For over a decade, the App Store editorial team has taken a moment at the end of the year to celebrate the very best apps and games. As always, we focus on technical innovation, user experience, and design. Then we consider the impact these apps and games have had on our lives.
iPhone App of the Year Finalists
AllTrails, Duolingo, Flighty
These apps helped us explore a new language, the hiking trails in our community, and the world at large.
iPhone Game of the Year Finalists
Afterplace, Honkai: Star Rail, Vampire Survivors
Our favourite iPhone games sent us on unforgettable intergalactic voyages, into the jaws of monstrous hordes, and to a fantasy land filled with surprises (and wry humour).
iPad App of the Year Finalists
Concepts, DaVinci Resolve, Prêt‑à‑Makeup
This year we learned to express our creativity through multiple mediums—doodles, digital film, and daring makeup looks.
iPad Game of the Year Finalists
Lost in Play, Pocket City 2
Want to build an incredible city? Journey through a child’s imagination? Meet this year’s iPad Game of the Year finalists.
Mac App of the Year Finalists
Linearity Curve, Photomator, Portal
Skillfully designed graphics, state-of-the-art photo editing, and mesmerizing escapes. We were instantly immersed in the worlds these apps transported us to—or inspired us to create.
Mac Game of the Year Finalists
ELEX II, Lies of P, Return to Monkey Island
Whether you’re pointing and clicking through a swashbuckling adventure, duelling deranged puppets, or jetpacking across a post-apocalyptic world, the power of Apple silicon brings these brilliant games to life.
Download these games on the Mac App Store.
Apple Arcade Game of the Year Finalists
Cityscapes, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Stitch
Apple Arcade delivered endless entertainment this year. We embroidered beautiful patterns, simulated a sprawling metropolis, and made adorable friends on a tropical island.
Apple Watch App of the Year Finalists
Planny, SmartGym, Tide Guide
This year’s finalists had us checking off our to-do lists, checking out the tides, and checking on our gains at the gym.
Apple TV App of the Year Finalists
Bugsnax, FitOn, MUBI
Whether you’re kicking back with a good movie, kicking it up with cardio, or kicking some butt—our Apple TV finalists make it look amazing on the big screen.
Cultural Impact Finalists
Balance, Endling, Finding Hannah, How to Say Goodbye, Pok Pok, Proloquo, Rebel Girls, Too Good To Go, Unpacking
By telling little known stories that deserve to be heard and helping us care for ourselves and loved ones, these apps and games improved the world for us all.