Apple Arcade FAQ: Three new games for April

Macworld

Gaming subscription services are all the rage now, but Apple Arcade isn’t quite like PlayStation Plus, EA Play, or Xbox Game Pass. So if you’ve got questions about it, we’ve got plenty of answers.

Updated 04/05/24: Three new games were added to Apple Arcade on April 4: Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop, Sago Mini Trips+, and Super Monsters ate my Condo+.

What is Apple Arcade?

Apple Arcade is a gaming subscription service for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AppleTV that features more than 200 games. The games are a mix of genres and styles, and include original games you’ll only find on the service and others that can be found on the regular App Store or even other platforms. Apple Arcade isn’t a streaming service like Xbox Live Cloud Gaming or GeForce NOW. Games must be downloaded onto your device in order to be played.

What do I need to run it?

Apple Arcade was made available as part of iOS 13, iPad OS 13, tvOS 13, and macOS Catalina or later. Some of the more visually-intensive games may only run well on newer hardware, though, and some Mac games require macOS 11 (Big Sur).

How much does Apple Arcade cost?

Apple Arcade costs $6.99 per month, and you’ll also get a one-month free trial.

If you’re currently on the $6.99 month-to-month plan and want to switch to the annual plan, you can do so on your iPhone or iPad. Open the App Store app, then tap your account icon in the upper right. Tap Subscriptions, then tap the entry for Apple Arcade. Here, you can switch to the annual plan. Apple Arcade is also included in the Apple One subscription bundles, which range from $20 a month to $38 a month.

How do I sign up for Apple Arcade?

There isn’t an Apple Arcade app—it’s built into the App Store. On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac open the App Store and look for the Apple Arcade tab at the bottom of the screen (or in the left column on macOS). A sign-up screen with a Try It Free button will appear. After the trial you’ll be charged either the monthly or annual fee, depending on your selection. When subscribing, you’ll need to enter your Apple ID password or use Touch ID or Face ID to sign in, and you’ll have to confirm your subscription purchase a few times.















Once you’re done with the sign up, the Arcade section of the App Store shows what games are available to you. To access a game, tap on it in the App Store, then tap the Get button. When the game is done installing on your device, the Get button turns into a Play button, and you can tap it to launch the game. The game app icon will also appear on your device’s Home page.

On the Apple TV, there actually is an Arcade app. Open that to see the sign-up offer. You’ll also find an Arcade tab within the App Store.

Does my subscription include family sharing?

Yes. One $6.99 per month subscription can be shared between up to six people (including you).

How do I cancel Apple Arcade?

First off, keep in mind that if you cancel Apple Arcade (either before your free trial is up or after subscribing), you won’t be able to keep playing the games unless you re-subscribe. If you’re okay with that, you can use the same process you use to cancel any other subscription service. Here’s the easiest way to do it on the iPhone and iPad:

Open the App Store app and tap on your profile photo in the upper right.

In the screen that pops up, press Subscriptions near the top of the page.

You’ll then see a list of active subscriptions, and Apple Arcade should be listed there. Tap it.

You’ll either see Cancel Free Trial or Cancel Subscription toward the middle of the page that appears. Tap whatever option is available, then Confirm Cancellation.

And here’s how to cancel Apple Arcade on the Mac:

Open the App Store app and then press the icon with your profile photo in the lower left.

The Account window will appear, and you should then click View Information at the top of the window. Enter your password when/if prompted.

When your Account Information appears, scroll down to the Manage section and click the Manage link to the right of Subscriptions.

When the list of your active subscriptions appears, click Edit to the right of Apple Arcade.

Toward the middle of the page that appears, you’ll see a button that says either Cancel Free Trial or Cancel Subscription. Click it, then click Confirm Cancellation and Confirm.

How do I access Apple Arcade games?

Apple Arcade is its own tab in the App Store. You can find games to download there, and grab anything you like without fear of being charged, seeing ads, or having to later buy in-app purchases.

Once downloaded, Apple Arcade games are found just like any other app on your device.




You’ll find this tab on the Mac, too.



You’ll find this tab on the Mac, too.

You’ll find this tab on the Mac, too.




