'Super Mario Run' tops Apple's highest grossing, free app charts hours after launch

Less than 12 hours after its launch on Thursday, Nintendo's ultra-hyped "Super Mario Run" now sits atop two of Apple's Top Charts as the most popular free and top grossing app.

As seen above, Super Mario Run is listed as the most popular free app on the U.S. iOS App Store, while at the same time coming in at No. 1 on the highest grossing list. The app debuted to much fanfare on Thursday.

While free to download, Super Mario Run includes an in-app purchase that is all but required to actually play the game. Paying the $9.99 entry fee provides full access to all six game worlds, 20 Toad Rally tickets and 3,000 coins.

Without the unlock, gamers can only play through three levels before being rate limited to 20-second try-outs.

At the time of this writing, Super Mario Run has an average 3-star rating with well over 21,000 reviews.

Considering the speed at which Nintendo's title soared to the top of Apple's charts, it is likely that both companies are making significant gains — more so for Nintendo — from gamers eager to get their hands on Mario's latest adventure.

Announced in September, Super Mario Run is Nintendo's first official attempt at an in-house iOS game. Hyped for months, the release might have temporarily crashed Apple's online storefronts due to expectedly high demand.

For those who tried out the sample levels, or have yet to download the title, and are on the fence about dishing out $9.99 for a full unlock, make sure to check out AppleInsider's in-depth review.

19 Comments

applesauce007 1702 comments · 17 Years

About 7 years ago

Way to go Nintendo...
Simply show them how it's done.

jdw 1443 comments · 18 Years

But when the hype dies down and people hop aboard an airplane without WIFI and fine they can no longer play their $10 game, I would expect some sort of outcry over the copy protection scheme. I can understand it from Nintendo's stand point. But copy protection has had a very troublesome history through the years. How many people steal apps on iOS anyway? In fact, I don't think you can unless you jailbreak. If you pay $10 for an iOS game, you should be allowed to play it even when you lack a wireless internet connection.

dacloo 814 comments · 20 Years

Hundreds of other (better) games don't nearly get the attention because they aren't Nintendo.
Only Nintendo is able to charge $9.99 and get away with it. The mobile games market has been ruined by Apple, with developer fleeing back to PC/Console.
Way to go Nintendo, but a big middle finger to Apple.

Soli 9981 comments · 9 Years

jdw said:

If you pay $10 for an iOS game, you should be allowed to play it even when you lack a wireless internet connection.

As a hard and fast rule. $9.99 and above means that no app categorized as a game should be unplayable without an internet? So would say a game, like Words with Friends that needs you to be connected via the internet to play? They simply won't be allowed to charge that much for it, regardless of how the developer chooses to price their game in a free market? Seems draconian to me.

How about we let the market decide? I think Nintendo should win or lose based on their choices with the game. Fortunately for them, then can remove their copy protection whenever they wish, raise or lower the price, and get plenty of free press when they do. At some point I figure each level will be hacked or ripped off, but maybe by then Nintendo will have already recouped their cost, made a profit, and feel that their position in the iOS game market is jeopardized by thieves.

PS: How did you come up with $10 as tipping point? Why not $5 or $25?