Apple Arcade Adding These New Games in October, Including NBA 2K25

[Ctrlos]

Balatro is pretty big but come on Apple, you’re losing ground to Netflix.

 

[dasmb]

Oh man I'm excited for Balatro! I've been considering purchasing that for a while.

 

[drewbeck]

Balatro will destroy you. So glad to see it's coming to mobile, and very happy that LocalThunk is seeing this success.

 

[jlnr]

I've been very eager for Balatro, but honestly still inclined to just purchase it one time than sub AA. Still not enough fun titles that I don't already have to justify.

Still, first good pick AA has done in a long time

What the Car currently being exclusive to AA was also tempting, it's a great game for the family, but in the end I don't want to build up game progress in a subscription service.

 

[Ursadorable]

I don't know about others, maybe it's just because I'm an old school gamer.. but I cannot game on a mobile device (phone or tablet) due to the lack of physical buttons. A flat piece of glass offers zero physical feedback on finger placement, button presses, etc. Playing angry birds is one thing, where you have time to line your fingers up, etc.. but having to mash non-physical buttons leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

 

[Sapimati]

I was thinking hockey but would appreciate football. Retro Bowl+ is a fun football game. Maybe not what you're looking for but takes you back a bit.


Not only is it back but it earned a "+"! 😄

Thanks, but I don't think they have an Apple TV version, kind of want to play on the big TV with a game controller

 

[Think|Different]

Back in the day, those types of games would be freely available as a flash game on the web.

A realistic basketball game? No, they wouldn't have – not back in any day....

 

[YuniHKim]

Nothing more to say but F***.
Now drop Apple Arcade service and drop the price of Apple One. I don’t want to spend my money on this garbage anymore.

 

[ikir]

ahhh Smash Hit, it is a great game

 

[ErikGrim]

Balatro is such an INCREDIBLE GET for Apple Arcade. People have been clamouring for a mobile version since before launch! RIP to my free time!

It's a rare game where critics and users are all in the 90%+ agreement:

Balatro Reviews

The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.

www.metacritic.com

 

[TracesOfArsenic]

MS's GamePass is dead in the water with a stellar line up like this.

 

[svish]

Good to see more additions to Apple Arcade

 

[NickTuesday]

I don't know about others, maybe it's just because I'm an old school gamer.. but I cannot game on a mobile device (phone or tablet) due to the lack of physical buttons. A flat piece of glass offers zero physical feedback on finger placement, button presses, etc. Playing angry birds is one thing, where you have time to line your fingers up, etc.. but having to mash non-physical buttons leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

If you have an Apple Tv you can play most Arcade Games there with a controller. Having the option to sync up your saves between devices might be one of the nicer things about arcade.

 

[jayryco]

I mostly find it weird how they tout their ecosystem is completely unified and super easy to have apps and games ported to Mac, iOS, iPad and tvOS - essentially their entire ecosystem and then most of their own apple arcade games get completely fragmented across their devices. Why are soooo many of their own arcade games skipping MacOS?

I mean I'm really not into 98% of the games they put on arcade but something like vampire survivors already has a Mac port on steam but then Apple Arcade dont release it on Mac? like whaaaa? it even has full controller support.

Apple's gaming strategy feels so terribly flawed.

 

[amartinez1660]

Oh nice, I will stop playing the GTA games included with Netflix and hop right on these.

Yes, great point. Netflix at least is trying with solid options to their defense… there’s Hades, Into The Breach, all the GTA trilogy you mentioned and some other games, definitely a better quality over quantity ratio.
Even some of the small pixel art charming attempts can be unique.

At the beginning there were unique to Arcade offerings, Fantasian and a Lego Star Wars come to mind… but that dwindled down.

Myself I have thrown the towel and decided to stick to Nintendo Switch for the past few months, not PS5 nor XBX nor mobile, and lo and behold, I’m liking and enjoying games again.
Currently on Metroid Dread and goodness, what a game.