Apple Arcade is a video game subscription service provided by Apple. It can be accessed through a special section of the App Store on devices that use iOS 13, VisionOS, tvOS 13, iPadOS 13, or macOS Catalina and newer operating systems. The service began on September 19, 2019.

It provides video games that do not include things like in-app purchases or advertisements. Most of the games available on the service are independent games or games that were previously released for mobile devices.

Features

All games on the service are free from advertisements, purchases within the game, tracking of user data, and can be played without needing an internet connection. Subscribers can share access with up to five others using family sharing. The service is also available as part of the Apple One bundle. Both individual subscriptions and the Apple One bundle offer a free one-month trial and can be stopped at any time.

Games on the service work with Game Center and iCloud. This allows games to include features like achievements and leaderboards, and to move game data between devices when linked to the same iCloud account. In addition to Apple’s own products, many games work with controllers from other companies, such as the DualShock 4, DualSense, and Xbox Wireless Controller. Support for Joy-Con and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller was added when iOS 16 was released. Controllers that look like those from older Nintendo and Sega consoles, used with the Nintendo Classics service, are also supported with iOS 16. On Apple TV, some Apple Arcade games require a controller to play.

Some games not included in Apple Arcade support Apple Watch in versions that are not part of Apple Arcade, such as Lifeline. However, no games included in Apple Arcade support Apple Watch.

History

Apple Arcade was introduced in March 2019 during an Apple Event that highlighted new services. It became available in September 2019 with 71 games. Apple said the number of games would increase to more than 100 by 2020. The service supports at least 14 languages and is available in over 150 countries. Some well-known games included Sneaky Sasquatch, What the Golf?, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Rayman Mini, Exit the Gungeon, and Lego Brawls.

Apple partnered with several notable publishers and developers, including Capcom, Sega, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Konami, Devolver Digital, and Annapurna Interactive. Developers cannot release their Apple Arcade games on other mobile platforms because of exclusivity agreements, but they can release them on consoles or personal computers. Apple does not share details about how well games perform with developers, only confirming whether a game has been accepted for the Apple Arcade platform.

The service organizes games into categories based on themes, types, and difficulty levels. Examples of categories include "adventure," "puzzle," and "education." There is also a category called "daily play suggestions," which recommends games based on a user’s download and gameplay history.

In June 2020, Bloomberg reported that Apple ended agreements with some future Arcade games and changed its strategy to focus on games that could keep subscribers interested. Apple also invited former partners to return and create games that fit its new goals.

On April 2, 2021, Apple added new games and announced the inclusion of "Timeless Classics" and "App Store Greats." These are versions of popular games already on the App Store, with in-app purchases and ads removed. The names of these games end with a "+." Examples include Fruit Ninja Classic +, Monument Valley +, and Threes! +. Unlike games made only for Apple Arcade, these games are only available on iOS and iPadOS devices and are mostly unchanged from their original versions, without microtransactions or in-app purchases.

After its launch, Apple Arcade faced criticism for its payment system, which relied on how engaging games were to users. This led some developers to remove less popular games, making some exclusive titles unavailable. Critics noted a shift toward games more appealing to families. Apple Arcade head Alex Rofman explained that games with few players were removed because they could not help grow the user base each month, but he emphasized that the service still supports indie developers with creative ideas, countering claims that Apple was unfairly treating independent studios or canceling games in development.

Reception

According to CNET, "Every game platform succeeds or fails based on whether it offers games that people want to play. Apple Arcade's collection of games is impressive because it includes many new titles and updates regularly. The service features a wide variety of games, such as mystery games, family games, puzzle games, and games that remind players of older titles."

In TechRadar, David Lumb wrote, "The goal is for Arcade games to stand out, and for the service as a whole, through support provided by Apple. When developers submit their games to be included in Arcade, the company promises some level of financial help to allow creators to focus on making the games they want to create."

Referring to Lifewire, artist and programmer Tyrone Evans Clark said, "I personally prefer Apple Arcade because it offers a greater variety of games to choose from. Nintendo's Switch Game Store has fewer games, and most are from Nintendo brands like Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon. Apple Arcade, however, includes a wide range of games for different types of players."

Jordan Minor of PC Magazine wrote, "That is why, as someone who believes in the potential of mobile gaming, Apple Arcade's launch was exciting. For $5 per month, Apple provides access to a growing collection of nearly 200 high-quality games playable on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV with a real controller. None of these games use free-to-play features that lower their quality, and this is a welcome change in this area."

Revenue

In 2018, premium games on the App Store made US$476 million in revenue, while free-to-play games earned US$21.3 billion. The number of premium apps on the App Store dropped from 21.6% of all games in 2014 to 9.3% in 2018. Some analysts believe this decline influenced Apple’s creation of Apple Arcade, as they think people may prefer paying a monthly fee to access many premium apps rather than buying each one separately. Others suggest Apple Arcade helps the company earn money and compete with services like Google Play Pass and Xbox Game Pass.

Apple spent $500 million to start Apple Arcade. The company gives app developers money upfront to create games for the platform and works with some developers during the game-making process.

At first, payments to developers were high, but reports show that Apple Arcade’s upfront payments and bonus payments for each game played began to decrease in October 2020 and have continued since then.

Original games

This list includes video games on the service that are not "plus games," meaning games that were already available on the service before. All games are released on iOS, macOS, and tvOS unless stated otherwise.