We’re a few weeks into the NFL season and less than a month away from the start of the NBA season. Fittingly, Apple Arcade brought Retro Bowl ’26 to sports gamers in September ahead of the NFL season, and the service is bringing NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition to gamers on Oct. 2, a few weeks before the NBA season officially starts.
Apple Arcade is filled with familiar and classic games, alongside exclusive titles, that you can play for $7 per month (£7, AU$10). Many of these games can be found in the App Store, but they may have paywalls and ads that hinder your gaming experience.
An Apple Arcade subscription gives you access to games without paywalls and ads, a feature usually denoted by “Plus” in the name. Here are all the games Apple Arcade subscribers can play starting on Oct. 2. You can also check out the games Apple added in September, like Retro Bowl ’26.
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NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition
Developer: 2K
You’re a league rookie in the latest installment of this gaming franchise, but that doesn’t mean you can slack off. Build your player from the ground up, enjoy the journey to become an NBA star and lead your team to the championship.
This entry in the series brings NBA Eras to Association Mode. That means you can manage legendary NBA dynasties throughout the ages, like the Magic Johnson era of the LA Lakers or the Larry Bird era of the Boston Celtics. And new decades of NBA Eras will be released each season, so maybe you’ll be able to play the Tim Duncan-era San Antonio Spurs or the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls.
Thomas & Friends™: Let’s Roll Plus
Developer: StoryToys Limited
Thomas the Tank Engine is back in this kid-friendly game. You can pick your favorite engine, drive around the Island of Sodor and go on journeys into places like the Old Mine or Whiff’s Recycling Plant. After driving around, you can also let your creativity fly and build your own train tracks with the Track Builder feature.
Piffle Plus
Developer: Hipster Whale
Zip up your cat onesie for this adorable arcade puzzle game. Your goal is to break all the blocks on each board by shooting Piffle Balls at them. You can collect and craft new Piffle Balls, and you can give them power-ups to help clear the boards faster. You’ll have a cat-tastic good time!
Dominoes: Classic Tile Game Plus
Developer: MobilityWare
Whether you’re new to the game or have been slapping bones for years, you can play the classic strategy game of dominoes right from your device. You can learn to play classic game modes, like Draw Dominoes or All Fives, face off against characters with unique playstyles or complete daily challenges and goals in this well-known board game.
You can access these games starting on Oct. 2, and there are plenty of others you can play in Apple Arcade, too, for $7 a month or $50 annually. You can also try Apple Arcade free for one month with your first sign-up, or you can get a three-month free trial when you buy an Apple device.
To access Apple Arcade, open the App Store on your iOS or iPadOS device and tap the joystick in the menu bar.
