The price is $59 – more than reasonable for an MFi controller of this quality.
I’ll have a full review up soon. Actually, if I knew the controller would be on sale this soon, I’d have had one up already. But I’ve been using the controller steadily for a few weeks now, and my initial impressions are very positive.
The build quality of the speedy is outstanding – comparable in quality to the similarly-designed Xbox 360 controller, and better than the majority of MFi pads. The analog sticks, buttons, and triggers are almost identical to those on the 360 controller, and should be very comfortable to those used to Microsoft’s console. The d-pad is a particular high note – easy to move and pleasantly clicky.
The Speedy works great with the new Apple TV, but it also works perfectly with iPhones and iPads. For iPhone users, a screw-attachable grip holds your phone in place as you play, and it opens wide enough to support an iPhone 6 Plus in a case.
The Speedy uses an internal rechargeable battery, and charges via micro-USB, since it was presumably far in development before Apple opened the Lightning adapter up to MFi controller makers.
The Speedy came out of nowhere with minimal promotion, but it is – perhaps surprisingly – one of the very best MFi controllers available. It’s similar to the (also very good) Mad Catz CTRLi, but featuring a far superior d-pad and a rechargeable battery. If that sounds good to you, buy one now, you won’t be disappointed. If you’re still on the fence, I’ll have a full review up soon.
Things are starting to heat up in the world of MFi controllers! SteelSeries just released their new Nimbus controller last week, and already Hori is stepping up to compete by introducing a new controller: the Horipad Ultimate.
I absolutely loved the previous Horipad. In the time since I reviewed it, I find myself returning to the Horipad more than any other controller.
The upgrades start with the materials used to construct the controller. The glossy reflective body of the previous Horipad has been replaced with a dual-color matte textured plastic. The same shape has been preserved, but the new material should be less of a fingerprint magnet.
The arrangements of the various buttons and sticks is the same as the original Horipad, but some of the details have been tweaked. The circular d-pad has been replaced by a new plus-shaped one. Gamevice was the first MFi controller to get away with this, but it seems all of the new big-name controllers are ditching the circular pad. The previous Horipad had an excellent d-pad, and thanks to the new plus-shape, this Ultimate version could be even better.
Turning to the back of the controller, the R2 and L2 shoulder buttons from the previous Horipad have been replaced with triggers. This is perhaps a downgrade for retro gamers, but makes the controller a lot more suitable for more modern games. The back of the controller also houses the power switch and bluetooth pairing button, just like on the Nimbus controller. This is a welcome change from the previous Horipad, which stuck these in hard-to-reach places on the face of the pad.
Charging is handled via Lightning – another upgrade from the previous Horipad, which required the relatively ancient USB Mini cables. Battery life is listed at 80 hours, and charge time a mere 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
The Horipad Ultimate is currently listed for sale on Apple’s Japanese store. Its price is Â¥6,400, which translates to a little over $50 American. Interestingly, the SteelSeries Nimbus is Â¥8,400 on the Japanese store, which would translate to about $70. This means Hori is undercutting SteelSeries by about $20 in the Japanese market. No clue what this means for pricing outside of Japan, but it’s possible this new Horipad will be cheaper than the competition.
In part one of this series, I covered some of the bigger Apple TV releases. Still, it was merely scratching the surface of the games available on the platform.
This time, I decided to shake things up a bit by recording full gameplay videos of every game on this list, direct off the Apple TV. It was an excruciatingly time-consuming process, and I won't be doing it for every article, but I hope you enjoy the results!
Have any thoughts, questions, or recommendations? Be sure to check out the AfterPad forums to let me know.
Rayman Adventures
Rayman Adventures is a fascinating example of how to handle the dichotomy of supporting both the Siri Remote and MFi controllers. Start the game with the Siri remote and you'll find an experience similar to Rayman Jungle Run and Rayman Fiesta Run: an auto-runner where you press carefully-timed moves to avoid traps and make it through the level.
Connect an MFi controller, and instead of an auto-runner, Rayman Adventures turns into something related to the classic Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends console games: a slower-paced, more traditional platforming game that allows you to stop running and explore the levels.
