Since its launch a year ago, Apple’s subscription mobile gaming service Apple Arcade has released over 130 games to play across the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. Some of the breakout games on the $5 (GBP5, AU $8)-a-month service include The Enchanted World, Where Cards Fall and Shinsekai: Into the Depths.
Apple Arcade has been steadily releasing new games every week or so, as well as updating others. Even though the gaming service has amassed an impressive catalog of games, we’re still waiting on some of the biggest titles promised at launch. Here are the games we can’t wait to play once they’re available.
All of You
Developer: Alike Studio
All of You is a unique family-friendly puzzle game in which players must help a mother chicken find all her lost chicks. Play and pause time to create the right path to complete the level.
The Artful Escape
Developer: Annapurna Interactive
The Artful Escape tells the story of teenage guitar prodigy Francis Vendetti. On the night of his first performance, Francis finds himself on a psychedelic quest of self discovery. Along the way, he battles dead folk legends and, at times, his own imagination.
The Artful Escape was first announced at E3 2017 and was listed in the Apple Arcade lineup last year. The X019 trailer promises a colorful, neon, musical side-scroller.
The Collage Atlas
Developers: John William Evelyn
The Collage Atlas, expected on Oct. 16, is an adventure game in a striking pen-and-ink storybook style. It seems like it’ll have meditative aspects.
Enter the Construct
Developer: Directive Games
Not many details were available about Enter the Construct last year, except that it was expected to be available at Apple Arcade’s launch. At that time, the images and videos showed the game as a first-person sci-fi shooter. Since then, there has been little to no information about Enter the Construct, so it’s possible it’s taken on a new name or has been canceled. CNET reached out to Directive Games and we’ll update when we hear back.
Fantasian
Developer: Mistwalker
Fantasian’s creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, a mastermind behind multiple RPGs including Final Fantasy, posts updates about the upcoming JRPG game fairly regularly on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. If you’re excited about Fantasian, you can scroll through Sakaguchi’s social media and get a look at the game’s concept art and its handcrafted dioramas as they’re being built. Mistwalker has posted designs of New Town En, Magitech Factory in Machine City, Secret Base and the Water City of Vence from the game.
HitchHiker
Developers: Mad About Pandas
HitchHiker is a mystery puzzle game where you play as the hitchhiker who doesn’t remember anything about their identity, their past or their destination. You’ll travel with five different drivers and make choices in the conversations that can help you remember your dark secrets. Solve environmental puzzles, keep an eye out for clues everywhere and make alliances — but remember that nothing is what it seems.
The Pathless
Developers: Giant Squid
The Pathless, one of the service’s most anticipated games, is coming on Nov. 12. You’ll play as the Hunter, tasked with fighting a curse of darkness and corrupt spirits with your eagle companion. Explore beautiful, misty forests on a magical island, solve puzzles and fight battles. The Pathless is a follow-up to the studio’s previous game, Abzu.
Read more: The Pathless launches on Apple Arcade, PS5 on Nov. 12. We got an early look at the game
You’ll also be able to play The Pathless on the upcoming PS5. During PlayStation’s State of Play broadcast, Annapurna Interactive showed off a few minutes of gameplay narrated by creative developer Matt Nava.
Proxi
Developers: Will Wright and Gallium Artists
Proxi is an AI simulation game from The Sims creator Will Wright. The game is built out of the player’s memories, using them as building blocks in the 3D world. Instead of creating a city or a house, as the player would do in The Sims, Proxi models the brain. You can store memories and millions of interconnected concepts, according to the website.
South of the Circle
Developer: State of Play Games
South of the Circle is a narrative adventure game set against the backdrop of the Cold War. After Peter, a Cambridge academic, survives a plane crash that leaves him stranded in Antarctica, his past begins to blend with his present. As he fights for survival, Peter realizes the decisions of his past might trap him in the frozen wasteland forever.
Ultimate Rivals: The Court
Developer: Bit Fry
This is a basketball-based follow-up to last year’s Ultimate Rivals: The Rink, which was a hyped-up three-on-three ice hockey game where you played as real stars from all kinds of sports — with added superpowers. Future iterations of the game could bring football, baseball or soccer to Apple Arcade.
Wonderbox
Developer: Aquiris
When Wonderbox, formerly Box Project, was announced for Apple Arcade, there weren’t many details available aside from a photo of a cardboard box. Now, the action adventure game is due out soon, has an official name, and looks like fun for the whole family.