Apple Arcade has added more than 30 games to its lineup, introducing two totally new categories along the way. As well as new Arcade Originals, you'll now also find Timeless Classics and App Store Greats, bringing the total Apple Arcade game count to over 180. Let's take a look at what's new.
Apple Arcade - New Games (Arcade Originals)
First, it's an exciting day for fans of new gaming experiences. Apple Arcade has added 11 new Arcade Original games to its roster. Former Final Fantasy head honcho Hironobu Sakaguchi's studio Mistwalker has created an original RPG for the platform titled Fantasian, which mixes hand-made diorama backdrops with virtual characters and battle sequences. If you're more of a fan of hack-and-slash, you can check out Platinum Games' latest World of Demons, which brings the studio's characteristic combat chaos to the world of Japanese yokai.
Also launching on Apple Arcade today is Wonderbox: The Adventure Maker, an action-adventure game revolving around exploration and creation. It comes from Aquiris, an award-winning Brazilian studio, and features music by Rayman 2: The Great Escape composer Eric Chevalier. If you love Dreams but wish you could play it on your Apple device, this may well scratch that itch.
Other Apple Arcade Original games new to the service include match-three puzzler Simon's Cat: Story Time, based on the popular comic series, and NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition. You can also enjoy team-based RPG Star Trek: Legends, a modern twist on The Oregon Trail, and a 3D remastered version of legendary puzzler Cut the Rope, among others. It's a packed day for Arcade Originals, to be sure.
Apple Arcade - App Store Greats
As well as new Arcade Originals, Apple has also launched a new category titled "App Store Greats". This category collects classics released for iPhone and iPad devices over the years. If you missed out on mind-bending puzzler Monument Valley, it's now available via Apple Arcade, complete with both the Forgotten Shores and Ida's Dream expansions. You'll also find minimalist subway sim Mini Metro, in which you must connect subway stations to one another to facilitate smooth travel.
In addition to Monument Valley and Mini Metro, new App Store Greats include Threes!, a number-sliding puzzle in which you must merge numbers together to create bigger numbers, and Fruit Ninja Classic, which needs no introduction. Autorunner Chameleon Run is also available via the new App Store Greats category, as are Don't Starve: Pocket Edition, Reigns, and The Room Two, among plenty of others.
Apple Arcade - Timeless Classics
Finally, Apple has created a category for Apple Arcade named Timeless Classics. As you might imagine, these are variations on board games and other classic parlor games, although some of them offer clever twists on formulae. Zach Gage's Really Bad Chess randomizes chess pieces to create a more even playing field between novices and pros, and it's well worth a look if you have an Apple Arcade subscription.
Elsewhere in Timeless Classics, things are a little more...well...classic. MobilityWare's Solitaire offers time-honored Solitaire gameplay but with modern trophies, daily challenges, and more. Tiny Crossword is full of thousands of fun crossword puzzles covering lots of different subjects, while Backgammon brings one of the oldest board games around to your Apple Arcade subscription. Other new Timeless Classics titles include Sudoku Simple, Checkers Royale, and, yes, Chess - Play & Learn if you're not into Zach Gage's renegade interpretation.
As you can see, there are plenty of new Apple Arcade games to enjoy. You can grab an Apple Arcade subscription for $4.99 a month with a free trial for a month to see if you're into it. If you buy a new iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, or Apple TV, you'll get three months of Apple Arcade on the house, and Apple Arcade subscriptions are good for families of up to six people, so you and your kids can enjoy it together. With this new influx of games, it's well worth a look; 180 games for $4.99 a month is pretty much a steal. If you want to take a look at everything that's new to Apple Arcade today, you can do so right here.
What are you most looking forward to in the new Apple Arcade haul? Let us know in the comments below!