I love – love – this idea. It's brilliant. You can take one game and present it to two completely different audiences, optimized separately for each of them. Casual gamers get a casual auto-running experience. The type of gamer who'd spend $50-$100 dollars on a controller probably wants a less casual experience, so the game tailors itself around the input.
Unfortunately, this input optimization is the only part of the app I'd call brilliant. Between levels, Rayman Adventures slaps on a monster collection mechanic. Throughout the course of playing the game, you'll collect monster eggs. You'll then be sent to to an egg hatchery screen where you have to wait through timers to hatch your monster eggs. You can spend a consumable currency to bypass these timers, of course. Once you do hatch your monster, you can choose to use it to help you through a level, after which it gets tired, and you'll need to spend another consumable currency to wake it up.
This all feels very disjointed. I'd rather NOT use monsters to help me through a level – it feels like cheating when it isn't required, and a pointless barrier to entry when it is required. Being bounced back and forth through monster hatching / monster management / monster searching / level selecting interface screens feels utterly pointless. I never looked forward to it – I found myself blowing through it all as quickly as possible to get back to the game.
It's your basic "make it as far as you can while collecting things and avoiding obstacles" game. Your character snowboards down a mountainside, avoiding obstacles and chasms, pulling off tricks, and collecting llamas (yep!), and generally enjoying a beautifully rendered environment.
You've played games like Alto's Adventure before. That's okay – it's a fun format. So it's understandable if you're a bit burned out on trying another entry in the genre. All I can say is this: give Alto's Adventure a chance. This is one of the most polished, beautiful games I've ever seen in this genre. I found myself replaying it over and over again, and the gorgeous atmosphere and pleasant soundtrack went a long way towards that.
Alto's Adventure is a universal binary, so buying once on iOS gets you the Apple TV version for free. Both versions support MFi controllers, so I'd strongly recommend picking it up for iOS today.
Cosmos
There's no shortage of arcade-style gaming on the Apple TV. I've already covered the genius that is Geometry Wars 3, but thankfully, Apple TV arcade gaming doesn't stop there. Cosmos is a simpler affair, but with fun gameplay and a clean presentation, it's definitely worth a look.
Cosmos hits the right notes for an arcade game. The gameplay is simple but fun. It's difficult without being frustrating. And trying to beat your high scores is addicting.
Arcade gaming is one place where MFi controllers make a huge difference, and Cosmos serves as a perfect example how. Dodging enemies and bullets, collecting power ups, and aiming your weapons feels so much smoother with a real analog stick than it does on a touchpad. It's a fun game either way, but you'll be getting higher scores with a real controller.
Cosmos is universal for iOS and Apple TV. Grab it now on iOS, and it'll show up in your Apple TV purchases automatically. I prefer playing it on the big screen, but it runs just as well on iOS, with or without MFi controllers.
Octagon
Octagon has you rotating an octagonal ball across an octagonal tube, avoiding falling through gaps in the floor or getting stuck on barriers, with the goal of making it to the end of the stage.
It plays like a slower paced version of Unpossible, Proun+, or Impossible Road. This is not a bad thing – those games pride themselves on their extreme difficulty caused by the speed, whereas Octagon focuses more on carefully navigating the level.
Octagon supports both the Siri Remote and MFi controllers on Apple TV. Unfortunately, controller support is completely broken on the iPhone and iPad versions. There is no controller mapping to swap your location from the top on iOS. The Apple TV version corrects this problem, and works perfectly with MFi controllers. Hopefully this will be coming to the iOS version before too long.
Octagon is a universal app, so purchasing it on iOS gets you the Apple TV version for free.
2048
Sigh… 2048. To some, a cleverly-designed puzzle game with addicting gameplay. To others, a fad that dominated iPhones for about 2 weeks last summer before being promptly forgotten. To yet others, a shameless rip-off of the far more polished Threes.
In truth, 2048 is all of these things. It's a clever game. It's cleverly ripped off from Threes. And despite its fad-like popularity last year, it's still a lot of fun. It isn't as fun as Threes, but Threes isn't on the Apple TV, nor does it have MFi controller support.
