NFL Retro Bowl ’26 is set to arrive exclusively on Apple Arcade on September 4, kicking off the NFL season with an update to the throwback football experience.
Developed by New Star Games and officially licensed by the NFL and NFLPA, it blends authentic rosters with the series’ signature pixelated style. Players will compete each week using their chosen team, earning points toward live leaderboard standings that track performance across the community. It’s a mix of arcade-style football and real NFL competition that aims to capture the excitement of the season.
This year brings the addition of the NFL Retro Bowl Championship Leaderboard, a mode that lets players represent their favorite teams in weekly matchups connected to the league’s schedule. More information will be shared ahead of the game’s release, with this early look serving as just a glimpse of what’s to come.
Like last year’s NFL Retro Bowl ’25, the title remains an Apple Arcade exclusive. This time, it arrives as an update to the existing game rather than a brand new app and for those wondering, there are still no plans to add interactive defense.
