Apple Arcade has made waves in the world of mobile gamers with its introduction in 2019. The idea of ad-free, IAP-less games with a console-like approach has been the dream for every serious gamer with an iPhone. However, now that iPhones and iPads have entered the “big leagues” can they compare with the other offerings? Is Apple Arcade a worthy substitute to the Nintendo Switch?
Your Answer Upfront:
An iOS Device + Apple Arcade cannot be a worthy substitute to the Nintendo Switch if you’re looking for a classic console gaming experience that leverages Nintendo titles such as Pokémon, Smash Brothers or Mario Kart titles due to the fact that the biggest Nintendo IP’s are not available on the iPad.
You can get a pretty-close gaming experience to a Nintendo Switch by using an iPad docked to a TV via a HDMI adapter or via Air Stream and a wireless controller.
Where the iPad + Apple Arcade shines is in the ability to play hundreds of games for a small price, the ability to share those games with up to 6 people at the same time and the fact that you can use it as a general purpose computer (browsing the web, emails, office work, homework) with the ability to add a keyboard and mouse.
In this article we’ll go over what Apple Arcade is and talk a bit about its offering and advantages over the Switch. We’ll then outline the differences between an iPad or iPhone with Apple Arcade and a Nintendo Switch and finally – show you how you can minimize those differences and, in some cases, make Switch owners envious of your setup.
As a bonus we will recommend various iPad accessories for different tiers of gaming and budgets (note: we’re not using affiliate links for our recommendations and we’re not earning an income from the setups we recommend).
There are also some examples of Switch VS iPad cost for various family or group sizes so if you’re looking to get a Switch or iPad for your kids, you might want to check that part out.
What is Apple Arcade?
Apple Arcade is a cross-platform monthly subscription service for Macs, iPhones, iPads and Apple TV that allows you to access to more than 230 games that can be considered premium games (no ads, no in-app purchases).
It’s great for people who are already in the Apple Ecosystem and own Apple devices, but can also be a great choice for people looking to enter the mobile gaming scene, especially since you can use the Family Sharing feature allowing 1 subscription to be shared with up to five “family” members.
The Family Sharing feature represents one of the biggest strengths in the iPad vs Nintendo Switch debate and we’ll have a lot of examples towards the end of the article where this feature alone MIGHT tip the scale in the iPad’s favor.
What is the point of Apple Arcade?
Apple released Apple Arcade for a couple of reasons:
- boost their services and recurrent revenue offerings (aka subscription services that put money in their bank account every month).
- counter the narrative that mobile games are just cash grabs and money sinks developed to pray on the users by offering high quality games without ads of in-app purchases.
- have a gaming offering that can compete with other platforms (like the Switch) putting Apple in a quality games publisher position (without actually having to develop games or acquire other gaming studios).
- to make iPads and iPhones more enticing for potential gamers looking to get into mobile/handheld gaming
- to boost the catalogue of existing games on the Mac platform
And when you look at the numbers, Apple’s subscription service worked like a charm since they have over 230 premium games and an estimate of more than 12 million subscribers at the beginning of 2021 (according to 9to5Mac). I don’t have the data for 2022 since Apple doesn’t really like releasing the information on the number of subscribers but, seeing how well recent iPhones and iPads sold, I expect that number to have grown substantially.
Now let’s talk about the advantages of using Apple Arcade in comparison to gaming on a Nintendo Switch.
Advantages of using Apple Arcade
Both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses and, depending on what you’re searching for, Apple Arcade might be a better bang for buck than a Switch. We’ll go over the advantages of using Apple Arcade with an iPad but, fear not, because we’ll talk about the differences between the two platforms in the next chapter. And, I’ll also make a cool table with reasons to get an iPad + Apple Arcade vs a Nintendo Switch.
- Hundreds of games available for a small subscription
- There are more than 230 games available for a monthly fee of just $4.99.
- Family Sharing with 5 people
- Get Apple Arcade for 1 account and that account can share it with 5 other people. That means up to 6 different people can play with a single monthly subscription for Apple Arcade. And this goes for regular game purchases outside of Apple Arcade.
- Games with a higher than average quality without ads or In-App Purchases (note this is not being compared to the Switch, just regular mobile gaming)
- Ability to use a keyboard and mouse/trackpad
- Although there are few iOS games that support a keyboard properly, a lot of them can work with a mouse or touchpad
- Play games using Universal Control
- This applies if you own at least a Mac to complement the iPad. I wrote an article on how I game on my iPad, from my desk, by using my Mac’s keyboard and touchpad.
The biggest point in favor of Apple’s Arcade + an iOS Device from the list above is the ability for use Family Sharing.
- If you’re looking to get a single Nintendo Switch for just 1 player the Family Sharing feature won’t really matter for you.
- If you’re looking to buy multiple consoles or iPads than Family Sharing can save you quite a lot of money in the long run.
Now let’s look at how exactly the Nintendo Switch and Apple Arcade differ from each other.