2048 probably didn't need MFi controller support. It also probably makes a lot less on the Apple TV than it ever did on iPhone. In fact, the best way of combining 2048 with the Apple TV would probably be playing it on your iPhone while watching something else on the TV. But you know what? The game is free, its universal, and its lots of fun.
You probably already download 2048 last year, in which case its already sitting in your Apple TV purchased list, waiting to be downloaded. If you missed it, just download it already. At the very least, you'll see what everyone was talking about last year.
Bean Dreams
Bean Dreams is reminiscent to classic side-scrolling platformers Mario and Sonic, but with an even greater emphasis on precision timing. Your only real move is to bounce – on enemies, obstacles, and the level itself – so the challenge is timing these bounces correctly, and reaching the end of the level in as few bounces as possible.
Execution is key with such a superficially simple concept, and execution is where Bean Dreams excels. This game got a perfect rating on TouchArcade, and it's not hard to see why. The presentation is top flight, the levels have a perfect amount of challenge for both casual and hardcore players, and the soundtrack is memorable.
Bean Dreams feels like one of those games that could have existed years ago, but didn't. There is a timeless quality here that makes Bean Dreams feel like an instant classic – a game that would have succeeded regardless of the year in which it came out or the platforms for which it was released.
Like most Apple TV games, Bean Dreams is a universal binary. Buy once on iOS, and you get the Apple TV version for free. Both builds support MFi controllers, which I strongly recommend playing them with. This was a classic on iOS, and it's a classic on Apple TV. If you're a platforming game fan, I strongly recommend picking it up immediately.
Canabalt
Canabalt. The granddaddy of them all. If you've ever played a side-scrolling endless runner, you owe a debt of gratitude to Canabalt.
Canabalt isn't the first game to require the player to run as far as possible in a side-scrolling world before they die, but it did codify a lot of the aspects that are now standard with the genre: simple-but-beautiful pixel art, maddeningly difficult gameplay, and an overall design that encourages repeated replaying.
There are more recent games in this genre on the Apple TV, but Canabalt has been updated many times with new levels, features, and characters. Even without these additions, Canabalt holds up fine, but these new elements keep it fresh.
Canabalt is a universal app for Apple TV and iOS. And with how long this game has been out, there's a decent chance you already own it, but if not, this is a great chance to pick it up for both systems. The iOS version doesn't currently support MFi controllers, but Canabalt is still a lot of fun on a touch screen.
Slotz Racer 2
It's multiplayer slot car racing on the Apple TV. Do you really need me to explain how cool of a Concept this is? Seriously, if you've ever played with slot cars, you should be closing this article down and buying the game already!
For those of you still with me, I'll explain. Slotz Racer brings the time-honored tradition / hobby of slot car racing to the big screen. Grab a few friends and a few MFi controllers – this one works best as a multiplayer experience.
This is a universal app for both iOS and Apple TV. However, there's a bit of a catch to that. While the Apple TV app supports multiple connected MFi controllers, the iOS version of this app does not currently support MFi controllers. However, there is another free version of the app called Slotz Racer Zenos Special that does support MFi controllers.
Apple TV and iOS are home to many arcade-style bullet dodging shoot-em-ups. But the vast majority of these are ports of old arcade games, with pixelated graphics and coin-op-friendly game structure.
Phoenix HD, in contrast, is a brand new game. The graphics are gorgeous, with shaders, transparencies, and 3D effects that feel right at home in today's gaming landscape. What is unchanged, however, is the high-energy, brutally difficult gameplay. Fans of classic shoot-em-ups will be right at home here.
In many ways, the Apple TV feels the perfect home for Phoenix HD. This game was one of the earliest iOS games with controller support. Heck, support predated the MFi controller program by quite some time, instead using a hacked-together controller standard called iCade!
So yes, one thing you can count on here is great controller support. Fast-paced arcade shooters like this demand a reactive input method – Phoenix HD feels a heck of a lot better with a real controller than it does with the touch screen or Siri remote.
Phoenix HD is a universal app, so one purchase on iOS gets you access to both versions. Everything supports MFi controllers, so don't hesitate to give this one a download today.