Does Apple curate the games on Apple Arcade?

Yes. Apple says it is “handpicking the games in Apple Arcade” and that it curates them “based on originality, quality, creativity, fun, and their appeal to players of all ages.”

Do Apple Arcade games have in-app purchases?

No. In Apple’s words, “since every game includes access to the full experience, including all game features, content, and future updates, no additional purchases will be required.” Even games that have in-app purchases on the App Store won’t have any in Apple Arcade.

Do Apple Arcade games have ads?

Also no. On a related note, Apple says Apple Arcade has no ad tracking.

Is Apple Arcade a game streaming service like Google’s Stadia or Xbox Game Streaming?

No. All Apple Arcade are downloaded.

Are Apple Arcade games available on other systems?

Apple Arcade games were originally exclusive to Apple Arcade—not in the regular App Store nor on any other mobile platform. Some would appear on PC or consoles, but never in a subscription service.

Apple has since relaxed that policy somewhat, and you can find games in Apple Arcade that also exist in the regular App Store or on Android. They are usually denoted by a “+” at the end, to differentiate the Apple Arcade version (free to download with your subscription, and free from ads or in-app purchases) from the App Store version. For example
Mini Metro (App Store) vs.
Mini Metro+ (Apple Arcade).

Will I still be able to buy games on the App Store without an Apple Arcade subscription?

Yes. There’s no sign that the existing games model will be going away, as it works fine for freemium games like Idle Heroes or Toon Blast. Apple is focusing on “handpicked” games for Apple Arcade, so there’s little doubt that the library will be much smaller than the thousands of games available in the App Store.

Are there demos for Apple Arcade games?

No, and they’re not really necessary. Like App Store apps, games download quickly and can easily be removed if you don’t want to keep it anymore.

Apple partly envisions Apple Arcade as a way of letting players try out games with more freedom than the App Store currently allows (which is basically none). In Apple’s words, “rather than pay upfront for each game, a subscription to Apple Arcade will give players the opportunity to try any game in the service without risk.”

The service has a free trial, though, as we’ve seen with both Apple Music and Apple News+.

Am I able to keep playing Apple Arcade games if I cancel my subscription?

No. As with most subscription services, you only have access while you’re a subscriber.

Can I use controllers with Apple Arcade games?

Yes. In additional to traditional MFi (Made for iOS) controllers, you can pair some specific Bluetooth controllers for both the
PlayStation 4 and
Xbox One with either your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. Since many Apple Arcade games are playable on Mac and Apple TV (where controller support is more common), many games will support them. Some games, especially those that are also available in the broader App Store and only for iPhone or iPad, have no controller support.




Recently Apple relaxed the requirements for MFi controller certification, which may have grown out of the Apple Arcade negotiations.



Recently Apple relaxed the requirements for MFi controller certification, which may have grown out of the Apple Arcade negotiations.

Recently Apple relaxed the requirements for MFi controller certification, which may have grown out of the Apple Arcade negotiations.




How often are new games released?

Games are typically released on Fridays, but not every Friday. The release schedule is sporadic—some Fridays there are no new games released, some see one game released, some more than one. Sometimes there will be no new game release, but existing games will get a big update with new content and features.

On average, new games are released at a rate of about one every 2-3 weeks, though this may improve as Apple has loosened the rules around Apple Arcade exclusivity.

What games have been released so far?

There are over 200 games available for Apple Arcade, and the list grows all the time.

