Developer | Apple |
---|---|
Type | Video game subscription service |
Launch date | September 19, 2019 |
Platform(s) | iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro |
Operating system(s) | iOS 13 or later, iPadOS 13 or later, macOS Catalina or later, tvOS 13 or later, VisionOS |
Status | Active |
Pricing model | US$6.99 per month or US$49.99 annually |
Website | Apple Arcade |
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] [2] The service launched on September 19, 2019. [3]
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 always-on DRM, meaning games can be played offline and without interruptions. [2] 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, [1] 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, for instance Sonic Dream Team.
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. [7] Launch 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, and Annapurna Interactive. [3] 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. [9]
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". [2] 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. [2]
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. [10]
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!+ . [11] [12] 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, a perceived lack of new content as well as the 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. [13] [14]
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." [15]
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." [16]
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." [17]
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." [18]
In 2018, premium games on the App Store generated US$476 million while free-to-play games produced US$21.3 billion in revenue. [9] 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. [9] 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. [3]
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. [9]
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 | September 19, 2019 [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 | |
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm | Cornfox & Bros. | ||
Outlanders | Pomelo Games | ||
Overland | Finji | ||
Over the Alps | Stave Studios | ||
Painty Mob | Flee Punk | Devolver Digital | |
Patterned | BorderLeap | ||
Possessions. | Lucid Labs | Noodlecake | |
Projection: First Light | 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 | ||
Shinsekai: Into the Depths | 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 | |
The Get Out Kids | Frosty Pop | ||
The Pinball Wizard | |||
tint. | Lykkegaard | ||
Towaga: Among Shadows | Sunnyside Games | Noodlecake | |
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 | November 8, 2019 |
Guildlings | Sirvo Studios | ||
Marble It Up: Mayhem | The Marble Collective | ||
Sociable Soccer [lower-alpha 1] | Tower Studios | Rogue Games | |
Takeshi and Hiroshi | Oink Games | ||
UFO on Tape: First Contact | Revolutionary Concepts | ||
Rosie's Reality | RosieReality [lower-alpha 2] | November 15, 2019 [27] | |
Steven Universe: Unleash the Light | 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 | December 20, 2019 |
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 | February 7, 2020 [35] | |
Loud House: Outta Control | Double Stallion Games | Nickelodeon | February 14, 2020 [36] |
Crossy Road Castle | Hipster Whale | February 27, 2020 | |
Roundguard | Wonderbelly Games | March 13, 2020 | |
Spyder | Sumo Digital | March 20, 2020 | |
Beyond Blue | E-Line Media | April 17, 2020 [37] | |
A Fold Apart | Lightning Rod Games | ||
Neversong | Atmos Games | Serenity Forge | May 1, 2020 |
The_Otherside | Barbacube | The Label | May 8, 2020 [38] |
Winding Worlds | KO_OP | May 15, 2020 [39] | |
Towers of Everland | Cobra Mobile | May 22, 2020 [40] | |
SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit | Old Skull Games | Nickelodeon | May 28, 2020 |
Little Orpheus | The Chinese Room | Sumo Digital | June 12, 2020 |
Beyond a Steel Sky | Revolution Software | June 25, 2020 | |
Creaks | Amanita Design | July 10, 2020 | |
Necrobarista | Route 59 | July 17, 2020 | |
The Lullaby of Life | 1 Simple Game | July 24, 2020 [41] | |
Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows | That Silly Studio | Devolver Digital | August 7, 2020 |
Next Stop Nowhere | Night School Studio | August 14, 2020 | |
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time | Soleil | Adult Swim Games | August 21, 2020 [42] |
The Last Campfire | Hello Games | August 27, 2020 | |
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 | October 2, 2020 [45] |
The Survivalists | Team17 | October 9, 2020 | |
The Collage Atlas | John William Evelyn | Robot House Games | October 16, 2020 [46] |
South of the Circle | State of Play Games | October 30, 2020 | |
Reigns: Beyond | 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] | |
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure | ustwo | December 11, 2020 | |
Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon | Cornfox & Bros. | January 8, 2021 [49] | |
lumen. | Lykkegaard | February 5, 2021 | |
Spire Blast | Orbital Knight | January 22, 2021 | |
SP!NG | SMG Studio | March 5, 2021 | |
