It has been over a decade since a new game was added to the wonderfully quirky Katamari series. The first two iconic titles from the PS2 era, Katamari Damacy and We Love Katamari, are beloved classics that have been remastered for modern consoles. However, the enigmatic King and the charming Prince have made their reappearance on Apple Arcade through Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE. Although series creator Keita Takahashi has moved on from Katamari, Bandai Namco has continued to release enjoyable updates over the years, and Rolling LIVE seamlessly fits into this legacy.

This title marks the first fully developed Katamari game for the iPhone, delivering the beloved rolling gameplay that fans have come to adore. The objective, since the inception of the series, is to roll a sticky ball known as a Katamari throughout expansive environments, collecting everything in your path to increase its size. Occasionally, you may receive specific tasks, such as rolling up valuable items to create the highest-value Katamari possible. Ultimately, the joy lies in growing your Katamari large enough to engulf cars, buildings, bridges, and more—a satisfying experience that continues to resonate, reminiscent of the original Katamari Damacy from two decades ago.

While the game can be enjoyed on an iPhone, the experience is significantly enhanced with a dedicated controller and a larger display. In fact, I anticipate that most of my Rolling LIVE gaming sessions will be on my Apple TV paired with a PS4 controller. The dual-stick controls provide the ultimate way to immerse yourself in the Katamari experience.

If you have even a passing interest in video games, you’ve likely encountered the phenomenon that is Balatro, a captivating hybrid of card game and roguelike that is both quirky and utterly addictive. Apple Arcade has now added the mobile version, making it an essential download. Whether you’ve been immersed in the game on your PC and want to continue your journey on the go, or you’re a newcomer eager to dive in, Balatro translates perfectly to the small screen. It retains all the charm of the PC version, allowing you to hunt down dozens of Jokers to enhance your abilities and achieve ever-higher scores.

Surprisingly, you don’t need to be a poker expert to enjoy this game. Understanding the basics, such as what constitutes a two-pair hand, is sufficient to get started. Moreover, Balatro cleverly twists and distorts traditional poker rules in amusing ways, ensuring that standard strategies may lead you astray. This game caters to both completionists and casual players alike, so approach it with an open mind, experiment with different strategies, and watch your scores soar into the stratosphere.

Skate City was a pioneer among Apple Arcade games, and developers Snowman and Agens have consistently updated it with new content since its initial launch. However, Skate City: New York represents more than just a simple content update; it’s a newly developed title that introduces numerous enhancements and improvements over the original. Similar to its predecessor, the gameplay is easy to grasp yet challenging to master—performing tricks requires only a swipe in one of eight directions on your screen, while additional taps allow for mid-air rotations, grinds, or manuals. The key to success lies in chaining together longer combos, which, although challenging on a touchscreen, feels rewarding.

The visuals have received a significant upgrade, showcasing beautifully rendered areas of New York City to explore. Additionally, the game features a revamped “Pro Skate” mode that is now procedurally generated, ensuring that each run feels unique. In Pro Skate mode, players aim to accumulate the highest possible score, while also completing specific challenges, such as traveling a designated distance, knocking over a certain number of soda cans while grinding, or landing multiple tricks over staircases. Furthermore, an extensive tutorial mode is available to teach players tricks and help them master chaining moves, making it a deeply engaging experience that can be enjoyed in short bursts or lengthy sessions—ideal for mobile gaming.

Threes! revolutionized the mobile gaming landscape about ten years ago as the original “sliding numbers” puzzle game. The three-person development team behind Threes! dared to charge for their creation, inspiring a wave of lesser clones to flood the market. However, Threes! remains the most satisfying experience and is now part of the Apple Arcade collection.

The mechanics are straightforward yet immensely satisfying. Players slide numbers across a four-by-four grid, aiming to combine a 1 and a 2 into a 3, and subsequently merging threes to create progressively larger numbers. Each newly created number is accompanied by a whimsical catchphrase, and the game features a delightful soundtrack that never becomes tiresome. If you missed out on Threes! during its peak, this is the perfect opportunity to get immersed in its addictive gameplay.

For sheer whimsical gameplay, few titles can compete with What the Golf? and What the Car?. As their names suggest, golf and racing serve as the basic inspiration for these games, yet they quickly veer into absurdity. The first course has you dragging on the screen to hit a golf ball, but soon enough, anything from a cat trying to dislodge a giant frog to an egg aiming to land in a frying pan becomes your projectile. Delightful puns and wordplay abound, with level names like “A Hole New World” adding to the humor. The games also incorporate various sports to keep the experience fresh, allowing for unexpected scenarios like “golfing” on a soccer field.

