Starting September 3, 2026, Apple Arcade will add two new puzzle games: Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+. Both titles are ad-free, have no in-app purchases whatsoever, and are included in the standard Apple Arcade subscription starting at 6.99 euros per month. With this move, Apple is strategically expanding its already strong lineup of puzzle games.
For fans of Block Blast!, the announcement comes as no real surprise, but it’s still significant: The game was the most downloaded free iPhone app worldwide in 2025 and continues to hold that position in 2026. With an estimated 800 million downloads and around 70 million daily active players, it’s one of the most successful mobile puzzle games ever. Anyone who’s played it so far is probably familiar with its biggest annoyance: ads after every lost run.
Block Blast!+: The Long-Running Hit Goes Ad-Free
Block Blast!+ from Hungry Studio follows the familiar gameplay of the free version exactly: On a grid, you place block shapes so that entire rows or columns disappear. “Easy to learn, hard to put down”—that’s how Apple itself describes the game, and judging by the download numbers, that pretty much hits the mark for many mobile gamers.
The real selling point of the Arcade version, however, isn’t the gameplay, but rather what’s missing: ads. In the free app on the App Store, players have to sit through an ad after every failed attempt before they can continue. That’s exactly what drives many people to eventually close the app instead of continuing to play. Block Blast!+ on Apple Arcade, on the other hand, runs continuously from start to finish, without any interruptions or in-app purchases.
Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+: Nature Art to Help You Unwind
The second new addition takes the complete opposite approach to speed: Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+ by developer Klemens Strasser lets you piece together vintage-style nature illustrations bit by bit while learning facts about the animals depicted along the way. No time pressure, no high-score stress—just a meditative pace that’s more reminiscent of a puzzle on the living room table than a classic mobile game.
The game has already won an App Store Award 2025 in the “Cultural Impact” category and also stands out for its well-thought-out accessibility features: For people with visual or cognitive impairments, there’s a text-based alternative to the classic puzzle mode, ensuring the game remains accessible to as many people as possible.
Pricing and Availability at a Glance
Both games will be released simultaneously on September 3, 2026, for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. They’re automatically included in your existing Apple Arcade subscription—no separate purchase is required.
| Subscription | Price per month | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Arcade (individual) | €6.99 | Try it free for 1 month |
| Apple One (Individual) | €19.95 | includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud+ |
| Apple One Family | €25.95 | Family sharing for up to 6 people |
| Apple One Premium | €34.95 | Plus Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+ |
If you’re buying a new Apple device right now, you’ll often get Apple Arcade for free for three months on top of that. So it’s worth checking out the offers when you make your purchase.
How Apple Arcade is positioning itself in the puzzle segment
Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+ join an already well-stocked puzzle lineup on Apple Arcade, which includes titles such as Grindstone, Flow Free+, Crossword Jam+, and Water Sort Puzzle: Get Color+. Apple’s strategy here is obvious: Instead of building new, unknown brands, the service brings on board games with an already established fan base and removes the elements that are typically annoying about free-to-play titles—ads and paywalls.
Conclusion
With Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+, Apple Arcade is getting two very different additions starting September 3, 2026: a well-known, addictive game without ad interruptions and a peaceful counterpart for relaxation. Both titles are included in the existing subscription and cost nothing extra. This is a great opportunity to give Apple Arcade a try if you’re interested.
If you’re interested in other Apple subscription bundles besides Apple Arcade, check out our article on AppleCare One in Germany for more details on Apple’s growing subscription ecosystem. Do you prefer to play alone or with others?
