Apple Arcade

[Pdine]

I seem to have got access to this a bit early (it's supposed to be open on the 19th). £4.99 / month (after free first one) for a set of about 100 exclusive (for now?) mobile games that don't have any in-app purchases. Also they are all playable across iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac, with progress shared across platforms.

https://www.apple.com/uk/apple-arcade/

I meant to spend this evening trying out a load of them but in the end I tried Oceanhorn 2 (loads better than the original but still felt like a weak ribena Zelda), Tint (cool colour-mixing puzzle reminiscent of Trainyard, but with that annoying 'Zen' affectation that a load of mobile games have) and Grindstone. This last one was so much fun that I played it for hours, ignoring the rest of the 100. It used the same path-drawing mechanic as Dungeon Raid

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dungeon-raid/id403090531

but without that games inevitable chaotic death after ten or so levels...

Anyway, I expected to be a bit meh about the Arcade concept (Netflix for games !!1!), but it does feel good to have a good choice of mobile games that aren't trying to get me to pay to not play them, a bit like it was 2009 again.

edit to add: No Beyond a Steel Sky yet though it seems...

[madhair60]

Wasn't Steel Sky a Google Stadia thing?

[Pdine]

Wasn't Steel Sky a Google Stadia thing?

It may also be, but I don't think so. Definitely an Apple Arcade thing as well as PC etc as they have it featured prominently in the promo videos. I have to say I am totally in love with this Grindstone game. It's almost made me forget that over the next couple of days we'll get remasters of what are among my two favourite games ever: the original Puzzle Quest and Link's Awakening...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1CfQdh_804

[Dex Sawash]

Is there an apple bobbing game in apple arcade?

[Kalabi]

There's a controversial VR scrumping game

[Paul Calf]

Has anyone else got this yet? Release date is today.

[Famous Mortimer]

the original Puzzle Quest

Seriously? Nice! I'd pay a fiver to have this on my phone (although I'm sure it'll be "free" then IAP-heavy because that's the only business model).

EDIT: According to Kotaku, just for the Switch. Right, time to get a better job so I can afford one.