Apple Arcade adds new 'Timeless Classics' and 'App Store Greats' categories

"Monument Valley" is now on Apple Arcade

Apple's subscription game service Apple Arcade has released its greatest number of additional titles since its launch in September 2019. Alongside 30 extra games, Apple Arcade now has two new categories, "Timeless Classics," and "App Store Greats."

"In its inaugural year, Apple Arcade won over media critics and fans for its creativity, diverse portfolio, and commitment to players' privacy, providing a safe gaming service to enjoy with family and friends," said Apple's App Store vice president, Matt Fischer, in a statement. "Today we're launching our biggest expansion since the service debuted... now offering more than 180 great games."

"Whether it's brand new games made exclusively for Arcade like 'NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition,' 'Star Trek: Legends,' and 'The Oregon Trail,' all-time App Store favorites like 'Monument Valley' and 'Threes!,' or traditional games like 'Chess' and 'Solitaire,'" he continued, "we have an incredible variety of gameplay experiences for everyone."

Timeless Classics

The new Timeless Classics category focuses on what Apple describes as "universally loved, quintessential genres" such as Backgammon, Sudoku and Solitaire. Now available on the service are versions of Chess and crosswords, too.

"Really Bad Chess" is an introduction to the game that adds random combinations of pieces. It's meant both to show how to use the knights, rooks, and so on, and to present a new challenge for existing players.

Apple says that the new "Tiny Crossword" comes with access to thousands of crossword puzzles. Not all are tiny, either, and their clues range across sports, movies, history and science.

App Store Greats

A highlight of the new App Store Greats category is "Monument Valley," previously a winner of an Apple Design Award. Its Apple Arcade version also includes the two subsequent game expansions, "Forgotten Shores," and "Ida's Dream."

Apple Arcade is a subscription service where the one monthly fee pays for access acrossiPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and Apple TV. New buyers of any of these devices get three months of Apple Arcade for free, otherwise it costs $4.99 per month.

The game service is also included in each of the Apple One bundle tiers, which start with an individual plan at $14.95.

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