Apple Arcade Adds 5 New Games on September 3, Led by Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+

Block Blast!+ is the Arcade edition of Block Blast, a grid-based block-clearing puzzle game that was the most downloaded free iPhone game of 2025 and has stayed at or near No. 1 through 2026 . Its scale is enormous:

• ~725 million lifetime installs according to Appfigures, with some estimates as high as 868 million
• 70 million daily active users and 300 million monthly active users worldwide

The core gameplay remains the same — slot blocks onto a grid to clear rows and columns — but the Arcade version strips out all ads and in-app purchases. The free version's pop-up ads after each loss were a frequent complaint, making the ad-free format a direct response to fan demand . Players who already love the puzzle loop can now enjoy it without interruptions.

Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+ — A 2025 App Store Award Winner

Developer: Klemens Strasser

Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+ won a 2025 App Store Award for Cultural Impact. It combines jigsaw-style puzzle gameplay with nature-inspired artwork and storytelling about wildlife and conservation . Key features include:

• Calming, meditative pacing designed for relaxation
• Thoughtfully designed accessibility features that make the game welcoming to a broad range of players
• Fully ad-free on Arcade, so players can piece together puzzles without interruption

NFL Retro Bowl '27 — Pixel Football with a New Gauntlet Mode

Developer: New Star Games

The next entry in the hit pixel-art football franchise introduces a new Gauntlet Mode, where players must survive a 15-game win streak starting with limited resources, climbing a weekly leaderboard by choosing between easier matchups or riskier challenges. The game includes all official NFL and NFLPA teams and stars, plus the classic Career Mode. It is exclusive to Apple Arcade .

Other Titles Arriving September 3

Coloring Games for Families+ — An ad-free collection of coloring, dress-up, and creative activities designed for family-friendly play .

Let's Play! Oink Games+ — The Arcade version of Oink Games' popular party-game collection, included without ads or IAPs .

Apple Arcade Pricing

Apple Arcade is available as a standalone subscription or as part of Apple One bundles.

• Standalone subscription: $6.99 per month, or $49.99 annually ($4.17/month). New subscribers get a one-month free trial, and new device purchasers receive three months free .
• Family Sharing: One subscription can be shared with up to five family members at no extra cost .

Apple One Bundles (include Apple Arcade, Apple Music, Apple TV+, and iCloud+)

All Apple One plans include Arcade with no ads and no in-app purchases across the full catalog of over 200 games .