Is Apple Arcade Worth the Price? A 2025 Review

Apple Arcade in 2025 – 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 is—is Apple Arcade actually worth it?

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

Apple Arcade's Selling Points – What You Get for $9/Month

Here’s what Apple Arcade promises:
✅ 200+ ad-free games—No annoying pop-ups or paywalls.
✅ No microtransactions—Everything is unlocked from the start.
✅ Cross-device play—Works on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
✅ Controller support—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 – 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.

✅ The Best Games on Apple Arcade

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

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

❌ The Disappointments

😞 Fantasian – A gorgeous RPG, but controller support was broken on my iPad.
😞 Dead Cells+ – A great game, but the Apple Arcade version doesn’t get updates like the paid version.
😞 Subway Surfers Tag – 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 Pursuit—which were fun for a few minutes but didn’t hold my attention.

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

Apple Arcade vs. Game Pass – Which Offers More Value?

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

For $9 a month, here’s what you get:
📱 Apple Arcade – 200+ mobile games, mostly casual experiences.
🎮 Xbox Game Pass ($17/month) – AAA games like Halo, Forza, Starfield, and Doom on Xbox & PC.
🕹 Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack ($50/year) – Access to classic N64, Game Boy, and Sega Genesis games.

The Verdict?

If you’re looking for deep, AAA gaming experiences, Game Pass offers WAY more value.

Apple Arcade makes sense if:
✅ You play a lot of mobile games.
✅ You hate ads and microtransactions.
✅ 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:

1️⃣ Not Enough Console-Quality Games

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

2️⃣ Limited Game Support & Updates

📌 Some Apple Arcade games, like Dead Cells+, don’t get updates, while the paid version does.
📌 Not all games support controllers, even when they should.

3️⃣ The Price Feels Too High for What You Get

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

🔹 Final Verdict: Is Apple Arcade Worth It?

📌 If you’re a casual mobile gamer – Maybe. You get a solid library of ad-free games without microtransactions.
📌 If you want console-quality experiences – No. Apple Arcade still lacks major AAA titles.
📌 If you have kids – Yes. It’s a great, safe environment for gaming.
📌 If you’re choosing between Apple Arcade and Game Pass? Game Pass wins every time.

💡 Should You Subscribe?

If you already use Apple One (which includes Apple Arcade), it’s a nice bonus. But if you have to pay separately, Apple Arcade doesn’t offer enough value for most gamers.

Apple could fix this by:
🚀 Adding AAA games like Resident Evil or The Pathless.
🚀 Offering more console-level experiences for iPads & Macs.
🚀 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!

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