Apple Arcade | |
Developer: | Apple |
Type: | Video game subscription service |
Platform: | iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro |
Operating System: | iOS 13 or later, iPadOS 13 or later, macOS Catalina or later, tvOS 13 or later, VisionOS |
Status: | Active |
Pricing: | 6.99 per month or 49.99 annually |
Apple Arcade is a video game subscription service offered by Apple. It is available through a dedicated tab of the App Store on devices running iOS 13, visionOS, tvOS 13, iPadOS 13, and macOS Catalina or later.[1] The service launched on September 19, 2019.[2]
It offers video games that exclude practices such as in-app purchases and advertisements. Most games on the service are indie games or previously existing mobile games.
All games available on the service are free of advertisements, in-app purchases, data tracking processes, and can be played without an internet connection.[3] Subscribers can share access with up to five others through family sharing and the service can also be purchased through the Apple One bundle. Both standalone subscriptions and the Apple One bundle provide a free one-month trial and can be cancelled at any time. Games on the service feature integration with Game Center and iCloud, allowing games to implement social features such as achievements and leaderboards, and to carry data between devices when linked to the same iCloud account. In addition to Apple's own products, many games are compatible with third-party controllers such as the DualShock 4, DualSense and Xbox Wireless Controller, with support for Joy-Con and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller added with the release of iOS 16.[4] By extension, controllers modeled after classic Nintendo and Sega gamepads for use with Nintendo Switch Online are also supported with iOS 16.[5] On Apple TV, some Apple Arcade games require controllers outright.
Although some games on the service have watchOS support in game versions that are not on Apple Arcade, for instance Lifeline,[6] no game versions that are included in Apple Arcade have watchOS support.
Apple Arcade was announced in March 2019 at an Apple Event showcasing their various upcoming services. It launched in September 2019 with 71 games, with Apple stating that the number would grow to over 100 by 2020.[7] The apps support a minimum of 14 languages and can be accessed in over 150 countries. Notable titles included Sneaky Sasquatch, What the Golf, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Rayman Mini, Exit the Gungeon, and Lego Brawls.[8]
Noted publishers and developers that have partnered with Apple to create Arcade games include Capcom, Sega, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Konami, Devolver Digital and Annapurna Interactive. Developers cannot release their Apple Arcade games on other mobile platforms due to exclusivity agreements, but are allowed to release their games on console or PC. Apple does not share game performance metrics with developers, only revealing whether the game has been accepted onto the Apple Arcade platform.
There are several categories within the platform that group together similar games based on their premise, genre, level of difficulty and more. Some categories include "adventure", "puzzle", and "education". There is also a category called "daily play suggestions", which offers a curated selection of games based on the consumer's download and gameplay history.
In June 2020, Bloomberg reported that Apple ended its contract with some future Arcade titles and shifted its strategy to seek games with stronger engagement to retain subscribers. It was further noted that Apple invited former Arcade partners to return and develop titles that would fit Apple's new strategy.[9]
On April 2, 2021, Apple released a number of new games and announced that it would be bringing "Timeless Classics" and "App Store Greats" to the service. These are versions of pre-existing popular games already available on the App Store with in-app purchases and ads removed, denoted by a "+" at the end of the application name. Notable games added to the service include Fruit Ninja Classic+, Monument Valley+, and Threes!+.[10] [11] Unlike titles developed exclusively for Apple Arcade, these games are only available for iOS and iPadOS devices, and are largely intact versions of the original games without microtransactions.
