Apple Arcade FAQ: ‘Shadow Blade+’ is now available

Gaming subscription services are all the rage now, but Apple Arcade isn’t quite like Google Stadia or Xbox Live. So if you’ve got questions about it, we’ve got plenty of answers.

Updated 03/04/22: Shadow Blade+ is now available.

What is Apple Arcade?

Apple Arcade is a gaming subscription service for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AppleTV that features more than 150 games. The games are a mix of genres and styles, and include original games you’ll only find on the service and others that can be found on the regular App Store or even other platforms. Apple Arcade isn’t a streaming service like Google Stadia. Games must be downloaded onto your device in order to be played.

What do I need to run it?

Apple Arcade is available as part of iOS 13, iPad OS 13, tvOS 13, and macOS Catalina or later. Some of the more visually-intensive games may only run well on newer hardware, though, and some Mac games require macOS 11 (Big Sur).

How much does Apple Arcade cost?

Apple Arcade costs $4.99 per month, and you’ll also get a one-month free trial. You can also sign up for the annual plan, which is $49.99.

If you’re currently on the $4.99 month-to-month plan and want to switch to the annual plan, you can do so on your iPhone or iPad. Open the App Store app, then tap your account icon in the upper right. Tap Subscriptions, then tap the entry for Apple Arcade. Here, you can switch to the annual plan. Apple Arcade is also included in the Apple One subscription bundles, which range from $10 a month to $30 a month.

How do I sign up for Apple Arcade?

There isn’t an Apple Arcade app—it’s built into the App Store. On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac open the App Store and look for the Apple Arcade tab at the bottom of the screen (or in the left column on macOS). A sign-up screen with a Try It Free button will appear. After the trial you’ll be charged either the monthly or annual fee, depending on your selection. When subscribing, you’ll need to enter your Apple ID password or use Touch ID or Face ID to sign in, and you’ll have to confirm your subscription purchase a few times.

Once you’re done with the sign up, the Arcade section of the App Store shows what games are available to you. To access a game, tap on it in the App Store, then tap the Get button. When the game is done installing on your device, the Get button turns into a Play button, and you can tap it to launch the game. The game app icon will also appear on your device’s Home page.

On the Apple TV, there actually is an Arcade app. Open that to see the sign-up offer. You’ll also find an Arcade tab within the App Store.

Does my subscription include family sharing?

Yes. One $4.99 per month subscription can be shared between up to six people (including you).

How do I cancel Apple Arcade?

First off, keep in mind that if you cancel Apple Arcade (either before your free trial is up or after subscribing), you won’t be able to keep playing the games unless you re-subscribe. If you’re okay with that, you can use the same process you use to cancel any other subscription service. Here’s the easiest way to do it on the iPhone and iPad:

1. Open the App Store app and tap on your profile photo in the upper right.
2. In the screen that pops up, press Subscriptions near the top of the page.
3. You’ll then see a list of active subscriptions, and Apple Arcade should be listed there. Tap it.
4. You’ll either see Cancel Free Trial or Cancel Subscription toward the middle of the page that appears. Tap whatever option is available, then Confirm Cancellation.

And here’s how to cancel Apple Arcade on the Mac:

1. Open the App Store app and then press the icon with your profile photo in the lower left.
2. The Account window will appear, and you should then click View Information at the top of the window. Enter your password when/if prompted.
3. When your Account Information appears, scroll down to the Manage section and click the Manage link to the right of Subscriptions.
4. When the list of your active subscriptions appears, click Edit to the right of Apple Arcade.
5. Toward the middle of the page that appears, you’ll see a button that says either Cancel Free Trial or Cancel Subscription. Click it, then click Confirm Cancellation and Confirm.

How do I access Apple Arcade games?

Apple Arcade is its own tab in the App Store. You can find games to download there, and grab anything you like without fear of being charged, seeing ads, or having to later buy in-app purchases.

Once downloaded, Apple Arcade games are found just like any other app on your device.

Does Apple curate the games on Apple Arcade?

Yes. Apple says it is “handpicking the games in Apple Arcade” and that it curates them “based on originality, quality, creativity, fun, and their appeal to players of all ages.”

Do Apple Arcade games have in-app purchases?

No. In Apple’s words, “since every game includes access to the full experience, including all game features, content, and future updates, no additional purchases will be required.” Even games that have in-app purchases on the App Store won’t have any in Apple Arcade.

Do Apple Arcade games have ads?

Also no. On a related note, Apple says Apple Arcade has no ad tracking.

Is Apple Arcade a game streaming service like Google’s Stadia or Xbox Game Streaming?

No. All Apple Arcade are downloaded.

Are Apple Arcade games available on other systems?

Apple Arcade games were originally exclusive to Apple Arcade—not in the regular App Store nor on any other mobile platform. Some would appear on PC or consoles, but never in a subscription service.