Mos Speedrun 2
Side scrolling platformers are a dime a dozen on the App Store. In order for one to stand out from the rest, it has to be exceptional. Good news: Mos Speedrun 2 is exceptional.
Inside this game, you'll find perfectly designed levels, responsive gameplay, tons of collectables for character customization, and a speed running mechanic that adds an extra thrill to replaying levels
If anything, I think Mos Speedrun 2 sells itself short by focusing around the speed running mechanic. The levels in Mos Speedrun 2 are cleverly designed, full of branching paths, secrets, and collectable items. Speed running encourages players to rush without stopping to appreciate the care and attention that obviously went into every aspect of this game. Speed running is a great mode for advanced players, but by focusing the game entirely around it, it feels like Mos Speedrun missed an opportunity to be the Apple TV's Super Mario Bros or Sonic.
But don't let that stop you from downloading it. For the love of god, if you're a fan of platforming games, you need to buy this one immediately. Its a top-tier entry in the genre. It's also a universal app, meaning one purchase gets you a copy for both iOS and Apple TV.
PocketGamer is reporting that the Apple TV version of iOS shooter Afterpulse won’t be hitting until later this year. It was originally scheduled to be a launch title.
Of course, PocketGamer has a history of making up stories with no basis in reality, so take this with a grain of salt. For what it’s worth, Afterpulse for iOS is a somewhat fun, though heavily free-to-play, deathmatch shooter with MFi controller support. Even if it takes a little longer to reach Apple TV, it’s still worth a look.
Great post from Apple-TV-arcade-game Cosmos developer Alexander Repty on the how and the why of his transition from standard software development to iOS and Apple TV game development.
Give it a read if you’re interested in some of the intricacies and realities of developing for the Apple TV. Then give Cosmos a download. It’s a lot of fun, it fully supports MFi controllers, and it’s a universal purchase for both iOS and Apple TV.
The Apple TV’s included Siri remote can be used to play every game on the Apple TV, but the experience is less than ideal. Fortunately, there are other options. The MFi controller program has been going strong for 2 years now. With so many different controllers out there, deciding which one to get looks like a daunting task. I want to make it easier.
The Best Apple TV Controllers
#1 – The SteelSeries Nimbus
The Nimbus is the newest MFi controller, and also the one Apple is throwing the most weight behind. The good news is, it happens to be excellent.
Everything about the Nimbus feels like a premium product. The finish is a high-quality matted plastic with no sharp edges or inconveniently placed screw holes. The analog sticks are solidly built, perfectly textured, and highly responsive. The buttons are among the most beautiful to ever appear on a game controller, featuring a glossy transparent surface housing 3D raised letters on a black background. Unlike previous SteelSeries controllers, the triggers and bumpers have a perfect amount of pressure.
The Nimbus rises above the rest in other ways, too. The integrated battery charges via Lightning cable, rather than requiring obsolete micro USB connections. The Bluetooth connection is via the more modern, less laggy 4.0 standard, unlike previous controllers which use the 2.1 version. And the price is a reasonable $49, unlike most other controllers which range from $59 to $79. And even with the lower price, the Nimbus is a top-quality product, the rival to the Dualshock 4 and Xbox One controller.
The Nimbus is a big deal for MFi controllers. It's being heavily promoted by Apple, it's reasonably priced, and it's excellent quality. This is the controller most Apple TV gamers are going to purchase, and that's not a bad thing.
#2 – The Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i
The Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i is a great controller, and it raised the bar significantly from the controllers before it. It isn't nearly as premium a product as the Nimbus, it generally has a higher price tag, and it suffers from a few notable flaws, but it is still a great choice for gamers accustomed to Xbox 360 controllers.
Unlike the Nimbus, the C.T.R.L.i uses the Xbox's staggered analog stick layout, placing the left stick in the prime position under the left thumb. The sticks themselves are almost identical to those of the 360 controller – rubberized, with 4 little bumps to grip and orient your thumb. The trigger layout is also identical to the 360's, with more distinction between shoulder bumpers and triggers than the Nimbus.
