What are the best games on Apple Arcade in 2022? The idea of a subscription-based service for games is a smart one, and Apple Arcade offers tremendous value for money with its service, especially in India. At Rs. 99 per month, Apple Arcade has a huge catalog of games and keeps adding new ones, giving users a chance to play premium games without any in-app purchases. The catalog spans a wide range of genres, including sports, racing, RPG and adventure, to name a few.
There are also a number of established franchises and classic games redesigned and optimized for the Apple Arcade experience. Apple Arcade works on many compatible Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. I’ve put together a list of the best Apple Arcade games I’ve played since the service launched, and here are my top picks, in no particular order.
Alto’s Odyssey – Remastered
The sequel to the excellent Alto’s Adventure, Alto’s Odyssey Remastered brings back in style the excellent mechanics, world design and artistic gameplay of its predecessor. A typical endless runner game, Alto’s Odyssey has been optimized for Apple Arcade and has interesting objectives that increase in difficulty as you keep playing, along with an uplifting soundtrack, along with a new and unique ‘Lost City’ biome for the platform.
Another big change is the setting, shifting from snowy mountain slopes to a much larger world, encompassing sandy desert terrain, ancient ruins, and climbable rock faces. Central characters Alto and his friends also return with all their abilities. Notably, Alto’s Adventure is also available on Apple Arcade in a remastered version, in case you prefer the original setting and gameplay.
creaks
Coming from acclaimed indie game developer Amanita Design, Creaks is set in a beautiful and mysterious world with stunning artwork, spooky music and challenging puzzle-solving mechanics. This side-scrolling platform game has the player take on the role of a nameless, mild-mannered protagonist, who descends from his bedroom into a mansion occupied by strange but friendly Victorian-era birds.
While there’s a lot to learn as you explore, the key gameplay element is solving puzzles. These come in the form of finding ways to escape various monsters that turn into household objects when light shines on them. The soundtrack is an important part of this game and therefore Creaks is best played with headphones.
mini highways
In my opinion, Mini Motorways is the best casual game you can find on Apple Arcade right now, and one that I keep coming back to. The game’s premise is simple – you connect homes to workplaces using an intricate network of roads, bridges, tunnels, roundabouts and traffic signals. Like any growing city, this process will get more difficult as time goes on. The longer you can maintain the network without it collapsing due to overload, the higher your score.
What makes this game more interesting is that the cityscapes are based on real world locations with similar physical characteristics, including Los Angeles, Dubai, Munich, Beijing and many others. The dynamic soundtrack changes based on your ability to maintain a smooth, flowing network and adds to the mood and feel of this beautiful game. There’s also the Mini Metro+ from the same developer on Apple Arcade, which has similar, albeit simpler, gameplay and mechanics.
Simon’s Cat – Story Time
Match-three puzzle games are commonplace, but Simon’s Cat – Story Time ranks among the best for many reasons. Above all, Apple Arcade makes this game completely free to play, without power-ups and in-app purchases designed to hinder progress. The game is based on the popular cartoon and web book series of the same name and follows a simple story about the happenings in the titular character’s neighborhood.
Several objectives need to be completed, requiring you to solve match-three puzzles of varying difficulty and with ever-increasing obstacles and conditions. The game’s simplicity and casual nature make it a game to come back to often, and fans of the web cartoon series will love the storyline and the integration of characters into the gameplay.
Sneaky Sasquatch
Among the first titles released on Apple Arcade, Sneaky Sasquatch remains one of the best RPGs on the platform to date. You are in control of a docile Sasquatch that lives in a national park, who starts out looking for food in garbage cans and campgrounds, but eventually moves on to more important tasks and missions in the park.
The fun premise of the game is supported by fun artwork and easy gameplay. Several minigames keep you engaged, and the lighthearted story and characters will appeal to players of all ages.
spyder
Many of Apple Arcade’s games are mobile friendly and keep things simple, but Spyder stands out for being visually detailed and much more complex in terms of gameplay mechanics. You take control of a cute robotic spider called Agent 8, who must complete missions as a spy for a fictional British intelligence agency.
The core gameplay involves physics-based exploration and puzzle solving, as Agent 8’s small form and mobility allow it to do things humans cannot. Despite being quite short, the James Bond premise, retro setting and engaging level-based gameplay make this game highly enjoyable for all ages.
Spyder review
The No Way
While there are many fantasy adventure games on Apple Arcade, The Pathless stands out for its detailed and fast gameplay, beautiful open world setting, and intuitive design that helps you figure out what to do next. The game notably lacks a minimap for navigation, and you have to rely on “spirit sight” to get around as you navigate the various parts of the cursed island setting.
The game’s central character is The Hunter, a skilled archer who must use her skills to navigate and defeat magical enemies, with the help of an eagle companion. The game is equally mysterious, beautiful, fun and immersive, with elegant artwork and a complex open-world setting worth exploring.
what the golf
Perhaps the ‘craziest’ game on Apple Arcade yet, What The Golf might technically be called a golf game, but it really isn’t. There are lots of subtle digs into how boring golf is, while the game itself reinvents the sport with various other objects, including couches, cars, animals, and rockets.
The objective of each level is basically to get the ball into a hole or at least into contact with the flag. There are many levels, different ways to achieve goals, and many hidden objectives that help you reach 100% completion. The art is simple but enjoyable, making this game an easy choice among our top picks in the Apple Arcade catalogue.
Wylde Flores
A farming and life simulator similar to games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, Wylde Flowers is an incredibly engaging game with an exciting story involving magic and witchcraft. The game puts you in the shoes of Tara Wylde, who returns to help her grandmother run the family farm on a small rural island. In addition to tending and improving the farm, you must also focus on building relationships, maintaining your own health and well-being, and discovering your magical abilities.
In addition to the hours of immersive gameplay it provides, Wylde Flowers also stands out for its focus on inclusion and diversity, with characters from different races, sexual orientations and beliefs. The game delves into issues of xenophobia and bigotry, and does so with sensitivity and taste. It’s among the best-made games on the Apple Arcade platform right now, and it’s definitely worth playing.
Wylde Flowers review: Apple Arcade farming and living sim has a magical touch