The new Apple TV leaves a lot to be desired, as evidenced by Eli’s first impressions of the device after receiving it Friday morning. My Apple TV got caught up in a shipping snafu, but I did receive it on Saturday, and so far my feelings pretty much mimic Eli’s. It’s definitely a much-improved content streaming box compared to previous generation Apple TVs, but when it comes to actual games and several areas of the user experience, the new Apple TV is shockingly subpar. One of the big drawbacks is how the App Store is set up in its initial release. The search functionality is poor, and there are no sub-categories to define. So essentially if you aren’t on the featured page you pretty much don’t exist. With that in mind, here’s a few recommendations for games that aren’t currently featured anywhere by Apple. Some are just plain good games, some are not the greatest but do exhibit unique elements that are worth highlighting. At the very least, if you’re a new Apple TV owner craving some new games this should give you some stuff to try out. Note: Some of the videos/screens below are from the iOS versions of these games.
Babylonian Twins
Babylonian Twins is a pretty great puzzle platformer with an interesting history. Although it’s available on iOS already, and has been for several years, the Apple TV version is a separate purchase. It’s great seeing it on the big screen, crisp and clear and running at an ultra smooth framerate. Playing with the Siri Remote is a bit awkward but you eventually get the hang of it.
Bruce Lee: Enter the Game – Unchained Edition
This game based on the iconic martial arts legend is a pretty simplistic side-scrolling beat ’em up, but a fun one. Using the Siri Remote is certainly different but it’s actually kind of neat being able to play a game like this with one hand, once you get used to it. This is another game that’s already on iOS but the Apple TV version is a separate purchase, and features all in-game content unlocked from the start. Too bad they couldn’t do that for the iOS version too!
Chillaxian
One of our favorite arcade shooters, the Galaga-inspired Chillaxian from Madgarden, has also made its way to the Apple TV. There aren’t a lot of surprises here–this is basically the same exact game we’ve been playing since mid-2013 but on a bigger screen. That’s not a bad thing though, Chillaxian is still fun as hell, and works extremely well using the Siri Remote. This one’s also a cross-buy, so if you own the iOS version already then you own the Apple TV one, too.
Jetpack Soccer
If Rocket League and Soccer Physics (Free) had a baby, it would be Jetpack Soccer. Designed as a multiplayer game, your job is to launch a ball into a goal on your opponent’s side of the playfield by thrusting yourself around with a jetpack. Yes it’s as crazy as it sounds. I’m not sure if it just controls terribly, or that’s the way it’s supposed to control, or if I’m terrible at the game, or if it’s a combination of all those things. Whatever the case, I’m terrible at Jetpack Soccer but I find it a total blast just the same. It supports MFi controllers in addition to the Siri Remote, and while there is an AI to play against it’s best experienced against real life opponents. It’s also heading to iOS soon too, so keep an eye out for it.
The Last Rocket
Oh. My. God. This is an all-time favorite on iOS, and I had no idea it was coming to Apple TV. The swipe-based control system translates perfectly to the touchpad on the Siri Remote, and The Last Rocket is just as charming and challenging as it was on iOS way back in 2011. It’s a separate purchase, but due to the game’s quality it’s more than worth the extra price of admission in my opinion. Now if we could just get the iOS version updated for modern screens…
Space Age: A Cosmic Adventure
Space Age was a rather short but entertaining and gorgeous adventure game released for iOS last fall from The Incident (Free) developer Big Bucket Software. Being a point-and-click adventure game, the experience translates well to the big screen, though there’s now an onscreen cursor that’s controlled with the Siri Remote touchpad for all your pointing and clicking needs. This is one time where the touchscreen is superior, but it’s still a great game to experience on the Apple TV. It’s cross-buy too, so if you own the iOS version already you’ve got the Apple TV one too.
Theseus
Note: There are literally no images or video of Theseus for the Apple TV, so instead please enjoy this stock photo of a kitten.
Based on legendary game designer Robert Abbott’s Theseus and the Minotaur, this Apple TV version of Theseus is something of a hybrid of two existing iOS versions of the game from developer Jason Fieldman. Theseus ($0.99) has been on the App Store since 2008, and is a simplistic, top-down 2D version of the game. It was also one of my absolute favorites in the early App Store days. Last year, Fieldman released Theseus 3D ($0.99), an updated version of the game with 3D graphics and game boards that took place on 3D cubes, adding a nice wrinkle to the classic formula. The Apple TV version is the 2D original game board designs but with the slick 3D visuals. It plays wonderfully on the TV and is a satisfying challenge.
Now remember, there are no links or anything for the Apple TV App Store, at least not yet, so if any of these games strikes your fancy you’ll need to hop on your Apple TV and use the Search functionality to search for them by name. You know, like a caveman. For the (two!) games that are cross-buy you can find the links below. Hopefully Apple sorts that out quickly. Also worth noting is that our pals Slide to Play currently have a database set up for the Apple TV App Store which allows you to sort games and apps by category and by free or paid. It’s super handy, so until Apple whips its newest App Store into shape it’s probably the best resource you can use to see what’s out there on Apple TV.
