NFL Retro Bowl ’25 launched on Apple Arcade on September 5, 2024, just before the 2024 NFL season began. Apple presented it as an NFL- and NFLPA-licensed relaunch of Retro Bowl, with official teams and players. It is a 2024 release story: the current US App Store listing is now titled NFL Retro Bowl ’27.
When did NFL Retro Bowl ’25 come out?
Apple announced the game for September 5, 2024, timed to arrive just ahead of the 2024 NFL Kickoff. Apple described it as an exclusive Apple Arcade relaunch of the established Retro Bowl game. Apple’s August 6, 2024 announcement said it would be “available only on Apple Arcade.”
What was included in the licensed relaunch?
Apple said players could choose official NFL teams and players, manage rosters and game strategy, and try to build a dynasty. The company also described authentic rosters, retro-style player art, tuned player attributes, career statistics, and realistic contracts. These are Apple’s launch descriptions, not independent performance or gameplay test results.
The “blitzes” in the original headline is figurative launch wording, not evidence of a newly added blitz mechanic. Apple’s announcement focused on the licensed relaunch and its teams, players, and management features.
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Is NFL Retro Bowl ’25 on Apple Arcade?
Yes. The ’25 edition was released exclusively on Apple Arcade. Apple’s launch announcement also said Arcade games were free of ads and in-app purchases at that time. That is a description of the service at launch, not a statement of current subscription pricing or terms.
What is the current NFL Retro Bowl game?
The editions have moved forward with the seasons. Apple announced NFL Retro Bowl ’26 on September 4, 2025, including a Championship Leaderboard mode built around weekly matchups aligned to the 2025 NFL schedule. The current US App Store listing is titled NFL Retro Bowl ’27, and New Star Games’ official site also discusses the ’27 edition. The ’26 mode details should not be assumed to describe the ’27 edition unchanged.
Rank #2
- The UNO game players love features graphics inspired by all 32 teams in the National Football League stored in a collectible travel tin.
- Game play matches the classic card game where players match colors and numbers to get rid of all their cards.
- The special 'Ice the Kicker' rule forces players to kick a field goal with a folded paper football through a goalpost of another player's hands.
- When down to one card, don't forget to yell 'UNO.'
- Designed for 2 to 10 players ages 7 years and older, the collectible card game makes a great gift for fans of the NFL.
The current US App Store product page, reached through the former ’25 listing address, identifies the game as NFL Retro Bowl ’27. It lists iPhone and iPad availability and requires iOS 13 or later or iPadOS 13 or later. Regional availability and compatibility can differ, so check the listing in your local App Store for your device.
New Star Games’ official site describes ’27 as an Apple Arcade exclusive and refers to a current Championship leaderboard competition. Apple’s August 2025 announcement said the Apple Arcade catalog then contained more than 200 games; that was a dated catalog figure, not a current count or a measure of the game’s audience.
Rank #3
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What the launch announcement does—and does not—establish
Apple’s announcement establishes the launch date, Arcade exclusivity, NFL and NFLPA licensing, and the features Apple described. It does not provide a player count, sales figure, or market-size statistic. The reviewed official sources also do not establish a physical edition, printed manual, or a specific compatible controller for NFL Retro Bowl.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- NFL FOOTBALL LEGENDS: Celebrate the greatest moments in NFL Football history with this TeenyMates gift set featuring officially licensed legends. A must-have for collectors and young fans alike
- FOOTBALL GIFT SET: Includes a licensed collector’s tin and 3 TeenyMates packs for a total of 6 action figures. The perfect football gift for birthdays, holidays, or game-day surprises
- OFFICIALLY LICENSED TEENYMATES FIGURES: Each 1" TeenyMates figure features detailed team colors and authentic player styling, making these football toys ideal for collecting, trading, and displaying
- FUN-SIZED ACTION FIGURES: These mini action figures are great for imaginative play, desk décor, party favors, or adding to any NFL Football collection
- PERFECT FOR FANS & COLLECTORS: Whether you're building your TeenyMates roster or gifting an NFL football fan, this gift set delivers excitement in a compact, collectible format
Rank #4
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- AIR RETENTION: A Pressure Lock Bladder helps keep your ball fully inflated for longer with less time spent pumping and more time playing
- NFL AUTHENTICITY: Wilson is the Official Football of the NFL and trusted by the world’s best athletes for over 100 years
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