The C.T.R.L.i suffers from a couple of notable flaws. First, and most importantly, is its d-pad. It's a mess. Most MFi controllers have terrible d-pads, but the Nimbus doesn't – it's d-pad is quite good for the types of games that will need it. The C.T.R.L.i's is a mushy mess, and you'll want to actively avoid using it with games that require it. It's better than the Siri remote's track pad, but just barely.
Instead of using an integrated battery that charges via Lightning, the C.T.R.L.i requires disposable AAA batteries. Bluetooth 2.1 standard means you'll go through these batteries faster than you would with the Nimbus' Bluetooth 4.0 connection. Build quality is solid, visual aesthetics are a big of a mess, with sharp angles and garish logos that are out of place in the Apple ecosystem. The C.T.R.L.i is a highly functional, generally pleasant controller, but it does NOT feel like a premium product deserving of a $10 price premium over the Nimbus.
The C.T.R.L.i does, however, have one significant feature the Nimbus lacks: a grip for your iPhone. While this obviously doesn't matter for the Apple TV, the C.T.R.L.i makes a great controller for iPhone as well. The Nimbus works with iPhone, but the lack of a way to attach your iPhone to it makes it less than ideal.
For most gamers, the Nimbus is the best choice. But for hardcore Xbox 360 fans and gamers looking for a universal controller to use with their iPhones and Apple TVs, the C.T.R.L.i is a great choice. And its currently on sale for about $10 off, making it even cheaper than the Nimbus.
#3 – The Mad Catz Micro C.T.R.L.i
The Micro C.T.R.L.i is like the regular C.T.R.L.i controller (or Xbox 360 pad), only smaller. Everything has been shrunk down – the body, the analog sticks, the buttons, and the d-pad. This is not a bad thing. The C.T.R.L.i is one of the biggest MFi controllers out there. The Micro C.T.R.L.i brings the same design to smaller hands.
The Micro C.T.R.L.i improves on the full-size C.T.R.L.i with a much better d-pad. It's still not great, but it lacks the larger pad's mushiness. In exchange, it gives up the high quality iPhone clip. It does have a clip, but it is poor quality, and you won't want to use it. Still, for Apple TV gamers, this doesn't matter. Like the C.T.R.L.i, it uses AAA batteries to charge instead of rechargeables, but the battery does seem to last a long time.
The smaller size actually makes the Micro C.T.R.L.i a great choice for gamers with smaller hands – such as kids. If you're interested, the Micro C.T.R.L.i is the same price as the Nimbus and regular C.T.R.L.i – $49 on Amazon right now.
#4 – The Horipad
The Horipad is the other controller I recommend for the Apple TV. It's not for everyone – it's a limited-appeal controller compared with the other options on this list – but a certain subset of retro gamers are going to love it.
If the C.T.R.L.i is a spiritual sibling to the Xbox 360 controller, the Horipad is a sibling to the PlayStation controller. It features the same layout. It features the same button spacing. It features R2 and L2 shoulder buttons instead of triggers. It shakes things up with a circular d-pad and Xbox 360 style analog sticks, but PlayStation gamers will still feel right at home with this one.
The d-pad is the Horipad's biggest asset. It's excellent. Far better than the C.T.R.L.i series, noticeably better even than the Nimbus. For retro gamers looking for the best d-pad money can buy on an MFi controller, the Horipad is it. If you're primarily getting an MFi controller to play retro games or emulators, the Horipad is seriously worth considering. The killer d-pad and retro-friendly shoulder buttons make it a better match for the old classics than any of the newer pads.
Buy the Horipad if you want the absolute best controller for games from the PlayStation era and earlier, and you don't mind spending $79 on a controller. For everyone else, unless the Horipad gets a serious price drop, the Nimbus is the way to go. It's cheaper than the Horipad, it looks nicer, it charges via lightning instead of obsolete Mini USB, and it's more suitable for modern 3D games and shooters.
The Rest of the Apple TV Controllers
The TteSPORTS Contour
TteSPORTS recently released their long-awaited Contour controller, and I found the results disappointing. It's not a bad controller exactly. And it does have a killer iPhone clip. The problem is, it's worse than the competition in pretty much every other way.
