As countless new entertainment streaming services continue flooding the market, it was only a matter of time before companies began packaging them in convenient, easy-to-understand bundles. For example, not only can you get Hulu alongside fellow Disney products Disney+ and ESPN+, but you can also get Hulu as part of a student Spotify deal that also includes Showtime for some reason.  

So it comes as no surprise that Apple, having spent the last year ramping up its subscription entertainment offerings, now wants you to buy all of its services together at once through the new Apple One bundle. If anything, I’m just surprised it took so long. That first wave of year-long Apple TV+ free trials expires pretty soon. Forget cynicism, though. Apple One sounds like a legitimately great entertainment bundle, and it’s mostly thanks to Apple Arcade.

Mobile Gaming That Thinks Different 

I admit that Apple Arcade’s quality impresses me so much partly due to how much better it is than its fellow Apple One siblings. Apple spent unreal amounts of money on original programming for Apple TV+, but the only show on there that convinced me to pause Netflix was the video game-themed Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet. Meanwhile, Apple Music works perfectly fine, but the music streaming service feels surprisingly like an afterthought in its own space, despite how important music has been to the history of iOS and the iPod before that. An Individual Apple One subscription also comes with 50GB of iCloud storage. 

At $15 per month, at least that’s not a bad deal. On their own, Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade are $5 per month, Apple Music costs $10 per month, and the 50GB iCloud plan costs $1 per month. So you’ll save $6 per month. A close comparison might be all the music, movies, and TV you can get through Amazon Prime, but prices add up since services like Amazon Music Unlimited costs extra alongside a base Prime subscription. Still, a good price doesn’t help if the services themselves aren’t exciting.

However, a year after its launch, I can honestly say Apple Arcade is a great service. Unless your gamer hatred of Apple is so deep that you’re willing to fight on behalf of a multi-billion company like Epic Games, you should check out Apple Arcade. The single subscription grants you access to dozens upon dozens of fantastic games free of the exploitative free-to-play garbage systems that largely ruined mobile gaming as a whole. Perhaps feeling remorse for its role in letting things get so bad, Apple supports and lovingly highlights these games from indie studios and big publishers alike thanks to an editorial team that seriously understands the industry. Imagine that, we live in a world with Apple leadership that actually cares about good games.  

Whether you want to play with one hand on your iPhone or iPad touch screen, or with a proper controller synced up to an Apple TV or Mac, there’s something to play on Apple Arcade. The games fulfill mobile gaming’s early, creative promise of playing modest yet inventive and visually stunning experiences on your phone. Some of my favorites include randomized platformer Crossy Road Castle, action-packed puzzle game Grindstone, and trippy pop music adventure Sayonara Wild Hearts. Check out our full list of the best Apple Arcade games for more.

The Long Game

Apple Arcade also represents a fascinating look into the singularity that’s coming for all of gaming, whether Apple and its walled gardens like it or not. Games travel with you across devices as long as you stay with the service. Granted, you’re limited to Apple devices. But that still gives you more freedom to play whatever you want, wherever you want, through any screen you want. You don’t need a constant internet connection like with Microsoft’s xCloud, Google Stadia, or other game streaming services. You receive many of the benefits that come with subscription gaming, without fully handing yourself over to the cloud. 

So, why not just get Apple Arcade on its own? Buying Apple One saves you money compared to buying each service piecemeal. But beyond that, Apple knows its customers value their self-image. You buy and show off your Apple products because of what that says about you. It’s smart for Apple to position its promising, but fledgling, gaming service as just one of several parts in this bundle. You aren’t just a gamer. You’re worldly and well-rounded. You also care to stay informed with Apple News+ or stay in shape with Apple Fitness+ and your new Apple Watch Series 6. Incidentally, those last two services only appear in the $30-per-month Apple One Premier bundle. 

Take a Bite

I highly recommend trying Apple Arcade, and while you can get it individually, Apple One is also worth a sign-up if you plan to use even just one other service. If you already have an iOS device, you don’t need to shell out hundreds of dollars on a new console to play fantastic new video games this holiday. If nothing else, supporting quality iOS games sends a better message to Apple than getting a credit card partnered with Goldman Sachs.

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