Gone are the days when Snake or Pinball were the only games available on mobile devices. Now you can play almost anything you want on your mobile. Subscription services like Apple Arcade and even Xbox Game Pass are now available on iOS, making mobile gaming more accessible than ever for Apple owners.

But which subscription service should you get for your iOS device? Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass both have their strengths and weaknesses. We will be going over all of them here to help you pick the best subscription service for you. Let the iOS gaming wars begin.

What’s the Difference Between Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass?

Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass are subscription services that grant you access to a massive library of games for a monthly fee. At first glance, they might seem more or less the same, but they both serve very different purposes.

Apple's video game subscription service, Apple Arcade, offers a massive selection of mobile titles that can be played offline, so you can take your favorite games with you anywhere. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for iOS, on the other hand, is a cloud gaming service that requires a stable internet connection to experience the best performance that won't cost you an arm and a leg for mobile data.

What Games Do Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass Offer?

Perhaps the biggest difference between Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the games they offer.

Apple Arcade Library

Apple Arcade boasts a massive library of over 180 mobile games that is constantly growing as more games get added to the service. This library consists of not only popular mobile games from the App Store but a range of exclusive titles only playable on Apple Arcade.

Apple works directly with developers to create exclusive games for their subscription service. This is a huge advantage for Apple Arcade, as players have to subscribe to the service if they want to have access to incredible games like Fantasian, from the creator of Final Fantasy.

Apple Arcade also promises that its games are completely free of ads or microtransactions, both of which are extremely annoying issues that frequently plague mobile games. While Xbox Game Pass Ultimate doesn’t have ads either, some games on the service still contain microtransactions.

Although there are many tips and tricks to remove ads from mobile games on your iPhone and iPad, it is refreshing to pick up and play a game without having to jump through hoops to have a pleasant and uninterrupted experience.

While Apple Arcade does have an incredible library of popular and exclusive mobile games, they are still mobile games at the end of the day. Often these are quick pick-up and play experiences that are missing a lot of the in-depth gameplay of a fully fleshed-out RPG.

While there are exceptions to the rule and amazing games like Oceanhorn 2 are playable on Apple Arcade, most titles available lack the power or performance that games on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate can offer.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Library

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate focuses on a rotating library of beefy AAA titles. These games are available on iOS via the cloud but you can also play them on PC or any other Xbox consoles you may have.

This means that you can start playing games like Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice on your PC, then continue playing that same save file on your iPhone while you are on the bus or the train.

Because the library of games on Game Pass is not dedicated to mobile games they are usually more fleshed out and robust experiences when compared to games on Apple Arcade.

However, since the games available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate are optimized for console or PC, they are not necessarily compatible with mobile devices. You can access and play them from the cloud, but you can’t actually download them onto your mobile device. And since Xbox Game Pass offers a rotating library, one day your favorite game might leave the service, and take all of your progress with it.

You can purchase games through Xbox Game Pass, but you require a console to download them onto if you wish to purchase them, which doesn’t help you if your mobile device is the only one you have.

Which Subscription Service Performs Better on iOS?

Apple Arcade’s games are made for mobile gaming. So most of the time, Apple Arcade works extremely well on mobile. Of course, this is variable. Older iOS devices might not run games as well as newer ones, but for the most part, gaming on Apple Arcade is a smooth and stable experience.

Mobile gaming is all about portability. Apple Arcade games are downloaded directly onto the device itself, meaning you don’t have to worry about outside influences, like your internet connection, affecting your gameplay. This does give Apple Arcade a one-up in terms of portability.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers more powerful games that older mobile devices may struggle to run without dropping frames. For the most part, though, the service does run very well on iOS. These issues will likely only be noticeable if playing online competitive games.

Since Xbox Game Pass Ultimate does require internet to access the cloud, its performance may vary depending on the strength of the available connection.

What's the Price Difference Between Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?

Apple Arcade is $4.99 per month. This is much cheaper than Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which will cost you $14.99 per month. But when you consider what is on offer, both subscription services are great value for money.

$4.99 is about the price of a regular mobile game, so as long as you play more than one game a month, it’s worth it. And Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers full-price AAA titles that can reach over $70. This allows gamers to try out full-price exclusive games without having to feel guilty for spending $70 on a game they might not like.

Apple Arcade or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?

Both Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on iOS are incredible subscription services that are well worth their investment. At the end of the day, it really just depends on what you are looking for in your gaming experience.

If you are an avid gamer and want to play the latest games on offer for console and PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the subscription service for you. But if you are just looking for a quick and easy gaming fix for your train ride to work, then Apple Arcade is the way to go.

Either way, you are more than likely going to be happy with whatever subscription service you opt for.

What’s Next for Mobile Gaming?

The world of mobile gaming is advancing in leaps and bounds. With subscription services like Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offering bigger and better mobile games, we are excited for what will come next!

As it stands, whether you've gone for Apple Arcade or Xbox Game Pass, ensure that you've got the correct accessories for the best mobile gaming experience possible.