The analog sticks are worse than the others. The d-pad is worse than everything but the C.T.R.L.i. The triggers are far too sensitive, and register unintended presses. The overall shape is angular and uncomfortable. The buttons are slightly too small and too close together.
All of this would be fine for a budget controller, but for $79, there's really no reason for Apple TV gamers to consider this one. Only get it if you want an iPhone controller with a great grip first, and only occasionally want to use it with the Apple TV.
The MOGA Rebel
The MOGA Rebel is like the Contour, but worse in almost every way. It's cheaply built, the components aren't up to the standard of the competition, it has software issues that remain unaddressed months after launch. Not a good controller.
If you already have one of these, it will work well enough with the Apple TV. And it isn't so terrible that you should run out and replace it. But I can't think of a single reason why anyone should buy one of these controllers – for every conceivable purpose, at least one of the other MFi controllers is better.
The SteelSeries Stratus XL
The SteelSeries Stratus XL is a deeply flawed controller. It had a great industrial design and build quality, but the components themselves were poorly made. The d-pad was mushy and oversized, the analog sticks were small and slippery, the buttons were cheap and placed too close together, and the triggers were overly sensitive to the point that they registered unintended taps.
The Nimbus fixed every problem with the Stratus XL, and improved the overall design in the process. And it does so at a lower price – $49 for the Nimbus, compared to $69 for the Stratus XL. There is zero reason to spend more for a worse controller. Don't buy the Stratus XL.
The SteelSeries Stratus
By any metric, the original Stratus is a terrible controller. Bad d-pad, face buttons, bad shoulder buttons, bad analog sticks – bad everything.
The Stratus' only saving grace is its size. You can stick it in your pocket or throw it in a small backpack flap for quick transportation. Useful for iPad gamers perhaps, but useless for the Apple TV.
If you want a controller for gamers with small hands, get the Mad Catz Micro C.T.R.L.i instead of this. The Stratus retails for $69, and it isn't worth even 1/3 of this price.
Wrap-up
Hopefully this guide should make your decision about which MFi controller to get a little bit easier. The vast majority of Apple TV gamers are going to get the Nimbus anyways. That's okay. It's a great controller. For the vast majority of gamers, the Nimbus is the best choice. I highly recommend it.
If you're a hardcore Xbox gamer, you might prefer the C.T.R.L.i with it's staggered layout and 360-inspired design. The addition of a high-quality iPhone grip makes it the best option for those looking for a universal controller to use with Apple TV and iPhone. The sale price of $48 makes it comparably priced to the Nimbus – definitely worth a look!
The Micro C.T.R.L.i is a great controller for gamers with smaller hands. It may be lesser in size, but it loses nothing in quality, featuring the same killer build quality of the C.T.R.L.i, and picking up a much improved d-pad as a bonus. The only downside is the iPhone clip – it's cheap, and I don't recommend using it. But for a pure Apple TV controller, the Micro C.T.R.L.i is a great option, and it's $49 price tag puts it on equal footing to the Nimbus and C.T.R.L.i pads.
The Horipad is not something I'd recommend to most gamers. For retro gamers, however, it's a tough option to beat. A killer d-pad, real shoulder buttons, and top-notch build quality justify its $79 price tag. It's not the controller most people should get, but a certain contingent of retro gamers are going to absolutely love it.
These 4 controllers stand head-and-shoulders above the rest. The Nimbus is probably the one you should buy, but I'd recommend any of my other three favorites to the right person.
Update:Part 2 of the games guide is now available!
After years of waiting, the Apple TV game console is here. Tons of games, full MFi controller support, an attractive price tag – what's not to like?
There's one big problem right now: game discovery. Short of searching the App Store directly on the Apple TV, there is no good way to see which games are available. Hopefully this series of reviews can help address this problem.
Have any thoughts, questions, or recommendations? Be sure to check out the newly-revamped AfterPad forums to contribute!
