to
unsubscribe any time. But we—and our very cute cats—will be sad to see
you go.
Subscribe to the Mobile Search Index!
http://eepurl.com/CkIyz

25. Let’s connect!
tyler@wandoujia.com
International PR
zhangyan@wandoujia.com
International Developer
Relations
http://appindex.wandoujia.com