Is Apple Arcade Worth the Investment in 2024?

Are you planning to buy a subscription to Apple Arcade at $49.99 per year? Well, let me stop you right there before you make the biggest mistake of your life.

Apple Arcade Sucks. Here’s Why

After spending some time playing Apple Arcade games, I must say my experience hasn’t been as great as I hoped. Let me explain to you why –

First, let’s talk about the game library. Honestly, it’s quite disappointing. The collection feels small and doesn’t seem to get updated often. I was looking forward to a big library of games but found myself browsing a gaming store with around 200-something games. This lack of variety and new additions makes staying excited about the service hard.

The selection of games is another point where I found myself wanting more. Despite the diverse genres, I struggle to find games that matches my interest. It feels like the platform is trying to cater to everyone but ends up not fully satisfying anyone. This leads me to question who exactly Apple Arcade is for.

Value for money is a big question mark. Before thinking of buying its subscription, I divide the pros. and cons. but I always end up asking myself, is that really worth it? Paying every month for a gaming store never leaves me fully satisfied in the end. Honestly, that’s why I ended up getting a PlayStation Plus subscription.

What about core gamers? As someone who considers themselves more than just a casual player, I find Apple Arcade’s offerings a bit underwhelming. Apple doesn’t seem to have much to offer those looking for a meaningful, more engaging gaming experience. This gap leaves me feeling left out, as if my gaming needs and preferences are an afterthought to them.

Lastly, the feeling of stagnation. It’s disheartening to see the same games cycling repeatedly without much new content to them. This lack of freshness can make the whole Apple Arcade store feel stale and neglected. I’ve used this for at least a month after my free trial ended; Apple Arcade made it rare for me to find new games and feel excited about them.

Worst Apple Arcade Games

Now that I’ve already shared why I didn’t like Apple Arcade. Most of my opinion was based on the Apple Arcade games I played. Here’s a list of games that made me hate Apple Arcade games.

Balto –Balto had us dreaming of epic quests and challenges that teased our brains. But…meh. It’s like expecting a gourmet meal and getting fast food; it fills you up but doesn’t satisfy you. It always felt like something was missing from the game that could have taken it to the sky.
Cozy Grove: Now, onto the next game, Cozy Grove! This game is like that one puzzle piece that just won’t fit. It promised a cozy, heartwarming game at first but ended up making me feel stuck in a repetitive loop of item hunting. In the end, the game left me asking myself, “Where’s the Fun?
Frogger: Frogger, a name that carries a lot of nostalgia. So, I was excited to try it myself. But it just didn’t click. It’s tricky to put a webbed foot on exactly why, but let’s just say it wasn’t the way I expected it to be.
Game of Thrones: As a big GOT fan, I was excited to play this game. But the reality was far from it. The tasks and situations were too repetitive, quickly reducing the fun. It felt like I was stuck on a treadmill, running tirelessly but ending up in the same place.
Necrobarista: Necrobarista looked intriguing with magical potions and shadowy diners. But it turned out to be a marathon of dialogue that had us more ready for a nap than an adventure. And as for Fallen Knight, its controls were unmanageable and too difficult for me to handle.
Populous Run and Jumper Jon: Populous Run was frustrating because of the controls. They were so difficult to manage that it detracted from the actual game. And when it came to Jumper Jon, it felt low-quality and simple. It’s a backtracker type of game, but it was far too linear and lacked the complexity I was expecting.
Hitchhiker: Hitchhiker had me in the beginning. It was intriguing and different. But then my choices started feeling insignificant, and the ending was a big disappointment. It was almost like all the hours I spent playing were wasted.
Red Reign: Red Reign was a game of trials for me. The difficulty balance was off; choosing a medium level made it feel too hard, yet if I chose the easy level, it was a walk in the park. What frustrated me was the lack of a proper guide or tutorial. It became an exhausting trial-and-error game, except for the unique control scheme and simplicity that somewhat piqued my interest.