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Home / Features / Drop everything and download: Super Mario Run

Drop everything and download: Super Mario Run

Mario's mobile platform adventure is now on Android

You’re a bit late to the party – this has been out for months.

Not this version. See, while Mario’s new mobile adventure has had iDevice owners collecting coins and bashing Bowser’s baddies for months, there was a time when it seemed Android smartphone users wouldn’t be able to join the party, what with the title perenially on pre-order. As of today, though, you’ll find Mario hiding in the Google Play Store waiting to, well, play.

What’s new in this Android version, then?

Nothing, really, over the iOS version – but that’s no bad thing, given how ruddy fun this go-anywhere Ninty platformer proved to be on Apple devices. It’s all centred around a ‘world tour’ of platform levels, where you’ll face the usual assault course of pipes, jumps and bad bods, as Mario auto-runs on his quest to save Princess Peach.

Isn’t this the one that’s had everyone moaning about the price?

The very same. For free, you’ll get a tutorial plus the first three full levels to bounce your Italian plumber through. After that, you’ll need to pay £9.99 to unlock the full game. Some might find that unpalatable but that one-off paywall does mean you’ll find no pesky in-app purchases or microtransactions – and it’ll unlock the whole thing.

And, with the graphics you’d expect of a Mario title, together with a host of recognisable characters, this certainly feels like a generous package.

So now I can play Mario on the Tube on my Pixel? Wahoo!

Hold your mushrooms: while Mario’s mobile foray is certainly fun to pick up and play, it also needs a data connection – which means no jumping and air-punching when you’re underground, or on a plane for that matter. It’s quite data-hungry, too, so this might be one for those blessed with gigabytes to spare.

Won’t I get a bit bored of the same old formula?

Surely you’ve heard the adage, "put it on mobile and it’ll go and go"? In any case, with 6 worlds and 24 courses to play through it’s unlikely that you’ll grow tired of leaping any time soon – not to mention some added features to keep things spicy.

There’s a challenge mode, for example, that pits you against other players in front of a crowd of cheering toads – hence the name, Toad Rally – as well as a Kingdom Builder mode that should get your creative juices flowing.

Download Super Mario Run for Android from the Google Play Store

Profile image of Chris Rowlands Chris Rowlands Freelance contributor

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Formerly News Editor at this fine institution, Chris now writes about tech from his tropical office. Sidetracked by sustainable stuff, he’s also keen on coffee kit, classic cars and any gear that gets better with age.

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Cameras, gear and travel tech

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