Oceanhorn
Oceanhorn is as good as it gets. A love letter to the Legend of Zelda games, it perfectly captures the gameplay and aesthetic of Nintendo's classic action-RPGs, without ever feeling like a copy.
The Apple TV version looks stellar. It runs at full 1080P at 60fps – Nintendo has yet to make a Zelda game capable of that – and takes full advantage of the Apple TV's A8 processor with antialiasing, Metal support, and new shader effects.
Controllers are fully supported, of course – Oceanhorn for iOS supports them wonderfully as well. The only thing missing from the iOS version is iCloud saving. It might come later, but for now, you'll have to restart your progress on the Apple TV. Personally, I can't wait to play through Oceanhorn again, so no loss!
It's a universal App, so buy it on your iPhone, and you'll own it on your Apple TV. And you should buy it on your iPhone immediately.
Badland
The iPad version of Badland is a previous recipient of Apple's coveted game-of-the-year award. It was well deserving of the prize at the time, and the enhancements made to it since then put it even further over the top.
Badland features multiplayer support, a level editor, runs in 1080p at 60fps, and fully supports MFi controllers and the Siri remote. The deceptively simple tap-to-flap gameplay, sort of like Flappy Bird but with infinitely more depth and polish, lends itself well to both control methods.
Badland is fully universal. You probably already own it, but if you don't, buying the iOS version will give you access to the Apple TV version. If you don't trust me on this one, trust Apple – those game of the year awards don't come easy!
Asphalt 8: Airborne
Sigh… Here we go. The same game Gameloft has been progressively ruining with every update for the past several years, now on the big screen.
Some people like this game, don't get me wrong. The graphics look good in screenshots (though it runs at far less than 60fps), and Apple likes to show it off.
The problem is, Asphalt 8 is just a mess of bad game design, bad interface, bad freemium components… bad everything. You have to go through 10 pop ups before you can start playing, it's constantly forgetting your save state and forcing you to merge with the cloud version, then sit through all the tutorial pop ups yet again. It tries to make you log into scammy things, buy stat boosters, complete daily challenges.
This is a game designed without love, without soul. It checks off a lot of boxes for things racing games should have, but the way these things are assembled shows a lack of respect for the player, and a lack of respect for the art of making a good game.
It's free, and it's universal. If you already bought it for iOS, your paid purchase means nothing – you still sit through the same freemium garbage as everyone else. For everyone else, it's free to try. If you're a racing game fanatic, give it a download. If not, don't waste your time.
Edge / Edge Extended
The Edge games have been iOS staples seemingly forever. I remember running Edge on my original 2G iPhone. It was one of my first test games to see how much better the 3GS ran everything. As soon as MFi controllers were announced, Edge was right there to support them.
These are classic isometric puzzlers – you control a cube, navigate dangerous mazes, make your way to the goal in hundreds of levels. The Edge games played great swiping on the iPhone, they played great with an MFi controller, and they play great with the Siri remote.
If you already purchased the original Edge or Edge Extended for iPhone, you already own the Apple TV version. If you haven't, you should grab Edge Extended at the very least – it's free right now!
Aztec Antics
Aztec Antics is a simple premise with an addictingly fun execution. Multiple players each control a Mario-esque figure, and have to race around an arena stomping on each other and collecting coins.
We don't have Super Smash Bros on Apple TV yet. We probably never will, short of someone sneaking an emulator on to the App Store. But Aztec Antics captures a good deal of the frantic fun of Nintendo's classic series. If you're looking for a multiplayer action game in that vein, download Aztec Antics immediately. It's fully universal, so buying it on iOS gives you access on the Apple TV as well.
Crossy Road
Crossy Road is that rare example of a game that becomes a fad for entirely justifiable reasons. It's that good. It takes the basic Frogger idea, wraps it in one of the fairest freemium packages ever, and polishes it to perfection.
The Apple TV version keeps all the best aspects of the iPhone version, and ads one killer new feature: multiplayer. Yes, you aren't crossing alone anymore. Now, at last, you and a friend can try to outlast each other at the same time. It plays however you want it to play – if you want to work cooperatively, go for it! If you want to try to stomp on each other, that works as well!