Differences between Nintendo Switch and Apple Arcade
Out of the box the Nintendo Switch has quite a few advantages over Apple Arcade for gaming. We’ll go over all of these in detail, one by one, but it’s important that we front load this facts first.
Depending on what you’re looking to achieve the Switch might be a better option than an iPad. If you want a more gaming focused device to play AAA or Nintendo titles (like Pokémon), the Switch wins the race, hands down.
If you’re looking for a general purpose device that can moonlight as a great gaming device (with a little bit of investment in accessories) where you don’t have to pay a lot of money for each game you’re interested in? Apple Arcade + iPad take the crown.
So it’s important to recognize and identify your intent and purpose for purchasing one of these devices.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s look at some of the differences between the two devices. These are important to keep in mind before making a decision.
Built in controller(s)
First of all the Nintendo Switch comes with a built in controller that can be used to play games either in single player OR multiplayer, 2 people, if you have the regular Switch version. If you purchase the entry level option, the Nintendo Switch Lite, you’ll only have the ability to use the controllers for a single player.
Out of the box, the iPad or iPhone only allow you to play games via the touchscreen using on-screen controls. You’ll need to cough up some dollars to get a separate wireless (or wired) controller like the PS4 DualShock 4 Controller.
Apple Arcade games follow mobile game design trends
iOS games, since the very beginning, were designed to follow standard mobile trends in regards to their design. For example, a lot of iOS games are designed for play sessions of 3 to 10 minutes.
The Nintendo Switch library on the other hand follows Nintendo’s game design philosophy and most of the library is filled with fully feature titles designed for hours upon hours of content that can be played in sessions as short as 5 or 10 minutes to multi-hour marathons. The Switch is close to traditional console and PC gaming in this regard.
However, not all iOS games are “mobile games” and a lot of the entries present on Apple Arcade have more things in common with the Switch catalogue than with classic mobile games.
There are some common titles amongst both platforms like Alien Isolation, Grid Autosport, XCOM 2, Civilization 6 and Divinity: Original Sin 2 and quite a few more. (Btw, we reviewed these exact titles mentioned above in our article titled “5 Great Pc Games Ported To Mobile” so do check it out to see what we think of them on the iPad).
Subscription vs One Time Payment
All Apple Arcade Games can be accessed via a monthly subscription services with around 230 titles being available for $4.99.
Nintendo Switch games, for the most part, require a one time purchase of the physical OR digital version of the game with prices for a game averaging around the $25 mark. Heavy hitters like Pokémon Arceus are price at around the traditional $60.
With Apple Arcade and an iOS device you can stop the subscription at any point you want but you will loose access to your Apple Arcade library until the subscription is resumed. In Nintendo’s case, the games remain yours if you purchased them.
Nintendo Switch doesn’t have a family sharing option
Nintendo Switch doesn’t benefit from a family sharing plan. You can use your account across multiple devices but you won’t be able to play the same game on both devices at the same time. If you have a household with multiple devices and you want all devices to play the same game? You’ll have to buy that game multiple times.
With Apple Arcade and the free family sharing option you’ll be able to share your entire library with 5 additional people and be able to play the SAME GAME on 6 different devices with up to 6 different accounts. This makes Apple Arcade an amazing bang for buck when it comes to sharing titles.
The Family Sharing option can be used outside of Apple Arcade so if you purchase a premium iOS game guess what? The entire family has access to it.
How to turn the iPad with Apple Arcade into a Switch competitor
Let’s say you already own an iPad and you want to use it for gaming as if it were a Nintendo Switch. Since the iPad (even the entry level model) supports external devices this won’t be too hard. For this example I will use my iPad Air 4 but this applies to all types of iPads available, from the low-end entry model to the iPad Pros with the only difference being the type of connectors you need (Lightning vs USB-C).
Here’s my step-by-step guide to using the iPad as if it were a Nintendo Switch.
Add a Gamepad
You can connect a wireless gamepad to all iPads with many of the popular gamepads and controllers out there being supported. For example I am using a PS4 DualShock 4 controller for most of my gaming needs and I’m thinking of upgrading to a PS5 controller.
A ton of Apple Arcade games actually work with the controller and this is one of the big selling points of gaming on Apple Arcade. I normally have my iPad Air 4 mounted on a magnetic stand next to my workstation but there are quite a few moments when I move the iPad to the bedroom and hook it up to my TV.
There are also various options of mounting specific controllers to the iPad itself in order to give it a more switch-like look but I don’t actually own any of them so I cannot recommend any in good faith. If you want me to get one and review it leave a comment on this article and I’ll do my best.
Keep in mind that these type of mounted controllers or gamepads usually work better with an iPhone or iPad Mini 6 rather than normal iPads with sizes over 9″.
Connect iPad to a TV or a monitor
There are a couple of ways to mirror the iPad’s screen to an external display. You can use a Lightning or USB-C To HDMI adaptor or use Air Stream to stream your iPad’s display to a Mac or a TV that can pair with iOS devices.