Years after its launch, the service had been met with significant criticism for its engagement-based payment and removal of video games, rendering some exclusive titles to be lost media, as well as a perceived shift of focus to a family audience. Apple Arcade head Alex Rofman noted that while games with low player counts had to be removed as they could not "grow its player base month over month", they are still "an outlet for indies with creative, innovative ideas", contradicting reports of Apple's apparent ill treatment of independent game studios and cancellation of an unknown number of games that were in development.[12] [13]
According to CNET, "Every game platform rises or falls on whether it has games that people actually want to play. The breadth of Apple Arcade's catalog, bolstered by consistent new releases and updates, is impressive. There are a ton of different types of games -- mystery games, family games, puzzle games, nostalgic games and more."[14]
In TechRadar, David Lumb wrote, "The hope is that Arcade games distinguish themselves, and the service as a whole, thanks to Apple assistance written into the platform. When developers sign their games up to be on Arcade, the company pledges an undefined level of financial support to give creators breathing room to make the games they want to make."[15]
Referencing Lifewire, artist and programmer Tyrone Evans Clark told Lifewire, "I feel personally more attracted to the Apple Arcade because they have more of a variety pack of games to choose from," "Nintendo's Switch Game Store has a limited number of games, and they are mostly predominantly Nintendo brands such as anything relating to the characters Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, etc. Apple Arcade, on the other hand, has a little bit of everything for everyone."[16]
Jordan Minor of PC Magazine wrote, "That's why, as someone who believes in mobile gaming's potential, Apple Arcade's launch was so exciting. For $5 per month, Apple gives you access to a fast-growing library of nearly 200 premium games to enjoy on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV with a real controller connected. None of these games compromise their design with garbage F2P mechanics, and that's so refreshing to see in this space."[17]
In 2018, premium games on the App Store generated US$476 million while free-to-play games produced US$21.3 billion in revenue.[18] Also, the number of premium apps available on the App Store fell from 21.6% of total App Store games in 2014 to 9.3% in 2018. Some analysts argue that this is a contributing factor to the development and founding of Apple Arcade, with the economic perspective that consumers will be more incentivized to pay a subscription fee to access a range of premium apps rather than purchasing individual premium games.[19] Others have argued that Apple Arcade is another source of revenue for Apple and enables them to compete with other video-game subscription services like Google Play Pass and Xbox Game Pass.
Apple spent $500 million to launch Apple Arcade. Apple pays app developers an upfront fee to create video-games for the platform and corresponds with some developers in the development process.
While developer payouts were initially lucrative, it was reported that Apple Arcade's upfront payments and per-play bonus pool started to decline around October 2020, and has continued since.[20]
This list is for video games on the service that are not "plus games", i.e. preexisting video games released on the service. All games are released on iOS, macOS and tvOS unless otherwise noted.
Title | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) | Release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Agent Intercept | PikPok | [21] | ||
Assemble with Care | ustwo | |||
ATONE: Heart of the Elder Tree | Wildboy Studios | |||
Big Time Sports | Frosty Pop | |||
Bleak Sword | more8bit | Devolver Digital | ||
BattleSky Brigade: Harpooner | BattleBrew Productions | |||
