{"id":1194633,"date":"2026-02-17T21:27:42","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T21:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.polygon.com\/?p=563117"},"modified":"2026-02-17T21:27:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T21:27:42","slug":"the-best-games-on-apple-arcade-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-best-games-on-apple-arcade-right-now\/","title":{"rendered":"The best games on Apple Arcade right now"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A
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For $7 per month, Apple\u2019s game subscription service provides full access to a couple hundred titles for iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers \u2014 and its catalog has been a bit of a roller coaster for the last few years, making it tough for Apple users to determine whether it\u2019s a good deal or not. Unfortunately, I don\u2019t have a straight answer on that for you, because Apple Arcade\u2019s repertoire tends to go all in on niches that do well, so it really depends on what you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll highlight my favorites here \u2014 those that I think give a good sampling of what you can expect from an Apple Arcade sub \u2014 but this story won\u2019t cover any of the \u201c+\u201d games. Apple Arcade offers ad- and microtransaction-free versions of games like Stardew Valley<\/em>, Balatro<\/em>, Vampire Survivors<\/em>, Return to Monkey Island<\/em>, Dicey Dungeons<\/em>, Tomb of the Mask<\/em>, Turmoil<\/em>, Very Little Nightmares<\/em>, and more, all denoted with a + sign after the title. There are tons of worthwhile + games, but it\u2019s rarely a good value proposition for a rotating pool of games that could leave Apple Arcade at any time, and that are inexpensive to just buy for yourself \u2014 not to mention that many of these games are free to play on Apple\u2019s regular App Store with the inclusion of ads and\/or microtransactions.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s my short but varied list of great Apple Arcade games that just might be worth a month or two of subscribing.<\/p>\n

\n

How we picked the best games on Apple Arcade<\/h2>\n

I spent a period of time paying for my own Apple Arcade sub simply because I wanted one. (Now, I\u2019m using a code provided to me by Apple for editorial review.) I regularly browse the most recent additions and, when something interesting and novel is added \u2014 which happens a handful of times a year \u2014 I play during train rides and couch rot sessions until I get sick of it. Most of the games listed here have come back into my rotation time and time again, and a few are new but exciting additions recommended by colleagues and friends.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Katamari Damacy Rolling Live<\/h2>\n

The first Katamari Damacy installment in nearly a decade, Katamari Damacy Rolling Live<\/a><\/em> is a silly redo of the same general concept, but this time your ultimate goal is to make great videos for social media. It isn\u2019t necessarily a banger, but it faithfully revives the iconic rolling gameplay mechanic<\/a>. For fans of the long-running franchise, it\u2019s a must-play.<\/p>\n

Outlanders 2<\/h2>\n

Currently exclusive to Apple Arcade, the Outlanders<\/em> sequel<\/a> makes for an excellent mobile game that can be played in portrait or landscape mode. The aesthetic looks wonderful on Apple\u2019s bright screens, and the gameplay is filled with genuinely tough challenges as well as compelling stories. It\u2019s a very fleshed-out city builder, which is typically tough to accomplish on mobile without cramming the screen full of text.<\/p>\n

Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom<\/h2>\n

Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom<\/em> doesn\u2019t necessarily do anything to iterate on the cozy life sim genre, but it doesn\u2019t quite matter, because the art style is adorable. It feels like a sister to Hello Kitty Island Adventure<\/em> in aesthetics and gameplay, though I\u2019d recommend using a controller, an Apple Pencil, or a larger screen for this one, since there\u2019s a lot going on.<\/p>\n

Skate City: New York<\/h2>\n

Skate City: New York<\/em> is one of my favorite skating games I\u2019ve played on mobile, maybe because it\u2019s a side-scroller rather than a third-person point of view. The controls are just as challenging as they should be, but they\u2019re not at all frustrating to learn \u2014 plus, the modern and simple interface works well even on a small screen. Skate away from the cops, race to beat your personal record, or learn to master multi-step skills in this Tech Deck-like.<\/p>\n

Japanese Rural Life Adventure<\/h2>\n

Another life sim \u2014 one of the genres Apple Arcade\u2019s game editors seem to really lean into \u2014 Japanese Rural Life Adventure<\/a><\/em> is pretty much what it sounds like. It\u2019s a cozy journey towards fixing up a decrepit cabin in a mountain town (what else is new?) that just might teach you a few things about life in the Japanese countryside. This game has gotten several big updates since its release on Apple Arcade, so don\u2019t be afraid to invest time into it \u2014 it doesn\u2019t seem like it\u2019ll be leaving the service anytime soon.<\/p>\n

What the Car?<\/h2>\n

What the Car?<\/em> kicked off a string of beloved physics-based games that ask nonsensical questions in their titles, like the upcoming What the Clash?<\/em>, which will also be on Apple Arcade. It\u2019s a silly, wacky, speedy platformer where you, a car that can do many things including walking on your two legs, must make it through a smattering of obstacles to get to the end of a level. And, you can create your own levels once you get the hang of things.<\/p>\n

NFL Retro Bowl \u201925<\/h2>\n

NFL Retro Bowl \u201925<\/em> has to be one of the best NFL-licensed games you can play on your iPhone \u2014 and it\u2019s cute! Real NFL teams are depicted in 16-bit, and it\u2019s your job as coach to set up a successful team and play through the season. It\u2019s a joy to look at, but it\u2019s also quick and tough, like the other existing Retro Bowl games. It\u2019s bound to offer tens of hours of gameplay if you need something to play on your commute. <\/p>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For $7 per month, Apple\u2019s game subscription service provides full access to a couple hundred titles for iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers \u2014 and its catalog has been a bit of a roller coaster for the last few years, making it tough for Apple users to determine whether it\u2019s a good deal or not. Unfortunately, I don\u2019t have a straight answer on that for you, because Apple Arcade\u2019s repertoire tends to go all in on niches that do well, so it really depends on what you\u2019re looking for. I\u2019ll highlight my favorites here \u2014 those that I think give a good sampling of what you can expect from an Apple Arcade sub \u2014 but this story won\u2019t cover any of the \u201c+\u201d games. Apple Arcade…<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1194634,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1194633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-polygon"],"yoast_head":"\nThe best games on Apple Arcade right now | Arcader News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For $7 per month, Apple\u2019s game subscription service provides full access to a couple hundred titles for iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers \u2014 and its catalog\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-best-games-on-apple-arcade-right-now\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta 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