There’s something magical about games that bring you back to simpler times. And next month (April), Apple Arcade is rolling out six new titles that feel like a love letter to childhood gaming—whether you grew up feeding quarters into an arcade cabinet or building digital empires on your family PC. For me, these aren’t just games. They’re time capsules, rewinding back to holidays spent with siblings, building impossible roller coasters and laughing till someone rage quit.
If you’re still wondering whether Apple Arcade is worth a shot in today’s mobile gaming landscape, I shared my honest take a while back in this article. TL;DR: Apple Arcade isn’t just another subscription service—it’s a curated haven for gamers who are tired of microtransactions and energy timers.
And yes, one particular title has me fired up like it’s 1999 again.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures Deluxe: A Core Childhood Memory Rebooted
Let’s get one thing out of the way: RollerCoaster Tycoon isn’t just a game—it’s a rite of passage. If you grew up in the late ’90s or early 2000s, chances are you either built an amusement park masterpiece or unintentionally (or intentionally, no judgment) created a twisted deathtrap where park-goers left nauseous, broke, or stuck in an endless hedge maze. For me, it was all of the above.
Some of my best childhood memories are tied to this game. Summers spent huddled around a bulky CRT monitor with my cousins, arguing over which rides to build, who got to design the next coaster, and whether charging people to use the bathroom was morally wrong or genius capitalism. (Spoiler: we charged them. Heavily.)
And let’s not forget the soundtrack—those cheerful, borderline maniacal jingles that burrowed into your brain as you meticulously laid down queue lines and overpriced hot dog stands. It was a simpler time, when your biggest problem was making sure your roller coaster didn’t launch visitors into low orbit because you forgot to test it first. Good times.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures Deluxe brings all of that chaotic, nostalgic energy to Apple Arcade, but with a fresh coat of paint. Cleaner graphics, smoother interfaces, and better controls that make it easy to build parks on a touchscreen without accidentally deleting half your scenery. Plus, the Deluxe version includes even more rides, shops, and customization options to create the park of your dreams—or nightmares.
And the best part? No microtransactions. You won’t find yourself begging for more “theme park bucks” or watching ads to speed up construction. It’s pure, old-school Tycoon fun with none of the modern mobile baggage. Just you, your imagination, and the joy (and occasional guilt) of turning innocent visitors into theme park guinea pigs.
This one’s personal. RollerCoaster Tycoon is a core childhood memory for me, and the chance to relive it on my iPhone or iPad—anywhere, anytime—feels like finding an old photo album you thought was lost. Only this time, I might try not to make my roller coasters so intense that everyone throws up.
(Might.)
Katamari Damacy Rolling Live: Peak Japanese Whimsy From a Publisher Close to My Heart
Next up, Katamari Damacy Rolling Live. If you know me, you know I’m a sucker for Japanese games. There’s something about the way Japanese devs craft their worlds—quirky, surreal, often outright bizarre—that just hooks me in. Katamari Damacy is the poster child for that vibe.
You play as a tiny Prince tasked with rolling up literally everything into an ever-growing ball of chaos to rebuild the cosmos. Cows, traffic cones, skyscrapers—nothing is safe. And it’s all wrapped in that iconic offbeat Japanese humor. It’s weird, it’s wholesome, and it’s wonderfully therapeutic after a long day.
What makes this one extra special for me is that it’s published by Bandai Namco—the same folks behind my all-time favorite game series: Dark Souls. Just search for Dark Souls on iLLGaming and you’ll know what I’m talking about. While Dark Souls shoves you into a bleak, punishing world, Katamari Damacy does the complete opposite. It’s pure joy, wrapped in rainbow colors and funky tunes. Two wildly different flavors from the same kitchen. And I love them both.
Space Invaders: Infinity Gene Evolve – Classic Arcade Gets a Sci-Fi Glow-Up
Space Invaders is legendary. It’s the arcade game that defined a generation, and Infinity Gene Evolve takes that retro DNA and evolves it into something new. It starts simple—monochrome ships inching their way downward—but quickly spirals into a visual and gameplay spectacle. The evolving mechanics and psychedelic graphics feel like you’re playing a shooter and attending a synthwave concert at the same time.
It’s nostalgia with an adrenaline boost. If you cut your teeth on the original Space Invaders, this one’s like meeting an old friend who’s now a futuristic space DJ.
PuffPals: Island Skies – Comfort Food in Game Form
Sometimes, you just want a cozy game where nothing’s trying to kill you. PuffPals: Island Skies scratches that itch. It’s the digital equivalent of a warm blanket and a cup of tea. You farm, you decorate, you hang out with absurdly cute animals that look like they fell out of a kawaii art book.
