If you're a gamer on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the iOS 26 update brings a wonderful surprise: an all-new Games app that makes gaming more fun and organized. This app combines discovering new games, connecting with friends, and quick access to your personal library. In this article, we'll go over all the details of the new Games app to help you get the most out of it.
Games App Overview in iOS 26
In iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe, Apple has added a new dedicated Games app, making it the perfect place for everything related to gaming on its devices. This app is very similar to the Games tab in the App Store, but it's expanded and standalone. The old Games tab won't disappear; it'll be enhanced with this new app, which focuses on discovery and sharing.
Imagine entering a world that combines personalized recommendations, live events, and social tools, all in one place. Whether you're looking for a new game or want to compete with your friends, this app makes it easier than ever.
Home Page Interface: Suggestions Tailored to You
In the "Home" tab, which is tailored to each user based on their gaming history, there's a "Continue Playing" section that lets you return to your last game with a single click, as well as a large animated bar at the top that displays featured content such as game suggestions, friends' achievements, and app features.
You can scroll through the content just like you would in the Today tab in the App Store. Here are some of the main sections you might find:
◉ Arcade games for you: You'll find suggestions of Apple Arcade titles.
◉ Friends Playing: Games your friends have recently played in Game Center.
◉ Most Played Games: A ranked list of the most popular games on iOS.
◉ Based on what you've played: Suggestions inspired by a specific game you've played before.
◉ Best Arcade Games: List of the best Apple Arcade games.
◉ New games we love: Recent releases outside of Apple Arcade.
◉ New games on Apple Arcade: New additions to the service.
◉ Try before you buy: Games with demos.
◉ Our upcoming games: Upcoming titles with pre-orders.
◉ Friend Suggestions: Invite people to be friends in Game Center via messages.
◉ Best Free Games: List of the best free games.
◉ Best Paid Games: List of the best paid games in the App Store.
These sections make discovery fun and personal, as if the app knows your exact taste!
Events: New and temporary content
Apple introduced the Events feature for games with iOS 15, and it's now prominently featured in the Games app. You can see games that offer fresh content, such as timed gameplay, special rewards, major updates, collaborations, and challenges.
For example, if your favorite game offers a limited-time update, it will appear here to remind you not to miss it. This adds extra excitement to your gaming experience.
Apple Arcade: A dedicated tab for subscriptions
There's a dedicated tab for Apple Arcade, the $6.99 monthly gaming service. Here, Apple promotes its premium titles through App Store-like sections, complete with suggestions and recommendations. If you're a subscriber, you'll find this tab a treasure trove of high-quality games without ads or in-app purchases.
Unified Games Library: Everything in One Place
The app consists of four main tabs: Home, Arcade, Play Together, and Library. The Library tab displays all the games you've played across your devices, with your achievements categorized by game and filtered by platform.
It also includes quick links to new Apple Arcade titles and events, making managing your library seamless.
Game Info: Clear and quick details
When you click on a game, you'll see the last time you played it, with options to play it or redownload it if you deleted it. The "Game Details" section provides detailed information such as rating, genre, controller support, and game size, ideal for making quick decisions.
Social Options: Playing Together
In the Play Together tab, you'll see your friends' games, multiplayer game suggestions, and a new Challenges tool. This tab makes socializing an essential part of the experience.
Multiplayer Games: Easily Invite Friends
To start a multiplayer game, tap "Start Multiplayer" and invite a friend from a previous list, or send a party code or invite link. This requires everyone to be on iOS 26 or later. These games involve real-time cooperation or competition, such as racing with a friend.
Challenges: Asynchronous Competition
Challenges are a new feature for single-player games. You choose a game, set rules, such as completing a puzzle in the fastest time or getting the highest score, and compete with your friends. Challenges are time-limited (one day, three days, or a week), adding excitement to traditional games.
Game Center: More prominent
The app features old Game Center features, such as achievements and playing with friends. You can access its settings in the Settings app, and you'll receive notifications when a friend's score is exceeded.
Game Mode: Control while playing
When you start a game, Game Mode is automatically activated. From Control Center, you can access leaderboards, invite friends, and adjust volume or brightness without leaving the game. This isn't Focus Mode, so it doesn't block notifications.
Other features in the gaming app
Through your profile, you can invite friends, view your challenge wins, and see your achievements. There's also a search button to find new games across categories.
For developers: new opportunities
Developers can create multiple challenges and activities that appear in the app, increasing the exposure of their games.
Device compatibility
The app requires devices running iOS 26 or later. Features like Challenges need to be updated for everyone and are limited to Apple users. There's no support for Android or other platforms.
Ultimately, the Games app in iOS 26 revolutionizes the gaming world on Apple devices, thanks to personalized suggestions, social options, and easy access.
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