The Best Apple Arcade Games

One of the things we were most excited about when we first heard about Apple Arcade were the developers involved in creating the initial games. Apple went all out on picking some of the best developers in mobile games (and really in games on all platforms) in hopes of creating some truly unique and different offerings. So far, they haven't disappointed. 

But the games themselves on Apple Arcade are large. Some requiring 2-4 gigabytes just to download them. So when space is limited and you've got one of those 16, or 32 GB iPhones, you may be wondering which games to try first and which games really live up to the hype. Well, for that we've got you covered.

Below are the top 9 games we've tried so far on Apple Arcade. We'll keep reviewing them and adding new games to our Apple Arcade Tier List as we try out the rest of the offerings ourselves and see which ones truly are the best.

Oceanhorn 2: Action/Adventure RPG

Why: Big things come in small packages. Oceanhorn 2 provides all the best parts of Zelda with the simplicity of well-designed controls. With intuitive gameplay, incredible settings, and smart puzzles, it'll have you hooked for hours.

Bleak Sword: Artsy Action RPG

Why: Devolver Digital doesn't let you down with this action heavy, natural feeling arcade style slasher on a weird 3D cross section map. If you're in the mood for something unique and artsy that also hits all the right notes in terms of action gameplay, Bleak Sword is your game.

Hyper Brawl Tournament: Arena Fighter

Why: HyperBrawl would be a prime pay to play game in any other app context. Put four players in an arena, give them weapons and upgrades for purchase, and let them duke it out competitively. But on Apple Arcade -- with no In App purchases and lots of upgrades to get stronger, this title is a really incredibly fun fighter for the competitive VS combat player.

Super Impossible Road: Artistic Racing Game

Why: An excellent racing game that feels like Super Monkey Ball on Mario Kart's Rainbow Road, this challenging racer is a blast and a half -- but would be a bit more fun if you could do endless free-fall speedrunning. Still, it's a challenging and exciting offering for Apple Arcade.

Hot Lava: Action 3D Platformer

Why: In a world where the floor is hot lava and you've gotta Parkour your way to save the day, Hot Lava promises innovative motion controls in addition to swiping, making this 3D platformer incredibly challenging and incredibly fun when you get the hang of it. Great for waiting in line at the doctors office.

Tangle Tower: Mystery Puzzle Game

Why: A sequel to Detective Grimlore, Tangle Tower comes with really great production value, painted backrounds, is fully voice-acted, and comes with top notch art, sound design, and background evidence/lore. If you're not into puzzle games, this may not be your thing, but Tangle Tower is pretty incredible.

Lego Brawls: Platform Fighting Game

Why: This great exclusive battler has tons of potential, but loses some of the Super Smash Brothers feel by only allowing coop play on Apple TV (for those in the same room). We hope it'll eventually allow two users on cell phones to link up and co-op like champions. Still, this game has an incredible mix of nostalgia with great gameplay.

Spidersaurus: Arcade Side-Scroll Shooter

Why: This Contra-style game comes packed with really clever storytelling that'll have you laughing the whole way home, and some pretty innovative swipe controls built for mobile devices. Still, the controls can be a bit tough to put together initially and this title might be best played with a separate linked controller to maximize the fun.

Mutazione: Mutant Soap Opera

Why: If you want something really... different, you should check out Mutazione. Don't let the rating undervalue this interesting title, we just recognize it won't be everyone's cup of tea.