The 12 Best Apple Watch Games to Play Right Now - IGN (2024)

The Apple Watch is a very useful device that tracks your steps, controls your Apple iPhone, keeps accurate time, and can do much more. Although Apple’s smartwatch is a fantastic iPhone accessory for everyday use, it can also play games to help you pass the time. Now that the Apple Watch Series 9 has arrived with a faster processor, the future of Apple Watch gaming is now.

We rounded up the best mobile games for the Apple Watch to help you start playing. Believe it or not, but you can play all of these games on your wrist, while they're also compatible with the iPhone or iPad — or both. Luckily, most of the games featured in this article are free to download and play (with in-app purchases available). However, some of the games are premium purchases for just a few bucks, so they won’t break the bank.

TL;DR – These are the best Apple Watch games

• Star Duster ($2)
• Lifeline: Beside You in Time ($4)
• Dare the Monkey: Go Bananas! (Free)
• Chess (Free)
• Octopuz (Free)
• Arcadia! ($1)
• Infinity Loop: Blueprints (Free)
• Jupiter Attack ($2)
• Jellyfish Tap (Free)
• Ping Pong (Free)
• Tiny Armies ($1)
• Rules! ($3)

Star Duster

At $2 on the Apple App Store, Star Duster is a retro-style game that mimics gameplay from old school Nintendo Game & Watch and Tiger Electronics handhelds. It features two game modes: One is level-based, while the other lives-based — the object is to catch falling space junk with the Digital Crown as your controls. It’s pretty similar to the Atari classic Tempest.

Star Duster, which serves as the prequel to the mobile game ​​Star Jolt, is also available to play on Apple iPhone and Apple iMessage.

Lifeline: Beside You in Time

The game Lifeline: Beside You in Time, which goes for $4, is a text-based adventure where you guide an astronaut to safety from a black hole. It’s up to you to actually help him or let him get sucked into a time warp, as the story unfolds and branches off into different directions based on your decisions.

The game is also available on iPhone and as an iPad game, so you can play across devices and not miss a beat.

Dare the Monkey: Go Bananas!

Although the Apple Watch has a display size that’s up to just 49mm at its largest (with the Apple Watch Ultra), there are a few platformer games available to play. Dare the Monkey: Go Bananas! is a one-tap action-platformer where you play as a monkey that runs, jumps, and rolls to dodge traps and enemies in the jungle. The graphics are surprisingly layered for such a small scale, while the gameplay is described as “extremely addictive” and “super casual.”

Dare the Monkey: Go Bananas! is free (with in-app purchases) and available for the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and iMessage too.

Chess

If you ever wanted to play Chess on-the-go, the classic board game is available to play on the Apple Watch. It’s free to play and cross platform with the iPad, if you want considerably more real estate. Best of all? You can play anyone at any skill level from around the world — all from the convenience of your wrist.

Octopuz

Octopuz is a memory-based game where you’re shown a design pattern and then you have to match the same design pattern in a limited amount of time once it goes away. The more you play, the harder and more intricate the design gets. The mobile game is made to improve your memory and workout your brain.

It’s free to play (with in-app purchases) and also available on the iPhone and iPad.

Arcadia!

Want retro gaming on your wrist? Arcadia! is a retro gaming collection with more than 20 classic game clones — including Snake, Galaga, OutRun, Pong, Breakout, and much more — that’s playable on the Apple Watch. It’s only $2 for the entire collection with no ads, no in-app purchases, or data tracking — just retro gaming on-the-go.

Meanwhile, Arcadia! is also available to play on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.

Infinity Loop: Blueprints

Infinity Loop: Blueprints is a free-to-play puzzle game (with in-app purchases) where you rotate pieces to create an infinity loop. It seems easy enough, but the more you play, the harder it is to make a loop.

Meanwhile, the mobile game also comes with a “Creative Lounge” mode where you can create your own puzzles and designs that you can share with an online community for even more challenges.

It’s also available on iPhone and iPad.

Jupiter Attack

At $2, Jupiter Attack is a science fiction shooter where you play as a spaceship destroying alien invaders trying to take over the Earth. Throughout the game, you also collect power-ups to improve your weapons.

