Last Update -
March 18, 2025 12:18 PM
โšก Geek Bytes
  • Apple Arcade offers ad-free mobile gaming with over 200 titles, but only a handful feel console-quality.
  • Compared to Xbox Game Pass, Apple Arcade lacks AAA titles and deep, immersive gameplay experiences.
  • Unless you're a dedicated mobile gamer, the $9/month price tag may not justify the limited content.

Apple Arcade in 2025 โ€“ A Must-Have or a Waste of Money?

Apple Arcade has been around for a few years now, offering a Netflix-style subscription for mobile games. With over 200 games, no ads, and no in-app purchases, it seems like a dream come true for mobile gamers.

But with a $9 monthly price tag, the big question isโ€”is Apple Arcade actually worth it?

After playing 13 Apple Arcade games on an M4 iPad Pro, weโ€™re diving deep into whether this gaming subscription is worth your money in 2025.

The Truth About Apple Arcade โ€“ Is It Worth $9 a Month?

Apple Arcade's Selling Points โ€“ What You Get for $9/Month

Hereโ€™s what Apple Arcade promises:
โœ… 200+ ad-free gamesโ€”No annoying pop-ups or paywalls.
โœ… No microtransactionsโ€”Everything is unlocked from the start.
โœ… Cross-device playโ€”Works on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
โœ… Controller supportโ€”Many (but not all) games support Xbox, PlayStation, or Backbone controllers.

Sounds great, right? Well, the reality is a little more complicated.

Apple Arcade's Game Library โ€“ A Mixed Bag

I installed 13 games on my iPad Pro, trying to find console-quality experiences. Some were genuinely great, while others felt like basic mobile games with a fresh coat of paint.

โœ… The Best Games on Apple Arcade

๐ŸŽฎ TMNT Splintered Fate โ€“ A Hades-style roguelike with solid combat.
๐ŸŽฎ Warped Kart Racers โ€“ Mario Kart but with Family Guy & King of the Hill characters. Surprisingly fun!
๐ŸŽฎ Disney Dreamlight Valley: Arcade Edition โ€“ A slimmed-down version of the full console game.
๐ŸŽฎ BEAST: Bio Exo Arena Suit Team โ€“ A 3v3 mech shooter with fun multiplayer.

These games felt polished, offered console-quality gameplay, and actually made the subscription seem worthwhile.

โŒ The Disappointments

๐Ÿ˜ž Fantasian โ€“ A gorgeous RPG, but controller support was broken on my iPad.
๐Ÿ˜ž Dead Cells+ โ€“ A great game, but the Apple Arcade version doesnโ€™t get updates like the paid version.
๐Ÿ˜ž Subway Surfers Tag โ€“ A barebones spin-off of the original endless runner.

And then there were games like Punch Kick Duck+, Skate City: New York, and SpongeBob Patty Pursuitโ€”which were fun for a few minutes but didnโ€™t hold my attention.

Many of the games feel like mobile-first experiences, lacking the depth of games youโ€™d find on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox.

Apple Arcade vs. Game Pass โ€“ Which Offers More Value?

The biggest problem with Apple Arcade is its price compared to competitors.

For $9 a month, hereโ€™s what you get:
๐Ÿ“ฑ Apple Arcade โ€“ 200+ mobile games, mostly casual experiences.
๐ŸŽฎ Xbox Game Pass ($17/month) โ€“ AAA games like Halo, Forza, Starfield, and Doom on Xbox & PC.
๐Ÿ•น Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack ($50/year) โ€“ Access to classic N64, Game Boy, and Sega Genesis games.

The Verdict?

If youโ€™re looking for deep, AAA gaming experiences, Game Pass offers WAY more value.

Apple Arcade makes sense if:
โœ… You play a lot of mobile games.
โœ… You hate ads and microtransactions.
โœ… You want kid-friendly gaming for your family.

Otherwise? Game Pass and Switch Online offer better bang for your buck.

The Biggest Problems With Apple Arcade

Even if you love mobile gaming, Apple Arcade has some major flaws:

1๏ธโƒฃ Not Enough Console-Quality Games

๐Ÿ“Œ Appleโ€™s latest M4 iPads and M3 Macs are powerful enough to run AAA games.
๐Ÿ“Œ But Apple Arcade mostly offers simpler, lightweight games.
๐Ÿ“Œ Where are the AAA titles? Why not include Resident Evil Village, Horizon Chase 2, or other premium App Store games?

2๏ธโƒฃ Limited Game Support & Updates

๐Ÿ“Œ Some Apple Arcade games, like Dead Cells+, donโ€™t get updates, while the paid version does.
๐Ÿ“Œ Not all games support controllers, even when they should.

3๏ธโƒฃ The Price Feels Too High for What You Get

๐Ÿ“Œ $9/month feels expensive when Game Pass exists.
๐Ÿ“Œ If Apple Arcade added premium games after a year on the App Store, it would be WAY more competitive.

๐Ÿ”น Final Verdict: Is Apple Arcade Worth It?

๐Ÿ“Œ If youโ€™re a casual mobile gamer โ€“ Maybe. You get a solid library of ad-free games without microtransactions.
๐Ÿ“Œ If you want console-quality experiences โ€“ No. Apple Arcade still lacks major AAA titles.
๐Ÿ“Œ If you have kids โ€“ Yes. Itโ€™s a great, safe environment for gaming.
๐Ÿ“Œ If youโ€™re choosing between Apple Arcade and Game Pass? Game Pass wins every time.

๐Ÿ’ก Should You Subscribe?

If you already use Apple One (which includes Apple Arcade), itโ€™s a nice bonus. But if you have to pay separately, Apple Arcade doesnโ€™t offer enough value for most gamers.

Apple could fix this by:
๐Ÿš€ Adding AAA games like Resident Evil or The Pathless.
๐Ÿš€ Offering more console-level experiences for iPads & Macs.
๐Ÿš€ Expanding support for higher graphics & controller support.

Until then, Apple Arcade feels like a missed opportunity.

What do you think? Let us know if Apple Arcade is worth it for you in the comments! And for more gaming reviews, stay tuned to Land of Geek Magazine!

#AppleArcade #GamingSubscription #MobileGames #AppleGaming #GamePassVsArcade

Posted 
Mar 18, 2025
 in 
Gaming
 category