When Apple first announced Apple Arcade in March 2019, it looked like the company was finally acknowledging an industry it had otherwise overlooked: gaming. hoped, it has created the perfect place to find quality mobile games.

Apple Arcade is just that, an arcade full of little games looking to grab your attention for just a few minutes at a time. Some could take hours to master and reach 100% completion, while others only exist to fill two minutes in a coffee queue.

With at least one new game releasing every Friday, it can be difficult to gauge what’s worth your time. We’ve rounded up some of the biggest titles across the Apple Arcade lineup, old and new.

“What The Golf” is one of the best pick-up-and-play mobile games because of its simplicity and humor. It doesn’t matter if you hate golf video games, because this is the farthest you can get from golf while still having it in the title of the game.

What is Golf?

Progress through levels with increasingly difficult puzzles using physics-based gameplay that occasionally resembles golf. Generally, you are given a certain number of “swings” to bring your object to the goal while avoiding obstacles. Sometimes it’s a ball navigating a course, but more likely it’s an office chair navigating through traffic.

If you’re only checking in for a minute or two, Daily Challenges are a perfect way to kill time. New tiers and prizes are also added regularly through updates.

One amazing feature that every app maker should copy is the “show a friend” feature. This takes you into an introductory level that shows exactly what the game is about.

“Sneaky Sasquatch” lets you dive into the shoes or feet of a hidden Sasquatch near a small town and campsite. You’ll be sneaking around, disguising yourself as a human, taking a driving test, adopting a dog, working as a security guard, or discovering pirate treasure. You know, Sasquatch stuff.

Sneaky Sasquatch

This game is a hit for kids and adults due to its frivolous attitude and easy to learn gameplay. The game is reminiscent of “Untitled Goose Game”, but takes on a new level of absurdity.

Apple honored “Sneaky Sasquatch” with Apple Arcade Game of the Year in 2020, and the game has only gotten better since. Constant updates are made with new content, adventures and challenges.

“Wonderbox” takes a few genres and packs them into a cute toy box designed for adventure. Find a weapon, fight monsters, solve puzzles and find your way to the goal in this “Zelda” meets “Little Big Planet” game.

Wonderbox: the creator of adventures

The base game features a series of campaigns designed by the developers to tell several short stories. New stories are added regularly, but that’s only a small part of this expansive game.

By playing through campaigns, players will unlock new sets, items and weapons to create their own “Wonderbox” adventures. And if you’re not interested in designing your own, there are tons of levels available from other creators in the Adventure Gallery.

Play in any world alone or with a group of friends online. Each level is an isolated world with its own elements, so you will start from scratch each time and the level will provide what you need to finish. You can jump in for minutes or hours in this dynamic game.

“Oregon Trail” is a faithful recreation and update of the classic game. Rediscover all the original game mechanics with quality of life updates, new modes and brand new graphics.

Oregon Trail

You will have the choice between 15 playable journeys and 7 quests inspired by historical events. Avoid classic hazards like broken limbs and dysentery or try the new fishing mini-game.

Returning fans and new players alike will find a mountain of content to play with new features added regularly. Accessibility options such as high contrast mode and text-to-speech make this game more accessible to all gamers.

It’s a must-have in any gamer’s library for those who appreciate where video games began and want to find out how they’ve evolved.

Fans of “Final Fantasy” can’t miss “Fantasian” for its classic JRPG gameplay, beautiful handcrafted environments, and score by Nobuo Uematsu. Spend over 60 hours leveling up, completing missions and unraveling the mystery behind Leo’s missing memory.

Fantastic

Experience turn-based combat mechanics with a new twist – the Battle of Dimengeon. Disable random encounters and “collect” enemies until you’re ready to face them all at once in a large-scale multi-enemy battle.

“Fantasian” was created by industry legend Hironobu Sakaguchi, known as the creator of “Final Fantasy”. Each level of the game is built from nearly 160 handcrafted dioramas. It acts as a love letter to the JRPG genre throughout.

