Apple Games

In the Apple Games app, you can subscribe to Apple Arcade to enjoy unlimited access to a curated collection of games on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV 4K. You can subscribe to Apple Arcade or to Apple One, which includes Apple Arcade and other services.

With Family Sharing, you can share Apple Arcade with up to five other family members, and they don’t need to do anything. Once your subscription begins, it’s there for them the first time they open the Apple Games app.

Note: Apple Arcade and Apple One aren’t available in all countries or regions. The availability of Apple Arcade games across devices varies based on hardware and software compatibility. Not all Apple Arcade games are available on Mac and Apple TV 4K. Some content may not be available in all areas.

Subscribe to Apple Arcade

1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPad.
2. Tap Arcade and tap the subscription button.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Share Apple Arcade with family members

When you subscribe to Apple Arcade or Apple One, up to five other family members can get Apple Arcade too if you use Family Sharing. Your family group members don’t need to do anything. Apple Arcade becomes available when they first open the Apple Games app after your subscription begins.

If you join a family group that subscribes to Apple Arcade or Apple One while you already subscribe, your own subscription won’t renew on your next billing date, and you’ll use the group’s subscription. If the group doesn’t subscribe, it uses yours.

Note: You can stop sharing Apple Arcade with a family group by canceling the subscription or choosing to leave the family group. If you’re the family group organizer, you can also stop using Family Sharing.

Play Apple Arcade games on your Apple devices

If you subscribe to Apple Arcade, your game progress follows you to every compatible device signed in to the same Apple Account, where you can play and pick it up.

Change or cancel your Apple Arcade subscription

1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap your name and then tap Subscriptions.
3. Tap Apple Arcade or Apple One and then follow the onscreen instructions.

Canceling your subscription means you can’t play any Apple Arcade games, including ones you downloaded to your device.

Resubscribe if you want to play Apple Arcade games again and get back access to your gameplay data. Wait too long, and some of your gameplay data might not be supported after you resubscribe.

See also

• Find and download games in the Apple Games app on iPad
• Play with friends in the Apple Games app on iPad

You can report a problem with a game that you downloaded from the Apple Games app on your iPad, and you can also request a refund. The Report a Problem website is where you do both, after signing in with your Apple Account.

You can also see your purchases and subscriptions in the App Store, and change game-related settings on iPad. And if you’re new to it, you can get started with the Apple Games app, too.

1. On your iPad, go to the Report a Problem website. Sign in to your Apple Account.
2. Tap I’d like to and then choose an option from the pop-up menu.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions.

See also

• Get started with the Apple Games app on iPad
• See your purchases and subscriptions in the App Store on iPad
• Change game-related settings on iPad

You can customize your gaming experience on iPad by changing settings for the Apple Games app and Game Center. These settings let you control notifications, friend requests, multiplayer gaming, and content restrictions.

You can accept or decline friend requests, and choose whether apps can access your list of Game Center friends. You can also reset the identifier used to report Games usage statistics to Apple.

Here’s how to change game-related settings on iPad.

Change Apple Games app settings

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Apps and tap Games. Then do any of the following:
   • Show or hide relevant content by combining your gaming activity: Turn on Combine Gaming Activity.
   • Reset the identifier used to report Games usage statistics to Apple: Tap Reset Identifier.

Change Game Center settings

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Game Center, then do any of the following:
   • View friends: Tap All Friends.
   • Accept or decline friend requests: Tap Friend Requests.
   • Allow or disallow apps to access your list of Game Center friends: Tap Share Friends List. Turn on Share Friends List.
   • Allow Game Center friends to find you with the email and phone number associated with your Apple Account: Turn on Help Friends Find You.
   • Manage activity sharing: Choose Everyone, Friends Only, or Only You to specify who can see your profile, achievement progress, leaderboard updates, and recently played games.
   • Allow invitations from nearby players: Turn on Nearby Players to allow nearby Game Center players in the same game to invite you to a multiplayer game over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth®.
   • Sign out of Game Center: Tap Sign Out.

Change Game Center restrictions

For a safer, more controlled gaming experience, set Game Center restrictions that limit features like multiplayer games, in-app purchases, and friend requests.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Screen Time and tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. Then turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
3. Tap App Store, Media, Web & Games, scroll down to Game Center, and then set any of the following restrictions:
   • Multiplayer Games
   • Adding Friends
   • Connect with Friends
   • Screen Recording
   • Nearby Multiplayer
   • Private Messaging
   • Profile Privacy Changes
   • Avatar & Nickname Changes

See also

• View and manage your game library in the Apple Games app on iPad
• Connect with friends in the Apple Games app on iPad

It’s more fun to play games with friends. In the Apple Games app, you can invite friends, see friend requests, and more.

You can also add a friend from their contact card in the Contacts app, see your friends’ recent activity, and report a user or remove a friend. When you get a friend request, there are several ways to respond.

Here’s how to connect with friends in the Apple Games app on iPad.

Add friends

1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPad.
2. Tap Friends, then tap the Invite Icons button.
3. Find a contact by entering their name and tap Invite.
4. Tap the Send button to send the invitation using the Messages app.

You can also add a friend in the Contacts app. Open their contact card, then tap Add Friend on Game Center.

Respond to friend requests

You can respond to a friend request from a contact in the Apple Games app in a number of ways:

• In the Apple Games app: Tap your avatar, then tap Friend Requests.
• In the Messages app: Tap the friend request link.
• In the Settings app: Tap Game Center, then tap Friend Requests.

See your friends’ recent activity

You’ll find your friends’ shared gaming history there, and you can compare achievements and send friends invite links and party codes.

1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPad.
2. Tap Friends.
3. In Friends & Groups, scroll down to see your friends’ recent activity.

