The best Apple Arcade games are an eclectic mix of puzzlers, fighting games, huge RPGs, and so much more. Apple has managed to cement a niche with its games subscription service over the last few years with its wide range of creative, fun games.
Unfortunately, part of the problem with having such a huge list of games is not knowing how to fully tackle them. You could pick a game at random once a week and be satisfied for years so it may help to have someone to walk you through some of the more notable choices. That's where iMore comes in.
Whether you are testing out Apple Arcade on a beefy iPhone 15 Pro, iPad Air 5, or even the MacBook Pro with M3 Max, there's so much out there to test out your device with. Before committing to the subscription, it may be worth trying out the best free iPhone games. However, Apple Arcade is so great because it does away with adverts and battle passes, simply giving you games.
If you are settled on playing a new game, here are the best Apple Arcade games you can play right now.
The best Apple Arcade Platformer games
Sonic Dream Team
Sonic Dream Team is the first original 3D platforming Sonic game available on iPhone, Mac, and iPad. After Dr. Eggman discovers a device capable of granting dreams, you and the rest of your team have to fight your way through dreams to complete levels and beat the big bad.
It's fast, frenetic, super fun, and worth the download, especially if you're a Sonic fan. Sonic Dream Team is a wonderful return to form for a platformer that has had a bit of a rocky decade or two since its move to 3D. Even if you aren't a Sonic fan, you will probably get quite a lot of joy out of Sonic Dream Team.
Stela
Mixing an autorunner at parts, a platformer, and a puzzler in one go, Stela is a trip through the final days of an ancient world as one woman attempts to figure out what all went wrong. With a focus on cinematic shots and ambient sounds, Stela is one of those games that is just better with a nice pair of headphones on and little distractions.
However, the platforming feels great and is only elevated by an aesthetic that feels almost entirely unique on Apple Arcade. If you've played Inside or Limbo, you may have an idea of what to expect but this is only the start. You'll have to download it to fully understand how palpable that atmosphere really is.
Rayman Mini
Rayman Mini is an admirable adaptation of a platformer I wasn't fully convinced could ever work on the go. Instead of just being palatable, it is great in its own right, blending the action, music, and great aesthetics of modern Rayman with surprisingly good touch controls. Being platformer legacy, it only made sense Rayman would get a role in this list and he deserves it wholeheartedly.
Taking you through 48 levels, you can attempt to get through it at your own pace or run as fast as you can for the ultimate high score. With 3 characters and tons of costumes to unlock, this is one of the absolute best platformers you can take with you on the go.
Downwell
Downwell is a platformer published by Devolver Digital all about jumping down a well. While doing so, you can pick up items that make you quicker, shoot at enemies, or jump extra times. Being easy to pick up but hard to master, you can level up as you make your way further down to slowly become more and more complex as you go. I picked this up thinking one run couldn't hurt and suddenly found myself playing for hours, just trying to get a higher score.
The art style is striking, the music is catchy, and the gameplay is super responsive. It might seem quite simple initially but that doesn't mean you won't find it just as engaging hours from now.
The best Apple Arcade Puzzle games
Simon's Cat - Story Time
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of match-three puzzle games out there, many featuring familiar characters and stories. These games all build on the same basic gameplay mechanics: beat puzzles to build your own little world with the addition of fun music and colorful graphics. Like so many before it, Simon's Cat - Story Time is hardly changing the face of these match-three puzzle games. However, this animated web series by British animator Simon Tofield tells stories of Simon and his constantly hungry cat. The series has been running since 2008 and has been featured in books and other games as well. The character and the world is what makes it so enjoyable — well, that and unlimited stamina.
Overall, this game is a great way to relax and, because it's on Apple Arcade, there are no in-app purchases. You can earn some boosters as you play, but largely, you win on your own skill. Without stamina limits, you can also play as much as you want without having to pay for more tries or having to watch the same half dozen ads over and over again. Plus, Simon's cat, kitten, and even Chloe all make appearances. It plays out very similarly to Gardenscapes or Homescapes, where each level you beat allows you to add something new to the garden.
Stitch.