The one catch: multiplayer support isn’t implemented nearly as well as it could be. Rather than allowing you to hook up a few controllers and play directly on the Apple TV, Crossy Road requires other players to pair their iPhones with the Apple TV, then control the game using the touch screen. It works well enough, but it feels unnecessary, when pairing controllers would work better.
If you aren't one of the tens of millions who already own this game, just download it already. It really is as good as everyone says it is. It's free. It's excellent.
Otto Matic / Bugdom 2
Pangea's 3D action/adventure/platformers Otto Mattic and Bugdom 2 are old favorites for Mac gamers. Apple bundled one or both of these games on many Macs sold through the early 2000's, and they were stand-out examples of what the hardware was capable at the time.
When the App Store first launched, Pangea was right on time with their old Mac classics. And they've continued updating their games to support all the latest iOS developments. Retina graphics, universal iPad compatibility, Game Center, AirPlay (in true high-resolution widescreen!), MFi controller support, iCloud saving – whatever big new thing Apple is trying to promote on their platform, you can count on Pangea's games to support it.
These Apple TV versions are no different. They first-class citizens on the Apple TV, with 1080p at 60fps gameplay, full Siri remote and MFi controller support, and cross-device sync with iPhone and iPad. They also have one more trick that is unique for the platform: 3D support. Yes, if you're one of the many who purchased a 3D tv during the big 3D push a few years ago, Pangea has you covered here. I didn't even know the Apple TV supported 3D – gotta hand it to Pangea to get the most out of any Apple platform!
Give Bugdom 2 and Otto Matic a download today. They're solid games, and first-class examples of exactly how games for Apple platforms should be done.
Octodad: Dadliest Catch
I can't decide if Octodad is genius or madness. It's part of a new wave of games that pride themselves on how difficult they are to perform basic tasks in. Goat Simulator, I Am Bread, Surgeon Simulator, and so on.
Octodad takes this to the next level. You're an octopus, disguised as a human, navigating a human world and trying to maintain your cover.
Most of the time, this involves wildly flailing your appendages around with the controller, trying (and repeatedly failing) to pick up simple objects, and destroying much of the environment in the process. All of this done in pursuit of being a loving husband and father to your human family. Who don't realize that you're an octopus.
Octodad was a PlayStation 4 launch title for some reason. It feels far more at home on iOS than it did on Sony's next-gen system. It's a fully universal app – buy it for iPhone today, and you get the Apple TV version for free.
I had issues with SteelSeries' previous controllers. The original Stratus was a bit of a mess. The Stratus XL was much better, but suffered from a couple of fatal design flaws that kept me from recommending it in my review. However, the delta of improvement between these products was huge, and it was obvious SteelSeries was trying to do better.
Assuming SteelSeries learned their lessons from the Stratus controllers, the Nimbus could potentially be an amazing product. The d-pad looks great, the build quality appears to be premium, the price is certainly reasonable. I'm optimistic about this one, despite the previous devices.
The Nimbus is on sale now, and will work with all MFi-controller-compatible iPhones and iPads in addition to the new Apple TV. Similarly, all existing MFi controllers will work with the new Apple TV.
The great news keeps on coming. With the Apple TV finally available for preorder, the game floodgates are starting to open. FDG Entertainment announced today that Oceanhorn, the classic iOS Zelda-style action RPG, is already approved for Apple TV and will be available at launch.
Owners of the iOS version of Oceanhorn will be able to download the Apple TV version for free – its a fully universal app. If you don't yet own the original Oceanhorn, for the love of god, buy it now, it's one of the best games available for iOS!
I bought one of these as soon as I possibly could. It's available in both 32gb and 64gb configurations – I have no idea what the differences are, and opted for the 32gb model, which I'll return if there turns out to be a difference.
Expect a massive influx of gaming-related news for the new Apple TV. Now that it's officially on sale, developer NDAs are coming to an end, and developers can start the mad rush to promote their games before the Apple TVs reach the hands of average consumers next week.
AfterPad will be tracking these games as much as possible – the Apple TV Catalog was recently updated with new additions, and will continue to be updated as new games and controllers are revealed.
