Pips and pixels
Pips and pixels is a new column from James Bentley, iMore’s resident gaming expert, discussing all things gaming in the Apple ecosystem. Pips and Pixels explores the latest news, add-ons and titles you may have missed, and brings you commentary from leading developers in the app market. As recent advances in Apple Silicon M processors and the all-new A17 Bionic chip show, Apple is getting serious about gaming. James looks to the rest of the gaming industry to see what could be next for Apple gamers.
The iPhone is an amazing gaming device. When you make your way to iPhone 15 Pro Maxthe the best iPhone right now you have even more power at your fingertips than we’ve ever seen in an Apple mobile device before. However, newer isn’t always better, and the resurgence of desire to play older games proves that.
Want to play more retro games on the go, but don’t want to buy a dedicated device like the Analogue Pocket? A retro video game emulator is being launched as an alternative to the App Store in the EU, and Apple has even signed it up. And if you don’t live in the EU, the App Store will finally start accepting game emulators, but with one small caveat
We also got word this week that one of the best indie games of 2019 is coming to Apple Arcade, which gives me an excuse to revisit a game that really got me hooked a few years ago. Finally, if you want to play video games on Apple Vision Proone of our favorite management companies has added support for Apple’s surround sound headphones.
Read the summary.
This week’s Apple gaming news
1. Apple just opened the App Store for game emulators, but there’s a catch
In an effort to prevent customers from going to external sources like alternative app stores, Apple is finally allowing game emulators on its official App Store. However, Apple must verify these apps, and app providers are responsible for the software they offer and will be held liable under “all applicable laws”
In the EU, the Delta gaming emulator will be distributed through the Alt Store, an alternative to the App Store. As divided Riley Testut, the app’s developer, Apple has accepted the official Delta app for distribution, which means an Apple representative has reviewed the app and decided it could be supported for release.
This means that iPhone users will be able to easily emulate games from the NES all the way up to the Nintendo DS. Perhaps the best part of using Delta is that it has support for external controls, with Bluetooth keyboard support, custom button mapping, and support for the best iPhone controllers. If you want to play retro games on your mobile device, this will become the best way to do it.
2. Indie Game of the Year competing on Apple Arcade’s May covers — Sonic Dream Team, Game Room, and Hello Kitty Island Adventure are also slated for major updates
Dice dungeons+ will be coming to Apple Arcade on May 2nd. It’s a dice-based deck-building roguelike. Each turn, dice are rolled and you can play them on the cards you assign to your character, effectively making your charge. There’s an element of luck to it, thanks to those rolls, that you have to take into account when creating your build. With six central characters, all of whom are more difficult than the last, you have to face Lady Luck, who has turned you into a walking cube and thrown you into a twisted game. It’s a lot of fun and will definitely be one of the the best Apple Arcade games when it starts.
3. Some of our favorite 8BitDo iOS game controllers just added support for Apple Vision Pro
We here at iMore are big fans 8BitDo controllers. As recently announced, controllers like the beautiful 8BitDo Ultimate, 8BitDo Pro 2 and 8BitDo Lite 2 now have Apple Vision Pro support, making them perfect for playing Apple Arcade on that big virtual screen. Not only is this news exciting in itself, but it’s also a sign of further investment in Apple Vision Pro gaming. 8BitDo is one of the most well-known controller manufacturers, and if other companies see it commit to supporting the Apple Vision Pro, they may well follow suit.
Users get more Spatial games Apple Vision Pro now every few weeks, we can’t wait to see what the game lineup will look like in just a few months.
Gaming news from our friends
Baldur’s Gate 3 Publishing Director Says CRPG’s Latest Player’s Choice Victory Is Proof That “A Developer Is Not An Irreplaceable Asset” – GamesRadar
Baldur’s Gate is one of the best games for mac right now — a fantastic rendition of one of the best games in years. It’s a huge, character-centric, choice-based RPG, so it makes sense that the game’s creators care a lot about developers.
Michael Souse, the publishing director, claims that its Player’s Choice win at the BAFTA Game Awards, and praise for the game in general, “is a testament to the fact that a developer is not an irreplaceable asset.”
Slay the Spire 2 is happening because fans went “extra” for the original roguelike deck builder: “We love our job” – GamesRadar
Slay the Spire is one of my favorite roguelike games ever and can be played through the original Mac Steam port or as part of Apple Arcade. It’s a beautiful title that you have no excuse not to play. With the sequel announced at the Triple-i showcase, the developers announced that it only exists because of the amount of support fans have given it over the past few years.
Maintaining the acclaimed “Extremely Positive” review score. Steam with over 130,977 reviews, it’s a smash hit that’s managed to inspire many roguelikes since its launch in 2019. Slay the Spire 2 will launch in early access in 2025, with a Mac port hopefully coming soon after.
Calendar: Big Game Releases for April
- Ritual events is finally coming out of early access into its 1.0 release on April 18th. I played this game on day one of its early access release and enjoyed it quite a bit. A similar experience to Call of Duty Zombies, it is a multiplayer shooter where players fight against zombies, earn points from successful hits and use those points to buy new weapons and open doors to reach other parts of the map. It’s a simple loop, but a lot of fun. Although not yet natively available on Mac, it may work with Parallels Windows emulation.
- There is no rest for the wicked is a brand new action RPG from the creators of the Ori franchise. Like Ori, it has a great aesthetic, but is very different in almost every other way. Set in the year 841, you play the role of Cerim, a holy warrior who wants to fight against an unholy plague that has returned to their land. Modeled after Diablo, it looks hectic, brutal and very interesting.
| Games | Release date | Platforms | Can it be played on Apple? |
| A throne of bone | April 8 | PC | That |
| Children of the sun | April 9 | PC | Not originally |
| Harold Halibut | April 16 | PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch | Not originally |
| There is no rest for the wicked | April 18 | PC, Xbox, PlayStation | Not originally |
| Ritual events | April 18 | PC, Xbox, PlayStation | Not originally |
| Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes | April 23 | PC, Xbox, PlayStation | Not originally |
| Another Cancer treasure | April 25 | PC, Xbox, PlayStation | Not originally |
| Star blade | April 26 | PlayStation | Not |
| Sandy land | April 25 | PC, Xbox, PlayStation | Not originally |
Level Up — game add-ons on our radar
8BitDo Ultimate is one of the best controllers for mac right now, thanks to fantastic buttons, great connectivity and excellent battery life. It also helps that it looks pretty awesome. That he’s now working with Vision Pro just seals the deal.
Hitting the Arcade — What to play on Apple Arcade
Apple Arcade is packed with tons of exclusive experiences and fantastic games. However, with so many, it can be difficult to decide what to play. Here are a few picks I tested this week:
As Cube dungeons it’s not out on Apple Arcade yet, I tested it once again on Steam, which has an excellent Mac port. It’s a surprisingly complex game that adds a lot to the roguelike map builder genre while drawing on the ideas that make its competitors so good. Despite launching five years ago, there’s nothing quite like it.
A new update is also on the way for Strangers coming soon, a cute city builder where you have to build a camp for a town of little villagers. Playing as the leader, you must place huts, outposts and buildings next to the right resource tile to make your city grow as much as it can. I’ve been testing it just before the next update and can’t wait to see what’s next.
Did you play any great games this week or see some interesting gaming news from Apple that we missed? Let us know in the comments!