With over 200 games on the platform, it’s fair to say that the $4.99/£4.99 a month subscription fee to Apple Arcade is a pretty tantalizing value proposition. But with so many titles, you may be wondering what are the best games on Apple Arcade? That’s where we come in.
We’ve done the legwork and separated the wheat from the chaff. So, without further ado, let’s jump into it, shall we?
Bleak Sword
What Are The Best Games on Apple Arcade?
Don’t let its minimalist, lo-fi graphics put you off! Yes, Bleak Sword may not be a looker in the traditional sense — though, I really dig its 8-bit style, personally. However, this dark fantasy Souls-like has got it where it counts: Tight combat, a deep progression system, and enough nasty bosses to shake a pointy stick at.
With a haunting, atmospheric score composed by Canadian singer-songwriter Jim Guthrie (Sound Shapes, Nobody Saves The World), and retro sound design created by acclaimed audio designer Joonas Turner (Downwell, Spelunky 2), Bleak Sword is one of the jewels in Apple Arcade’s shiny crown. Plus, it’s a platform exclusive, so if you’re interested, you’ll have to sub to Apple’s gaming service to give it a try.
Clap Hanz Golf
What Are The Best Games on Apple Arcade?
Developed by former PlayStation stalwarts Clap Hanz, this fun-packed and lighthearted golf experience is equally charming as it is accessible. While it may be easy to pick up and play, there’s a deceptive amount of depth hidden beneath to keep all you seasoned golf pros happy, too.
Not only does Clap Hanz Golf offer a fully-featured single-player mode, but it also boasts online multiplayer as well, so you can go toe-to-toe with your friends for bragging rights. Fore!
Fantasian
What Are The Best Games on Apple Arcade?
Produced and written by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the original creator behind a little game called Final Fantasy, with music by acclaimed composer Nobuo Uematsu, who worked on many iconic titles including Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon, Fantasian is an epic turn-based RPG designed and built specifically for Apple Arcade.
You take on the role of Leo, who joins a band of adventurers as they try their best to stop the end of the world. Despite a slightly trite setup, Fantasian is a wonderful melding of old and new ideas and is a genuinely touching love letter to the 16-bit RPG days of yore.
Card of Darkness
What Are The Best Games on Apple Arcade?
If you’re hankering for more of a strategy experience, Card of Darkness has got you covered. A collaboration between prolific indie developer Zach Gage, Adventure Time animator and writer Pendleton Ward, and development studio Choice Provisions, Card of Darkness is a card game designed around risk/reward puzzle mechanics and decisive decision-making.
Receiving rave reviews on its release back in 2019, this Apple Arcade exclusive is an incredibly addictive and absorbing title that’ll take over your life, if you so please. You’ve been warned!
Sayonara Wild Hearts
What Are The Best Games on Apple Arcade?
Sayonara Wild Hearts is a stylish action game that sees you riding motorbikes, traveling to mysterious alternate dimensions, shooting monsters with lazerbeams, and racking up high scores, all to the hypnotic beat of a devilishly catchy synth-pop soundtrack.
Developed by Swedish outfit Simogo (Year Walk, Device 6), the game is a truly unique audio-visual experience that’ll leave you hankering for more. A wild ride!
Assemble With Care
What Are The Best Games on Apple Arcade?
If you’re in the mood for something a little more chill, Assemble With Care may be just the ticket. From the mind behind acclaimed indie hit Monument Valley, this casual puzzler tells a moving story through 12 objects which you have to piece together much like a jigsaw.
With gorgeous hand-drawn art, an 80s-inspired soundtrack, and intuitive controls, Assemble With Care is a short and sweet title that will charm those looking for a relaxing experience replete with a poignant and well-told narrative.
What the Golf?
What Are The Best Games on Apple Arcade?
Look, we know what you’re thinking: “That’s the second golf game on this list!” Don’t worry, just hear us out. You see, instead of the arcadey fun of Clap Hanz Golf, What the Golf? on the other hand is a hilarious physics-based golf game parody.
Come for the charming art style, and stay for the amusing jokes. Indeed, even the Danish studio Triband describes the title as, “A game made for people who hate golf, by people with no clues or respect for the game.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm
What Are The Best Games on Apple Arcade?
While it wears its 3D Zelda influences on its Hyrulean sleeve, Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm is an epic adventure that manages to charm players with its beautiful visuals, expansive environments, excellent pacing, and responsive combat.
At its core, it’s essentially a love letter to pre-Breath of the Wild Zelda games like Ocarina of Time or Majora’s Mask. So, if you’re looking for a grand RPG adventure, this could be the perfect home away from home.
Grindstone
What Are The Best Games on Apple Arcade?
Much like the best games on mobile, sword-slashing puzzler Grindstone sounds deceptively simple on paper but becomes exponentially more challenging as the gameplay slowly unfurls. All you need to do is connect a string of the same monsters together and our angry blue protagonist will squish them like the hideous Creeps they are. (Seriously, the game literally calls ’em Creeps.)
Problem is, as you make progress, these docile beasties start to actually fight back. The nerve, right? Simple yet addictive, this tactical puzzle-’em-up will challenge your brain as well as your brawn.
South of the Circle
What Are The Best Games on Apple Arcade?
While the bulk of the titles on this list are more gameplay-first experiences, South of the Circle, on the other hand, is primarily a rich narrative adventure game that emphasizes an emotional story in an isolated wilderness.
In essence, the game is a cinematic journey that explores the relationship between two academics caught in the midst of the Cold War political conflict. With its stunning hand-drawn art-style, top-notch voice-acting, and touching storytelling, South of the Circle is an essential for those on the lookout for a well-told, heartfelt story.
So, there you have it. We hope this helped to clue you in on the best games on Apple Arcade right now. For more, here are three fast facts about the gaming subscription service and a few more picks that we also recommend. Alternatively, feel free to peruse the relevant links below.
