Apple Arcade free trial available to new subscribers only. £6.99/month after trial. Plan automatically renews until cancelled. Terms apply.

What is Apple Arcade?

If you’re one of the iPhone users wondering what is Apple Arcade, you can find out all about the gaming service in our one-stop guide.

Custom image for what is Apple arcade guide with a silhouette shrugging under the Apple Arcade logo

If you’re on the App Store and wondering “what is Apple Arcade?“, we’re here to answer that question. Despite a pretty significant ad campaign and the arrival of some classic games, plenty of you are still trying to figure out what you might get from subscribing to Apple Arcade. In this guide, we’ve got all the answers.

For more help with apps and making your mobile work for you, check out our iPhone update, how to delete contacts on iPhone, and how to delete apps on iPhone guides. Or, if you’re looking to jam out to some tunes while you play, see our YouTube Music download, Spotify download, and Apple Music download guides.

What is Apple Arcade?

Apple Arcade is a gaming service that provides you with access to a massive library of games for a monthly fee. It’s not a streaming service either, which means you can download and play any of the available games you want without worrying about signal or service.

Considering some of our reviews of Apple Arcade games – just see the strong scores on our Monument Valley 2 review and Gibbon: Beyond the Trees review – it’s definitely worth trying out for any avid mobile gamers. Even if you’ve tried it before, new games arrive every month, so there might be something fresh for you to play on returning.

How much is Apple Arcade?

The price of an Apple Arcade subscription depends on where you are in the world and the local currency. We’ve laid out the pricing structure below, so you don’t have to go to the App Store to find out for yourself. It’s also worth making the point that Apple Arcade is part of the Apple One subscription service, so you might already have access to this library of games without knowing it.

  • U.S.A. – $6.99 monthly or $69.99 annually
  • Europe – €6.99 monthly or €69.99 annually
  • United Kingdom – £6.99 monthly or £69.99 annually

Screenshot of the device options for Apple Arcade for what is Apple Arcade guide

How do I download Apple Arcade?

Funnily enough, you don’t actually have to download an Apple Arcade app. Instead, you can just jump on the App Store and you should find the Apple Arcade tab at the bottom of the screen. If you need assistance, we’ve got instructions below.

  1. Open the App Store
  2. Select Arcade (the fourth option)
  3. Scroll the games library!

What games are on Apple Arcade?

With the service adding new titles every month, there are plenty of exciting titles available to play. For our personal favorites, we’ve got a list of the best Apple Arcade games. We also have a list of every Apple Arcade game, so even if you’re just thinking about indulging in the service, you can check out what’s playable before making the leap.

Is Apple Arcade worth it?

Whether Apple Arcade is worth it or not depends entirely on how many games you play and whether the library has anything of interest to you. In all honesty, if you’re big into FPS games or MMOs, there isn’t much for you here. However, if you enjoy engaging solo experiences, there’s a lot to dig into, with plenty of puzzle games, adventure games, and even some good old-fashioned card games.

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What happens if I cancel my Apple Arcade subscription?

If you cancel your Apple Arcade subscription, you can no longer play the games you downloaded while a member. Fortunately, the apps don’t delete themselves, and neither do you save files, so you can pick up where you left off if you return to Apple Arcade in the future.

There you have it, our answer to the question “what is Apple Arcade?”. If you can’t currently afford the service, it doesn’t mean you have to stop playing, just check out our picks for the best free mobile games. Or, if you’re looking for some mobile game freebies, check out our Coin Master free spins and free Monopoly Go dice guides.