Apple has since relaxed that policy somewhat, and you can find games in Apple Arcade that also exist in the regular App Store or on Android. They are usually denoted by a “+” at the end, to differentiate the Apple Arcade version (free to download with your subscription, and free from ads or in-app purchases) from the App Store version. For example Mini Metro (App Store) vs. Mini Metro+ (Apple Arcade).

Will I still be able to buy games on the App Store without an Apple Arcade subscription?

Yes. There’s no sign that the existing games model will be going away, as it works fine for freemium games like Idle Heroes or Toon Blast. Apple is focusing on “handpicked” games for Apple Arcade, so there’s little doubt that the library will be much smaller than the thousands of games available in the App Store.

Are there demos for Apple Arcade games?

No, and they’re not really necessary. Like App Store apps, games download quickly and can easily be removed if you don’t want to keep it anymore.

Apple partly envisions Apple Arcade as a way of letting players try out games with more freedom than the App Store currently allows (which is basically none). In Apple’s words, “rather than pay upfront for each game, a subscription to Apple Arcade will give players the opportunity to try any game in the service without risk.”

The service has a free trial, though, as we’ve seen with both Apple Music and Apple News+.

Am I able to keep playing Apple Arcade games if I cancel my subscription?

No. As with most subscription services, you only have access while you’re a subscriber.

Can I use controllers with Apple Arcade games?

Yes. In additional to traditional MFi (Made for iOS) controllers, you can pair some specific Bluetooth controllers for both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with either your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. Since many Apple Arcade games are playable on Mac and Apple TV (where controller support is more common), many games will support them. Some games, especially those that are also available in the broader App Store and only for iPhone or iPad, have no controller support.

How often are new games released?

Games are typically released on Fridays, but not every Friday. The release schedule is sporadic—some Fridays there are no new games released, some see one game released, some more than one. Sometimes there will be no new game release, but existing games will get a big update with new content and features.

On average, new games are released at a rate of about one every 2-3 weeks, though this may improve as Apple has loosened the rules around Apple Arcade exclusivity.

What games have been released so far?

There are over 150 games available for Apple Arcade, and the list grows all the time.

