"Super Mario Run"
"Super Mario Run" has the tough task of following up “Pokémon Go,” but there are plenty of lessons to be learned from that experience. The game must be cheap, work well and have an addicting hook. "Super Mario Run" comes to iOS in December. Nintendo/Apple App Store

Nintendo’s Super Mario Run will be coming to iOS in just a few weeks.

The much-awaited game will be available Dec. 15 and will be compatible with iPhone and iPad devices running on iOS 8.0, Nintendo announced on Tuesday.

“The wait is almost over for a Super Mario game that can be played on mobile devices,” Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said in a statement. “Developed under the direction of Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, Super Mario Run brings a new take on the series’ beloved action-platforming gameplay to iPhone and iPad for the first time.”

The app was revealed during Apple’s event in September. The audience was excited--and Wall Street too. After the news, the U.S. Nintendo stock closed up 29 percent.

Super Mario Run is the first Super Mario Bros. game developed specifically for mobile devices. In the game, Mario runs forward on his own, but relies on the tap of a single finger to jump over obstacles, avoid enemies, pull off stylish moves, collect coins and reach the flagpole to complete courses,” said Nintendo.

The “first-ever mobile game featuring the most iconic video game hero of all time” can be downloaded for free. Players can try parts of the game’s three modes at no cost, however unlocking all contents of the game will cost $9.99. The game’s three modes are World Tour, in which gamers rescue Princess Peach; Toad Rally, where players can compete with friends; and Kingdom Builder, where users gather coins and Toads to build their own kingdom.

Screenshots of the game have been released:

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Super Mario Run for iOS Nintendo
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Super Mario Run for iOS Nintendo
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Super Mario Run for iOS Nintendo

The game will be available in 151 countries and regions and in English, Japanese, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Russian and traditional Chinese language options.