The best Apple TV games in 2024 are an eclectic mix of puzzle, action, combat, and mystery. They thrive in almost any environment but work at their best on that big screen.
It also helps that Apple Arcade is not only a reasonable price but a great way to get games on your Apple TV. Apple Arcade's biggest problem and single best trait is the sheer volume of titles available to play but this can sometimes be a little intimidating if you just want to kick back and play. Luckily, there are so many good games out there to try if you are willing to put in the work.
Here are the best Apple TV Games you can play right now.
Sonic Dream Team
Sonic Dream Team is a fully fleshed 3D platformer that launched exclusively on Apple Arcade. With a trippy dreamlike aesthetic, gorgeously animated intro cinematic, and tens of levels to get lost in, Sonic Dream Team is one of the better 3D Sonic games in the last few decades.
Playing as one of five central characters, you have to go into Dr. Eggman's dreams in order to stop him from gaining enough power to take over the world. Though the story itself is a tad generic, the gameplay is fast, and the aesthetic is nice. It's a great way to kill an evening and it works great on both controller and touch screen.
Crossy Road
Yes, Crossy Road is available for iPhone and iPad, but it's a lot more fun on the big screen! The graphics are simplistic but absolutely gorgeous and the gameplay on the Siri remote is surprisingly great. You can also play in multiplayer mode, using an iPhone or iPad as the second controller! Multiplayer is hilariously fun because you're basically just trying to screw the other person over and leave them in the dust.
You can also unlock all sorts of fun characters, like robots, barnyard animals, and more — all in the pursuit of getting as far as possible without getting nailed by a tractor-trailer. Yeah, it's Frogger, but it's Frogger reimagined for today.
Rayman Mini
Taking from the aesthetic of Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends, Rayman Mini is an excellent little platformer where you rush through levels, collecting Lums and finding secrets. It's one of those games you can pick up and play for just ten minutes or spend hours in without even realizing
After Rayman has been shrunk, you have to rush through an assortment of traps and puzzles to undo the spell that turned into the size of an insect. With 48 levels, plus extra challenges to beat at the end, there's quite a lot of replayability if you have the will to collect everything.
Dungeon Hunter 5
Dungeon Hunter is gorgeous. Play in solo RPG campaign mode and hunt down monsters through 69 missions, or play in co-op mode with up to three other players, and hack and slash your way through dungeon after dungeon. You can even hire friends as Allies to help you out. You also have to play defense, creating trap rooms and building stronger defenders so no one takes your precious gold.
There are hundreds of character customizations, so if you're into RPGs at all, this should definitely be on your Apple TV. Especially since it's… wait for it… Free!
There are daily and weekly events, so gameplay never gets stale and you're always trying for different goals instead of just slicin' and dicin'.
Alto's Adventure
Alto's Adventure is an incredible game. So much more than an endless runner, you play as Alto, snowboarding down slopes, catching llamas, collecting coins, and doing tricks. And it's stunning. Like stunning, stunning. The soundtrack is lovely and though everything is do-or-die, you don't really feel that pressure like you do with Temple Run or even Super Mario Run.
Time passes as you go, and the landscape changes, as you snowboard through mountain villages at sunset, grinding bunting lines and rooftops. This is the most relaxing time you'll ever spend playing an endless runner, and you won't even be that choked when you inevitably land on your head trying to do a backflip.
Stitch.
Stitch. takes the satisfying parts of embroidered art and the fun of a video game and meshes them together. It's a puzzle game all about fitting colors together to put together a picture at the end. One part Picross, and one part Color By Numbers, it's both as engaging and satisfying as that sound.
With over 50 levels, and challenges every single week, Stitch. is one of those games you play for twenty minutes every day in the afternoon after you'v put your feet up — just a reason to relax.
SketchParty TV
Love Pictionary? Boom, SketchParty TV is for you. This is another great party game where you draw clues on your iPhone or iPad and your teammates have to guess for points. You can have up to eight people, per team playing, so this app is especially ideal for big parties.
There are a bunch of genres to choose from, so there's something for everyone, and there's a cast of cute characters to choose from.
Oceanhorn 2
Take one look at the game, the main character's moves, the storyline, and you'll be all "yup, Zelda clone". But that's not a bad thing; in fact, it's quite the opposite.
In Oceanhorn 2, you must grow from boy to man, traveling across the world of Gaia, and taking on a grand warlock. You'll sail the Uncharted Seas, solving puzzles, battling monsters, learning magic, and collecting treasure, while you play to unlock the secrets of Gaia and the sea monster, Oceanhorn 2.
You don't have to use a game controller to play this on one Apple TV, but it definitely makes the whole experience more enjoyable.
If you like adventurous fun, presented in gorgeous fashion, and gameplay just like Zelda, then check out Oceanhorn. It's an Apple TV must-have.
Lumino City
Lumino City might just be the coolest mobile game ever. The premise is relatively simple; your grandfather, the caretaker of Lumino City has been kidnapped, and it's up to you, as Lumi, to explore the city and figure out the mechanisms that make it work, collecting items and bringing them back to where they complete a circuit or mechanism.
The real treat here is the scenery, which is all handmade from cardboard, paper, miniature lights, and motors. The handmade stuff was then scanned and digitized to be animated in the game, and it is freakin' B-E-A-Utiful. The soundtrack is fascinating as well since it stops and starts and sort of pulses in and out, making for a unique gaming experience that really turns the whole platformer/adventure/puzzle game on its head.
There are tons of different kinds of puzzles, so things never get stale and keep you thinking at every turn. It's overall a very relaxing game, and if you enjoy Little Big Planet at all, then definitely check it out.