TitlePublisherRelease DateA Fold ApartLightning Rod Games04/17/20A Monster’s ExpeditionDraknek Limited09/10/20Agent InterceptProdigy Design09/19/19Air TwisterYS Net Inc.06/24/22Alba: A Wildlife Adventureustwo12/11/20All of YouAlike Studio11/06/20Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost CityTeam Alto / Snowman07/16/21Alto’s Adventure—RemasteredTeam Alto / Snowman03/25/22Amazing BombermanKonami08/05/22Angry Birds ReloadedRovio07/16/21Asphalt 8: Airborne+Gameloft08/27/21Assemble With Careustwo09/19/19ATONE: Heart of the Elder TreeWildboy Studios09/19/19Badland PartyHypeHype Oy05/06/22Baldo: The Guardian OwlsNaps Team08/27/21Ballistic BaseballGameloft10/18/19Battleheart Legacy+Mika Mobile11/04/22BattleSky Brigade: HarpoonerBattleBrew Productions09/19/19BEAST: Bio Exo Arena Suit TeamOh BiBi02/01/24Beyond a Steel SkyRevolution Software06/26/20Beyond BlueE-Line Media04/17/20Big Time SportsFrosty Pop Games09/19/19Blackjack by MobilityWare+MobilityWare01/05/24Bleak SwordDevolver Digital09/19/19Bloons TD Battles 2+Ninja Kiwi03/07/24Bold Moves+Red Games Co.06/09/23Bridge Constructor+Headup GmbH02/04/22Butter RoyaleMighty Bear Games01/24/20Card of DarknessPendleton Ward09/19/19CardpocalypseVersus Evil09/19/19Castle CrumbleOrbital Knight02/03/23Castlevania: Grimoire of SoulsKonami09/17/21Cat Quest IIThe Gentlebros.09/19/19Charrua SoccerBatovi Games02/07/20Chess Universe+Tilting Point05/04/23ChuChu Rocket! UniverseSega09/19/19Cityscapes: Sim BuilderPlaystack05/04/23Clap Hanz GolfClaphanz04/02/21Clue: The Classic Mystery Game+Marmalade Game Studio03/24/23Construction Simulator 2+Astragon Entertainment04/15/22Cooking Mama: Cuisine!Office Create Corp.06/17/22CornsweeperRobert Morrison01/05/24Cozy GroveSpry Fox03/18/21Crashlands+Butterscotch Shenanigans, Inc.01/14/21Crayola AdventuresRed Games Co.03/07/24Crayola Create and Play+Red Games Co.10/29/21CreaksAmanita Design07/10/20Cricket Through the AgesDevolver Digital09/19/19Crossword Jam+PlaySimple Games10/20/23Crossy Road+Hipster Whale10/08/21Crossy Road CastleHipster Whale02/28/20Cut the Rope 3SeptoLab UK10/13/23Cut the Rope RemasteredPaladin Studios04/02/21Cypher 007Tilting Point09/29/23Dandara: Trials of Fear+Raw Fury12/03/21Dead End JobHeadup GmbH, Ant Workshop09/19/19Dead Cells+Playdigious12/02/22Dear ReaderLocal No. 1209/19/19DecoherenceEfecto Estudios10/11/19Delicious — Miracle of Life+GameHouse11/24/23Detonation RacingElectric Square07/30/21DiscoloredShifty Eye Games & Jason Godbey11/08/19Disney Coloring World+StoryToys Entertainment05/04/23Disney Dreamlight ValleyGameloft12/05/23Disney Getaway Blast+Gameloft05/04/23Disney Melee ManiaMighty Bear Games12/17/21Disney SpellStruckArtist Arcade05/04/23Doctor Who: An Unlikely HeistTilting Point04/07/23Dodo PeakMoving Pieces Interactive09/19/19Don’t Bug Me!Frosty Pop Games09/19/19Doodle God UniverseJoyBits07/16/21Doomsday VaultFlightless01/03/20Down in BermudaYak & Co09/19/19Downwell+Devolver11/17/23Dread NauticalZen Studios09/19/19EarthNightCleaversoft09/19/19Episode XOXOEpisode Interactive01/06/23Exit the GungeonDevolver Digital09/19/19ExplottensWRP Pvt.09/19/19Fallen KnightFairPlay Studios10/25/19FantasianMistwalker04/01/21Farm It!Tummy