Best Apple Arcade games 2023

A number of Apple device screens displaying Apple Arcade games.
(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Arcade is a fantastic Apple feature that gives you access to more than 200 games for a single, low monthly fee. Apple Arcade works on a range of Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple TV. So whether you have the latest iPhone 14 Pro, the iPad Air 5 or the MacBook Pro with M2, you can play Apple Arcade games wherever you are. 

I must admit that I was among the critics of Apple Arcade at first, wondering why I would pay a monthly fee when plenty of comparable games were available for free, but the biggest selling point of Apple Arcade is the complete lack of microtransactions and ads. Bliss.

With great selections to cater to fans of just about every genre, it can be tough to know where to start, but here at iMore we've done the hard work for you and have tested the top Apple Arcade games so we can recommend which are the best. Not sure you can afford Apple Arcade? Not to worry. Take a look at our best free iPhone games guide instead.

Try Apple Arcade for free

Try Apple Arcade for free
Apple Arcade offers more than 200 premium games with more added regularly each week. There is something here for everyone, and it only costs $5 a month for all you can game. But you can enjoy a free trial first.

The best Apple Arcade games: Action & Adventure

The Oregon Trail

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Oregon Trail Died Dysentery (Image credit: Gameloft)

The Oregon Trail is a challenging game where you must balance your party's needs with the genuine hardships that ended so many lives during the pioneer days. While good resource management is necessary to win, it also requires a fair bit of luck. Many of us, myself included, remember the joy and frustration of trekking the Oregon Trail during computer lab in elementary school. Now you can relive the hardships of the trail on your phone.

For those unfamiliar with The Oregon Trail, this game is set in 1848, and you lead a party of four settlers in a covered wagon from Missouri to Oregon. First released in 1971 using minimal graphics, the game's core mechanics remain the same with updated graphics and an attempt at a more culturally respectful look at history, specifically that of the indigenous people who lived in that part of the country.

Having played and beaten the original as a child more times than I can recall, we were surprised at how difficult it was to get even part of the party to the finish line, and how few of the parties died of dysentery despite the seemingly constant infections, as discussed in our review of The Oregon Trail.

The best Apple Arcade games: Platformers

Cozy Grove

Cozy Grove Positive Spirit Energy

Cozy Grove Positive Spirit Energy (Image credit: Spry Fox LLC)

While you could purchase Cozy Grove on the Switch or Steam, if you want to play Cozy Grove on mobile, it's exclusively available in Apple Arcade. But it's worth the subscription.

This sweet life sim game gives you the role of a Spirit Scout, and your job is to help ghosts find peace so they can move on. All the while, you can decorate the island and collect all sorts of items to personalize your little Spirit Scout.

In Cozy Grove, as you'll see in our review, the spirits you help will remember more of their lives, and in turn, the island will expand and change, opening up more ways to interact with this tiny world. The artwork and music are just as relaxing as the gameplay, too, with soothing melodies and warm, hand-drawn styled characters and backdrops. As if the concept and surroundings weren't peaceful enough, Cozy Grove doesn't take a huge time commitment to feel accomplished. Just half an hour a day is enough to complete your daily goals. For those who want to put in extra time, there's always foraging and fishing.

The best Apple Arcade games: Puzzles

Simon's Cat - Story Time

Simons Cat Are You Ready (Image credit: Tactile Games Limited)

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of match-three puzzle games out there, many featuring familiar characters and stories. These games all build on the same basic gameplay mechanics: beat puzzles to build your own little world with the addition of fun music and colorful graphics. Like so many before it, Simon's Cat - Story Time is hardly changing the face of these match-three puzzle games. However, this animated web series by British animator Simon Tofield tells stories of Simon and his constantly hungry cat. The series has been running since 2008 and has been featured in books and other games as well. The character and the world is what makes it so enjoyable — well, that and unlimited stamina.

Overall, this game is a great way to relax and, because it's on Apple Arcade, there are no in-app purchases. You can earn some boosters as you play, but largely, you win on your own skill. Without stamina limits, you can also play as much as you want without having to pay for more tries or having to watch the same half dozen ads over and over again. Plus, Simon's cat, kitten, and even Chloe all make appearances. It plays out very similarly to Gardenscapes or Homescapes, where each level you beat allows you to add something new to the garden.

SpellTower+

SpellTower+ Tower and Puzzle modes

SpellTower+ Tower and Puzzle modes (Image credit: iMore)

Although there are plenty of free word search and word puzzle apps out there, SpellTower+ is pretty original. At first glance, the board looks like your typical word search, but as soon as you find a word, all the letters you used (and surrounding letters for a high enough score) vanish, letting the rest of the letters drop down. Use up all the letters or run out of words to finish. We talk about all the modes and unique features to love in our review of SpellTower+.

The best Apple Arcade games: Role playing games

Monster Hunter Stories

Monster Hunter Stories Riding Rathalos (Image credit: Capcom)

Unlike the main Monster Hunter franchise, which focuses on players going out and defeating monsters in order to upgrade gear, this game has you playing as a Monster Rider out to raise Monsties from eggs and fight alongside them in turn-based combat.

In some ways, it's like a more complex version of Pokemon but with a far more in-depth story. Something bad is making wild monsters more violent and it's up to you to figure out how to put a stop to it. There are interesting characters and locations to visit along the way. Plus, you can ride every single one of the 81 Monsties you collect in the overworld. They each have unique abilities that might allow them to do things like climb vines, swim, or jump high allowing you to reach new areas. If you enjoy this game and happen to have a Nintendo Switch, you can also play the sequel we reviewed and highly recommend, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin.

