Prince of Persia and Plants vs. Zombies Headline Apple Arcade's December Holiday Lineup
Apple has unwrapped its holiday plans for Apple Arcade, and the headline is a strong one for players who love big franchises. Football Manager 27 Touch is already available on the service, and four more games — including the return of Plants vs. Zombies and a new Prince of Persia adventure — will arrive on Thursday, 3 December. The announcement came in an Apple Newsroom update on 10 November 2026, and it gives subscribers a clear picture of what to play through the festive season and beyond.
Apple Arcade now holds more than 200 games, all free of advertisements and in-app purchases, and a single subscription covers a family of up to six people. The service costs $6.99 per month in the United States, with a one-month free trial for new subscribers. That context matters, because the December line-up is not a set of small filler titles: it brings back two of the most recognisable names in gaming, alongside a clever card-game twist and a gentle building game for younger children.
Image: Ubisoft / App Store
The game that is live right now is Football Manager 27 Touch, developed by Sports Interactive and published by SEGA. It puts players in the manager's seat of a football club, with the world's biggest leagues to work through, and it arrived on Apple Arcade on 10 November. Apple says the new version brings an updated match engine, new recruitment and match preparation tools, and a redesigned iPhone interface, so even players who followed last season's edition should notice the difference. It joins a sports shelf on Arcade that already includes NBA 2K27 Arcade Edition, Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition, NFL Retro Bowl '27, PGA TOUR Pro Golf and Retro Bowl College+.
The December arrivals begin with Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, from PopCap Studios. This is a fresh take on the tower defence classic that turned lawn defence into a global hit, bringing back the familiar characters, the humour and the strategic planting gameplay, with new levels and modes added for the Arcade version. The App Store listing shows it running on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro, with a 9+ age rating, so it is an easy recommendation for families as well as for returning fans.
Next comes Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown+, from Ubisoft, which may be the most substantial game in the batch. Players explore the mythological depths of Mount Qaf, using time powers, acrobatic movement and precise swordplay in a large interconnected world. The Arcade version includes all downloadable content, including the Mask of Darkness story expansion. Its App Store listing carries a 12+ age rating and lists iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro support, though not Apple TV, so it is worth checking the listing for your own device before 3 December.
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The third December title is solitaire(ish), a run-based deck builder from Playstack, the publisher behind the award-winning indie hit Balatro. It takes the familiar card game of solitaire and rebuilds it as a roguelike, where each run plays differently and every decision about which cards to keep shapes the outcome. For players who enjoyed the deck-building wave of the last two years, this could quietly become the most played game of the four, and it is a smart pick for short sessions on the move.
Rounding out the line-up is LEGO DUPLO Playtime, a calm, open-ended digital toy chest for younger players. Children can mix and match iconic LEGO DUPLO bricks to build a living playground, with no fail states and no pressure. It is the kind of game parents can hand to a small child without worrying about advertisements or surprise purchases, because Arcade games never include them.
The timing is no accident. Apple announced this line-up the same week it added four November games — Crossy Road Rush, NBA 2K27 Arcade Edition, KAMI 2+ and Food Stylist: Design Game+ — on 5 November. Together, the two waves give Arcade one of its strongest ends to a year in recent memory, with a sports management sim already live, a basketball game that adds all 15 WNBA teams for the first time, and a December batch that covers tower defence, action adventure, card strategy and family play in a single day.
It is also worth noting what leaves the service. Apple has confirmed that Dandara: Trials of Fear+, Oddmar+ and PUZZLE & DRAGONS STORY will depart from Apple Arcade, so players who are partway through those games should finish them soon. Apple has not announced any further additions beyond the 3 December batch, although its pattern of staggered holiday announcements in the last two years makes another reveal possible.
For subscribers, the practical advice is simple. Download Football Manager 27 Touch now if you follow football, and set a reminder for 3 December for Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown+. Check the App Store listing for each game before that date to confirm it supports your device, and remember that Arcade Originals generally reach iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro, while App Store Greats are usually limited to iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro. With no extra charge beyond the subscription, the December line-up is one of the best value drops Apple Arcade has offered this year.
Source: Apple Newsroom — Hit franchises Football Manager, Plants vs. Zombies and Prince of Persia headline a fun-filled holiday-season line-up on Apple Arcade — https://www.apple.com/au/newsroom/2026/11/football-manager-and-other-hit-franchises-headline-apple-arcades-holiday-lineup/
