Super Mario Run hits iPhone, iPad on Dec. 15

Nintendo announced a release date and price for Super Mario Run, the company's first mobile app to feature its marquee mascot, on Tuesday morning.

Super Mario Run will launch on iOS devices Dec. 15 as a free download to "try elements of the game's three modes."

Unlocking the full game will cost $13.99 in Canada. The game will be available on Android devices at a later, as-yet unannounced date.

A new video gives a brief explanation of how the game works with an iPhone or iPad's touch interface. Mario runs through levels automatically and tapping the screen makes him jump.

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The main mode, called World Tour, consists of 24 levels. Toad Rally challenges you to race against other players, hoping to earn the cheers of the diminutive Toad characters commonly found in Mario games. Kingdom Builder allows players to decorate an area of the Mushroom Kingdom with buildings and other in-game items.

Nintendo is partnering with Japanese mobile app company DeNA in developing Super Mario Run under the direction of Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto.

DeNA is also working on upcoming mobile apps based on the popular Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem series of Nintendo games, due out next year.

Apple surprised tech and gaming analysts when it announced Super Mario Run iOS devices at its iPhone 7 event in September.

Until relatively recently, Nintendo has kept its games on its own hardware. The Super Mario Run news comes following the surprise success of Pokemon GO, developed by Niantic, this past summer.