Fantasian

Fantasian Amnesia (Image credit: Mistwalker)

Fantasian is a turn-based JRPG set to the backdrop of unique dioramas, and comes from none other than Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Final Fantasy. Sakaguchi brought along Nobuo Uematsu to really solidify the feel of a Final Fantasy game with epically beautiful music.

You take on the role of Leo, an amnesiac hero who teams up with Kina, a magical girl literally found in the midst of an enchanted forest; Cheryl, a feisty princess set to inherit the kingdom; and a pair of comedic relief robots. Your world is in turmoil both figuratively with the loss of your memories and in actuality with a machine invasion known as Mechteria. Employing magic, summons, and good old-fashioned swordplay, your party will travel across this world fighting monsters and machines alike as you unravel the mystery.

Although many of the themes in Fantasian are quite familiar and the character archetypes have been seen in countless games before, Fantasian stands out with its unique art style. All of the game's many settings are actually handcrafted dioramas that give the whole game the feel of a tabletop RPG.

Star Trek: Legends

Star Trek Legends Cutscene (Image credit: Tilting Point LLC)

Play as the unnamed captain of the USS Artemis, responding to a Federation distress signal coming from inside the Nexus. A distress call was made by Star Trek Discovery's Michael Burnham, who was sucked into a golden ribbon of energy that landed her in the Nexus. Shortly after, you add Doctor McCoy from the original series and Lieutenant Worf and Commander Riker to your crew, all having been displaced from their time periods by the Nexus.

There are many other familiar faces to add to your crew as you attempt to unravel the mystery that pulled all of these characters from their timelines. However, unlike most gacha-based systems, you can only earn your additional characters by playing. As with the rest of Apple Arcade, there are no microtransactions.

Otherwise, Star Trek Legends plays like your standard mobile tactical RPG. You build teams of up to four characters, equip them with gear, level them up, and proceed through the storyline. Different characters have useful skills, such as Dr. McCoy's healing abilities, to help you in battle against everything from malfunctioning holograms to the Gorn to the Borg. Your teams also aren't restricted either, with the possibility of adding antagonists like the Borg Queen, Commander Sela, and the infamous Khan Noonien Singh as well.

The best Apple Arcade games: Sports

Clap Hanz Golf Lv (Image credit: Clap Hanz)

From the makers of the Everybody's Golf series, Clap Hanz Golf is the developer's first title on mobile and is exclusively available through Apple Arcade. Featuring a variety of cartoony and exaggerated characters, each with their own unique abilities, this game is about as far removed from real-life golf as you might imagine, which is why it's so appealing.

There is certainly still a competitive aspect to this game, including a Survival Mode and global leaderboards, but nothing about Clap Hanz takes itself too seriously. I will say, though, mobile controls on this game are not great, even on a 6.7-inch screen. Fortunately, this is one of many games on Apple Arcade that has controller support. I fully recommend using a controller to dive into this wacky golfing world.

The best Apple Arcade games: Strategy

World of Demons

World Of Demons Moonview Moor

World Of Demons Moonview Moor (Image credit: PLATINUMGAMES INC.)

Onimaru must battle his way through countless Yokai, enlisting them to help him hunt down and stop Shuten Doji once and for all. Although World of Demons has fairly straightforward gameplay — you tap the sword button to attack and the dodge button to dodge — the added mechanic of Yokai summons makes it more interesting and opens up the game for a lot of different strategies.

Where World of Demons really shines, though, is the sumi-e stylized artwork, reminiscent of games like Okami. In fact, many of the crew that worked on Okami moved to PlatinumGames, the World of Demons developer, when Clover Studio shuttered. Also, like Okami, World of Demons draws heavily on the medieval Japanese mythology, with each of the over 100 Yokai you encounter being inspired by actual mythological creatures.

That having been said, as is often the case with hack-and-slash mobile games, the gameplay is fairly repetitive. You'll have experienced most of what World of Demons offers in gameplay by the end of the first chapter. The story and artwork are what drives this game without much in the way of challenging battles.

The best Apple Arcade games: New & Coming Soon

Of the 200+ games on Apple Arcade, with more being added every month, there is definitely something for everyone. These are just some of the best games and there are many, many more available. 

We're always keeping an eye out for the best Apple Arcade games that have been recently-added to the Apple Arcade and those that are coming soon. Here's a selection of the shiny new games we think you should try:

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Kimono Cats | Puzzles

If you're looking for a fun, relaxing and low tension game that'll suit all ages, Kimono Cats is a good choice. Choose a cat character then walk through a Japanese "matsuri" Festival, playing games, earning coins and discovering new things.

Release date: March 3, 2023

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Farmside | RPG

All of the newest Apple Arcade releases this year have been wholesome and fun games, like Farmside, which lets you build your own farm complete with plants and animals. You can decorate too, painting farm buildings and customizing your avatar.

Release date: February 17, 2023

  • Updated March 2023
Casian Holly

Casian Holly has been writing about gaming at iMore since 2019, but their real passion is Pokémon. From the games to the anime, cards and toys, they eat, sleep, and breathe all things Pokémon. You can check out their many Pokémon Go and Pokémon Sword and Shield guides and coverage here on iMore.