What the Car? embraces a similar ethos of unpredictability, challenging players to navigate levels in unconventional vehicles. Instead of a traditional car, you might find yourself controlling a vehicle with legs or one equipped with a rocket pack for extra height. Other vehicles may even have lawn clippers, needing to cut grass to exit a level. In most cases, players race against the clock to achieve the fastest time possible, with cleverly hidden shortcuts throughout the game. Both titles are a delightful showcase of absurdity and offer a wealth of content to keep you engaged.

Mini Motorways and its predecessor Mini Metro are quintessential titles that can deliver both a relaxing and intensely stressful experience. The calm stems from the simple animations, soft color palettes, and minimalistic audio design by developer Dinosaur Polo Club. Conversely, the gameplay can quickly escalate into chaos.

In Mini Motorways, players are charged with constructing roads to connect residential areas and businesses, ensuring smooth traffic flow. It begins with a manageable number of houses and destinations, but as the city expands, the number of cars increases, and what was once an effective layout may suddenly become congested. Mini Metro shares a similar concept, inviting players to build subway lines and stations on maps resembling major cities worldwide.

Both games conclude when stations become overcrowded or traffic fails to reach its destinations. The final moments before a collapse are filled with tension as you attempt to reorganize streets or entirely redesign subway lines to accommodate the influx of passengers, all while striving for a higher score. Nevertheless, there’s a unique serenity when your subway system operates smoothly or when traffic in your city flows effortlessly. Replayability is virtually infinite, making these games a staple for mobile gaming enthusiasts.

Since its debut on Apple Arcade in 2019, I have frequently revisited Grindstone. This engaging puzzle game combines a thrilling premise with colorful graphics, featuring Jorj, a viking-like character who battles through boards filled with cute yet sinister enemies. Players can trace a path through the baddies, eliminating those of the same color in a single move. If you achieve a large enough combo, you can obtain a grindstone, enabling you to shift to a different color of enemies within the same chain, which allows for more complex and rewarding gameplay.

This core mechanic is just the beginning, as developer Capybara Games has infused Grindstone with a wealth of variety. Enemies become increasingly aggressive the longer you stay on the board, presenting the risk of becoming overwhelmed. The game features world bosses that cleverly utilize mechanics from previous levels, a plethora of items to unlock and use strategically, and several additional game modes that keep the experience fresh. Additionally, players can equip Jorj with outrageous costumes that grant unique abilities, such as the Santa suit that provides random power-ups. If you’re seeking a standout title to download from Apple Arcade, I wholeheartedly recommend Grindstone.

Among my all-time favorite games that have graced the App Store, the tranquil snowboarding and sandboarding experiences are visually stunning, featuring exceptional music and sound design. Despite jumping being the primary interaction mode, there’s an incredible variety in how you can engage with the environment. Once you master the art of catching air, you can perform impressive tricks like backflips and grinds, ultimately unlocking a wingsuit that allows you to float and take limited flight. This game is easily accessible for newcomers but also offers enough challenge and replayability to keep seasoned players engaged.

One of the game’s most remarkable features is its ability to balance a serene gaming experience with the motivation to improve your skills and achieve higher scores. As you start a run, you’ll be presented with three challenges (such as collecting 30 coins or completing a certain distance). After accomplishing these, you’ll level up and receive three new challenges. These can escalate in difficulty, providing a rewarding experience whether you aim for high scores, long distances, or simply wish to enjoy the game during short breaks or lengthy journeys.

Sp!ng is a quintessential puzzle game, impeccably designed with a high level of polish and flair. Within each of the hundreds of levels, players guide a ball-like avatar through mazes, but movement occurs only when they approach an anchor point. At that moment, tapping and holding the screen allows the ball to orbit around the anchor. Releasing your finger launches the ball in the natural direction, where gravity then takes its course. The challenge lies in navigating your path through the anchors to collect gems and reach the exit while avoiding traps like spikes.

This description may not do justice to the sheer enjoyment of gameplay, as the mechanics are intuitively grasped. The game progresses to present increasingly challenging levels, requiring strategic thinking to collect all gems while avoiding pitfalls. Mastering the timing and path for each level is immensely satisfying. It perfectly fits the casual pick-up-and-play style, allowing for quick sessions or longer gameplay marathons, along with numerous game modes to unlock and ways to customize your experience. Competing against friends on leaderboards adds an exciting element to the game.

