Apple is growing the Apple Arcade gaming catalog with two more puzzle-centered titles, so subscribers get extra choices for quick little challenges and also the more relaxed kind of play
Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+ are set to land on Apple Arcade on September 3, 2026. Apple says these additions will beef up an already large lineup of puzzle games on the service, with examples like Grindstone, Flow Free+ and Crossword Jam+.
The two new games feel pretty different from each other. Block Blast!+ leans into fast strategic block placement and combo-building, while Art of Fauna goes slower, mixing jigsaw-style puzzles with nature-themed storytelling, a bit like taking your time with it.
Block Blast!+ Brings Familiar Puzzle Play to Arcade
Made by Hungry Studio, Block Blast!+ is built on a simple core idea. You place blocks on a grid, clear any complete rows and columns, and try to assemble increasingly strong combinations.
The mechanics are kept relatively straightforward, so it’s not hard to get, but you still end up thinking ahead. Apple also claims Block Blast! has been doing well on charts worldwide, and that the Arcade version arrives with the same recognizable gameplay, minus advertising interruptions.
For that reason, the Arcade version could be especially appealing to people who already like the original and just want to play in peace, without the typical distractions you see in many free-to-play puzzle games. Apple underlines that Apple Arcade titles come with no ads, no in-app purchases, and basically an unbroken experience for subscribers.
Art of Fauna Offers A More Relaxed Time
While Block Blast!+ is all about quick puzzle sessions, Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+ leans into a calmer, gentler rhythm instead. Made by Klemens Strasser, the game has you piece together nature-inspired pictures using a jigsaw-style format. And as you finish each puzzle, you can also unlock little narratives that relate to wildlife, plus conservation themes.
Apple describes it as meditative but also pretty accessible, which helps a lot. The accessibility tools feel built to welcome a wider set of players and not just the hardcore puzzlers. Meanwhile, the nature-centered artwork adds that educational and storytelling layer, beyond the simple act of completing pieces.
Also, there’s a real distinction with the title: Art of Fauna was the winner of the 2025 App Store Award for Cultural Impact.
Apple Arcade’s Puzzle Collection Keeps Growing
With these two releases, Apple Arcade’s puzzle lineup is getting more varied, like it’s filling in different tastes. There’s already Grindstone, which mixes puzzle play with dungeon-style combat and boss battles; then Flow Free+, where you connect bright pipes; and Crossword Jam+, which turns crossword-like tasks into an adventure across multiple scenes.
Apple also recently added Everyday Puzzles: Mini Games+ and Water Sort Puzzle: Get Color+, so subscribers get even more casual options to try whenever.
And if you like shorter sessions, this expanding set of puzzles makes Apple Arcade feel a lot easier to dip into. Users can pick it up for a few minutes, instead of committing to some long campaign.
Existing Games Are Getting New Content
Apple’s August plans go beyond the two September releases it mentioned too. On August 12, puffies. is getting 28 fresh packs, including two collections with artwork inspired by Oden Tomodachi and The Knights.
Then starting August 20, Simon’s Cat – Blast Time will add 200 new levels, rolling out as 50 levels each week for a month, so basically steady.
On August 26, Stitch will mark the milestone of 800 unique hoops with a special commemorative hoop and a related achievement. All these updates kind of give current subscribers another nudge to come back to games they may already have installed.
More Apple Arcade Games Are Coming in September
September is shaping up to be especially busy for Apple Arcade. Alongside Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+, Apple says NFL Retro Bowl ’27, Coloring Games for Families+, and Let’s Play! Oink Games+ will also arrive on September 3.
NFL Retro Bowl ’27 is bringing a new Gauntlet Mode, while Coloring Games for Families+ adds more than 3,000 activities meant for players across different ages. Finally, Let’s Play! Oink Games+ brings nine tabletop games into digital form, with support for solo play, co-op style sessions with friends, and online multiplayer.
A Stronger Lineup for Casual Gamers
With Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+, Apple is kind of going two ways at once to grow its puzzle catalog. One is offering fast, very replayable block-clearing gameplay, while the other leans into calmer puzzles, artwork, and nature-centered storytelling, kind of a slower vibe.
If you look at it together with the upcoming updates to older games, plus a handful of extra September releases, Apple Arcade is headed into fall with a broader lineup you can actually feel.
For subscribers, the biggest advantage still stays the same: the games come without ad interruptions, and without in-app purchases. With Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+ landing September 3, puzzle fans will get two more ways to keep their Apple Arcade rotation going.
