As the gaming industry evolves, publishers are pushing away the idea of owning a physical game. Physical copies are still popular, but the convenience of having your entire gaming library on an online platform has become the universal stereotype of a gaming collection. It is much more accessible to have your gaming library available on Steam or the PlayStation Store, and with services like PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass, streaming services have become a significant talking point in the gaming industry. Like Spotify, you do not own the games when you play them on an online service; it is a glorified version of Blockbuster, and games can vanish from the service unpredictably. Xbox Game Pass is the dominant force behind video games, acting like a TV/Film streaming service, but there is another service that needs to get the love it deserves. That service is Apple Arcade.
Apple Arcade, available in Australia for $9.99 a month, offers a library of over 200+ games. While these games may not match the AAA quality of Game Pass or PS Plus, the sheer convenience of playing a game anywhere justifies the subscription. Once you've subscribed, every game is just a click away. After it downloads, you can enjoy the game without needing a controller; all you need is your phone, and you are ready. Many games on the service are perfect for casual gaming, allowing you to pick up and play for a short burst easily; whenever you return, you can pick up right where you left off.
Apple Arcade eliminates the negative stigma of gaming on an iPhone. Without it, enjoying the current onslaught of games on the App Store can be overwhelming due to irritating ads. However, with Apple Arcade, every game is completely ad-free at no additional cost. You can enjoy your game without interruptions, making the gaming experience more enjoyable and immersive. The absence of ads is a significant selling point for Apple Arcade.
Apple Arcade is not just limited to iPhones. If you, like me, own several Apple products, such as Apple TV and a MacBook, you can play games on either of these devices. All you need to do is link your Apple ID to all your devices (if you still need to), and you can easily access games from Apple Arcade on any device you wish. This feature gives you multiple outlets to play games and allows you to organise your gaming library and experiences. An iPhone is tailor-made if you want to play a casual game like Rayman Mini or Balatro, and an Apple TV or MacBook is more fitting (due to the bigger screen) for story-based games with unique visual aesthetics like Creaks, Limbo, Oceanhorn 2 or Return to Monkey Island. Playing a game on your iPhone or your Apple TV is fantastic. In addition, you can connect most modern console controllers to either device with a Bluetooth connection.
Now, let us address the elephant in the room: Is there enough content to justify the price of Apple Arcade? In a world where paying a monthly fee for a subscription service is the norm, it's understandable to question the value of adding another subscription to your existing bills. However, with its extensive library, ad-free experience, and multi-device accessibility, Apple Arcade offers a unique value proposition worth considering.
Are you curious about the games on Apple Arcade? Is it worth the price? We have got you covered. Gaming Australia and I will publish a review of a chosen Apple Arcade game every week for the next year. These reviews will cover newly added games and older ones that have been on the service for some time. We will randomly select a game each week and share our thoughts, feelings, and criticisms. If there's a game you'd like us to review, let us know in the comments.
Our first review, featuring Rayman Mini, will come to you next week.