Card of Darkness | Choice Provisions | Zach Gage | ||
Cardpocalypse | Gambrinous | Versus Evil | ||
Cat Quest II | The Gentlebros | |||
ChuChu Rocket! Universe | Hardlight | Sega | ||
Cricket Through the Ages | Free Lives | Devolver Digital | ||
Dear Reader | Local No. 12 | |||
Dead End Job | Ant Workshop | Headup Games | ||
Dodo Peak | Moving Pieces | |||
Don't Bug Me! | Frosty Pop | |||
Down in Bermuda | Yak & Co. | |||
Dread Nautical | Zen Studios | |||
EarthNight | Cleaversoft | |||
Exit the Gungeon | Dodge Roll | Devolver Digital | ||
Explottens | WeRPlay | |||
Fledgling Heroes | Subtle Boom | |||
Frogger in Toy Town | Q-Games | Konami | ||
Grindstone | Capybara Games | |||
Hexaflip: The Action Puzzler | David Marquardt | Rogue Games | ||
Hot Lava | Klei Entertainment | |||
HyperBrawl Tournament | Milky Tea | |||
Jenny LeClue - Detectivú | Mografi | |||
King's League II | Kurechii | |||
Lego Brawls | Red Games Co. | Lego | ||
Lifeslide | Dreamteck | Block Zero | ||
Mini Motorways | Dinosaur Polo Club | |||
Murder Mystery Machine | Blazing Griffin | |||
Mutazione | Die Gute Fabrik | |||
Neo Cab | Chance Agency | Fellow Traveller Games | ||
Cornfox & Bros. | ||||
Outlanders | Pomelo Games | |||
Overland | Finji | |||
Over the Alps | Stave Studios | |||
Painty Mob | Flee Punk | Devolver Digital | ||
Patterned | BorderLeap | |||
Possessions. | Lucid Labs | Noodlecake Studios | ||
Shadowplay Studios | Blowfish Studios | |||
Punch Planet | Sector-K Games | Block Zero | ||
Rayman Mini | Pastagames | Ubisoft | ||
Red Reign | Ninja Kiwi | |||
Sayonara Wild Hearts | Simogo | Annapurna Interactive | ||
Shantae and the Seven Sirens | WayForward | |||
Capcom | ||||
Skate City | Agens | Snowman | ||
Stranded Sails | Lemonbomb Entertainment | Shifty Eye Games | ||
Sneaky Sasquatch | RAC7 | |||
Sonic Racing | Hardlight | Sega | ||
Spaceland | Tortuga Team | |||
Speed Demons | Radiangames | |||
Spelldrifter | Free Range Games | |||
Spek. | RAC7 | |||
Spidersaurs | WayForward | |||
Stellar Commanders | Blindflug Studios | |||
Super Impossible Road | Wonderful Lasers | Rogue Games | ||
Tangle Tower | SFB Games | |||
The Enchanted World | AI Interactive | Noodlecake Studios | ||
The Get Out Kids | Frosty Pop | |||
The Pinball Wizard | ||||
tint. | Lykkegaard | |||
Towaga: Among Shadows | Sunnyside Games | Noodlecake Studios | ||
Various Daylife | DokiDoki Groove Works | Square Enix | ||
Way of the Turtle | Illusion Labs | |||
What the Golf? | Triband | The Label | ||
Where Cards Fall | The Game Band | Snowman | ||
Word Laces | Minimega | |||
Nightmare Farm | Hit-Point | October 6, 2019[22] | ||
Pilgrims | Amanita Design | |||
Redout: Space Assault | 34BigThings | |||
The Bradwell Conspiracy | A Brave Plan | Bossa Studios | ||
Decoherence | Efecto Estudios | October 11, 2019[23] | ||
Inmost | Hidden Layer Games | Chucklefish | ||
Mind Symphony | Empty Clip Studios | |||
ShockRods | Stainless Games | |||
Stela | SkyBox Labs | |||
Ballistic Baseball | Gameloft | October 18, 2019[24] | ||
Manifold Garden | William Chyr Studio | |||
Pac-Man Party Royale | Pastagames | Bandai Namco Entertainment | ||
Things That Go Bump | Tinybop | |||
Fallen Knight | FairPlay Studios | October 25, 2019[25] | ||
Hogwash | Bossa Studios | |||
Lifelike: Chapter One | kunabi brother | |||
Tales of Memo | Tendays Studio | |||
Yaga - The Roleplaying Folktale | Breadcrumbs Interactive | Versus Evil | ||
Jumper Jon | Ogre Pixel | November 1, 2019[26] | ||
Monomals | Picomy | |||
Super Mega Mini Party | Red Games Co. | |||
Star Fetched | Crescent Moon Games | |||
Mosaic | Krillbite Studio | Raw Fury | ||
Discolored | Godbey Games | Shifty Eye Games | ||
Guildlings | Sirvo Studios | |||
The Marble Collective | ||||
Sociable Soccer | Tower Studios | Rogue Games | ||
Takeshi and Hiroshi | Oink Games | |||
UFO on Tape: First Contact | Revolutionary Concepts | |||
Rosie's Reality | RosieReality | November 15, 2019[27] | ||
