The Best of Apple Arcade

By Finnegan, Grade 6

Recently, along with the Iphone 11 (Now with 24 dingles and 27 dongles), Apple released Apple Arcade with 100+ games. And 100 can be a bit overwhelming to a casual buyer. But I, Finn (Hi.), have the free 30 day trial and have picked out a few of the best games you should try in the Apple Arcade.

Sayonara Wild Hearts

Let’s get the best game out of the way first:

Sayonara Wild Hearts

Sayonara Wild Hearts is amazing. Wild Hearts is about a girl named Sayonara who goes around trying to stop people with “Wild Hearts” while using certain cards that give her vehicles/weapons along the way. This game makes you feel like you’re inside a series of pop music videos, and that’s not all the magic of this game. Controls: amazing, graphics: amazing, even music: amazing. This game is the whole package and I recommend 100% if you get Apple Arcade.

Score: 10/10

Hot Lava

Hot Lava is a platforming game where you action videos to a kid who brings you everywhere and makes you do parkour, The Floor is Lava style. Using other things like trampolines feel good to use their mechanics in unique ways to beat the level. The controls also feel good, the music is fun and something like what a gym teacher will play in elementary school, which is a nice touch. The graphics are one of this game’s strongest points, with the characters looking truly like action figures and each hub world looks like it’s real world counterpart (Like the Gym). But I have one issue. The early difficulty spike. After 6 of the first level, you have to beat a level with no checkpoints and if you stay still too long, you blackout. This is annoying and uncalled for but can easily be skipped as you go on to other hub worlds and you can come back later. All and all, Hot Lava is a great platformer and I would recommend.

Score: 9.5/10

Cards of Darkness

Cards of Darkness is a digital card game about a traveler doing a journey of destiny. And that’s it. It’s simple. And simple is good. In fact, it’s so simple, it’s all hand drawn. But now let’s talk gameplay. The drawn cartoon graphics are beautiful and the animations are smooth and funny. The gameplay is easy to understand, hard to master, and fun to play. A difficulty spike is also here, but the game is so fun. The characters’ dialogue are also funny and unique. Cards of Darkness is a great game and is under-appreciated and deserves more love.

Score: 9.5/10

That was some of the best of Apple Arcade. Since Apple Arcade has only been out for a little more of a week, I bet you there’s some hidden gems not found yet. But I’m not the one to find them. You find the gems and make your Apple Arcade experience worth it.