Super Mario Run is Now Available on Android; It’s Free…Sort Of

Value - 5/10

5/10
Gameplay - 5/10

5/10
Visuals - 5/10

5/10
Replayability - 5/10

5/10
Storyline - 5/10

5/10

Overall

5/10

Super Mario Run, the Mario game for casuals if a Mario game wasn’t casual enough already.

Not too long ago in an Apple Keynote event, we saw Nintendo’s own Shigeru Miyamoto appearing on stage. Many were wondering what such a man was doing on stage in an Apple event. Well, he was announced a brand new Mario game that was exclusive to the iOS.

Well, it was exclusive at the time. Now, Super Mario Run is finally available on Android!

Super Mario Run Officially Available for Android

We’ve released #SuperMarioRun on Android a bit early! Download it now on Google Play: https://t.co/u4H9bycTyr pic.twitter.com/4nHnPWD9de

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 22, 2017

The casual Mario game that was available for iOS in December is finally here on Android. We’re all familiar with how Mario games work. You traverse in a 2D landscape, moving from left to right, collecting items like coins and power-ups, and then proceed to finish the level.

This time around, Mario moves automatically, and you tap on the screen to initiate actions. Yes, never would I have thought that the Mario game could be even more of a casual game.

Like the iOS version, Super Mario Run on Android is a free download that comes with a trial of the World Tour, Toad Rally, and Kingdom Builder modes, with courses 1-1 to 1-4 available for free. The full game is available through a single in-app purchase of RM39.90, and unlike Fire Emblem: Heroes, there are no micro-transactions.

Super Mario Run Android — Playing Super Mario Run on the NVIDIA Shield is awkward as heck.

Keep in mind that this game runs in Portrait mode, so if you’re gaming on an Android device that constantly displays in Landscape mode like the NVIDIA Shield, prepare yourself for an awkward gaming session. Or, you can just do that in private so no one will judge your life choices.

If you want to give it a try, go search for Super Mario Run on Google Play Store or click here. Just be sure not to play this while you’re driving or in the middle of something important.

Pokdepinion: While having an official Mario game on a mobile platform was surprising enough for me since Nintendo has always been against bringing their iconic plumber to platforms outside of their own, Super Mario Run isn’t really my kind of game. A standard Mario game on mobile would have been much better but oh well. I’m aware that there are a decent number of people who enjoy this kind of game. Now, more people have access to it…just that it’s not completely free of charge.