Grumpyface Studios | Cartoon Network Games | November 27, 2019[28] | ||
Ultimate Rivals: The Rink | Bit Fry Game Studios | December 12, 2019[29] | ||
Lego Builder's Journey | Light Brick Studio | Lego | ||
Doomsday Vault | Flightless | January 3, 2020[30] | ||
No Way Home | SMG Studio | January 10, 2020[31] | ||
Kings of the Castle | Frosty Pop | January 17, 2020[32] | ||
Butter Royale | Mighty Bear Games | January 24, 2020[33] | ||
Secret Oops! | MixedBag | January 31, 2020[34] | ||
Charrua Soccer | Batovi Games Studio | [35] | ||
Loud House: Outta Control | Double Stallion Games | Nickelodeon | February 14, 2020[36] | |
Crossy Road Castle | Hipster Whale | |||
Roundguard | Wonderbelly Games | March 13, 2020 | ||
Spyder | Sumo Digital | |||
Beyond Blue | E-Line Media | [37] | ||
A Fold Apart | Lightning Rod Games | |||
Neversong | Atmos Games | Serenity Forge | May 1, 2020 | |
The_Otherside | Barbacube | The Label | [38] | |
Winding Worlds | KO_OP | May 15, 2020[39] | ||
Towers of Everland | Cobra Mobile | May 22, 2020[40] | ||
Old Skull Games | Nickelodeon | |||
Little Orpheus | The Chinese Room | Sumo Digital | ||
Beyond a Steel Sky | Revolution Software | |||
Creaks | Amanita Design | |||
Necrobarista | Route 59 | July 17, 2020 | ||
The Lullaby of Life | 1 Simple Game | July 24, 2020[41] | ||
That Silly Studio | Devolver Digital | |||
Next Stop Nowhere | Night School Studio | August 14, 2020 | ||
Soleil | Adult Swim Games | August 21, 2020[42] | ||
The Last Campfire | Hello Games | |||
World's End Club | Too Kyo Games | IzanagiGames | September 4, 2020[43] | |
A Monster's Expedition | Draknek & Friends | September 10, 2020 | ||
Marble Knights | WayForward | September 18, 2020[44] | ||
Slash Quest | Big Green Pillow | Noodlecake Studios | October 2, 2020[45] | |
The Survivalists | Team17 | |||
The Collage Atlas | John William Evelyn | Robot House Games | October 16, 2020[46] | |
South of the Circle | State of Play Games | October 30, 2020 | ||
Nerial | Devolver Digital | November 6, 2020[47] | ||
All of You | Alike Studio | |||
The Pathless | Giant Squid | Annapurna Interactive | November 12, 2020 | |
Warp Drive | Supergonk | November 27, 2020[48] | ||
ustwo | December 11, 2020 | |||
Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon | Cornfox & Bros. | January 8, 2021[49] | ||
NUTS | Joon, Pol, Muutsch, Char & Tofi | Noodlecake | [50] | |
Spire Blast | Orbital Knight | |||
Populous Run | FIFTYTWO | January 29, 2021[51] | ||
lumen. | Lykkegaard | February 5, 2021 | ||
Survival Z | Ember Entertainment | February 19, 2021 | ||
SP!NG | SMG Studio | |||
Cozy Grove | Spry Fox | March 19, 2021 | ||
Farm It! | Tummy Games | |||
Hitchhiker - A Mystery Game | Mad About Pandas | Versus Evil | ||
Fantasian | Mistwalker | April 1, 2021 | ||
Wonderbox: The Adventure Maker | Aquiris Game Studio | |||
Cut the Rope Remastered | Paladin Studios | |||
Easy Come Easy Golf | Clap Hanz | |||
NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition | Visual Concepts | 2K | ||
Simon's Cat - Story Time | Tactile Games | |||
SongPop Party | FreshPlanet | Gameloft | ||
Star Trek: Legends | Emerald City Games | Tilting Point | ||
Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap Beat | Bandai Namco Entertainment | |||
The Oregon Trail | Gameloft | |||
World of Demons | PlatinumGames | |||
Legends of Kingdom Rush | Ironhide Game Studio | |||
The Iconfactory | June 18, 2021 | |||
Solitaire Stories | Red Games Co. | |||
Ultimate Rivals: The Court | Bit Fry Game Studios | July 9, 2021[52] | ||
Alto's Odyssey Remastered | Land & Sea | Snowman | July 16, 2021 | |
Angry Birds Reloaded | Rovio Entertainment | |||
Doodle God Universe | JoyBits | |||
Detonation Racing | Electric Square | July 30, 2021[53] | ||
Super Leap Day | Nitrome | |||
wurdweb | Aran & Adriaan | August 13, 2021 | ||
Tetris Beat | N3TWORK | August 20, 2021 | ||
NAPS team | ||||
MasterChef: Learn to Cook! | Old Skull Games | Tilting Point | September 3, 2021 | |
