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Seven indie games are being released this week for iPhone and iPad, including the kung-fu brawler Sifu and the space simulation No Man's Sky. Apple is featuring them in the App Store for a week. In Germany, prices range from a free trial to €22.99 for the full version of No Man's Sky.
The App Store's Indie Games Week has been running since October 12th. As Apple announced in a Newsroom post, seven games from independent studios are being released for iPhone and iPad, six of them immediately and one at the end of October. Throughout the week, the App Store is highlighting these titles with daily posts and special collections.
The statement quotes Carson Oliver, whom Apple lists as Head of App Store Worldwide. Bloomberg reported on his promotion to head of the App Store under Services chief Eddy Cue in early October.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The Indie Games Week in the App Store starts with seven games for iPhone and iPad.
- Sifu, Vampire Crawlers, Little Cat, Big City, 9 Kings, Dome Keeper and Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall are available now.
- No Man's Sky will be released at the end of October and can already be pre-ordered.
- In Germany, the games cost between €7.99 and €9.99 to buy. Four titles can be played for free; their full versions cost between €5.99 and €22.99.
Sifu: Kung Fu with its own touch controls
The most notable new addition is Sifu, a third-person brawler. Players take on the role of a young kung fu student on a quest for revenge, facing simultaneous attacks from enemies that must be parried and countered. According to Apple, the studio has developed a custom touch control scheme and a revamped camera system for iPhone and iPad, and controllers are fully supported.
Sifu costs €7.99 in the German App Store. The game is rated 18+ and playable in German.
No Man's Sky is coming at the end of October
According to Apple, the space simulation No Man's Sky from Hello Games will be released on October 28th for iPhone and iPad. The German App Store lists October 29th as the expected release date. The game includes all major expansions up to and including the latest Cosmos update, which allows players to control their own space stations.
The download is free, and the beginning of the game can be played without purchase. The full game is unlocked with a one-time in-app purchase for €22.99. According to the App Store, No Man's Sky requires at least iOS 26 and a device with an A12 Bionic chip or newer. Only English is listed as the available language.
The remaining five games at a glance
Vampire Crawlers, from the creators of the hit Vampire Survivors, replaces dodging projectiles with a turn-based card game in dungeons. Little Kitty, Big City puts a cat through an open-world city. In 9 Kings, players build a kingdom with card armies, Dome Keeper is a mining simulation with alien defense, and in Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall, moral choices must save a crumbling empire.
| Game | Price in Germany | Age rating | German |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sifu | 7.99 euros | 18+ | Yes |
| Vampire Crawlers | 9.99 euros | 9+ | no |
| Dome Keeper | 9.99 euros | 9+ | Yes |
| Small cat, big city | Free to play, full version €9.99 | 4+ | Yes |
| 9 Kings | Free to play, full version €8.99 | 13+ | Yes |
| Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall | Free to play, full version €5.99 or €7.99 | 13+ | Yes |
| No Man's Sky | Free to play, full version €22.99 | 13+ | no |
None of the seven titles are part of Apple Arcade; they are regular offerings in the App Store. New games and your existing game collection can be managed together in Apple's Games app.
Console games without a subscription
I find the selection remarkable because it includes Sifu and No Man's Sky, two games that have primarily been available on consoles and PCs until now. Both rely on a one-time purchase rather than a subscription, with No Man's Sky offering a free trial beforehand.
Those who value German text should check the listing before purchasing. Vampire Crawlers and No Man's Sky are only listed in English as a language option in the German App Store; the other five titles are playable in German.
Which of the seven games will you be getting on your iPhone – or will brawlers and space simulations remain console and PC games for you? Tell us what you're playing in the comments.