“Alto’s Odyssey” is a single button “sandboarding” game with an infinite runner component. Play as Alto and navigate the desert, canyons and temples while propelling yourself ever lower.

Alto’s Odyssey — Remastered

Simply tap to jump, hold to do tricks and release to land just in time to keep moving forward. You’ll scale walls, grind vines, and even glide through the air as you traverse an ever-changing environment.

This game is perfect for those times when you need a distraction without having to dive into complicated game mechanics. Simply open the game and tap to start your next race through the desert.

“Angry Birds” was among the first games to revolutionize what “mobile gaming” would become. This new title in the long-running series is another evolution of the classic game.

Angry Birds Reloaded

These flightless birds are angry with the pigs and want revenge. Load a bird into the slingshot, aim and fire using each bird’s ability to target the weaknesses of the pig’s forts.

The simple one-touch game mechanism, cute animation and addictive gameplay add up to a game that is still fun even after more than a decade in the market. Angry Birds Reloaded also offers different profiles, so if you want to pass the game on to your child, you don’t have to worry about them beating all the levels for you.

“Zen Pinball Party” offers a collection of carefully designed pinball machines with popular brands and classic themes. Play tables inspired by “How To Train Your Dragon”, “Peanuts” and “Trolls”, or dive into classics like “Attack from Mars”, “Medieval Madness” or “Champion Pub”.

Zen pinball evening

Feel every bounce, pop, and roll with quality haptic feedback when gaming on iPhone. Or notice the detailed graphics while feeling like you’re holding a pinball machine in your hand on an iPad.

We’re big pinball fans and while you can’t quite recreate the physical nature of pinball gaming on a digital device, “Zen Pinball Party” comes close. New tables are added regularly and in-game events challenge you to improve your game while trying to climb the leaderboard.

“Lego Star Wars: Castaways” is a sprawling adventure game with persistent online multiplayer. Customize your figure using hundreds of parts from the “Star Wars” universe, then jump into the island full of other players and play together in races, battles and simulations.

Lego Star Wars: Castaways

Relive key moments from the “Star Wars” franchise using the simulator and unlock the mystery behind the threat to the shipwrecked island. This online social game is safe for everyone thanks to its random naming system, no chat, and code-based party system. Additionally, this game is 100% playable offline for those looking to play on the go without data.

Unlike other “Lego Star Wars” games, this one adopts a more MMO quest style with an outdoor world and multiple game modes. All in-game items are acquired through gameplay and cannot be unlocked with cash. real money, so there’s less worry about parents and their wallets.

“Gear.Club: Stradale” presents itself as a mobile racing simulator with high quality graphics and a good physics engine. It’s rare to see a quality racing entry for iOS, so “Gear.Club” is a welcome alternative to the long-running “Real Racing” and “Asphalt” series.

Gear.Club Stradale

Like other “Gear.Club” games, you will join a club made up of other real players and your collective progress will improve your club’s status. Participate in races, unlock new vehicles and earn reputation by participating in the game’s many events.

Compared to other mobile racers, “Gear.Club: Stradale” offers great graphics and physics in a new setting. It’s the only racing game on Apple Arcade that takes a more serious approach to its driving mechanics, and it’s a breath of fresh air to play a mobile racing game with no timers and a constant push for purchases. integrated.

Squeezing the Apple Arcade library down to just ten options is an almost impossible task for us gaming fans. There are so many quality choices that there are sure to be a handful of games that will capture you in Apple’s selection.

Apple has made it easier for users to get Apple Arcade from its $4.99 subscription to be included in each tier of the Apple One subscription plan. Every released game is ad-free, has no in-app purchases, and is updated regularly.

Parents and kids alike will love the huge selection of games that don’t monetize chance or push monotonous, increasingly time-consuming tasks. After trying out the ten titles we’ve listed above, be sure to check back frequently for new titles or dive into the massive back catalog.