Games03/26/21Farming Simulator 20+Giants Software05/04/23FarmsideThe Label02/17/23FinitySeabaa08/25/23Fledgling HeroesSubtle Boom09/19/19Football Manager 2023 TouchSEGA11/08/22Frenzic: OvertimeThe Iconfactory06/18/21Frogger and the Rumbling RuinsKonami06/03/22Frogger in Toy TownKonami09/19/19Galaga Wars+Bandai Namco11/12/21Game Dev Story+Kairosoft Co., Ltd06/18/21Game of Thrones: Tale of CrowsDevolver Digital08/07/20Game RoomResolution Games01/20/24Garden Tails: Match and GrowPlaydots, Inc.09/16/22The Gardens Between+The Voxel Agents10/14/22Gear.Club StradaleEden Games04/08/22Getting Over It+Bennett Foddy05/04/23Gibbon: Beyond the TreesBroken Rules02/25/22Gin Rummy Classic+MobilityWare10/07/22Goat Simulator+Coffee Stain Publishing05/13/22Grand Mountain Adventure+Toppluva04/28/23GrindstoneCapybara Games09/19/19GRIS+Devolver09/30/22GuildlingsSirvo Studios, Inc.11/08/19Hanx101 TriviaBlueLine Studios Inc.09/02/22Hearts: Card Game+MobilityWare01/07/22Hello Kitty Island AdventureSunblink07/28/23HEROishSunblink07/22/22Hexaflip: The Action PuzzlerRogue Games, Inc.09/19/19Hidden Folks+Adriaan de Jongh01/28/22Hill Climb Racing+Fingersoft05/04/23HitchHikerVersus Evil03/26/21HogwashBossa Studios10/25/19Horizon Chase 2Aquiris Game Studio09/09/22Hot LavaKlei Entertainment09/19/19Human: Fall Flat+505 Games03/31/23HyperBrawl TournamentMilkey Tea Limited09/19/19IllustratedBorderLeap01/13/23INKS.+State of Play Games06/25/21INMOSTChucklefish Limited10/11/19Iron Marines+Ironhide Irl05/04/23Japanese Rural Life AdventureGame Start09/15/23JellyCar WorldsWalaber Entertainment12/09/22Jenny LeClueMografi09/19/19Jeopardy! World Tour+Uken10/06/23Jet DragonGrezzo Co.06/16/23Jetpack Joyride+Halfbrick Studios07/23/21Jetpack Joyride 2Halfbrick Studios08/19/22Jigsaw Puzzle by MobilityWare+MobilityWare06/10/22Jumper JonOgre Pixel11/01/19Junkworld TDIronhide09/22/23Kimono CatsHamaNature Studios03/03/23King’s League IIKurechi Sdn. Bhd.09/19/19Kingdom Rush Frontiers TD+Ironhide Irl11/12/21Kingdom Rush Vengeance TD+Ironhide Irl07/29/22Kingdom Two Crowns+Raw Fury05/04/23Kingdoms: Merge & BuildCherrypick Games08/18/23Kings of the CastleFrosty Pop01/17/20Knotwords+Zach Gage11/03/23Layton’s Mystery Journey+Level-5 Inc.09/03/21Legend of the Skyfish 2Crescent Moon Games04/03/20Legends of Kingdom RushIronhide Game Studio06/11/21LEGO BrawlsThe Lego Group09/19/19LEGO Builder’s JourneyThe Lego Group12/19/19LEGO DUPLO World+StoryToys Entertainment07/07/23LEGO Star Wars BattlesTT Games09/24/21LEGO Star Wars: CastawaysGameloft11/19/21Leo’s Fortune+1337 & Senri LLC06/25/21Lifelikekunabi brother10/25/19Lifeline+3 Minute Games02/24/23LifeslideDreamteck09/19/19Limbo+Playdead05/04/23Little OrpheusSumo Digital06/12/20Love You to Bits+Alike Studio08/26/22LumenLykkegaard International02/05/21Manifold GardenWilliam Chyr Studio10/18/19Marble It Up: Mayhem!Marble it up11/08/19Marble KnightsWayForward09/18/20MasterChef: Let’s Cook!Tilting Point09/03/21Mind SymphonyRogue Games, Inc.10/11/19Mini MotorwaysDinosaur Polo Club09/19/19Millionaire Trivia: TV Game+Uken06/30/23MonomalsPicomy11/01/19Monster Hunter Stories+Capcom08/06/21Monument Valley 2+ustwo games03/11/22Moonshot – A Journey HomeNoodlecake04/22/22Murder