You can also see your friends’ profiles and recent activity by going to the Settings app, tapping Game Center, then tapping All Friends.

Report a user or remove a friend

You can report a user for cheating, an inappropriate picture or nickname, or another problem. You can also remove someone from your Friends list.

1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPad.
2. Tap your avatar in the top right and then tap All Friends.
3. Tap the friend you want to report or remove and tap the More button. Choose Report Friend or Remove Friend.

See also

• Get started with the Apple Games app on iPad
• Change game-related settings on iPad

The Apple Games app is your central hub for the games you enjoy and the friends you play them with. It brings together your game library, activity from your games and friends, and personalized recommendations, and you can challenge your friends and see your Game Center achievements.

You can find recommendations tailored to your preferences, check which games your friends are playing, and compete with friends or players around the world. Your profile shows your Game Center achievements, friends list, and activity.

Sign in to the same Apple Account in both Game Center and the App Store, then use the Apple Games app to keep track of what’s new in the games you’re playing, discover new games, and stay connected with friends.

Discover new games

Find recommendations tailored to your preferences and see what games your friends are playing. Tap Home, then tap a game to learn more, download it, or jump right in if you already have it installed.

Play with friends

Play and compete with friends or players around the world. Tap Friends, then tap Challenge Your Friends.

View your profile and achievements

Tap your avatar in the corner of the screen to see your Game Center achievements, friends list, and activity. You can also customize your nickname and avatar.

Manage your library

Tap Library to access your downloaded games, track achievements, and filter your collection.

To find, play, and share more games, check out these guides:

• Find and download games in the Apple Games app on iPad
• Play with friends in the Apple Games app on iPad
• View and manage your game library in the Apple Games app on iPad
• Connect with friends in the Apple Games app on iPad

In the Apple Games app, you can browse Apple Arcade titles, view your downloaded games, check in-game events, and track your achievements in your library. You can also sort and filter your games to quickly find what you’re looking for.

You can sort your games by Recent Games, Name, or Size, and filter them to show games on this iPad, Apple Arcade games, and more. You can also see recent updates, and delete a game.

Note: Apple Arcade and Apple One aren’t available in all countries or regions.

View and organize your games

1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPad.
2. Tap Library, then do any of the following:
   • Browse your games: Scroll through the list of games under Your Games.
   • Sort your games: Tap the Filter button. Choose a sort option (Recent Games, Name, or Size).
   • Filter your games: Tap the Filter button and choose a filter option to show specific games (On This iPad, Apple Arcade, Friends Playing, Controller Support, Support Challenge, or Categories). To clear a filter, tap the Filter button and tap Clear Filter.

     Tip: To see only the games currently installed on your iPad, select the On This iPad filter.

See in-game events or recent updates

1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPad.
2. Tap Library and then tap Events.
3. Select the game you want to see in-game events or updates for.

Searching for a game, or opening its game page in the Home or Search tab, also shows you events and updates.

Check your achievements for a game

For supported games, you can track your Game Center achievements, viewing your progress and seeing which goals you’ve completed.

1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPad.
2. Tap Library, then tap Achievements.
3. To organize your achievements, tap the Filter button. Choose an option.
4. Select the game you want to check achievements for.

Browse Apple Arcade games

If you’re an Apple Arcade or Apple One subscriber, you can also browse Apple Arcade games in your Library.

1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPad.
2. Tap Library, then tap Apple Arcade.
3. Tap the Filter button, then do any of the following:
   • Turn Show Previews on or off.
   • Sort games by Release Date, Last Updated, Name, or Category.
   • Filter games by Controller Support, Multiplayer, or Age Ratings.

Delete a game

Need to free up space on your iPad? Delete games directly within the Apple Games app.

1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPad.
2. Tap Library.
3. Touch and hold the game you want to delete. Tap Delete Game.

See also

• Find and download games in the Apple Games app on iPad

In the Apple Games app, you can find your next game across dozens of categories including action, adventure, racing, puzzles, and more.

You can explore new releases, see top charts, or get personalized suggestions, and view Apple Arcade’s curated collection of games (subscription required), which have no ads or in-app purchases. You can also search or browse by category, see reviews and privacy information, and download or buy a game, play it, or quit it.

Note: Game Center, Apple Arcade, and Apple One aren’t available in all countries or regions. The availability of Apple Arcade games across devices varies based on hardware and software compatibility. Some content may not be available in all areas.

Browse or search for games

1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPad.
2. Do any of the following:
   • Explore new releases, see top charts, or get personalized suggestions: Tap Home.
   • View the curated collection of games from Apple Arcade (subscription required) without ads or in-app purchases: Tap Arcade.
   • Search or browse: Tap the Search button, browse by category or enter what you’re looking for. Then tap the Search button on the onscreen keyboard.
3. Select a game to see information such as ratings, game controller support, leaderboards, achievements, and more.

   To see additional information like reviews and privacy information, tap View in App Store.

Download or buy a game

1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPad.
2. Go to the game you want and tap the price. If the game is free, tap Get.

   If you see the Redownload button instead of the price or Get, you purchased this game before. Tap the Redownload button to download it again for free.

3. If required, authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to complete your purchase.

   Purchases are made with the payment method associated with your Apple Account.

In a Family Sharing group, a child may have to ask permission before downloading or buying games.

Play a game

1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPad.
2. Do any of the following:
   • Play a downloaded game: Tap Library and then tap Play next to the game you want to play.
   • Continue a game: Tap Home, then tap the game in the Continue Playing section.

Quit a game

To quit a game, open Exposé, swipe right to find the game, then swipe up on the game.

See also

• Play with friends in the Apple Games app on iPad
• Connect a game controller to iPad