Apple Reveals the Best Apps and Games of 2025
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Last month, Apple announced several finalists for its 2025 App Store Awards, and this week it’s narrowed those down to the final winners in each category.
The App Store Awards are an annual event that Apple uses to recognize the apps and games that it considers the most innovative, and while the categories vary from year to year, for 2025 it’s recognizing 17 titles that it believes demonstrated “technical ingenuity” and made a “lasting cultural impact.”
This year’s talented group of winning developers delivered remarkable experiences that empowered users to achieve more, bring their ideas to life, and immerse themselves in stunning worlds.
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While Apple doesn’t publish a list of objective criteria for these awards, the company says it considers factors such as innovation, user experience, and design. It also breaks the apps and games down by each platform, since there can be quite a difference between what makes an iPhone or Apple Watch app great compared to a game for the Mac or Vision Pro.
App of the Year Winners
Apple doesn’t award apps by category — they’re grouped only by platform, so one year we might see a productivity app win for the iPhone (as we have this year), while another it could be an app for outdoor enthusiasts. Here are this year’s winners:
- iPhone App of the Year: Tiimo, a simplified planning app that’s designed to improve focus; it “offers users an impressive visual planner and thoughtfully implemented AI that turns aspirations into actionable next steps.”
- iPad App of the Year: Detail, an iPad AI video editor that offers tools that “democratize the video production process for both aspiring and seasoned creators.”
- Mac App of the Year: Essayist, an academic word processor that handles all the challenges of dealing with complex styles and rules like APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard styles, using AI tools to “tackle the time-consuming work of formatting academic papers on Mac.”
- Apple Vision Pro App of the Year: Explore POV, by James Hustler, “whisks users to the most stunning locations around the world — all in breathtaking Apple Immersive Video.”
- Apple Watch App of the Year: Strava, the well-known fitness app, got the nod for “connecting a community of athletes with a sleek design and real-time segment tracking.”
- Apple TV App of the Year: HBO Max beat out other streaming apps for its “more inclusive streaming experience with American Sign Language additions and an expansive entertainment lineup.”
Game of the Year Winners
Like apps, the gaming categories cover all genres — Apple doesn’t hand out awards specifically for action, RPG, or puzzle games, just what it considers to be the best game overall on each platform. However, it does consider Apple Arcade to be a distinct platform in this case — and it’s notably left the Apple TV out of the mix. The Apple Watch is also missing here, but that’s far less of a surprise as it’s not a platform particularly conducive to gaming. Here are Apple’s picks for this year’s winners:
- iPhone Game of the Year: Pokémon TCG Pocket was recognized for its “amazing artwork, thrilling battles, and iPhone-friendly interface” that takes Pokémon card battles to the next level.
- iPad Game of the Year: DREDGE, from Black Salt Games, was described as “creepy as it is cozy,” impressing Apple’s App Store editors by mixing “a charming fishing game with a haunting mystery.”
- Mac Game of the Year: Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition “stuns with its futuristic sci-fi metropolis.”
- Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year: Porta Nubi, by Michael Temper, “transforms Environments so players truly feel like they are a part of its atmospheric puzzles.”
- Apple Arcade Game of the Year: WHAT THE CLASH?, from Triband, includes the popular franchise’s typical blend of “nonstop laughter with silly, never-before-seen competitions.”
Cultural Impact
In addition to the usual platform-specific categories, Apple also chose to give out several awards in a special category to recognize apps that it believed drove “meaningful change.”
“These apps and games were recognized for their positive impact, providing users with helpful tools, promoting understanding, and shaping a more inclusive world,” Apple said in its announcement. Out of 12 nominees, Apple selected six winners in this category:
- Art of Fauna, by Klemens Strasser, “turns wildlife illustration from around the world into relaxing puzzles and sets a new standard for accessible game design.”
- Chants of Sennaar from Playdigious “celebrates the power of language through a thought-provoking adventure.”
- despelote from Panic “crafts an intimate slice-of-life story that shares a glimpse into a nation navigating tumult and uniting through their love for soccer.”
- Be My Eyes “combines the power of AI and millions of global volunteers to help people who are blind or have low vision with everyday activities.”
- Focus Friend, by Hank Green “acts as a powerful ally against digital distractions by gamifying focus sessions with satisfying prizes.”
- StoryGraph “creates an inclusive space for the book community rooted in authenticity through discovery elements that help elevate diverse authors.”
“Every year, we’re inspired by the ways developers turn their best ideas into innovative experiences that enrich people’s lives,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “This year’s winners represent the creativity and excellence that define the App Store, and they demonstrate the meaningful impact that world-class apps and games have on people everywhere.”