Title	Publisher	Release Date
A Fold Apart	Lightning Rod Games	04/17/20
A Monster’s Expedition	Draknek Limited	09/10/20
Agent Intercept	Prodigy Design	09/19/19
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure	ustwo	12/11/20
All of You	Alike Studio	11/06/20
Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City	Team Alto / Snowman	07/16/21
Angry Birds Reloaded	Rovio	07/16/21
Asphalt 8: Airborne+	Gameloft	08/27/21
Assemble With Care	ustwo	09/19/19
ATONE: Heart of the Elder Tree	Wildboy Studios	09/19/19
Baldo: The Guardian Owls	Naps Team	08/27/21
Ballistic Baseball	Gameloft	10/18/19
BattleSky Brigade: Harpooner	BattleBrew Productions	09/19/19
Beyond a Steel Sky	Revolution Software	06/26/20
Beyond Blue	E-Line Media	04/17/20
Big Time Sports	Frosty Pop Games	09/19/19
Bleak Sword	Devolver Digital	09/19/19
Bridge Constructor+	Headup GmbH	02/04/22
Butter Royale	Mighty Bear Games	01/24/20
Card of Darkness	Pendleton Ward	09/19/19
Cardpocalypse	Versus Evil	09/19/19
Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls	Konami	09/17/21
Cat Quest II	The Gentlebros.	09/19/19
Charrua Soccer	Batovi Games	02/07/20
ChuChu Rocket! Universe	Sega	09/19/19
Clap Hanz Golf	Claphanz	04/02/21
Cozy Grove	Spry Fox	03/18/21
Crashlands+	Butterscotch Shenanigans, Inc.	01/14/21
Crayola Create and Play+	Red Games Co.	10/29/21
Creaks	Amanita Design	07/10/20
Cricket Through the Ages	Devolver Digital	09/19/19
Crossy Road+	Hipster Whale	10/08/21
Crossy Road Castle	Hipster Whale	02/28/20
Cut the Rope Remastered	Paladin Studios	04/02/21
Dandara: Trials of Fear+	Raw Fury	12/03/21
Dead End Job	Headup GmbH, Ant Workshop	09/19/19
Dear Reader	Local No. 12	09/19/19
Decoherence	Efecto Estudios	10/11/19
Detonation Racing	Electric Square	07/30/21
Discolored	Shifty Eye Games & Jason Godbey	11/08/19
Disney Melee Mania	Mighty Bear Games	12/17/21
Dodo Peak	Moving Pieces Interactive	09/19/19
Don’t Bug Me!	Frosty Pop Games	09/19/19
Doodle God Universe	JoyBits	07/16/21
Doomsday Vault	Flightless	01/03/20
Down in Bermuda	Yak & Co	09/19/19
Dread Nautical	Zen Studios	09/19/19
EarthNight	Cleaversoft	09/19/19
Exit the Gungeon	Devolver Digital	09/19/19
Explottens	WRP Pvt.	09/19/19
Fallen Knight	FairPlay Studios	10/25/19
Fantasian	Mistwalker	04/01/21
Farm It!	Tummy Games	03/26/21
Fledgling Heroes	Subtle Boom	09/19/19
Frenzic: Overtime	The Iconfactory	06/18/21
Frogger in Toy Town	Konami	09/19/19
Galaga Wars+	Bandai Namco	11/12/21
Game Dev Story+	Kairosoft Co., Ltd	06/18/21
Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows	Devolver Digital	08/07/20
Gibbon: Beyond the Trees	Broken Rules	02/25/22
Grindstone	Capybara Games	09/19/19
Guildlings	Sirvo Studios, Inc.	11/08/19
Hearts: Card Game+	MobilityWare	01/07/22
Hexaflip: The Action Puzzler	Rogue Games, Inc.	09/19/19
Hidden Folks+	Adriaan de Jongh	01/28/22
HitchHiker	Versus Evil	03/26/21
Hogwash	Bossa Studios	10/25/19
Hot Lava	Klei Entertainment	09/19/19
HyperBrawl Tournament	Milkey Tea Limited	09/19/19
INKS.+	State of Play Games	06/25/21
INMOST	Chucklefish Limited	10/11/19
Jenny LeClue	Mografi	09/19/19
Jetpack Joyride+	Halfbrick Studios	07/23/21
Jumper Jon	Ogre Pixel	11/01/19
King’s League II	Kurechi Sdn. Bhd.	09/19/19
Kingdom Rush Frontiers TD+	Ironhide Irl	11/12/21
Kings of the Castle	Frosty Pop	01/17/20
Layton’s Mystery Journey+	Level-5 Inc.	09/03/21
Legend of the Skyfish 2	Crescent Moon Games	04/03/20
Legends of Kingdom Rush	Ironhide Game Studio	06/11/21
LEGO Brawls	The Lego Group	09/19/19
LEGO Builder’s Journey	The Lego Group	12/19/19
LEGO Star Wars Battles	TT Games	09/24/21
LEGO Star Wars: Castaways	Gameloft	11/19/21
Leo’s Fortune+	1337 & Senri LLC	06/25/21
Lifelike	kunabi brother	10/25/19
Lifeslide	Dreamteck	09/19/19
Little Orpheus	Sumo Digital	06/12/20
Lumen	Lykkegaard International	02/05/21
Manifold Garden	William Chyr Studio	10/18/19
Marble It Up: Mayhem!	Marble it up	11/08/19
Marble Knights	WayForward	09/18/20
MasterChef: Let’s Cook!	Tilting Point	09/03/21
Mind Symphony	Rogue Games, Inc.	10/11/19
Mini Motorways	Dinosaur Polo Club	09/19/19
Monomals	Picomy	11/01/19
Monster Hunter Stories+	Capcom	08/06/21
Murder Mystery Machine	Blazing Griffin	09/19/19
Mutazione	Die Gute Fabrik	09/19/19
NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition	2K Sports	04/02/21
NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition	2K Sports	10/19/21
Necrobarista	Route 59	07/17/20
Neo Cab	Chance Agency	09/19/19
Neversong	Serenity Forge	05/01/20
Next Stop Nowhere	Night School Studio	08/14/20
Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis	Viacom International	01/21/22
