Best Apple TV Games
1. Crossy Road
Crossy Road originated as a joke on ‘Why did the chicken cross the road’ joke and turned in to one of the most popular games on Apple TV. The objective is simple, you, as a chicken have to cross the road full of oncoming traffic and not die. Read: How to Get Web Browser on Apple TV 4
Download Crossy Road (free)
2. Spin Sports
Spin Sports is a multi-player arcade-style game that lets you play with up to six people. Now, this may sound odd but each player can control their character with just one button, and two players have to share the same remote and other players can connect with a Mfi controller, this essentially makes the game more fun.
Download Spin Sports (free)
3. Asphalt 8
I have always been a fan of racing games and lately, the games have become so good in terms of Graphics that Asphalt 8 just deserves a spot for just that. This game challenges you to perform dynamic, high-speed aerial stunts in an intense driving experience powered by a brand-new physics engine. You’ll hit the ramps, taking the race upward as you perform barrel rolls and wild 360-degree jumps. With more than 95 performance cars, you’ll maneuver through the air while pulling off stunts. Read Best Racing Games that don’t need Wifi
Download Asphalt 8 (free)
4. Alto’s Adventures
Next, we have one of the most popular games for iOS. Alto’s Adventures deserves a position in this list solely because of its stunning graphics. The game’s main objective is snowboarding which uses a decent physics engine to offer realistic game dynamics. There are around 180 different levels which you can play to master the game and I can vouch it’s not easy. The weather changes just like in real life and thunderstorms, blizzards, fog, shooting stars make the game more interesting. Alto’s Adventures is available on the App Store for $4.99.
Install Alto’s Adventures ($4.99)
5. Into the Dead
Into the Dead is an FPS with stunning visuals and intense gameplay for a mobile game. It comes with metal support so rest assured your app won’t have a hitch working with the Apple TV. The objective is to stay alive and kill zombies in an apocalyptic world. You gain XP and rewards as you level up the game or you can purchase additional stuff with in-app purchases.
Download Into the dead (free)
6. Badland
Badland – Apple’s Game of the Year, is a side-scrolling (like the flappy bird), action adventure game set in a forest-like environment. The visuals alone would trap you in the gameplay and story is so engaging with its unique puzzles and obstacles. It supports multiplayer with up to 4 players on a single device. The single-player mode has more than 100 levels and the level editor lets you design your own mazes and levels.
Download Badland ($0.99)
7. Modern Combat 5
MC5 is a fast-paced single-player FPS, which offers campaign along with the excellent multiplayer action. You can choose from a variety of specialist classes, and unlock awesome weaponry. The single player campaign takes you from Venice to Tokyo, and multiplayer mode has just as much variety. As you would expect from a big gun MC5 is a perfect bundle of high-end graphics with an engaging story and a lasting adrenaline rush. The only thing which bugs me is –Gameloft No Longer Supporting Modern Combat 5 on Apple TV, that said the app still works fine at the moment.
Download MC5 (free)
8. Oceanhorn
If you’ve ever played an RPG you probably know how this one looks and feels like. It’s strikingly similar to the Legend of Zelda, right down to the overarching plot of a young boy with a past on a dangerous quest to reclaim the kingdom. It might feel like Zelda clone but a few mins in you feel how different it really is even though it’s skinned to look like one. It pays homage and stands on its own. It’s probably the only Nintendo-like game for the Apple TV.
Install Oceanhorn ($7.99)
9. Hit Tennis 3
Hit Tennis is a digital Tennis game which you can play on your Apple TV. You can battle opponents in 24 different tournaments in fun locations across the globe. The app works with the Siri Remote and works quite like the Wii remote. The game utilizes the Siri remote sensors (accelerometer and gyroscope), meaning you can hit the ball back and forth and even change the angle of your shot based on how you swing the Siri remote.
Download Hit Tennis 3 (free)
10. Snowboard Party
Snowboard Party brings the thrill of snowboarding to your TV. To ride the downhill slopes at extreme speed and catch some big air to perform the craziest tricks in 21 completely unique adrenaline-filled mountains/locations is nuts. This game has a few different modes like Time attack, Freestyle, Big air, Half Pipe and Multiplayer.
Download Snowboard
11. Riptide GP 2
Riptide GP2 a popular game on Android and iOS is also available for your Apple TV. The objective of the game is to efficiently run a water boat water while doing several tricks and beating your opponent at the same time. There are a few different modes like online multiplayer, Career mode and challenge friends. Honing your skills in Career Mode or challenge your friends by racing online with the Game Center or local multiplayer mode with a split screen offers the best gaming experience on the Apple TV.
Download Riptide ($1.99)
12. Duet
I love playing Duet on my Android smartphone and now, I love playing it on the bigger screen as well. Your goal in Duet Game is to keep your two dots safe by not letting them touch any of the obstacles. You rotate the sphere left and right by tapping your thumbs to move the vessels around the obstacles that appear. Like all games, as you move up the ladder the game becomes more channeling. But my favorite feature of the duet is the Official soundtrack, for some reason, it helps me focus a lot.
Download Duet ($2.99)
13. Angry Birds Go
Downhill racing has come to Piggy Island, and this time Angry Birds are in on the action. You can Tear down the track at breakneck speeds in Angry Birds Go, quite a thrilling race to the finish this one. You can unlock characters and karts, challenging your friends and foes alike on the global leaderboards and has local multiplayer gaming. It’s like Mario Kart but with birds. Some very Angry Birds.
Download Angry Birds
14. Pixel Cup Soccer 16
If you’re anything like me you’ve played hours of FIFA or PES on mobile PvP. This gorgeous 16-bit pixel art game brings back that joy of playing with your friends. The game is fast paced and energetic, unlike FIFA or PES. The controls are tight and responsive for Apple TV as well. It has all the tournaments and leagues but with different names of course because of the licensing restrictions. If you love playing football, this game is worth a buy.
