Super Mario Run is live

Super Mario Run, Nintendo’s first official Mario game developed for a phone, is now live on Apple’s app store for a penny shy of $10. You can also download a free demo of the game featuring the first three levels if you want to give it a try before you buy.

Nintendo wasn’t exactly clear when on Dec. 15 its chubby little plumber would make his premiere on the iPhone and iPad, leaving some to speculate (OK, hope intently) that it would be exactly when the day started ... in New Zealand.

The anticipation continued as the day rolled over around the world. Once it was Dec. 15 worldwide, people started wondering if something had gone wrong.

The official Nintendo Twitter account in Japan simply stated Super Mario Run was coming to iTunes on Dec. 15 “Pacific time.”

The game has players controlling an ever-running Mario as he makes his way, mostly from left to right, through worlds decorated with breakable blocks, pipes and the many other familiar hallmarks of a Super Mario game.

The game features three modes: World Tour, Kingdom Builder and Toad Rally.

In World Tour, players have to navigate through six worlds, each featuring 24 brand-new courses, as they try to find and rescue Princess Peach.

In Toad Rally, players show off their moves in challenge maps as they try to impress a crowd of Toads and get the highest score. The game requires items called Rally Tickets earned in the regular mode to access.

Finally, in Kingdom Builder, players can build their own kingdom. This mode uses the items acquired during Toad Rally mode.

The game requires a persistent online connection to play, Nintendo told Polygon. You can learn all about why that is and a bunch of other things in our handy guide to the game.

No word yet, beyond 2017, on when the game will be arriving on Android.

Your biggest Super Mario Run questions, answered

Super Mario Run is here, and it's going to take over the world for a little while. In this guide, we'll teach you all about Nintendo's biggest foray into mobile gaming.