Best Games on Apple Arcade 2021 (April)
You almost definitely have an active Apple Arcade subscription if you own an Apple device and enjoy gaming. It’s just normal. The service currently has over 180 titles, all of which are completely free of in-app purchases and micro transactions, unlike the vast majority of mobile games. Apple Arcade is basically a monthly subscription that grants you access to a number of high-quality games for a single, low price. However, there are now so many on it that, similar to the general storefront, finding a new game to play from the list can be a hassle. Here are the best games on Apple Arcade, as chosen by higift.
Let me tell you that it was not an easy task. There were already over 70 games available on Apple Arcade when it first launched in 2019, and it continued to plod along, adding at least one new game per week, most weeks, until recently. Then, at the beginning of April, they snuck 30 new games onto the site, including Don’t Starve Pocket Edition and Monument Valley. There are dozens upon dozens of other incredibly high-quality games on Apple Arcade. However, we’ve managed to narrow them down to the best of the best. To see higift’s top ten best games on Apple Arcade, stay with us.
Best Apple Arcade Games (April)
Sneaky Sasquatch
Developer: RAC7 Games
Publisher: RAC7 Games
Available on: iOS + Apple Arcade
Genre: Action, Stealth
Sneaky Sasquatch is without a doubt one of the most popular games on the web. It’s a fantastic sandbox world where you can play as a mischievous, inquisitive sasquatch living on the outskirts of civilization. There’s just too much to do in the game, from messing with the park ranger to driving go-karts. Major changes have been made to the game almost every month after launch, contributing to the already chaotic, wonder-filled concoction.
Grindstone
Developer: Capybara Games
Available on: iOS + Apple Arcade
Genre: Puzzle
An award-winning puzzle game with clever mechanics that make it feel more than just a gem collecting game. Grindstone requires you to carve out paths with matching units in order to clear screen after screen of enemies when progressing through the world’s quirky, cartoon dungeons. It has the word “grind” in its name, but the clever gameplay and juicy animations keep it from feeling like a grind.
The Pathless
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Available on: iOS + Apple Arcade
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fighting
The Pathless was one of the first games we remember seeing announced for Apple Arcade, and it quickly became a symbol for the service, with its image adorning the subscription’s official website. However, it wouldn’t be out for another year.
Thankfully, it was well worth the wait, as it was a stunning reimagining of the classic, sweeping adventure game, but one that was rich in majesty, verticality, and mystery. This means that there is almost never a boring moment in the game, and there is almost never a feeling of wonder and awe. It’s also jam-packed with enjoyable archery-themed puzzles.
Then there are the spirit abilities and battle scenes, all of which totally change the world’s color palette to a stark blue or red. Oh, my goodness. It all adds up to a truly unforgettable experience that we’ll be talking about for years to come.
Fantasian
Available on: iOS + Apple Arcade
Genre: RPG
Fantasian, a beautiful RPG set in a world made up of utterly breathtaking dioramas, is the return of legendary designer Hironobu Sakaguchi to the jRPG genre. The creator, who is perhaps best known for his work with Final Fantasy, re-established himself as a capable outsider, flourishing as the CEO of Mistwalker, which produced memorable titles like Lost Odyssey and Blue Drag outside of the Square Enix megaplex.
The consistency shines through in Fantasian; there’s so much charm in its 150+ dioramas that younger players will be able to appreciate the graphics to the same extent that older players will recall the pre-rendered backgrounds of PS1 period jRPGs. The plot is also gripping, and the gameplay elements are unforgettable. It’s nothing short of a work of art.
Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap Beat
Available on: iOS + Apple Arcade
Genre: Music/Rhythm
It’s a simple, fantastic rhythm game that has a lot of fun. The newest installment in the long-running franchise, Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap Beat, is also the first to be released on iOS. To win, you must press the right part of the drum – inside or outside – to fit the beats on the board, but this isn’t an easy one-button game. Instead, you can record hits on different sides of the drum, which is just what you’ll need to do with lots of songs and they’ll require fast drumming, which can only be accomplished by alternating hits on the drum.
The Oregon Trail
Developer: Gameloft
Publisher: Gameloft
Available on: Mobile
Genre: Party/mini-games, Strategy
The Oregon Trail was not a title we expected to find on Apple Arcade in any way…but Gameloft has done an incredible job of reinventing the classic, almost-educational-but-known-for-being-nails-hard experience. They gave it a lovely makeover that juggles nostalgic, pixel-art, and other art styles while also adding a story dimension to the game that wasn’t there before. They’ve already bundled in a variety of different runs, leaving plenty of space for them to extend the trail if more people sign up.
Cozy Grove
Available on: iOS + Apple Arcade
Genre: Adventure
Cozy Grove was described as a cross between Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley – a slice-of-life game with a wistful, pencil-shaded aesthetic. It is, though, something a little bit different. Instead of the open-ended nature of Animal Crossing or the crushing perseverance of habit that comes with Stardew Valley, Cozy Grove makes you complete a limited number of tasks per day that you play, spacing out a typical search system through real-world days.
Roundguard
Developer: Wonderbelly Games
Publisher: Wonderbelly Games
Available on: iOS + Switch + Apple Arcade
Genre: Action, Arcade, RPG
This was one of our first favorites. Roundguard mixes the classic Peggle formula with a dungeon-diving RPG. Bounce your way through dungeons, avoiding (or smashing) monsters, leveling up, and making the most of each screen to keep leveling up and going further through the dungeon. There are also more rogue-lite elements in the game, including some clever persistence and character customization options.
Butter Royale
Publisher: Mighty Bear Games
Available on: iOS + Apple Arcade
Genre: Action, Multiplayer
Butter Royale has always been a treat for us. A casual, food-themed battle royale game for the whole family. It’s fast-paced, action-packed, and has a lot of fun. Not just that, but there has been an incredible amount of post-release material, such as spices, which bring a level of modification/upgrade/mutation type versatility to the loadout, offering players a level of complexity seldom seen in gaming, let alone games available on this service. It’s easily one of the service’s most unforgettable and impressive games.
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Developer: ustwo
Publisher: ustwo
Available on: iOS + Apple Arcade
Genre: Adventure
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a fantastic game in which, despite playing a villain, you have an influence on the environment. You do this by photographing wildlife around the country, cleaning up litter, and completing posters in the in-game world to educate residents about the value of maintaining a healthy environment for the animals that share our planet with us. It’s moving and breathtaking, and it demonstrates how even small acts can have a huge impact.
Final Words
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