System Design Arcade

System Design Arcade

AI/ML & Backend Interview Prep

9 ratings
2 reviews
Free

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • April 21, 2026
  • September 17, 2026

Features

System Design Arcade screenshot #1 for iPhone
System Design Arcade screenshot #2 for iPhone
System Design Arcade screenshot #3 for iPhone
System Design Arcade screenshot #4 for iPhone
System Design Arcade screenshot #5 for iPhone
System Design Arcade screenshot #6 for iPhone
iphone
ipad
🖼️Get Icon
Icons↘︎

About

Learn complex system design concepts through engaging, bite-sized arcade-style games. Master building blocks, design full systems, and practice with real infrastructure tools. Progress is saved locally and no account is required.

✓Arcade-style mini-games for system design concepts
✓End-to-end system design challenges
✓Hands-on drills with infrastructure tools
✓Narrative-driven story mode
✓Varied challenge types (multiple choice, puzzles, builder)
✓Daily challenges with streak tracking
✓Offline progress saving
Show original description

What's New in System Design Arcade

1.12.0

September 17, 2026

The AI Arcade Eight new games on the interview round that didn't exist three years ago: RAG systems, LLM serving, feed ranking, embeddings, feature stores, ML observability, AI guardrails, and GPU infrastructure. Two More Games Vector Vault joins the Tool Arcade, and Design a Key-Value Store joins the Problem Arcade. Review That Actually Spaces Out Clearing a missed challenge no longer retires it. It comes back on a widening schedule of a day, three days, a week, three weeks, then two months, because recalling something once is what schedules the next recall. Straight Into the Game First launch drops you straight into a playable level, and the app draws instantly instead of waiting on the network. Sign in free when you are ready to unlock every level and sync. Fairer Scoring On multi-select questions, wrong picks now cancel correct ones, and selecting everything scores zero instead of half credit. Sharper Questions A full correctness pass over every game, plus rewrites of hundreds of answer options so the right one is no longer guessable from its length or punctuation. Progress You Keep Levels save the moment you finish them, signing in no longer loses local progress, and your badges survive the catalog growing.

More

User reviews

Thank you

Thanks for putting so much work and making it free! Thank you

Response from developer

These encouraging words help me to keep going by keeping it free. Let me know if you’ve got any feedback or improvements you need.

Genuinely good prep

A lot of other system design prep apps on the App Store are really just repackaged LLM outputs (more often than not, slop!) but this app was made with a lot of care and curation with the learner experience in mind. I have not come across another single resource that has as much breadth, structure and thoughtfulness in an iOS app. Would recommend if you are currently preparing for interviews.
Show more

Response from developer

Thank you for the kind words. That’s encouraging. Let me know if you’ve got any feedback or improvements you need.

Developer apps

FAQ

What is System Design Arcade?

System Design Arcade is a free mobile application that teaches system design concepts through a series of short, arcade-style games. It covers fundamental building blocks, full system designs, and practical tools, making interview preparation more engaging.

How does System Design Arcade help with interview preparation?

It breaks down complex topics like caching, sharding, and load balancing into manageable 60-second levels. The app uses active recall and varied challenge formats to ensure deep understanding, rather than passive learning.

Can I use System Design Arcade offline?

Yes, System Design Arcade works offline by default. Your progress is saved directly on your device, allowing you to study anytime, anywhere, without needing an internet connection.

Does System Design Arcade have ads?

No, System Design Arcade is completely ad-free. The app is designed to provide an uninterrupted learning experience without any advertisements.

How often is System Design Arcade updated?

New games are shipped every sprint, indicating a regular update cycle. The latest version, 1.6.0, was released on June 18, 2026, suggesting consistent development and content additions.

What devices does System Design Arcade support?

System Design Arcade is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed to be accessible across various Apple mobile devices.

Is System Design Arcade suitable for beginners?

Yes, the app is structured to help users master individual building blocks and then progress to designing complete systems. The 'Concepts' track focuses on mastering one building block at a time, making it suitable for those new to system design.

What is the learning methodology of System Design Arcade?

The app employs a gamified approach with active recall, using mini-games, puzzles, and scenario-based drills. This method aims to engage the user's brain more effectively than traditional study methods like reading or highlighting.