The most downloaded cell sport final yr has simply landed on Apple’s subscription gaming service, Apple Arcade. On Tuesday, Apple introduced the addition of Block Blast!+, an ad-free model of the favored puzzle sport that has round 725 million lifetime installs, in line with app intelligence supplier Appfigures. Different estimates put that determine even greater, at 868 million installs.
The sport will likely be launched on Apple Arcade on September 3, alongside a 2025 App Retailer Award winner, Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+, and others.
Apple’s inner knowledge signifies that Block Blast! was the most downloaded free iPhone game in 2025. It has continued to rank No. 1 within the early months of 2026, according to its developer, Hungry Studio, and different third-party app intelligence suppliers, equivalent to Sensor Tower.
On condition that the puzzle sport continues to amass tens of tens of millions of latest customers each month, it raises the query: why would the studio supply an ad-free Arcade model now, earlier than development has plateaued? In spite of everything, only a few months in the past, the studio reported that Block Blast! was nonetheless seeing excessive engagement, with 70 million day by day lively customers and 300 million month-to-month lively customers worldwide. It even promoted the title at this yr’s Coachella, suggesting there’s nonetheless room for development.
Nevertheless, a deeper dive into the info signifies Block Blast! downloads could have fallen from their peak in late 2024, when it was pulling in nearly 50 million downloads per 30 days. This implies the title is certainly maturing, which makes it a great candidate for Apple’s subscription service.
For Block Blast! followers, that are nonetheless many, the Arcade model will handle essentially the most annoying factor about taking part in this puzzler: all these advertisements. After each loss, advertisements play earlier than you can begin a brand new gaming session, main customers to swipe the sport closed to skip the advert, then re-open the app to play once more. It’s a tedious option to play this puzzle sport, and one which has lengthy seen followers begging for a subscription choice to go ad-free. The Arcade model will now be that choice.
Apple’s Arcade service is $6.99 per 30 days for its 200+ video games, or it may be bundled with Apple One plans, which begin at $19.95/month for people.
Different titles launching on Arcade on September 3 embody NFL Retro Bowl ’27, Coloring Games for Families+, and Let’s Play! Oink Games+, a digital assortment of 9 tabletop video games.
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