Horizon Chase - Arcade Racing
Remember those classic arcade racing games from yesteryear? Horizon Chase - World Tour does a great job of recreating that sense of nostalgia with a modernized 16-bit low-poly look and feel.
In Horizon Chase, you'll be racing against other AI opponents in beautiful and rich locations from all over the world. These courses are fairly true-to-life, so you'll see familiar locations and landscapes, as well as some new places that you may have yet to see in real life, but they exist. You can race in 21 different cars that are all upgradeable, and there are 10 cups spread out in 40 cities, with a total of 92 tracks to race on. While it's free to download Horizon Chase, it's basically a demo with five free tracks — if you like it, you can pay to unlock the rest of the game.
Horizon Chase - World Tour is one of my favorite racing games, and it's definitely a must on your Apple TV. It supports seven different input methods, including MFi Gamepad support.
Lichtspeer
Lichtspeer is a unique and quirky fast-paced game about lightspear throwing in ancient Germanic future. Yes, you read that correctly.
This distinctive title brings back some 80's nostalgia and is quite brutal, stylish, and psychedelic. You're in a land that is full of Penguin Vikings, Wurst Zombies, Hipster Ice Giants, and many more clever enemies, and your goal is to survive. How do you accomplish this? With lightspears and some good aim. In Lichtspeer, you'll have access to 10 upgradeable Lichtpowers to help you get through over 60 challenging levels, and there are six tough bosses to face too. While you may think that throwing spears is easy, you're going to need to put your skills to the test in this frantic game.
INSIDE
If you enjoyed LIMBO, then you'll love Playdead's INSIDE. This game builds upon what made LIMBO great and ends up creating something even greater.
INSIDE is a beautiful 2D puzzle platformer that is immersive, captivating, and downright fun. The puzzles can be quite tricky and devious, but that only means it's so much more rewarding once you solve them and make progress. The game is also full of dark humor and "WTF" moments as you unravel the engaging story.
Shadowmatic
Are you the type of person to look at the clouds and try to decipher what shape the cloud is? If so, then Shadowmatic is a puzzle game that is meant for you.
Shadowmatic is a puzzle game where you have abstract objects that must be rotated around in a spotlight until they begin to form recognizable silhouettes in the shadows. Your clues are the environment that each stage has, as the shadow silhouette will form something that is related to the overall theme. There are over 10 different rooms and themes, and it's quite relaxing to play. There is also more DLC content if you finish the main game.
Asphalt 8: Airborne
Love modern racing games with fancy cars and insane speeds? Then Asphalt 8: Airborne is a must.
While speed is the name of the game (not literally), it's not the only exciting and fun thing about Asphalt 8. You'll also need to focus on some stunts and big jumps and airtime to get ahead in the races with your favorite cars. In Asphalt 8, you'll be able to take your pick from Ferrari, Ducati, Lamborghini, McLaren, Bugatti, Mercedes, Audi, Ford, Chevrolet, and more. No matter what kind of car you're into, you'll find it in Asphalt 8. The game has over 50 tracks, multiplayer action, limited-time special events, and more. There's a ton of single-player content if multiplayer isn't your thing, and considering that the game is free to start with, there's a lot to do.
The Oregon Trail
One of the best games on Apple Arcade is The Oregon Trail. This title is an upgraded version of an old classic. The Oregon Trail puts players in 1848, where they and their party are trying to survive a journey from Missouri to Oregon by covered wagon. Brave the nature and disease of the time and areas and try to help your settlers there alive.
Those familiar with the game may notice a serious upgrade in visual appearance. As far as the story goes, you may also find that there's more cultural respect for indigenous people. But when it comes to the basic mechanics, it remains unchanged, winning its way into our nostalgic hearts.
Cozy Grove
In this laid back life sim, you are a Spirit Scout who has travelled to an island full of spirits. The ghosts are friendly and adorable, and they need your help. They will give you tasks to complete and as you do you will learn more about their lives, the island, and earn cute decorations to personalize your island with. Although the concept may sound a little spooky, the game definitely has more cute vibes than spooky.
This is definitely a good title for someone who wants a way to just relax and pass some time. There's no combat and you can do your daily tasks in about 30 minutes. To play you will need to have an Apple Arcade membership.
Simon's Cat - Story Time
The Simon's Cat animated series has been brought to Apple Arcade in puzzle game form, and it's so cute. It's a simple match-three puzzle game that lets you choose renovation items to put in the garden as you complete levels. The best part is since it's through Apple Arcade, you aren't stuck watching a bunch of ads for powerups or more lives. Your play is unlimited.
Press play in more than one way!
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We love the versatility the Apple TV offers. These games are a great way to take a break from shows and movies and use your Apple TV for some other entertainment. Plus we enjoy seeing these on a big screen. Don't forget to make sure to check and see if the games you'd enjoy need a controller or not.
For fans of more classic titles, get some Frogger vibes going with Crossy Road. Why did the chicken cross the road? To avoid getting hit by the tractor. This is super easy to play with the Siri remote and classic fun.
Get the whole family involved with SketchParty TV! As long as you have an iPhone or iPad to mirror to the TV, you can test your creative skills and see if your team can guess what you've drawn. Or, as long as you're aware of the lyrics in the songs you choose, SongPop Party is another good family game time pick.
Finally, gaming isn't limited to consoles or PC anymore with Rayman Adventures on Apple TV. It's your usual platformer and best of all, it's free! These are just a few of our choices that highlight the variety that gives a little something for everyone.
The best way to game
Get Apple TV+ and other apps on all screens in your home when you add the Apple TV to your television. You can even use the included Siri remote to play some of your favorite games from the App Store directly on your big screen.