Zen Pinball Party | Zen Studios | |||
Zookeeper World | Kiteretsu | September 10, 2021 | ||
Konami | September 17, 2021 | |||
Temple Run: Puzzle Adventure | Scopely | |||
Lego Star Wars Battles | TT Games | |||
NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition | Visual Concepts | 2K | October 19, 2021 | |
Transformers: Tactical Arena | Red Games Co. | November 5, 2021[54] | ||
Gameloft | ||||
Disney Melee Mania | Mighty Bear Games | |||
Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis | Old Skull Games | Viacom International | January 21, 2022 | |
Wylde Flowers | Studio Drydock | February 18, 2022 | ||
Broken Rules | February 25, 2022 | |||
Alto's Adventure Remastered | Land & Sea | Snowman | March 25, 2022 | |
Gear.Club Stradale | Eden Games | April 8, 2022 | ||
Moonshot - A Journey Home | Morsel Interactive | Noodlecake Studios | ||
Badland Party | HypeHype | May 6, 2022 | ||
Warped Kart Racers | Electric Square | May 20, 2022 | ||
Frogger and the Rumbling Ruins | Q-Games | Konami | June 3, 2022 | |
Cooking Mama: Cuisine! | Office Create | June 17, 2022 | ||
Air Twister | Ys Net | June 24, 2022 | ||
Subway Surfers Tag | Sybo Games | July 15, 2022 | ||
HEROish | Sunblink | |||
Amazing Bomberman | Konami | |||
Jetpack Joyride 2 | Halfbrick Studios | August 19, 2022 | ||
Hanx101 Trivia | BlueLine Studios | September 2, 2022[55] | ||
Horizon Chase 2 | Aquiris Game Studio | September 9, 2022 | ||
Shovel Knight Dig | Yacht Club Games | September 23, 2022 | ||
NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition | Visual Concepts | 2K | October 18, 2022 | |
stitch. | Lykkegard | October 28, 2022 | ||
Football Manager Touch | Sports Interactive | Sega | ||
SpongeBob SolitairePants | Chain Reaction Games | Viacom International | ||
JellyCar Worlds | Walaber Entertainment | December 8, 2022 | ||
My Little Pony Mane Merge | Gameloft | December 16, 2022 | ||
Episode XOXO | Episode Interactive | January 6, 2023[56] | ||
Illustrated | Borderleap | January 13, 2023 | ||
Game Freak | January 20, 2023 | |||
Squiggle Drop | Snickerdoodle Games | Noodlecake Studios | January 27, 2023 | |
Castle Crumble | Orbital Knight | February 3, 2023 | ||
Farmside | Topia Studios | Team17 USA | February 17, 2023 | |
Kimono Cats | HumaNature Studios | March 3, 2023 | ||
Doctor Who: Hidden Mysteries | Whaleapp | Tilting Point | April 7, 2023 | |
Summon Quest | Topia Studios | Team17 USA | April 21, 2023 | |
Cityscapes: Sim Builder | Magic Fuel Games | Playstack | ||
Disney SpellStruck | Artist Arcade | |||
TMNT Splintered Fate | Super Evil Megacorp | Viacom International | ||
What the Car? | Triband | |||
Jet Dragon | Grezzo | |||
Ridiculous Fishing EX | KO_OP | Vlambeer | July 14, 2023 | |
Hello Kitty Island Adventure | Sunblink | July 28, 2023 | ||
finity. | Seabaa | |||
Samba de Amigo Party-Go-Go | Sega | |||
Japanese Rural Life Adventure | GAME START | |||
Junkworld TD | Ironhide Game Studio | |||
Cypher 007 | Pixelbite Games | Tilting Point | ||
NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition | Visual Concepts | 2K | ||
Cut the Rope 3 | Paladin Studios | ZeptoLab | ||
Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition | Gameloft | |||
Puzzle & Dragons Story | GungHo Online Entertainment | |||
Sonic Dream Team | Hardlight | Sega | ||
Cornsweeper | wbuttr | |||
Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom | Alike Studio | Bandai Namco Entertainment | ||
BEAST: Bio Exo Arena Suit Team | Oh BiBi | |||
Crayola Adventures | Red Games | |||
Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop | h.a.n.d | Sega | ||
Rabbids Multiverse | Ubisoft Da Nang | Ubisoft | ||
Outlanders 2 | Pomelo Games | |||
Temple Run Adventures | Imangi Studios | August 1, 2024 | ||
NFL Retro Bowl '25 | New Star Games | September 5, 2024 | ||
Puzzle Sculpt | Schell Games | |||
NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition | Visual Concepts | 2K | October 3, 2024 |