Apple announced on August 11 that two puzzle games, Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+, will join its Apple Arcade subscription service on September 3[1]. Both arrive without ads or in-app purchases, which is the defining trait of Arcade versions. Updates to existing titles are also scheduled through August, and the lineup keeps shifting into the fall.
The two titles arriving September 3
Block Blast!+ is a daily puzzle game in which players fit block shapes onto a grid to clear full rows and columns. The rules take seconds to grasp, but chasing combos is what keeps players in the game, and the title has reached number one on charts worldwide[1]. TechCrunch reports, citing Apple's internal data, that Block Blast! was the most downloaded free iPhone game of 2025[2]. For anyone already playing it, the practical change is simply that the same game becomes available without ads.
The second title, Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+, is a jigsaw-style game that won the Cultural Impact category at the 2025 App Store Awards[1]. Players assemble nature-themed artwork while stories about wildlife and conservation are revealed piece by piece, and the game includes carefully designed accessibility features[1]. It suits the quieter end of the day.
Both games join Arcade puzzles already available, including Grindstone, Flow Free+ and Crossword Jam+, as well as more recent additions such as Everyday Puzzles: Mini Games+ and Water Sort Puzzle: Get Color+[1].
Why the ad-free condition matters here
The clearest value of Apple Arcade is the absence of ads and in-app purchases. That matters most in casual puzzle genres like these two, where free versions typically insert a video ad between rounds and break the rhythm of play. The more often you open the app for short sessions, the more the difference shows.
The plus sign attached to Arcade titles marks a version stripped of those monetization elements for Arcade. Worth noting: even if the free version is already installed, the Arcade edition is distributed as a separate title.
August updates and the fall schedule
Existing titles are moving as well. On August 12, puffies. gains 28 new packs, including two collections built on artwork from Oden Tomodachi and The Knights[1]. Starting August 20, Simon's Cat - Blast Time releases 50 new levels each week for a month, 200 in total[1]. On August 26, stitch. marks the milestone of 800 hoops with a commemorative hoop and achievements[1].
September 3 brings more than the two puzzle games. A new season of NFL Retro Bowl ’27 begins with the demanding Gauntlet Mode, and Coloring Games for Families+, with more than 3,000 activities, joins alongside Let's Play! Oink Games+, a digital collection of 9 tabletop games[1]. Let's Play! Oink Games+ can be played solo, with friends, or online[1].
Pricing and supported devices
Apple Arcade costs 900 yen per month and includes a one-month free trial. Customers who buy a new iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV get 3 months free[1]. It is also part of Apple One, at 1,350 yen per month for the individual plan and 2,500 yen per month for the family plan[1].
A single subscription can be shared with up to 6 family members, with unlimited access to more than 200 games[1]. Arcade Originals run on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro, while App Store Greats are available on iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro[1]. Which titles actually run depends on the hardware and software combination, and some content is not available in every region[1].
Summary
Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+, both arriving September 3, are proven puzzle games, and the Arcade editions drop ads and in-app purchases. With puffies. on August 12, Simon's Cat - Blast Time on August 20 and stitch. on August 26 also being updated, how much value the 900 yen monthly fee delivers comes down to how much of the catalog you actually play.
