Skip to Content

YouTube Launches 'Playables' Mobile Games for iOS

YouTube is the latest company to introduce mobile games that are available outside of the App Store, today announcing the official launch of "Playables" in the YouTube app.

youtube playables
Playables are free games that can be played on the YouTube website or in the YouTube app for iPhone and iPad. There are more than 75 games available, including Angry Birds Showdown and Cut the Rope.

YouTube is focusing on "lightweight, entertaining games," so many of the options are games that are meant to be played for a short period of time rather than longer games that you might find on the ‌App Store‌. Game progress is saved, and YouTube keeps track of all-time best scores.

Playables have been available for a small number of users in select markets as YouTube has tested the feature, but as of today, the games are rolling out to everyone and are more widely available. Playables can be accessed in the iOS app by going to the Explore menu and choosing the Playables section.

Netflix has offered a selection of in-app games since 2021, and has started testing games on the Apple TV as well. Other companies like The New York Times also offer dedicated games.

Tag: YouTube

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Released Seven New Products Today

Wednesday March 11, 2026 7:05 am PDT by
Starting today, the seven new Apple products that were announced last week are available at Apple Stores and beginning to arrive to customers. The colorful MacBook Neo and all of the other new products are on display at most Apple Store locations around the world starting today. Apple Stores have inventory of the new products for both walk-in customers and Apple Store pickup, but...
ios 26 4 yellow

Everything New in iOS 26.4 Beta 4

Monday March 9, 2026 3:50 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to test the iOS 26.4 beta, and the latest update is now available for developers and public beta testers. As testing goes on, there are fewer new features in each beta, but today’s release adds new emoji characters and a few other changes. New Emoji Apple added new emoji characters, including trombone, treasure chest, distorted face, hairy creature, fight cloud, orca,...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

Apple Planning 'MacBook Ultra' With Touchscreen and Higher Price

Sunday March 8, 2026 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch an all-new "MacBook Ultra" model this year, featuring an OLED display, touchscreen, and a higher price point, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Gurman revealed the information in his latest "Power On" newsletter. While Apple has been widely expected to launch new M6-series MacBook Pro models with OLED displays, touchscreen functionality, and a new, thinner design...

Top Rated Comments

turbineseaplane Avatar
23 months ago
I saw this cluttering up my YouTube app and immediately thought "WTH is this junk?"

Ugh..
Just more unwanted distracting clutter

(and I'm a YT Premium sub!)

Now I get to click "not interested" on both Shorts and these games .... all the time because they keep showing up
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AlexJaye Avatar
23 months ago
I have deleted YouTube apps from my iPhone & iPad. Safari is fine. In fact, I've been slowly deleting most apps when the website provides the service as well.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
23 months ago
Definitely more important than fixing a several year old bug where comments you write get auto deleted after exactly 20 seconds for no reason…
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mansplains Avatar
23 months ago
This type of bloat pushed me to uninstall YT years ago. Using Safari & Vinegar or Brave aren't perfect, but they aren't riddled with performance issues. My main gripe is inability to set and forget a default playback speed. Never paying for YT Red (yes, not pReMiUm) again.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mrkevinfinnerty Avatar
23 months ago
Every bit as baffling as Netflix getting into mobile gaming.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dampfnudel Avatar
23 months ago
The last thing I need when I open up my YouTube app. More clutter to degrade the experience which I hope is short lived.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)