Month: December 2020

The Apple TV Gaming Starter Pack – Download These Free Games Now

Update: The Afterpulse has been removed from this list as its servers have since shut down.

Original story: Unboxing a shiny new gaming console at Christmas time is a lot less fun if you don’t have any games to play.

I remember eagerly unboxing my Atari back in the day to find the Combat cartridge waiting for me in the box, and I’d easily rate it as one of the best Atari games ever. There was also the excellent Alex Kidd, which came preloaded on the SEGA Master System. And it’s great to see Sony reviving the tradition of providing a preloaded game to play with Astro’s Playroom on the PlayStation 5 – a game that’s getting very strong reviews too.

If you’ve recently unboxed a new Apple TV 4K, and you also happen to own a compatible controller (read this article for details), then you may plan for it to double as a gaming console – a function it handles very well.

And if so, you’re going to need some games.

Think of the 10 games over the page as your starter pack – games you can download for your Apple TV gaming console for no extra cost which will provide you with an insane amount of playable content. So much so, that I guarantee there’s enough over the page to keep you going through 2021 and beyond if you so choose.

Keep in mind however, these are free-to-play games, so there’s the usual currencies and in-app-purchases you can choose to make. I’ve selected games in which the monetisation does not get in the way of the gameplay, and if you choose not to spend a cent, that’s entirely up to you – the 10 games over the page will still be just as awesome.

The games over the page can also be played on the older Apple TV HD, but will run much smoother and in some cases, such as with Shadowgun Legends, will look a lot prettier on the newer model – the Apple TV 4K.

If you do decide to go on the hunt for more games for your Apple TV beyond this starting 10, the best place to look is The Best Apple TV Games Of 2020. In this article you’ll not only get a roundup of 2020, but also handy links to the previous roundups of 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Then of course there’s Apple Arcade, Apple’s gaming subscription service, which I can’t say enough good things about.

Alright. Free games? Hit the Continue button below. I’ve put them in alphabetical order so as to dispense with hierarchy.

Continue reading “The Apple TV Gaming Starter Pack – Download These Free Games Now” →

The Best Apple TV Games Of 2020

This time last year, I revisited ATVG’s 2016, 2017 and 2018 end-of-year roundups – taking a look back on the first three years of Apple TV gaming, with the benefit of a little more perspective. It was a journey worth taking, and if you’re new to this niche gaming console’s world, it’s the best way to get acquainted with what’s on offer.

Here’s some in-case-you-missed-it links for you:

ICYMI: Recap – Celebrating 3 Years Of Apple TV Gaming – Year One (2016)
ICYMI: Recap – Celebrating 3 Years Of Apple TV Gaming – 2017
ICYMI: Recap – Celebrating 3 Years Of Apple TV Gaming – 2018

Then of course there was 2019, which saw the birth of Apple Arcade; an event some might argue heralded the true birth of Apple TV gaming.

Have a read:

The Best Apple TV games of 2019

And now that you’re all caught up, welcome to 2020.

2020 has been an outstanding year for Apple TV gamers who also carry an Apple Arcade subscription. Without a subscription? Not so much.

Aside from a very few notable exceptions – of which I’ve chosen ATVG’s best four over the page – high quality console worthy non-Arcade titles were few and far between on Apple TV in 2020. I still believe they’re on the way, but it seems it will be a slow burn.

The ingredients are nearly all in place; Apple Arcade’s exceptional catalogue, plus PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X controller compatibility (with PS5’s DualSense compatibility rumoured to be not far behind), will continue to slowly draw attention to the platform.

New Apple TV hardware with more horsepower under the hood surely will arrive not too deep into 2021, allowing games closer to triple A status on Apple Arcade. With these arrivals, developers might be a little more inclined to see Apple TV as a viable destination for releases outside of Apple’s subscription service.

2021 will no doubt be another formative year for Apple TV gaming, as every early year in the life of a console this young will no doubt be. With new hardware and the safe bet of a tonne of new games (certainly for Apple Arcade anyway), combined with Apple’s penchant for the occasional unexpected one more thing, and it’s bound to continue being a fun ride.