Install Pixel Cup Soccer 16 ($2.99)
15. Transistor
Made by the Indie developers supergiant games who made Bastion which also features isometric point of view type role-playing elements. Transistor is a science fiction RPG where you play as red and is narrated by the weapon you wield. Transistor is beautifully designed with hand drew character models and has an in-depth combat system where you strategically mix and match power-ups in a unique fashion which set this one apart from the crowd. It has Blade Runner feel to it with a bit more video game edge. Well written characters and an original story this one is well worth your time.
Download Transistor ($4.99)
16. Inside
If you haven’t gotten a chance to play it on console this is a fantastic game with progressive layered puzzle designs. Playdead’s second game after limbo is an atmospheric puzzle game with Dark and dreary environments and subtle storytelling with its world design. Inside is 2 and a half D where you interact with elements that are 3D objects but the controls are very intuitive so you’re not exactly fumbling with your TV remote. The gameplay is of roughly two hours and I finished it when it was released and it still excites me today.
Download Inside (play the beginning for free, $4.99)
17. Lego Batman movie game
Its the official Lego Batman game made by Warner Brothers. It might seem like a shameless endless runner with Batman in it. But its actually quite good. The fun element that does stand out is the beatboxing mechanic every time you crash. You need to time the notes to get back to the main game, which is as Lego Batman as it can get. It Really gets into the spirit of the movie and turns into enjoyable gameplay.
Download Lego Batman movie game (free)
18. Rayman’s Adventures
Its the Ubisoft’s Mario if you will, its no contender for something like Rayman Legends. Rayman Adventures is a fun yet challenging platformer like its big brother legends. It has about 140 levels even though there might be some repetition, it’s a romp none the less.
Download Rayman’s Adventures (free)
19. Lara Croft GO
It’s part of the Go trilogy from Square Enix and by and large the best one. The music and sound are soft and pleasant. Its a finely crafted puzzler which has a turn-based style to it. The puzzles get more progressively complex making you think creatively and several moves ahead to solve them. More importantly, it really retains the spirit of Lara Croft with jumping, shooting and puzzle solving in her signature style. Read Best Real-Time Strategy Games
Download Lara Croft Go ($4.99)
20. Deus Ex GO
Just like Lara Craft Go, Dues Ex Go is a turn-based puzzler but still sticking to the roots. It’s a taut, well-crafted translation for tvOS. Like it’s big brothers you play as Adam Jensen and fight robots, humans, and spiders with different attack patterns in the context of turn-based combat. It’s enthralling to figure out how they work and solve the level in a steady progressive way.
Install Dues Ex GO ($4.99)
21. Hitman GO
The GO versions of full-fledged franchises are mostly diluted turn-based puzzlers but Hitman GO incorporates the essence of Hitman pretty convincingly. Each contract has its own theme just like the console game. You can distract or kill enemies at will but it doesn’t have severe repercussions. There are systems in place to keep you from deviating from the storyline. It does have its constraints being a tvOS game but it’s very tactical and thrilling like any Hitman game you’ve played, if you did that is.
Install Hitman GO ($4.99)
22. Hidden Folks
Hidden Folks is maybe the most intense Where’s Waldo game you’ll play, with a heap of moving parts you need to find a few things and people in each stage which gets bigger and bigger with lots of movement and animation. The reason it does get harder is that of its B&W aesthetic. This makes you kinda really hunt for each thing you need to find. Levels are dense with different themes and things happening at any given time. This makes you really appreciate the level design which is outstanding.
Download Hidden folks ($3.99)
23. Broken Age
Tim Schafer is known for his point and clicks adventures like Grim Fandango, Full Throttle and Day of the tentacle. It’s filled with the same kind of surreal dark humor you’d expect if you’ve played the others. You’re moving around by tapping on the screen and interacting with an object, analyzing them and talk to NPC’s to get the plot moving or to get to know the lore. It’s well worth your time if you’ve never played any Tim Schafer’s games with one caveat where his point and click adventures are a slow burn type of game where you appreciate the story and characters more instead of the action. It works brilliantly with the Siri Remote.
Download Broken Age ($4.99)
24. Lumino City
believe me, when I say this, you’ve never played a game like this. Lumino City is not a traditionally animated game but it is a handcrafted piece of art. All the elements in the game are made of paper, cards, miniature lights and motors. Not just the unusual choice of graphics, it also packs in an interesting storyline where you try to solve puzzles and find the protagonists missing father. The puzzles are particularly interesting because you use real objects to solve them and it involves interesting physics. You can explore the city to find hidden details which are as fun as the main gameplay. Lumino City is an excellent choice if you want a game that is fresh and enticing. It is available for Apple TV on the App Store.
Install Lumino City ($4.99)
25. Dan the Man
Dan the Man is an arcade game which embodies the retro classics. Don’t let the pixelated animation and old school graphics fool you, it is a fun game with an inappropriate(at times) hero trying to save the world. The gameplay has a lighthearted storyline where you level up and beat up different bosses. As you level up your fight skills improve and arsenal expands. You can play the story mode, endless mode, and the boss mode which are all equally exciting but I prefer the story mode. Dan the Man is free on the App Store and comes with in-app purchases.
Install Dan the Man (free)
Which are the Best Apple TV games?
I have listed the most popular games from every Genre and you can try all of these games when you’re relaxing with your family and need a fun activity. Games like Crossy Road, PacMan, Angry Birds Go are more fun with friends, while Lara Croft, MC5, and Lego Batman are more intensive games. Tell us which games are your favorite and if I missed any of yours on this list.
