When Apple Arcade launched more than three years ago, many questioned the value ofa subscription service for mobile games. Granted, being able to enjoy high-quality mobile titles on the go without being bombarded with ads and messages about microtransactions all sounds very good on paper. In reality though, whether or not Apple could build up a library of games worthy of a subscription fee was always going to be key to the service’s success.
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6Horizon Chase 2
Released back in 2015, many considerHorizon Chase - World Tourto be one ofthe best mobile racing games of all time. This led to the console release ofHorizon Chase Turboin 2019, with development on a true sequel beginning not too much longer after that.Horizon Chase 2arrived on Apple Arcade in September of 2022, with a console port slated for release at some point in 2023.
Horizon Chase 2is a worthy successor to the original game and manages to improve upon it in just about every possible way. Like its predecessor, it feels like a carefully-crafted love letter to some ofthe many great racing games of the nineties and early two-thousands. Not only does it manage to perfectly capture just how fun driving can be, but it’s able to do so without having to completely abandon realism.
5Assemble with Care
Games likeLakeandUnpackingprove that the market forrelaxing zen gamesis alive and well. WhetherAssemble with Carequite falls into this category is perhaps a matter for debate, though there can be no denying the calming vibes that this unique and beautifully presented puzzle game gives off.
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Not everybody will be a fan of the game’s storybook-style narrative, butthe puzzles themselves are really well thought out. The sound design does an excellent job of guiding players' hands too, while the touch controls allow for the kind of precision that’s needed to pick up and maneuver the many delicate items that players will need for their repairs.
4Shovel Knight Dig
Shovel Knightis one of the many greatindie game success storiesto come out of the 2010s and has since gone on to spawn a wide variety of sequels and spin-offs for a number of different platforms. One such spin-off isShovel Knight Dig, a roguelite title that was released for PC, Switch, and Apple Arcade in September of 2022.
As far as indie roguelites go,Shovel Knight Digis up there with the very best. It remains incredibly faithful to the genre, while also boasting the same tight controls and beautiful pixel art for which the original title was so well-liked. Some may be a little overwhelmed by the game’s difficulty andthe lack of checkpoints can at times be frustrating. Even so, it remains an absolute must-play for fans of the genre.
3Air Twister
Few people know more about arcades than Yu Suzuki, with thelegendary Japanese developerresponsible for many of the highest-grossing arcade games of all time. With this in mind, it’s very easy to see why Apple approached Suzuki about creating a game for its subscription service. The game that he delivered wasAir Twisterand it’s easily one of the best games on Apple Arcade, not to mention one of the most replayable.
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In a2022 interview with Game Rant, Suzuki revealed that Apple had asked him to create “a simple, fun game like the good old arcade games of the past.” The veteran designer ultimately opted for a rail shooter set in space, which led to many comparing the game to one of his earlier works. Though not a direct sequel toSpace Harrier,Air Twisterfeels very reminiscent of the arcade classic and boasts a surreal soundtrack that perfectly complements the game’s striking visuals and unique themes.
2Sayonara Wild Hearts
Sayonara Wild Heartsisn’t an Apple Arcade exclusive, nor has it ever been one. In fact, like many of the other games that are part of the subscription service, it was actually developed for multiple platforms, including home consoles and PC. Despite this, theApple Arcade launch titleremains one of the best games on the platform more than three years on from its release.
The game looks stunning and features one of the best soundtracks to ever grace a mobile game. The rhythm-based gameplay is well thought-out too, with the ever-changing mechanics helping to keep the experience feeling fresh over the title’s 23 stages. It’s fairly similar toclassic rhythm gameslikeRezandChild of Eden, yet arguably offers up a much better experience than either of those is able to muster.
1Fantasian
Apple’s strategy of approaching acclaimed developers has definitely paid dividends, even if Hironobu Sakaguchi’s Mistwalker studio had no real experience with arcade games before starting work onFantasian. Being the man responsible for theFinal Fantasyseries though,few could question Sakaguchi’s credentials, nor did it come as too much of a surprise when he opted to create an RPG for the service rather than a more traditional arcade experience.
Fantasianwas released in two parts over the course of 2021 and received plenty of praise from both critics and players alike.Final Fantasycomposer and long-time friend of SakaguchiNobuo Uematsu composed yet another incredible soundtrackfor the game, while Sakaguchi and co-writer Atsuhiro Tomioka came through with a wonderful story and a strong cast of characters. It all blends together perfectly, and, to many, makes for one of the very best games on Apple Arcade so far.