If you do own an Apple TV 4K and compatible controller, and you want a fast track to turning it into an excellent place to play right now – grab yourself an Apple Arcade subscription and dig in. There’s currently nearly 150 options in Arcade’s roster, many of which deserve to be enjoyed within a console environment (i.e. big screen!).

Over the page I’ve put together the best Apple TV gaming releases of 2020, inclusive of both Arcade and non-Arcade titles. So enough with the preamble, and on with the games.

Continue reading “The Best Apple TV Games Of 2020” →

Best Apple TV Game Of 2020: Butter Royale

Choosing a Game of the Year is no easy task.

While my blogging output has been pretty minimal this year, I’ve played a lot of Apple TV games. So much so, I’m considering letting my PlayStation Plus subscription lapse. There seems to only be just enough room in my life for one console, and Apple TV combined with Apple Arcade is more than satisfying my gaming needs.

Out of all the Apple TV games I’ve played in 2020, there’s been one to which I’ve kept returning and pouring more hours into. Its developer has provided a constant drip feed of content and improvements, and its provided the most fun I’ve had with a controller in hand in a year that can be easily described as less than ideal.

Hit the Continue button below to find out why Butter Royale is The Apple TV Gaming Blog’s Best Apple TV Game of 2020.

Continue reading “Best Apple TV Game Of 2020: Butter Royale” →

Upcoming Sociable Soccer 2020 Update: Tightening The Screws

In a recent post I detailed how much I’ve been enjoying spending some quality time with Sociable Soccer 2020 on Apple Arcade. I also however, noted a couple of wrinkles that Combo-Breaker (who handles development while Tower Studios owns the licence) might hopefully iron out at some point.

Well in recent days I’ve actually been afforded an opportunity to play an unreleased build of SS2020, in which the developer is aiming to address some specific issues and improve the game’s quality in general.

I’ll stress that the improvements I’ve seen may or may not make it into the final update when released, so bare that in mind as we jump in and have a look at what Combo-Breaker have been tinkering with under the hood.

Mash the Continue button below.

Continue reading “Upcoming Sociable Soccer 2020 Update: Tightening The Screws” →

Oceanhorn Becomes A Trilogy via 16-bit Inspired Chronos Dungeon

Well that was unexpected. We now have a new Oceanhorn game to look forward to, as announced by studio Cornfox & Bros. earlier today. And wow, what a left turn the series is taking with this third title.

The 16-bit era is so revered that studios continue to pay homage, and Apple TV has it’s fair share. Recently released Aruna’s Adventure looks like serious fun, while the wonderful Evoland 2 takes players through a history lesson of RPG aesthetics (read ATVG’s review right here, and whatever you do, play it). And how can I not mention the iconic Chrono Trigger? Read the headline of this article again! If you’ve somehow managed to miss it on every other platform known to man, Chrono Trigger is also available on Apple TV.

Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon is throwing its 16-bit pixelated hat into the ring, and it looks the goods.

Hit the Continue button below for more.

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Space Marshals 3: Chapter One – Needs More Cow Bell

In 2020, players with an Apple TV HD and an Apple Arcade subscription have been spoiled with quality releases. Games such as Warp Drive, The Pathless, South of the Circle, Samurai Jack and Little Orpheus are just a very small sample of titles that have justified the Apple TV as a gaming console.

Outside of Apple Arcade however, quality Apple TV game releases have been few and far between this year. The occasional titles that trickle onto the platform such as Interloper, The Curse of Issyos, Hyper Light Drifter and Oddmar, are exceptions that highlight the rule.

Thankfully, as Apple TV continues to elude mainstream recognition as a gaming platform outside of Apple Arcade, studio Pixelbite continues to back the little black box with its Space Marshals series.

Releasing only a few short weeks ago, it turns out I actually got a few things wrong in my initial excitement after viewing the trailer for the first time.

Having managed to complete my initial run through of Chapter One’s 10 levels, it’s time to right those wrongs, and pose the question – does Pixelbite’s third Space Marshals entry deserve a number three in the title?

Continue reading “Space Marshals 3: Chapter One – Needs More Cow Bell” →