Features

Everything you need to know about Apple Arcade

|
Everything you need to know about Apple Arcade

Pricing, subscriptions, devices, absolutely everything you need to know about Apple Arcade is right here

Left Arrow
0/4
Right Arrow

Apple Arcade shook the world late last year and made us all realise the potential of mobile gaming all over again. We'd all become too jaded with free to play games jammed full of microtransactions and ads between levels, and suddenly Apple Arcade burst onto the scene and declared that it was all entirely unnecessary.

Apple Arcade has continued growing since, and with a wide range of games available to download on the service, it is one of the most attractive value propositions in gaming. But if you're not clear on exactly what you're getting into, that's why we're here.

In this article we're going to go over exactly what Apple Arcade is, what you can expect from the service, and why you should be interested in playing the 100+ games currently available for it.

If you own an Apple device and enjoy gaming, you owe it to yourself to find out more about Apple Arcade, and you can do that easily by looking at our rundown below…

Oh, and make sure to take a look at our list of every Apple Arcade game currently available...

Click Here To View The List »

What is Apple Arcade and what devices can I play it on?

Apple Arcade is a monthly subscription service which is exclusive to a range of Apple devices. When you pay for Apple Arcade, you get access to over 100 games which are not otherwise available to play or purchase on Apple devices.

All of the games are microtransaction-free, and you're almost guaranteed to find something you will enjoy with the huge library of varied titles. Apple Arcade is essentially the Netflix of games, giving you instant access to a huge library as soon as you pay the subscription for the first time. It might even be worth giving it a trial run, before cancelling your subscription, if you're feeling uncertain.

You can play Apple Arcade on iPad devices going back to the iPad Air 3rd gen and equivalent devices, and on iPhone devices going back as far as the iPhone SE and equivalent devices. This is a big variety of devices, so even Apple fans who haven't upgraded in several years should find themselves supported.

Apple Arcade is also fully compatible with Mac and Apple TV devices that are updated with the latest firmware, as many of the games available offer controller support across all Apple Arcade supported devices.

What kind of games does it offer me?

Apple Arcade has such a wide range of titles it's difficult to pin down, but you're unlikely to find anything you're unhappy with. There are fascinating puzzle roguelikes like Roundguard, lengthy adventures like Beyond a Steel Sky, and adorably heart-felt tales like A Fold Apart.

If you're looking for a local multiplayer game to enjoy with friends, or a hardcore action experience to play alone while in bed, both of these can be found on Apple Arcade.

But best of all are the relaxing games you can play while laying in bed, tapping away until you drift off to sleep, without a single ad interruption of a notification about running out of energy. These are the kinds of games Apple Arcade provides, something you might find familiar, but without the usual frustrations of the free to play mobile market.

Are there any restrictions?

There are no restrictions unless you want to implement them yourself. Apple Arcade itself doesn't have Parental Controls, but you will be able to limit the use of games and apps through the Family Sharing settings on your device.

Other than that, the only restriction on Apple Arcade is your region. Of course you will have to pay for Apple Arcade through your iTunes account, and the region will be locked to the region associated with that account. As of right now there's not much reason to worry for most of us in the West as Apple Arcade games are widely available, but it's important to keep in mind for the future.

Aside from that, there are no restrictions to how many games you download, how long you play them for, or anything. Even the timers you'll find familiar in other mobile games are absent here, instead you just get quality gaming content - and a lot of it.

What will it cost me?

Globally you'll find Apple Arcade priced at $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$7.99 / AED 19.99 per month, with an annual subscription option which will give you two months free, in exchange for your money up-front.

For regular mobile gamers, this is a fraction of what a Netflix account costs, and still cheaper than many premium games available on both Android and iOS, as such it is an incredibly attractive value proposition, and since you can start a free one-month trial now, you have nothing to lose by taking a look at what's on offer.

If you have a compatible device, Apple Arcade is one of the best value gaming experiences you can currently have, on any platform.

Left Arrow
0/4
Right Arrow
Dave Aubrey
Dave Aubrey
Dave is the Guides Editor at Pocket Gamer. Specialises in Nintendo, complains about them for a living.