Apple Arcade kicks off 2025 with 7 surprise game launches
|
By
Giovanni Colantonio Published January 10, 2025 |
Apple Arcade just got its first update of 2025. The subscription service added seven new games to its roster, including three originals and four updated versions of classic games like Final Fantasy and Trials of Mana.
At the tail end of last year, Apple Arcade revealed a handful of games set to come to its ad-free mobile game service but stopped short of giving them a release date. Today, subscribers can download those seven titles on the iOS device of their choice.
The batch is headlined by Skate City: New York, the latest game by acclaimed mobile developer Snowman. The skateboarding game is a sequel to Apple Arcade’s launch title Skate City, an early standout on the platform. Another big addition is Three Kingdoms Heroes, the latest game from Koei Tecmo. The turn-based tactics game essentially looks like a microtransaction-free version of Fire Emblem Heroes but for the Romance of the Three Kingdom series. It’s well-timed, too, as Koei Tecmo is set to release another Three Kingdoms game, Dynasty Warriors: Origins, later this month.
Apple Vision Pro owners are even getting something with the update. Gears & Goo, a tower defense game built for Apple’s headset, launches today. Digital Trends demoed it last year and found a simple but satisfyingly tactile strategy game that made good use of the headset’s eye-tracking and gesture controls.
Those new releases are rounded out by four existing mobile games joining the service. The original Final Fantasy and Visions of Mana are the standouts there, with both receiving “+” versions. Subscribers can also download Rodeo Stampede+ and It’s Literally Just Mowing+ today.
LEARN MORE
Related Posts
Your Fable reboot preview is here, open world Albion looks gloriously chaotic
The hook is familiar, your choices matter, people notice, and consequences linger. The difference is scale. This is a fully open world take, with townsfolk on routines who respond to what you do, even when you think no one’s watching. It’s still chasing that mix of heroics, petty crime, and dry British humor, only with modern action RPG muscle.
Nintendo’s latest product wants to cheer you up with random quips
Nintendo first teased the Talking Flower during a Nintendo Direct showcase last September. The company has now shared more details about the product, and confirmed when it will officially go on sale. Based on the flowers in the Super Mario Bros. Wonder game, the Talking Flower is exactly what its name suggests: a potted flower that speaks around twice per hour, delivering lines like "Sometimes it's nice to space out" or "Bowser and his buds can't get us here, right?"
Your next road trip is booked: Forza Horizon 6 comes this May
The announcement came during the Xbox Developer Direct 2026 showcase, where Playground Games shared the first extended gameplay look and confirmed the release timing, including early access for Premium Edition players. Those who pre-order the Premium Edition will be able to start playing four days early on May 15. Importantly, this year’s Forza Horizon isn’t limited to Xbox and PC. For the second entry in a row, the series will also arrive on PlayStation 5 later in 2026, and players can already wishlist it on the PlayStation Store for launch notifications.