Nintendo has rather a lot going on at the moment. Not only is demand for the new Nintendo Switch outstripping supply, but Nintendo is also taking mobile gaming on smartphones seriously. Super Mario Run has been available on iOS for a while, but now, finally, it has arrived on Android.
At the beginning of September, while Apple was launching the iPhone 7, Nintendo announced that Mario was coming to mobile. Super Mario Run duly debuted on iOS in December 2016. However, Android users were left wanting, and waiting, for Mario to land on their platform of choice.
Thankfully, that wait is now over...
Endless Runners = Endless Frustration
Super Mario Run is an endless runner, a genre of game which tests your concentration and reflexes. Mario will run across the screen, with you in control of when he jumps, and how high he jumps. And that's about it. However, it's both more difficult and more fun than it sounds.
We did a full write-up of Super Mario Run when Nintendo released the iOS version. Suffice to say this isn't a game for people who get frustrated easily. Because, as anyone who has played Temple Run will attest, endless runners tend to make you want to throw your smartphone through a window.
Super Mario Run is available on the Google Play Store right now. All three modes -- World Tour, Toad Rally, and Kingdom Builder -- are free to try. However, the World Tour comprises 24 courses across 6 worlds, and only courses 1-1 to 1-4 are available for free. A single in-app purchase costing $9.99 is required to access the whole game.
Super Mario = Super Successful
Super Mario Run is a bit of a gamble for Nintendo. By releasing mobile versions of its core franchises, the company risks diluting demand. Then there's the decision to offer a single in-app purchase unlocking everything rather than gouging Mario fans with endless microtransactions.
Thankfully, these decisions don't appear to have backfired yet. According to Nintendo, by the end of January Super Mario Run had already raked in $53 million in revenue. And with the game now launching on Android, which has a 90% share of the market, that's likely to increase massively.
Have you been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Super Mario Run on Android? Are you going to try before you buy or are you happy to stump up $9.99? Are you pleased to see Nintendo embracing mobile gaming on smartphones? Please let us know in the comments below!