Stitch. is a puzzle game all about making embroidered art. You are given a pattern to put together and have to make sure you complete numbered grids without any gaps between them. A test of both memory and logical skills, it is far more relaxing than all the numbers on the screen may suggest. This is thanks to a simple cute art style and sweet music.
With weekly challenges, over 50 levels, and a free stitch mode for choosing your own pattern and colors, there's so much to occupy your time — making it a wonderful way to spend an evening or chill Sunday morning.
The best Apple Arcade Multiplayer games
Sonic Racing
Sonic has been in a bit of a weird place for years now, with fans being highly critical of some releases and loving others. However, one of the things that been have nearly unanimously agreed on is that the Sonic racing games are good arcadey fun. The Apple Arcade Sonic Racing is excellent, with great visuals and the ability to really understanding stand the speed at Sonic's fingertips.
If you're looking for an excuse to go fast and want to leave your friends in the dust, this is a perfect choice to download. It helps that it comes with a roster of characters to play as and tonnes of maps to test out.
Lego Brawls
A team brawler where you create your own character and fight over 8 different arenas, Lego Brawls is the perfect game for someone who just cannot wait to beat up their friends. It helps that the game manages to perfect capture the aesthetic of Lego and sounds great.
You can unlock and earn new Minifigs and powers which gives you more of a reason to come back and regular events around Halloween, Christmas, and more shake up what you will find every time you boot it up. Grab a friend and get fighting.
The best Apple Arcade Role Playing games
Monster Hunter Stories +
Unlike the main Monster Hunter franchise, which focuses on players going out and defeating monsters in order to upgrade gear, this game has you playing as a Monster Rider out to raise Monsties from eggs and fight alongside them in turn-based combat.
In some ways, it's like a more complex version of Pokemon but with a far more in-depth story. Something bad is making wild monsters more violent and it's up to you to figure out how to put a stop to it. There are interesting characters and locations to visit along the way. Plus, you can ride every single one of the 81 Monsties you collect in the overworld. They each have unique abilities that might allow them to do things like climb vines, swim, or jump high allowing you to reach new areas. If you enjoy this game and happen to have a Nintendo Switch, you can also play the sequel we reviewed and highly recommend, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin.
Fantasian
Fantasian is a turn-based JRPG set to the backdrop of unique dioramas, and comes from none other than Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Final Fantasy. Sakaguchi brought along Nobuo Uematsu to really solidify the feel of a Final Fantasy game with epically beautiful music.
You take on the role of Leo, an amnesiac hero who teams up with Kina, a magical girl literally found in the midst of an enchanted forest; Cheryl, a feisty princess set to inherit the kingdom; and a pair of comedic relief robots. Your world is in turmoil both figuratively with the loss of your memories and in actuality with a machine invasion known as Mechteria. Employing magic, summons, and good old-fashioned swordplay, your party will travel across this world fighting monsters and machines alike as you unravel the mystery.
Although many of the themes in Fantasian are quite familiar and the character archetypes have been seen in countless games before, Fantasian stands out with its unique art style. All of the game's many settings are actually handcrafted dioramas that give the whole game the feel of a tabletop RPG.
Star Trek: Legends
Play as the unnamed captain of the USS Artemis, responding to a Federation distress signal coming from inside the Nexus. A distress call was made by Star Trek Discovery's Michael Burnham, who was sucked into a golden ribbon of energy that landed her in the Nexus. Shortly after, you add Doctor McCoy from the original series and Lieutenant Worf and Commander Riker to your crew, all having been displaced from their time periods by the Nexus.
There are many other familiar faces to add to your crew as you attempt to unravel the mystery that pulled all of these characters from their timelines. However, unlike most gacha-based systems, you can only earn your additional characters by playing. As with the rest of Apple Arcade, there are no microtransactions.
Otherwise, Star Trek Legends plays like your standard mobile tactical RPG. You build teams of up to four characters, equip them with gear, level them up, and proceed through the storyline. Different characters have useful skills, such as Dr. McCoy's healing abilities, to help you in battle against everything from malfunctioning holograms to the Gorn to the Borg. Your teams also aren't restricted either, with the possibility of adding antagonists like the Borg Queen, Commander Sela, and the infamous Khan Noonien Singh as well.
