Here Are 6 More Exciting Games Coming Soon to Apple Arcade
Credit: Touch Arcade
It’s been just over three weeks since Apple Arcade launched to the masses, which means that as the one-month free trial period draws to a close for many users, it’s now time to start considering whether Apple’s new gaming service is going to be worth the ongoing $4.99 monthly fee.
Although Apple promised that Arcade would feature over 100 exclusive titles, the number available at initial launch was about two thirds of that goal. While a few other games have shown up here and there in the intervening weeks, bringing the total to around 75, as the clock runs out on the free trial period for many, it looks like Apple is making a stronger push to get a few more high-profile titles on board.
In addition to a new Crossy Road title that we heard about earlier this week, according to Engadget, there are five more new premium games that should be appearing on Apple Arcade today, most of which are complete with release trailers from their developers, and as usual the game releases run the gamut of gaming styles; Apple clearly wants to run a balanced service that offers something for every gaming audience. Read on for the new games that are coming soon to Apple Arcade.
Crossy Road Castle
While we don’t have a date for it yet, there’s the much-anticipated release of Crossy Road Castle which we saw announced earlier this week via TouchArcade, and it seems like it should be landing soon.
This is the evolution of Crossy Road, the popular modernized version of Frogger by studio Hipster Whale that took the mobile gaming world by storm back in 2014. It looks like the new entry will follow the same visual design of the first one, with some new play styles, along with many characters to play with and local multiplayer for up to four gamers.
Although the original game used a “free-to-play” model, it was less rapacious than most, however the new one, as an Apple Arcade title, will be doing away with that entirely. The nature of Apple Arcade also means that this one won’t be coming to Android gamers.
Inmost
Developed by Hidden Studio Games and published by Chucklefish, of Stardew Valley fame, Inmost features the kind of 8-bit graphics design that we’d expect, although the similarity to Chucklefish’s prior games seems to end there.
Inmost is a somewhat darker game, with monochromatic pixel art that seems inspired by Tim Burton and a gaming motif that feels like a darker side-scrolling Legend of Zelda. Gamers will be able to control three different characters, battling with enemies and both avoiding traps and using them to their advantage while trying to find their way around the haunted landscape.
Stela
While Apple insists on some exclusively for the games that it backs on Apple Arcade — they can’t come to other mobile platforms, for example — there are no restrictions on releasing them for consoles, and Stela is a really interesting example of this policy. It’s already been announced as coming to the Xbox One on Oct. 17, so it’s really just making an early debut on Apple Arcade. It’s coming to Steam early next year too.
While it’s easy to dismiss this one as yet another puzzle game on a service that’s already chock full of them, the graphics and sound behind this one take it to the next level. It’s basically a platform puzzler with rich and gorgeous landscapes and a great haunting soundtrack to back it up. Unlike many platformers, however, this one seems more focused on getting around and navigating the landscape than it does on combat, so it’s more for the explorer than the fighter.
ShockRods
This racing game is another example of a game that’s making it debut on Apple Arcade, but will soon be available in the wider world of Steam. It’s a futuristic multiplayer racing game that reminds us a bit of AG Drive, although there seems to be a lot more combat.
There are also multiplayer modes like deathmatch and capture the flag, so it’s not purely about being the first to the finish line, and many of the race courses are much more intricate than your average race track.
Decoherence
Decoherence combines aspects of a real-time strategy game with classic Mortal Kombat style PvP play. Armies of robots fight it out on the battlefield with heroes meeting up for one-on-one combat.
There’s apparently a high degree of customization here too, so you can build your dream battle robot to handle just about anything.
Mind Symphony
According to Engadget, Mind Symphony promises to “emotionally and mentally impact you” but there’s not much else known about the game, nor is there even a trailer available, but it looks to be a surreal action shoot ‘em up game with synced up music and modes that range from serious action to a “Calm Mode” that lets you time your attacks to the beat of the music.