Additionally, the mobile game is part of the Space Watch Trilogy with Kepler Attack and Asteroid Commando — although Jupiter Attack is rated higher with Apple Watch gamers. However, if you want all three games, a bundle is available for just $3.

Jellyfish Tap

Similar to Flappy Bird and Dinosaur Game, Jellyfish Tap is a tap-and-jump game where you play as a jellyfish that dodge vertical structures. While it seems easy to play, the mobile game gets harder and faster, the more you navigate through the underwater world. It’s free to play (with in-app purchases), while the game is also cross-platformed with the iPhone and iPad.

Ping Pong

Not only is the classic Pong available to play, but four other classic retro games are available too in Ping Pong: Watch Retro Game — including Breakout, Invader, and more. You use the Apple Watch’s Digital Crown to move the paddles, while the mobile game is customizable with different colors and designs.

It’s free to play, but comes with in-app purchases to unlock features. Ping Pong: Watch Retro Game is also available to play on the iPhone.

Tiny Armies

At $1, Tiny Armies is a turn-based tactical and strategy game where you swipe to defeat enemies, cross lakes, climb mountains, and navigate forests in a series of blocks. You can either play solo on the Apple Watch or challenge a friend via iMessage. It’s also playable on the iPhone and iPad.

Rules!

If you can follow the rules, you’ll be fine. Rules! is a fast-paced memory-based puzzle mobile game where you have to follow one rule to clear a level. Once cleared, the next puzzle introduces another rule, but you have to keep the old rule in mind to clear a new level. The more levels you play, the more rules you have to follow. It quickly gets more complicated the further you go.

Rules! is $3 to download and play, while it’s also available for the iPhone, iPad, and iMessage.

How to Choose Which Apple Watch Games to Play in 2023

While the Apple Watch can give quick information at a glance, it’s also a handy device that you can actually play a quick game too. There are hundreds of mobile games from the Apple App Store available for the Apple Watch. In fact, most Apple Watch games are also compatible as iPhone games, so you can play a game without pulling out the smartphone from your pocket or purse.

Since the selection of games is so vast, it may be intimidating to find a place to start. Here’s what to look for in Apple Watch games.

Apple Watch Model

Assuming that you already have an Apple Watch (otherwise, why would you be reading this buyer’s guide?), it’s important to know which model you own. If you have a newer model that runs the latest watchOS 9, then all mobile games that are compatible with the Apple Watch should have no problems. This includes all smartwatches from Series 4 or later. However, if your Apple Watch is Series 3 — which runs watchOS 6 — or older, then your game options may be limited. Not sure which model you own? The model number is printed at the bottom of each Apple Watch.

Meanwhile, having the right iPhone is also important since both devices are always paired together. For watchOS 9 to work, you’ll need the iPhone 8 or later, while watchOS 6 runs on the iPhone 4s through 6s. As for the Apple Watch SE and iPhone SE, both devices should be current with watchOS 9 and iOS 16 — respectively.

Storage Space

The Apple Watch is pretty limited when it comes to storage with only up to 32GB of space. Luckily, since most Apple Watch games are simple and quick experiences with file sizes less than 1GB (if that), they won’t take up a lot of space on the smartwatch. But, storage space is still something to consider, especially if you have an older Apple Watch with a lot of apps. For example: The Apple Watch Series 4 — which is the oldest model running watchOS 9 — has a capacity of just 16GB.

Price

As for pricing, most Apple Watch games are free to download and play. However, just because a game is free, it doesn’t mean you won’t pay later down the line. Free mobile games offer in-app purchases to unlock all sorts of things, like new levels, new items, new gameplay mechanics, and more. Other free games may have ads throughout the gaming experience, but to get rid of the annoying commercials, you might have to pay a fee to unlock an ad-free version.

Enjoyment

Lastly, one of the most important things to pick an Apple Watch game is if it looks fun or challenging. If a game looks like it’s worth playing, then you should download it. Apple Watch games are designed to be quick and easy to learn, so there’s a new challenge waiting for you.