We're a few weeks into the NFL season and less than a month away from the start of the NBA season. Fittingly, Apple Arcade brought Retro Bowl '26 to sports gamers in September ahead of the NFL season, and the service is bringing NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition to gamers on Oct. 2, a few weeks before the NBA season officially starts.
Apple Arcade is filled with familiar and classic games, alongside exclusive titles, that you can play for $7 per month (£7, AU$10). Many of these games can be found in the App Store, but they may have paywalls and ads that hinder your gaming experience.
An Apple Arcade subscription gives you access to games without paywalls and ads, a feature usually denoted by "Plus" in the name. Here are all the games Apple Arcade subscribers can play starting on Oct. 2. You can also check out the games Apple added in September, like Retro Bowl '26.
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NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition
Developer: 2K
Apple
You're a league rookie in the latest installment of this gaming franchise, but that doesn't mean you can slack off. Build your player from the ground up, enjoy the journey to become an NBA star and lead your team to the championship.
This entry in the series brings NBA Eras to Association Mode. That means you can manage legendary NBA dynasties throughout the ages, like the Magic Johnson era of the LA Lakers or the Larry Bird era of the Boston Celtics. And new decades of NBA Eras will be released each season, so maybe you'll be able to play the Tim Duncan-era San Antonio Spurs or the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls.
Thomas & Friends™: Let's Roll Plus
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