Nintendo partners with Apple for Super Mario Run on iOS

The Apple Event has already thrown a bit of a curveball into the mix with a surprise announcement. Gamers have been clamoring for years for Nintendo to make games for Android and iOS.

That clamoring was met in a few different ways, most recently with the release of Miitomo, a “game” that nobody particularly asked for, and one that seems to have fallen off of the radar pretty quickly. Gamers wanted Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, the classics. Today, Shigeru Miyamoto visited the Apple Event to announce that Super Mario Run will be coming to iOS devices soon. 

At its base, Super Mario Run looks to be a mix between your standard Mario game and an endless runner. Mario will run through each level on his own, and you’ll control areas where he needs to jump. Simply tap on the screen to make Mario jump, while long pressing will make him jump higher. Your goal is to reach the flagpole at the end of each map before time runs out. Oh, and collect coins. Mario is always going to collect coins. As you progress through the game, you’ll build and expand your very own Mushroom Kingdom.

Also included is a battle mode called Toad Rally. You can play against opponents from around the world, battling to beat their high score. Once you choose an opponent, you’ll be able to go against their saved game data, racing their ghost to beat each level.

Some may be confused by this direction, but it really makes sense for a lot of reasons. Many people are playing mobile games one-handed, which this game will accommodate easily. Many mobile games are also only played for a few minutes at a time. Android fans can take heart, Super Mario Run was never said to be an iOS exclusive, though no specific information regarding an Android release was mentioned either.

What do you think about Super Mario Run coming to iOS devices? Are you excited to give it a try when it’s released? Let us know all about it in the comments below, or on Google+, Facebook, or Twitter.