Nintendo made a huge splash in 2016 when it released Super Mario Run on iOS and Android devices. It was a groundbreaking move, considering the fact that Mario games had always been exclusive to Nintendo consoles until then. However, it seems that Super Mario Run was just an experiment, and Nintendo doesn’t have plans to create new Super Mario games for mobiles.
Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, made this clear in an interview with Variety. He said that “mobile apps will not be the main path of future Mario games,” though he didn’t rule out the possibility of creating new Mario games for mobile devices altogether. He emphasized that Nintendo’s core strategy is to integrate gaming experiences into hardware and software, including intuitive controls that are part of the gaming experience.
When Nintendo explored the idea of creating games with Mario for mobile devices, Miyamoto took on the role of director for Super Mario Run to create a game that could translate the Nintendo hardware experience to smart devices. While Super Mario Run opened the door for a wider audience to experience the game, there hasn’t been any news or rumors about a Super Mario Run 2 after seven years.
In recent years, Nintendo has released two other Mario games with different types of gameplay. Dr. Mario World, a puzzle game, closed two years after its release. On the other hand, Mario Kart Tour has been lucky, receiving updates for three and a half years, and serving as the source of DLC courses for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
If you’re looking for the next mainline Super Mario game, Miyamoto suggests keeping an eye out for future Nintendo Directs. In the meantime, mobile gamers may have to make do with the current lineup of Mario games or look to Nintendo’s consoles for the full Mario experience.
