Subscription-based iOS gaming service GameClub last week brought popular open world RPG Aralon: Sword and Shadow back to the App Store, with better than ever graphics.


For those unfamiliar with Aralon: Sword and Shadow, it was one of the most popular games in the early days of the ‌App Store‌ as it was the first major open world RPG that was made available on iOS.

GameClub's service is based on reviving classic games that are no longer in the ‌App Store‌, providing new updates, graphical overhauls, and more. For Aralon: Sword and Shadow, there have been major changes.

When the game was first released, it used programmer art that was super basic. Later on, Crescent Moon, another developer, picked it up and did some graphics updates, and when GameClub took over, there was another major graphics update so it looks much better than it did in the early days. A before and after of the original art, updated art, and GameClub art can be seen below.

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Aralon: Sword and Shadow's original graphics

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Aralon: Sword and Shadow after Crescent Moon update

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Aralon: Sword and Shadow after GameClub's revamp

The original Aralon: Sword and Shadow game was designed to run on early iPhones like the iPhone 4 and the first iPad, but ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌ graphics have evolved significantly since then. With the graphics overhaul and the experience of playing a classic game on a device that's much, much faster, Aralon: Sword and Shadow is worth checking out for those who liked the first version back in the day.

GameClub is priced at $4.99 per month, and allows up to 12 family members to play with a single subscription. Those who are new to the service can get a 30-day free trial, which is great for people looking for something new to do while stuck inside.

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There are now more than 100 titles on GameClub ranging from puzzles to strategy games to RPGs and action titles, all without ads or in-app purchases.

Top Rated Comments

BrokenDinosaur Avatar
68 months ago
If you previously owned the game, you do not need to pay for the subscription.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cosmichobo Avatar
68 months ago
What a lovely paid advertisement..?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ErikGrim Avatar
68 months ago
Add the original Peggle / Nights to this and you have my money.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
psac Avatar
68 months ago

What a lovely paid advertisement..?
I don't know if it is, but one of the main people behind Gameclub (Eli Hodapp - SP?) was the editor in chief of Touch Arcade, which is a sister site of this one. So it might not be a paid ad as much as doing a solid for an old buddy/colleague.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Eorlas Avatar
68 months ago
that's pretty impressive, i remember this game from back when.

i'm still fingers crossed that they rerelease Aurora Feint; that was probably one of the best top-down brick combine/smasher things. back from when they didnt put these ridiculous levels in that all the new ones have.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
star-affinity Avatar
68 months ago

Hmm, think I’ll stick with Destiny2 on PlayStation.

Isn't World of Warcraft also still available on the Mac platform?
Destiny 2 is a nice game, but the lock to 30 frames per second on the consoles ruin it quite a bit, in my opinion.

World of Warcraft is still around on MacOS, yes.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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