This is comfort gaming done right. Whether you’ve had a rough day or just want something wholesome, this is where you go to recharge. I can already see myself losing hours decorating my house and befriending cloud-shaped critters.
The Game of Life 2+: Family Game Night Without the Board-Flipping Drama
Back when I was a kid, The Game of Life was a family staple. And like most family board games, it often ended with someone flipping the board in a fit of rage (usually me). The Game of Life 2+ brings that experience into the digital age, minus the mess.
With updated graphics, customizable avatars, and streamlined multiplayer, it’s an easy way to relive those family game nights. And the “+” means you’re getting the premium, ad-free version—so no annoying pop-ups in the middle of your midlife crisis.
Sesame Street Mecha Builders+: Childhood Icons Go Full Mecha
Sesame Street Mecha Builders+ might be for kids, but don’t judge me if I spend way too much time on this. Imagine Elmo, Abby, and Cookie Monster reimagined as mecha superheroes solving STEM-based problems. It’s fun, it’s educational, and it’s absurdly charming. If you have little ones, this is a no-brainer. If you’re just a big kid at heart, there’s no shame here.
iOS Is Winning Mobile Gaming—macOS Deserves Better
Let’s call it like it is: Apple has absolutely nailed mobile gaming with iOS. If you’re an iPhone or iPad user, you’ve got access to a sleek, smooth, and highly optimized gaming experience that’s head and shoulders above anything else in the mobile space. The App Store is flooded with high-quality titles (alongside the usual shovelware, but that’s par for the course), and Apple Arcade takes things a step further by offering a curated collection of games without ads, microtransactions, or the pay-to-win nonsense that’s plagued mobile for years.
The hardware helps too. iPhones and iPads pack serious power under the hood. Apple Silicon has proven time and time again that it’s not just efficient—it’s outright beastly when it comes to performance. Developers know this, and they’re building games that take full advantage of the hardware. And let’s not forget the ProMotion displays, haptic feedback, and ecosystem-wide integration that makes gaming feel seamless. Apple nailed the user experience here.
But here’s where things get frustrating: macOS is still lagging behind. Badly.
And it’s not because of the hardware. Modern Macs—whether we’re talking the M3 MacBook Air or the M4 Max-powered MacBook Pro, or for that matter, even the M1 and M2 MacBooks—are absolute powerhouses. These machines crush CPU benchmarks and feature some of the most beautiful, color-accurate displays in the business. They sip power while delivering workstation-class performance. On paper, they should be phenomenal gaming machines.
The problem? Developer support. Or rather, the lack of it.
For years, macOS has been treated like an afterthought by major game studios. AAA titles are few and far between, and even when we get a macOS release, it’s often years late or poorly optimized. Part of this is Apple’s own doing—its historically closed ecosystem and reliance on proprietary graphics APIs like Metal haven’t exactly made it easy for developers to port their games. Add to that the perception that “Mac users don’t game,” and you end up with a vicious cycle: no games because there’s no audience… no audience because there are no games.
It’s a shame because we’re sitting on the potential for something truly game-changing. Imagine a world where your MacBook Pro isn’t just your workhorse laptop—it’s also your primary gaming rig. No more dual-booting into Windows. No more streaming games from a PC in another room. Just native, high-fidelity gaming experiences that run beautifully on macOS. The hardware is ready. The players are ready. Apple just needs to push harder.
To be fair, they’re making moves. We saw a glimmer of hope with the Death Stranding port and the recent Resident Evil Village release, both of which run natively on Apple Silicon. And there’s the new Game Porting Toolkit, which has made it easier for devs to bring their games over from Windows. It’s progress—but we’re not there yet.
Meanwhile, on iOS, it’s a completely different story. Apple Arcade continues to add meaningful, creative games that work flawlessly across devices. There’s a sense of intention behind the platform—curated content, high standards for quality, and an ecosystem that just works. Gaming on an iPhone or iPad feels like the best-case scenario for mobile gaming. It’s the console experience in your pocket, minus the predatory monetization schemes.
And yet… my MacBook Pro is sitting here, perfectly capable, begging for more.
As someone who’s trapped in Apple’s ecosystem—and kinda likes it, this is personal. I want to see Apple go all-in on Mac gaming. Because if there’s one company that can rewrite the rules and make macOS a serious player in the gaming world, it’s Apple.
But they need to stop dipping their toes in the water. It’s time to dive in.
Final Thoughts: Nostalgia, Reimagined
Apple Arcade’s upcoming releases are hitting all the right notes for me. It’s nostalgia reimagined for the modern gamer, with a little something for everyone—whether you’re building the theme park of your dreams or rolling up the world into a cosmic Katamari ball.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some roller coasters to design. And maybe this time, I’ll try not to make them so intense that every visitor throws up.
(But no promises.)