Farm It!! | Tummy Games | March 26, 2021 | |
Backgammon | Adikus | April 2, 2021 | |
Cut the Rope Remastered | Paladin Studios | ZeptoLab | |
Easy Come Easy Golf (prev. Clap Hanz Golf) | Clap Hanz | ||
Simon's Cat - Story Time | Tactile Games | ||
SongPop Party | Gameloft | ||
Star Trek: Legends | Tilting Point | ||
Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap Beat | Bandai Namco | ||
The Oregon Trail | Gameloft | ||
Alto's Odyssey: Remastered | Snowman | June 7, 2021 | |
Legends of Kingdom Rush | Ironhide | June 11, 2021 | |
Angry Birds Reloaded | Rovio | June 15, 2021 | |
Solitaire Stories | Red Games | July 2, 2021 | |
wurdweb | July 8, 2021 | ||
Doodle God Universe | JoyBits | July 16, 2021 | |
Super Leap Day | Nitrome | August 6, 2021 | |
Tetris Beat | N3TWORK | ||
Zen Pinball Party | Zen Studios | August 25, 2021 | |
Asphalt 8: Airborne | Gameloft | August 27, 2021 | |
Baldo | Naps Team | August 27, 2021 | |
MasterChef: Learn to Cook! | Tilting Point | August 27, 2021 | |
Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls | Konami | September 10, 2021 | |
Zookeeper World | Kiteretsu Inc. | ||
NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition | 2K Games | September 14, 2021 | |
Temple Run: Puzzle Adventure | Scopely | September 17, 2021 | |
Lego Star Wars Battles | TT Games | September 24, 2021 | |
Lego Star Wars: Castaways | Gameloft | November 19, 2021 | |
Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis | Viacom International | December 14, 2021 | |
Disney Melee Mania | Mighty Bear Games | December 17, 2021 | |
Gibbon: Beyond the Trees | Broken Rules | January 8, 2022 | |
Wylde Flowers | Studio Drydock | January 25, 2022 | |
Bridge Constructor | ClockStone Software | Headup GmbH | February 4, 2022 |
Bloons TD 6 | Ninja Kiwi | February 11, 2022 | |
Alto's Adventure: Remastered | Snowman | February 28, 2022 | |
Gear.Club Stradale | Eden Games | March 1, 2022 | |
Badland Party | HypeHype | March 22, 2022 | |
Moonshot - A Journey Home | Noodlecake Studios | April 4, 2022 | |
Warped Kart Racers | Electric Square | April 29, 2022 | |
Cooking Mama: Cuisine! | Office Create Corp. | May 23, 2022 | |
Frogger and the Rumbling Ruins | Konami | May 23, 2022 | |
Air Twister | Ys Net | May 24, 2022 | |
Subway Surfers Tag | Sybo Games | June 30, 2022 | |
HEROish | Sunblink | July 22, 2022 | |
Jetpack Joyride 2 | Halfbrick Studios | July 28, 2022 | |
Amazing Bomberman | Konami | August 3, 2022 | |
Horizon Chase 2 | Aquiris Game Studio | August 29, 2022 | |
Hanx101 Trivia | BlueLine Studios | August 30, 2022 | |
Shovel Knight Dig | Yacht Club Games | August 30, 2022 | |
NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition | 2K Games | September 8, 2022 | |
stitch. | Lykkegaard Europe Limited | September 26, 2022 | |
SpongeBob SolitairePants | Viacom International | October 29, 2022 | |
Squiggle Drop | Noodlecake Studios | November 1, 2022 | |
Football Manager Touch | SEGA | November 8, 2022 | |
JellyCar Worlds | Walaber Entertainment | November 16, 2022 | |
My Little Pony: Mane Merge | Gameloft | November 18, 2022 | |
Farmside | The Label | December 9, 2022 | |
Castle Crumble | Orbital Knight | December 14, 2022 | |
Illustrated | BorderLeap | December 20, 2022 | |
Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! | Game Freak | ||
Episode XOXO | Episode Interactive | January 6, 2023 | |
Kimono Cats | HumanAture Studios | February 13, 2023 | |
Doctor Who: Hidden Mysteries | Tilting Point | March 24, 2023 | |
Summon Quest | The Label | Team17 | March 27, 2023 |
Cityscapes: Sim Builder | Magic Fuel Games | Playstack | May 4, 2023 |
Disney Coloring World | StoryToys Entertainment Limited | ||
Disney Getaway Blast | Gameloft | ||
Disney SpellStruck | Artist Arcade | Wordplay Games, Block Zero Capital Management | |
TMNT Splintered Fate | Viacom International | ||
What the Car? | Triband | ||
Jet Dragon | Grezzo | May 26, 2023 | |
Hello Kitty Island Adventure | Sunblink | June 26, 2023 | |
Ridiculous Fishing EX | Vlambeer | July 13, 2023 | |
finity. | Seabaa | August 21, 2023 | |
Samba de Amigo: Party-Go-Go | SEGA | August 29, 2023 | |
Japanese Rural Life Adventure | Game Start | September 15, 2023 | |
Junkworld TD | Ironhide | September 22, 2023 | |
Cypher 007 | Tilting Point | September 29, 2023 | |
NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition | 2K Games | ||
Cut the Rope 3 | ZeptoLab | October 13, 2023 | |
Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition | Gameloft Montreal | Gameloft | December 5, 2023 |
Puzzle & Dragons Story | GungHo Online Entertainment | ||
Sonic Dream Team | Hardlight | SEGA | |
Cornsweeper | Robert Morrison | wbuttr | January 4, 2024 |
Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom | Bandai Namco | ||
BEAST: Bio Exo Arena Suit Team | Oh BiBi | February 1, 2024 | |
Crayola Adventures | Red Games | March 7, 2024 | |
Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop | h.a.n.d, SEGA | SEGA | April 4, 2024 |
Rabbids Multiverse | Ubisoft | June 6, 2024 | |
Outlanders 2 | Outbox | July 3, 2024 |
1 Requires gaming controllers for gameplay on Apple TV, with no versions of Apple TV remote controls supported.
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