Super Mario Run
Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Screenshots
About this app
I still can’t believe Nintendo made a Mario that you play with one thumb. No joke. Mario runs forward on his own—your job is to time the taps to jump, spin, wall-jump, and snatch coins before the flag. It’s stupidly simple on the surface. And then it gets spicy. World Tour is the meat-and-potatoes: 24 main courses (plus a special nine-level World Star after you rescue Peach), each packed with secret routes and color coins that make you replay like a maniac. Remix 10 is a caffeine shot—ten tiny, random stages back-to-back. Toad Rally? That’s the weird, addicting middle child: you show off moves, cheer crowds go wild, and you either win Toads for your town or eat dust. “Do you have extra rally tickets?” “Not enough. Of course not.” (Yes, that is me whining at 2 a.m.) Kingdom mode is the slow-burn: build houses, decorations, and bridges so your little kingdom grows and weirdly personalizes itself. You’ll collect coins in runs to buy things, and those cheering characters are not just fluff—they unlock more buildings and options. Play enough and the place starts to feel like your messy garage, only pink and ruled by mushrooms. Pause. Think about a mobile platformer that forces you to learn rhythm instead of controls. That’s the trick here. It’s not about mastering dozens of buttons. It’s about timing and reading the stage, and yes—you will rage. I got stuck on the third world for a while (two hours of swear words and near-throwing-my-phone). But then—when a jump finally clicks—you feel oddly heroic. The app needs connection to play, and yes, some features lean on online systems and tickets. Expect a one-time purchase to unlock everything; no microtransactions after that, which is a breath of fresh air. Ads? Not intrusive, but keep an eye on data use if you’re not on Wi‑Fi. If you want quick runs, frantic score-chasing, and a silly little kingdom you’ll keep tweaking, this one’s worth the whirl. If you expect a traditional, button-heavy Mario, don’t. This is Mario stripped down—and oddly, more stubborn because of it.
Editor's Review
I bought the full unlock on a whim one late night (bad idea—great idea). I wanted a Mario fix without hauling out a console. What landed was neat: tight timing, bright levels, and a mode structure that keeps you flipping between short bursts and longer, meaty runs. I’m the sort who obsessively chases every colored coin. I got stuck on a remix sequence and swore like a sailor. True story. The highs: when a risky midair spin lines up and you pocket a blue coin, you actually cheer. The crowds in rally mode? They make you play bolder. The lows: the ticket system for rally and some gating in kingdom building can feel petty—like, don’t make me wait to play the mode I want. Also, online is required; offline runs are limited, so don’t expect to fly this on a plane without drama. Friend: “You still play that?” Me: “Yeah. It eats time.” I liked that there’s a single, one-time purchase for full content—no loot boxes, no endless tapping to buy the next thing. That said, some later stages spike in difficulty in a way that felt unfair, not clever. I wish there were more checkpoints or a better practice mode for the worst jumps. Bottom line: It’s polished, bite-sized, and maddening in the best way. Not perfect. But when it clicks, it’s pure, stubborn fun that keeps drawing me back at odd hours.
Pros
- Single-thumb controls make quick play possible anywhere
- Multiple distinct modes: score runs, short bursts, and base-building
- One-time purchase unlocks full game—no repeated microtransactions
- Tight level design with hidden routes and collectible replay value
Cons
- Online connection required for key features and some play
- Ticket-based access to competitive mode can feel limiting
- Difficulty can spike suddenly on later stages
Additional Information
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