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Super Mario Run

Review · Action · Android · iOS

Super Mario Run

Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026

Android · iOS

Nintendo · 2016

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

53 /100

Automated review

Super Mario Run is a platformer that promotes hand-eye coordination and problem-solving through engaging, one-handed gameplay.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 41 · R 23
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

41

Risk (RIS)

23

Daily limit

90min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.52
B2Social-emotional
0.07
B3Motor
0.65

Super Mario Run offers engaging platforming gameplay with intuitive one-handed controls, promoting hand-eye coordination, reaction time, and problem-solving skills. The Kingdom Builder mode encourages creativity, while Toad Rally provides a competitive social element.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.30
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.39

While largely free from predatory monetization, the competitive aspects of Toad Rally could lead to mild social comparison. The game's design, with variable rewards and escalating commitment in kingdom building, may subtly encourage extended play sessions.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.33
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.00
R4.4Substance References
0.00
R4.5Fear / Horror
0.00

Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.

Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Not yet assessed·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria

  • DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
  • GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.
  • ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.

These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.

ReviewedApr 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Super Mario Run safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Super Mario Run a rating of 53/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is Super Mario Run appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for Super Mario Run, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Super Mario Run?

Our session recommendation for Super Mario Run is up to 90 minutes per day. It is derived from the game's own structure (natural stopping points, compulsion-loop design, monetization pressure, and social dynamics), not from a universal screen-time dose.

Session recommendations are design-based heuristics. Evidence linking specific daily durations to child outcomes is limited, and context matters as much as time; treat this as a starting point for household rules, not a clinical threshold.

What are the main risks of Super Mario Run?

While largely free from predatory monetization, the competitive aspects of Toad Rally could lead to mild social comparison. The game's design, with variable rewards and escalating commitment in kingdom building, may subtly encourage extended play sessions.