As someone who enjoys playing games on my iPhone, I was very happy to see that Apple has introduced a dedicated Games app in iOS 26. This new app replaces the old Game Centre and creates a single, unified destination for everything related to iOS gaming. It brings together my game library, my friends’ activity, and recommendations for new titles all in one place.
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The app feels like a true hub for gamers. It makes it easy for me to jump back into the games I’m currently playing and to discover new ones I might love. It also integrates seamlessly with Apple Arcade, Apple’s game subscription service.
Whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore gamer, I think you’ll find a lot to like in the new Games app. Let’s explore its key sections and features.
🏠 The Home Page Hub
When I first launch the Games app, I land on the Home page. This screen is my personalized dashboard for gaming. At the top, there are suggestions for new games, highlights from my friends, and news about in-game events. It’s a great way to see what’s happening in the world of iOS gaming at a glance.
Below that is the ‘Continue Playing’ section, which is essentially a launcher for all the games I have installed on my iPhone. I can just tap on a game to start playing immediately. This is so convenient because it means I no longer need to clutter my iPhone’s main Home Screen with game icons. I can keep them all neatly organized within the Games app.
As I scroll down the Home page, I find curated lists like ‘New Games We Love’ and recommendations based on what I’ve played before. It’s a fantastic discovery tool that has already introduced me to several new titles that I now enjoy.
🤝 Playing Together with Friends
The social aspect of gaming is a big focus of the new Games app. There’s a dedicated tab called ‘Play Together’ where I can see all my gaming friends. It shows me what games they’re currently playing and highlights their recent achievements. It’s a fun way to keep up with what my friends are doing.
From this section, I can also set up challenges. I can pick a task in one of my games, like achieving a certain score, and challenge my friends to beat it. The app keeps track of our progress and lets us know who comes out on top. It adds a nice competitive element to my gaming sessions.
I can also manage my profile from the app. By tapping my profile icon, I can edit my gaming nickname, see my achievements, and manage my friends list. It’s a comprehensive social hub that really enhances the multiplayer experience on the iPhone.
📚 Your Complete Game Library
One of my favorite features is the Library tab. This section shows me a complete list of all the games I’ve ever downloaded on my iPhone, even if I’ve since deleted them. This is incredibly useful for rediscovering old favorites that I might have forgotten about. It’s like having my entire gaming history in one place.
Games that are currently installed on my iPhone have a ‘Play’ button next to them, so I can launch them directly from the library. For games that I’ve deleted, there’s a button to view them in the App Store, so I can easily re-download them if I want to play them again.
For those of us who subscribe to Apple Arcade, there’s a dedicated tab for that as well. It showcases all the exclusive titles available on the service and makes it easy to browse and install new games. The integration is seamless and makes the subscription feel even more valuable. For more on new apps, check out my guide on the new Preview app.
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