Android users may feel left out as iPhone users anticipate the release of Super Mario Run for iOS next Thursday. Preliminary reviews hail the upcoming mobile game as top notch, but Apple announced during the September launch of the iPhone 7 that Super Mario Run would initially be an iOS exclusive.
Nintendo has confirmed the game will come to Android at some point. Speculation indicates the Super Mario Run Android release date will occur sometime in 2017. But there has been no timeframe revealed on exactly when the game will be available for the Android platform.
To solidify iOS exclusivity, Apple added the game to its App Store prior to launch along with a “Notify Me” button for users to register and know when the came is available. There is no such equivalent in the Google Play Store, so Android users should tread lightly while investigating the game before there is any official information on the Android release date available.
When searching for Super Mario Run in the Google Play Store, the top result is an app called Notify for Super Mario Run. It is rated 4.8 stars, but it is not a Nintendo application. Reviews indicate the app developer is fishing for a five-star rating and that the app is riddled with spyware and malware.
Installing the app gives users three options: to check availability for iOS, for Android and to sign up for notification of availability. The app includes a “verify phone” button; however, when users tap the button they will be redirected to download other applications in the Google Play Store or to web pages that may include malware.
Another app is Countdown to Super Mario Run, which is rated 4.7 stars and is also not a Nintendo application. The app includes the iOS release date and a corresponding countdown ticker. There are options similar to previous app to check the availability status for iOS and Android and to sign up for notification. When pressed, the buttons prompt users to sign into their Gmail accounts. We decided against this and advise Android users to do the same.
Overall, Android users will simply have to be patient and wait for Nintendo and Google to do their magic to bring Super Mario Run to Android.
The Super Mario Run iOS version will be free to download and a one-time price of $9.99 to access the full game, which includes six worlds and three game modes. Android users can expect a similar price and gameplay experience when the app is available.