Nightmare Farm	Hit-Point Co., Ltd.	10/05/19
No Way Home	SMG Studio	01/10/20
NUTS	Noodlecake Studios	01/22/21
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm	Cornfox & Bros.	09/19/19
Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon	Cornfox & Bros.	01/08/21
Oddmar+	Mobje Ltd.	12/03/21
Operator 41	Shifty Eye Games	09/19/19
Outlanders	Pomelo Games	09/19/19
Over the Alps	Stave Studios	09/19/19
Overland	Finji	09/19/19
PAC-MAN Party Royale	BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment	10/18/19
Painty Mob	Devolver Digital	09/19/19
Patterned	BorderLeap	09/19/19
Pilgrims	Amanita Design	10/05/19
Populus Run	FIFTYTWO	01/29/21
Possessions	Noodlecake Studios	09/19/19
Projection: First Light	Blowfish Studios	09/19/19
Punch Planet	Sector-K Games	09/19/19
Rayman Mini	Ubisoft	09/19/19
Red Reign	Ninja Kiwi Limited	09/19/19
Redout: Space Assault	34BigThings	10/05/19
Reigns: Beyond	Devolver Digital	11/06/20
Rosie’s Reality	RosieReality	11/15/19
Roundguard	Wonderbelly Games	03/13/20
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time	Cartoon Network	08/21/20
Sayonara Wild Hearts	Annapurna Interactive	09/19/19
Scrappers	Q-Games	04/10/20
Secret Oops!	Mixedbag	01/31/20
Shadow Blade+	Crescent Moon Games	03/04/22
Shantae and the Seven Sirens	WayForward	09/19/19
Shinsekai: Into the Depths	Capcom	09/19/19
ShockRods	Stainless Games	10/11/19
Simon’s Cat – Story Time	Tactile Games Limited	04/02/21
Skate City	Snowman	09/19/19
Slash Quest	Noodlecake Studios	10/01/20
Sneaky Sasquatch	RAC7	09/19/19
Sociable Soccer	Rogue Games, Inc.	11/08/19
Solitaire Stories	Red Games Co.	07/02/21
SongPop Party	Gameloft	04/02/21
Sonic Racing	Sega	09/19/19
South of the Circle	State of Play	10/30/20
Sp!ng	SMG Studio	03/05/21
Spaceland	Tortuga Games	09/19/19
Spades: Card Game+	MobilityWare	01/07/22
Speed Demons	Radiangames	09/19/19
Spek	RAC7 Games	09/19/19
Spelldrifter	Free Range Games	09/19/19
Spidersaurs	WayForward	09/19/19
Spire Blast	Orbital Knight sp.	01/22/21
Splitter Critters+	RAC7 Games	12/10/21
Spongebob SquarePants: Patty Pursuit	Nickelodeon	05/28/20
Spyder	Sumo_Digital	03/20/20
Star Fetched	Crescent Moon Games	11/01/19
Star Trek: Legends	Tilting Point LLC	04/02/21
Stela	SkyBox Labs	10/11/19
Stellar Commanders	Blindflug Studios	09/19/19
Steven Universe: Unleash the Light	Cartoon Network	11/27/19
Stranded Sails	Shifty Eye Games	09/19/19
Super Leap Day	Nitrome	08/06/21
Super Impossible Road	Rogue Games, Inc.	09/19/19
Super Mega Mini Party	Red Games Co, LLC	11/01/19
Super Stickman Golf 3+	Noodlecake	08/06/21
Survival Z	Ember Entertainment	02/19/21
Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap Beat	BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment	04/02/21
Takeshi and Hiroshi	Oink Games Inc.	11/08/19
Tales of Memo	Tendays Studio	10/25/19
Tangle Tower	SFB Games	09/19/19
Temple Run: Puzzle Adventure	Scopely, Inc.	09/17/21
Tetris Beat	N3twork Inc.	08/20/21
The Bradwell Conspiracy	Bossa Studios	10/05/19
The Collage Atlas	Robot House Games Ltd	10/16/20
The Enchanted World	Noodlecake Studios	09/19/19
The Get Out Kids	Frosty Pop Games	09/19/19
The Last Campfire	Hello Games	08/27/20
The Loud House: Outta Control	Nickelodeon	02/14/20
The Lullaby of Life	1 Simple Game	07/24/20
The Mosaic	Raw Fury	11/01/19
The Oregon Trail	Gameloft	04/02/21
The Otherside	The Label	05/08/20
The Pathless	Annapurna Interactive	11/12/20
The Pinball Wizard	Frosty Pop Games	09/19/19
The Survivalists	Team17	10/08/20
Things That Go Bump	Tinybop Inc.	10/18/19
Thumper: Pocket Edition+	Drool LLC	10/01/21
tint.	Lykkegaard International	09/19/19
Tiny Wings+	Andreas Illiger	10/15/21
Transformers Tactical Arena	Red Games Co	11/05/21
Towaga: Among Shadows	Noodlecake Studios	09/19/19
Towers of Everland	Cobra Mobile Limited	05/22/20
UFO on Tape: First Contact	Revolutionary Concepts	11/08/19
Ultimate Rivals: The Court	Bit Fry Games	07/09/21
Ultimate Rivals: The Rink	Bit Fry Games	12/12/19
Various Daylife	Square Enix	09/19/19
Warp Drive	Supergonk	11/27/20
Way of the Turtle	Illusion Labs	09/19/19
What the Golf	Fig	09/19/19
Where Cards Fall	Snowman	09/19/19
Winding Worlds	KO_OP	05/15/20
Wonderbox: The Adventure Maker	Aquiris	04/01/21
Word Laces	minimega	09/19/19
World of Demons	PlatinumGames	04/02/21
World’s End Club	IzanagiGames	09/04/20
Wurdweb	Aran & Adriaan	08/13/21
Wylde Flowers	Studio Drydock	02/22/22
Yaga	Versus Evil	10/25/19
Zen Pinball Party	ZEN Studios	09/03/21
Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes	Firefly Games	12/04/20
Zookeeper World	Kiteretsu Inc.	09/10/21