Mystery MachineBlazing Griffin09/19/19MutazioneDie Gute Fabrik09/19/19My Bowling 3D+iWare Designs07/01/22My Little Pony: Mane MergeGameloft12/16/22My Talking Angela 2+Outfit7 Limited09/08/23My Talking Tom+Outfit7 Limited08/12/22My Town Home – Family Games+My Town Games05/04/23NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition2K Sports04/02/21NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition2K Sports10/19/21NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition2K Sports10/21/22NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition2K Sports10/24/23NecrobaristaRoute 5907/17/20Nekograms+Hungry Sky08/10/23Neo CabChance Agency09/19/19NeversongSerenity Forge05/01/20Next Stop NowhereNight School Studio08/14/20Nickelodeon Extreme TennisViacom International01/21/22Nightmare FarmHit-Point Co., Ltd.10/05/19No Way HomeSMG Studio01/10/20NUTSNoodlecake Studios01/22/21Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost RealmCornfox & Bros.09/19/19Oceanhorn: Chronos DungeonCornfox & Bros.01/08/21Octodad: Dadliest Catch+Young Horses05/04/23Oddmar+Mobje Ltd.12/03/21Old Man’s JourneyBroken Rules11/18/22Operator 41Shifty Eye Games09/19/19Osmos+Hemisphere Games03/17/23OutlandersPomelo Games09/19/19Over the AlpsStave Studios09/19/19OverlandFinji09/19/19PAC-MAN Party RoyaleBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment10/18/19Painty MobDevolver Digital09/19/19PatternedBorderLeap09/19/19PilgrimsAmanita Design10/05/19Pocket Build+MoonBear LTD04/01/22Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On!Game Freak01/20/23Populus RunFIFTYTWO01/29/21PossessionsNoodlecake Studios09/19/19PPKP+Shimada Toshiro05/04/23Pro Darts 2022+iWare Designs05/27/22Pro Snooker & Pool 2022+iWare Designs Ltd.04/15/22Projection: First LightBlowfish Studios09/19/19Prune+Joel McDonald04/29/22Punch PlanetSector-K Games09/19/19Puyo Puyo Puzzle PopSega04/04/24Puzzle & Dragons StoryGungHo Online Entertainment12/05/23Rayman MiniUbisoft09/19/19Red ReignNinja Kiwi Limited09/19/19Redout: Space Assault34BigThings10/05/19Reigns: BeyondDevolver Digital11/06/20Retro Bowl+New Star R&D06/23/23Retro Goal+New Star R&D06/23/23Ridiculous Fishing EXVlambeer07/17/23Riptide GP: Renegade+Vector Unit02/10/23Rosie’s RealityRosieReality11/15/19RoundguardWonderbelly Games03/13/20Sago Mini Trips+Sago Mini04/04/24Samba de Amigo: Party-To-GoSega08/29/23Samorost 3+Amanita Design07/08/22Samurai Jack: Battle Through TimeCartoon Network08/21/20Sayonara Wild HeartsAnnapurna Interactive09/19/19ScrappersQ-Games04/10/20Secret Oops!Mixedbag01/31/20Shadow Blade+Crescent Moon Games03/04/22Shantae and the Seven SirensWayForward09/19/19Shinsekai: Into the DepthsCapcom09/19/19ShockRodsStainless Games10/11/19Shovel Knight DigYacht Club Games09/23/22Simon’s Cat – Story TimeTactile Games Limited04/02/21Skate CitySnowman09/19/19Slash QuestNoodlecake Studios10/01/20Slay the Spire+Humble Bundle07/07/23Snake.io+Kooapps05/04/23Sneaky SasquatchRAC709/19/19Sociable SoccerRogue Games, Inc.11/08/19Solitaire StoriesRed Games Co.07/02/21SongPop PartyGameloft04/02/21Sonic Dash+Sega04/08/22Sonic Dream TeamSega12/05/23Sonic RacingSega09/19/19South of the CircleState of Play10/30/20Sp!ngSMG Studio03/05/21SpacelandTortuga