This can be done on the cheap. If you already own an Air Stream compatible TV there’s nothing else you need. If your TV only has HDMI input you’ll need the adapters and they’re pretty cheap. In the video below I am using a $10 USB-C to HDMI adapter from a local online retailer and it does the job pretty well.
P.S.: please excuse the low quality recording setup for this one. I was using my phone to record as my cats were sleeping on the camera mount. The video is serviceable to represent just how well an iPad can pretend to be a switch :D!
Best iPad for playing Apple Arcade games
If you want to get an iPad to play Apple Arcade games we have you covered. We have a quick list that should help you figure out which one to get based on budget and gaming intent.
Best iPad to get for Apple Arcade gaming when on a budget?
- For around $350 you can get a current generation base Model iPad ($329) + PS4 DualShock controller ($25-$50)
- You can buy a certified refurbished iPad for 15-20% off straight from Apple if they have it in stock OR get an older model for even cheaper from other retailers. With a little bit of luck you can get the iPad and gamepad for under $280 and might even get as low as $250
Best iPad and accessories to get for Apple Arcade gaming without breaking the bank?
- If you’re budget increases to around $700 you can set yourself up for a really good Apple Arcade gaming experience with a current generation iPad Air for ~$500 or a refurbished iPad Pro 11″, a DualSense (PS5 controller – $70) and a magnetic floating stand ($50-$99, depending on the brand).
- My current iPad setup is somewhere around here with a magnetic floating stand, a PS4 controller and an iPad Air 4 (pictured below)
Is Apple Arcade a worthy substitute to the Nintendo Switch?
In order to answer the question finally we need to define your intent. What do you want most out of your next device? Classic gaming experience and access to beloved Nintendo titles or a general purpose computing device that can game and be docked to a TV while ALSO allowing you to do more things with it?
An iOS Device + Apple Arcade cannot be a worthy substitute to the Nintendo Switch if you’re looking for a classic console gaming experience that leverages Nintendo titles such as Pokémon, Smash Brothers or Mario Kart titles due to the fact that the biggest Nintendo IPs are not available on the iPad.
You can get a pretty-close gaming experience to a Nintendo Switch by using an iPad docked to a TV via an HDMI adapter or via Air Stream and a wireless controller.
Where the iPad + Apple Arcade shines is in the ability to play hundreds of games for a small price, the ability to share those games with up to 6 people at the same time and the fact that you can use it as a general purpose computer (browsing the web, emails, office work, homework) with the ability to add a keyboard and mouse.
Entry Level iPad vs Switch example for a family of 4
Here’s an example where you can leverage Apple Arcade for entry-level high quality mobile gaming on a budget for an entire group of people.
Let’s say you’re looking to get entry level iPads for a family of 4. The base model iPads are content consumption devices that, even at the lowest possible spec, can out perform lower end gaming PCs and handhelds (and even some mid-tier PCs).
For this you would be looking at a total of $1321 dollars for the price of 4 iPads and 230+ premium games that can be played by all 4 devices under 1 family account.
Let’s compare that to the cost of getting 4 Nintendo Switch Lite (the entry-level Switch) + 4 Games. A Nintendo Switch Lite costs $199 X 4 users = $796.
The Average price for a Nintendo Switch game is around $25 (most of them are in the $15 – $35 range). That adds about $100 on top and drives the purchase price to around $800. Now, according to Chris Brandrick (editorial director at Cooperpress and curator of Switch Weekly), the average Switch Owner has around 10 game purchases.
Let’s assume that some games will be shared between the 4 players (they can’t all play the same game at the same time as Nintendo Switch doesn’t have a family sharing option) and we can bring the average amount of switch games per player down to 6.
Our updated math is: $25 (average game price) * 6 (average games per player) * 4 (number of people in your house hold playing on the switch) = $600. Let’s add in our cost for the hardware, $796, and we end up with a total of $1396.
That puts us above the cost of 4 entry level iPads + subscription using Family Sharing.
There are some caveats with this calculation.
- In the Switch’s case, we assume that you’ll be buying all the games for the console upfront with the console’s purchase. This can be spread out over the course of many months.
- In the iPad’s case we’re assuming that players will only want to play the games available in on Apple Arcade. There’s a case that could be made for the need for other premium games that need to be purchased from the App Store, however:
- You only need to purchase that game once and everyone can play it, at the same time, with Family Sharing vs having to purchase the game 4 times. This is where the iPad shines in comparison to Switch.
Where To Next?
This article was a big one but I hope it helped you in making a decision! If you want to go the iPad route I have some more articles that can help you. For example here’s an article in which I use the iPad to play games that are not playable on modern macs. Or this article in which I show you how to play old-school and classic games from the 80’s and 90’s on your iPad.
We also have a lot of reviews for iOS games that you can read by heading over to our Review Section. And there’s a kick-ass guide to playing Dungeons and Dragons video games on your iPad if you’re into that, both old and new.
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