“Jetpack Joyride 2” makes its Apple Arcade premiere

A sequel to Jetpack Joyride has finally been released, albeit not for everyone. Jetpack Joyride 2 is now available for iPad, iPhone, Mac, and Apple TV as an exclusive Apple Arcade title from Halfbrick Studios. Sorry, fans of Android. The gameplay in the endless flier is more “story-driven,” with a new playable character (Betty Beefpies), new mechanics, and more lifelike graphics. By doing so, Halfbrick is essentially bringing the game into the present day.

Last year, the original game made its Apple Arcade debut as Jetpack Joyride+, maintaining the fundamental gameplay without requiring (or enabling) in-app purchases. Alongside icons like Canabalt and Temple Run, the game first appeared in 2011 and contributed to the definition of the endless runner genre. Over the years, Halfbrick’s iconic game has received over 500 million downloads.

JJ2 represents yet another taste of nostalgia on the all-you-can-play service but probably won’t be worth the $50 per year ($5 per month) for Apple Arcade. It might, however, make a better argument for a subscription. Simple throwbacks from the past can be played alongside more recent titles that make the most of current Apple devices.