Games09/19/19Spades: Card Game+MobilityWare01/07/22Speed DemonsRadiangames09/19/19SpekRAC7 Games09/19/19SpelldrifterFree Range Games09/19/19Spider Solitaire: Card Game+MobilityWare10/07/22SpidersaursWayForward09/19/19Spire BlastOrbital Knight sp.01/22/21Splitter Critters+RAC7 Games12/10/21Spongebob SquarePants: Patty PursuitNickelodeon05/28/20SpyderSumo_Digital03/20/20Squiggle DropNoodlecake01/27/23Star FetchedCrescent Moon Games11/01/19Star Trek: LegendsTilting Point LLC04/02/21Stardew Valley+ConcernedApe07/21/23StelaSkyBox Labs10/11/19Stellar CommandersBlindflug Studios09/19/19Steven Universe: Unleash the LightCartoon Network11/27/19Stitch.Lykkegaard Europe10/28/22Stranded SailsShifty Eye Games09/19/19Subway Surfers TagSybo Games07/15/22Summon QuestThe Label04/21/23Super Leap DayNitrome08/06/21Super Impossible RoadRogue Games, Inc.09/19/19Super Mega Mini PartyRed Games Co, LLC11/01/19Super Monsters Ate My Condo+PikPok04/04/24Super Stickman Golf 3+Noodlecake08/06/21Survival ZEmber Entertainment02/19/21Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap BeatBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment04/02/21Takeshi and HiroshiOink Games Inc.11/08/19Tales of MemoTendays Studio10/25/19Tamagotchi Adventure KingdomBandai Namco01/05/24Tangle TowerSFB Games09/19/19Temple Run+Imangi Studios05/04/23Temple Run: Puzzle AdventureScopely, Inc.09/17/21Tetris BeatN3twork Inc.08/20/21The Battle of Polytopia+Midjiwan03/07/24The Bradwell ConspiracyBossa Studios10/05/19The Collage AtlasRobot House Games Ltd10/16/20The Enchanted WorldNoodlecake Studios09/19/19The Get Out KidsFrosty Pop Games09/19/19The Last CampfireHello Games08/27/20The Loud House: Outta ControlNickelodeon02/14/20The Lullaby of Life1 Simple Game07/24/20The MosaicRaw Fury11/01/19The Oregon TrailGameloft04/02/21The OthersideThe Label05/08/20The PathlessAnnapurna Interactive11/12/20The Pinball WizardFrosty Pop Games09/19/19The SurvivalistsTeam1710/08/20Things That Go BumpTinybop Inc.10/18/19Thumper: Pocket Edition+Drool LLC10/01/21Time Locker+Sotaro Otsuka05/04/23tint.Lykkegaard International09/19/19Tiny Wings+Andreas Illiger10/15/21TMNT Splintered FateParamount Global05/04/23Transformers Tactical ArenaRed Games Co11/05/21Towaga: Among ShadowsNoodlecake Studios09/19/19Towers of EverlandCobra Mobile Limited05/22/20Turmoil+Gamious12/05/23UFO on Tape: First ContactRevolutionary Concepts11/08/19Ultimate Rivals: The CourtBit Fry Games07/09/21Ultimate Rivals: The RinkBit Fry Games12/12/19Various DaylifeSquare Enix09/19/19Very Little Nightmares+Bandai Namco05/04/23Warp DriveSupergonk11/27/20Warped Kart RacersElectric Square05/20/22Way of the TurtleIllusion Labs09/19/19What the Car?Triband ApS05/04/23What the Golf?Fig09/19/19Where Cards FallSnowman09/19/19Winding WorldsKO_OP05/15/20Wonderbox: The Adventure MakerAquiris04/01/21Word Lacesminimega09/19/19Words in ProgressGamious02/01/24World of DemonsPlatinumGames04/02/21World’s End ClubIzanagiGames09/04/20WurdwebAran & Adriaan08/13/21Wylde FlowersStudio Drydock02/22/22YagaVersus Evil10/25/19Zen Pinball PartyZEN Studios09/03/21Zombie Rollerz: Pinball HeroesFirefly Games12/04/20Zookeeper WorldKiteretsu Inc.09/10/21

Personal Software