Apple App Store Awards 2025 Finalists Announced

Apple has released the 45 nominees for the 2025 App Store Awards, which features its best apps and games in 2022. The annual awards honor developers around the world, who are best pushing the bar as it relates to design, innovation, creativity, and cultural impact. Moreover, Apple continues its advocacy on latest news on business in tech, this demonstrates their commitment to supporting creators and changing how users interact across devices.

Apple Categorizes Global Talent Across 12 Categories

The nominees span across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Apple Arcade and Apple Vision Pro, and emphasize a wide variety of developers who are expanding our potential in productivity, entertainment, education, and immersive technology.

In a statement about this year’s nominees, Carson Oliver, Apple’s Worldwide Head of App Store, stated:

“Their commitment to their craft inspires experiences that unlock people’s creativity, discover opportunities, and create even better things through technology.”

Some winners will be announced in the next couple of weeks.

Finalists for iPhone App of the Year

iPhone App Finalists of the Year focus on ways to elevate daily productivity:

• BandLab – a music creation platform with a community behind it.
• LADDER – an app to strength train with personalized workouts.
• Tiimo – a calming and visually clean way of organizing tasks.

Finalists for iPhone Game of the Year

This category recognizes engaging gameplay and modern storytelling.

• Capybara Go! – a quirky idle journey with a quirky little guy.
• Pokémon TCG Pocket – a new way to collect and play with Pokémon cards.
• Thronefall – stupidly simple yet totally engaging strategy defense attacks,

Finalists for iPad App of the Year

These are applications that enhance creativity and get stuff done.

• Detail – a super smart content generator.
• Graintouch – print-inspired art in the hands of digital artists.
• Structured – an intelligent visual timeline for busy days.

Finalists for iPad Game of the Year

This category again recognizes immersive storytelling as its focus.

• DREDGE – mysterious and immersive and altogether wonderful.
• Infinity Nikki – a fantastical, colorful, land of imagination.
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – a modern retelling of a classic series.

Finalists for Mac App of the Year

• Solid tools for professionals and creators:
• Acorn – making professional quality photo editing accessible.
• Essayist – an easy to organize platform for academic writing and sources.
• Under My Roof – a full home organization app!

Finalists for Mac Game of the Year

This has accomplished visually stunning worlds.

• Assassin’s Creed Shadows – a stealth story set in feudal Japan.
• Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition – the acclaimed sci-fi action RPG.
• Neva – a touching story with incredible art.

Finalists for Apple Arcade Game of the Year

There is a variety of enticing and challenging Arcade titles this year:

• Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE – outrageous and hilairious rolling fun.
• PGA TOUR Pro Golf – fun golf experience.
• WHAT THE CLASH? – quirky collection of memorable mini-games.

Finalists for Apple Vision Pro Apps and Games

The range of experience stretches the boundaries of spatial computing:

Finalists for App:

• Camo Studio – flexible tools for streaming live.
• D-Day: The Soldier Behind the Camera – groundbreaking work for immersive storytelling.
• Discover POV – global Apple Immersive video experiences.

Game Finalists:

• Fishing Oasis – calming fishing experience.

• Gears & Goo – engaging strategy featuring delightful characters.
• Porta Nubi – puzzle quest incorporating light powers.

Finalists for Apple Watch & Apple TV

Appliactions for Apple Watch:

• GO Club – encouraging hydration/ physical activiy.
• Pro Camera by Moment – professional controls at your wrist level for mobile photography.
• Strava – track your fitness and connect with a global community.

Applications for Apple TV:

• HBO Max – entertainment experience at a higher level of accessibility.
• PBS KIDS Video – safe and educational content for kids.
• Super Farming Boy 4K – a genre-defining adventure game which features on-chain reaction mechanics.
  

Finalists from Cultural Impact category

Apple’s Cultural Impact category recognizes apps and games that promote social change. Some of the highlights are:

• Be My Eyes – helping the blind and low vision community.
• Venba – sharing culturally significant meals through beautiful stories.
• Yuka – helping customers to make mindful decisions.
• StoryGraph – creating a welcoming reading environment.
• despelote, A Space for the Unbound, Chants of Sennaar, and many more – all are vital contributions towards culture and community.