Monument Valley and its sequel have earned their place as two of the most talked-about mobile games of recent years, celebrated for their enchanting atmosphere. The stunning artwork, minimal storytelling, serene music, and engaging gameplay together create an experience steeped in tranquility, with a hint of mystery waiting to unfold.

The gameplay centers around manipulating impossible geometry, guiding your character from one side of a level to the other while solving intricate puzzles.

The first game presents a vague narrative about a character seeking forgiveness, while the sequel offers a more concrete storyline, featuring a mother guiding her child through complex mazes. Throughout both games, meditative elements are woven into the experience, enhancing the overall atmosphere. However, you don’t have to be a parent to appreciate the clever puzzles and calming vibes. With the anticipated release of a third installment in the Monument Valley series on the horizon, now is the perfect time to immerse yourself in the first two games.

Crossy Road Castle embodies the essence of a classic platformer, meticulously designed with the iPhone in mind. The game features ten castles, each containing an “infinite” number of levels (although remixing and recycling occur after about a hundred levels). The design was tailored for portrait orientation on smartphones, which makes levels primarily focus on vertical climbing. The gameplay follows the familiar “avoid obstacles, collect coins, stomp on enemies” formula, yet the charming art style and the variety of animals you can unlock to play add a unique charm. The game strikes a perfect balance, providing enough challenges to keep players engaged without becoming overwhelmingly difficult. There’s even a cooperative multiplayer mode, allowing for local or online play, enhancing the chaotic fun.

Stardew Valley is often hailed as a pioneer of the “cozy game” genre. While the Story of Seasons series paved the way and titles like Animal Crossing have become cultural phenomena, Stardew Valley struck a chord with gamers and non-gamers alike—selling over 30 million copies across nearly every platform, including Apple Arcade.

This charming farming simulation game features beautifully crafted 16-bit graphics, which have been polished for modern audiences. The visuals, enchanting music, and the friendly dialogue from various townspeople create a warm atmosphere. Players can customize their experiences in myriad ways, from personalizing their character to deciding how to utilize every inch of their land. Additionally, light combat and exploration elements are present, inviting players to venture into mines near their farm. The ability to quickly check in from your mobile device adds to its appeal, making it even more addictive. For an optimal experience, I recommend playing on an iPad, where the expansive screen creates a more enjoyable environment.

Contrary to popular belief, this isn’t Flappy Bird—it’s vastly superior to that fleeting viral sensation. Tiny Wings has players guiding a charming little bird across a series of hilly islands, utilizing the slopes to gain speed and soar through the skies. It epitomizes the classic “easy to play, hard to master” gaming model, as players might reach their maximum distance in just a few days of playing. Yet, the quest to surpass your previous best remains exhilarating.

The art is stunning, and the soundtrack is infectious, adding to the overall charm of the game. The adorable protagonist enhances the appeal, making Tiny Wings a delightful and visually captivating experience. However, mastering the game requires skill, practice, and a touch of luck.

The premise is straightforward: avoid getting hit by saw blades. In A Slight Chance of Sawblades, players control a pixelated character attempting to evade an incessant barrage of saw blades. You have one minute to jump over as many blades as possible, which sounds simple, yet it’s deceptively challenging! Each blade you successfully evade adds a second to your timer, allowing skilled players to keep the game going for extended periods.

While I may not excel at it, this game offers a delightful challenge that’s easy to pick up and play. Although my attempts often result in scores below ten blades, there are moments of triumph when I find my rhythm and achieve an impressive high score. The emotional rollercoaster this game provides is genuinely engaging. It may not suit everyone’s taste, but I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I became invested in beating my own records.

Ridiculous Fishing made its debut in 2013, during the golden age of mobile games, when developers could charge reasonable prices for well-crafted games devoid of in-app purchases or advertisements. After some time in obscurity, the team behind Ridiculous Fishing revamped it, adding new features for its Apple Arcade release last year. Like the best mobile games, it’s easy for anyone to pick up and enjoy. Players send a fishing line down, trying to avoid catching any fish for as long as possible. Once they do catch a fish, the line is reeled in, and players aim to hook as many fish as possible before they shoot them out of the sky for money. Yes, it’s as absurd as it sounds!

This game encourages players to invest time in improving their skills, aiming to dive deeper into the ocean before snagging a fish; then, it’s all about catching as many fish as possible to maximize earnings. The feedback loop is highly satisfying, and the absurdity of the game enhances the enjoyment. It becomes even more entertaining as players utilize their earnings to acquire power-ups, such as a chainsaw lure that allows for ruthless fishing or a spring that sends fish soaring high into the air, just begging to be shot down.