Super Mario Run is an auto-running platformer designed for touchscreens. Mario runs automatically, with the player tapping the screen to make him jump. Tapping duration controls jump height, and special maneuvers like wall jumps are performed with well-timed taps.

The game features three main modes: World Tour, a campaign across six worlds; Toad Rally, where players compete in style challenges for an audience; and Kingdom Builder, which uses collected coins to customize a personal Mushroom Kingdom. The core gameplay loop involves collecting special coins and mastering levels to unlock new content.