The best Apple Arcade Simulation games
The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a challenging game where you must balance your party's needs with the genuine hardships that ended so many lives during the pioneer days. While good resource management is necessary to win, it also requires a fair bit of luck. Many of us, myself included, remember the joy and frustration of trekking the Oregon Trail during computer lab in elementary school. Now you can relive the hardships of the trail on your phone.
For those unfamiliar with The Oregon Trail, this game is set in 1848, and you lead a party of four settlers in a covered wagon from Missouri to Oregon. First released in 1971 using minimal graphics, the game's core mechanics remain the same with updated graphics and an attempt at a more culturally respectful look at history, specifically that of the indigenous people who lived in that part of the country.
Having played and beaten the original as a child more times than I can recall, we were surprised at how difficult it was to get even part of the party to the finish line, and how few of the parties died of dysentery despite the seemingly constant infections, as discussed in our review of The Oregon Trail.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is one of the greatest farming sims currently available on any platform. Granted your frame by a deceased relative, you have to build it up from nothing, whilst developing relationships with the townsfolk, earning enough money to expand, and keeping an eye on the calendar to celebrate major events.
It's a game that initially seems quite simple, only to balloon out into a huge adventure filled with cave exploration, many little side quests and stories, and a relationship system where you can get married and more. If you want a game to sink hundreds of hours into, Stardew Valley is a great choice.
Cozy Grove
While you could purchase Cozy Grove on the Switch or Steam, if you want to play Cozy Grove on mobile, it's exclusively available in Apple Arcade. But it's worth the subscription.
This sweet life sim game gives you the role of a Spirit Scout, and your job is to help ghosts find peace so they can move on. All the while, you can decorate the island and collect all sorts of items to personalize your little Spirit Scout.
In Cozy Grove, as you'll see in our review, the spirits you help will remember more of their lives, and in turn, the island will expand and change, opening up more ways to interact with this tiny world. The artwork and music are just as relaxing as the gameplay, too, with soothing melodies and warm, hand-drawn styled characters and backdrops. As if the concept and surroundings weren't peaceful enough, Cozy Grove doesn't take a huge time commitment to feel accomplished. Just half an hour a day is enough to complete your daily goals. For those who want to put in extra time, there's always foraging and fishing.
The best Apple Arcade Sports games
What the Golf?
What the Golf? is a golfing game that is perfect for people who aren't that into golfing games. Most of the time, you aren't controlling a ball, and sometimes you don't even know what you're controlling. Though you are almost always challenged with knocking something into another thing, the gameplay is never quite as straightforward as that. It's one of those games that you just have to play to really figure out and it's made all the better because of that.
With a unique blocky art style, great sense of humor, and a seriously upbeat soundtrack, What the Golf? is a joy to play in almost any setting. If you need a quick pick-me-up, this is the perfect choice.
Easy Come Easy Golf
From the makers of the Everybody's Golf series, Easy Come Easy Golf is the developer's first title on mobile and is exclusively available through Apple Arcade. Featuring a variety of cartoony and exaggerated characters, each with their own unique abilities, this game is about as far removed from real-life golf as you might imagine, which is why it's so appealing.
There is certainly still a competitive aspect to this game, including a Survival Mode and global leaderboards, but nothing about Easy Come Easy Golf takes itself too seriously. I will say, though, mobile controls on this game are not great, even on a 6.7-inch screen. Fortunately, this is one of many games on Apple Arcade that has controller support. I fully recommend using a controller to dive into this wacky golfing world.
NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition
A welcome surprise to Apple Arcade for many, NBA 2K is one of the most acclaimed sports games in the world and for good reason. Being able to customizes your own character to play basketball on the go. In it, you can play more traditional basketball or even play street basketball with a handful of others.
Though it is a mobile port of the game, it doesn't lack in features and even looks quite nice to boot.
The best Apple Arcade games: New & Coming Soon
Of the 200+ games on Apple Arcade, with more being added every month, there is definitely something for everyone. These are just some of the best games and there are many, many more available.
We're always keeping an eye out for the best Apple Arcade games that have been recently-added to the Apple Arcade and those that are coming soon. As of right now, we don't know any games out on the service soon but we expect an announcement over December to announce what's next.
- Updated March 2024
