Apple has held an event to crown its favorite iPhone, iPad and Mac games of the last year. If you’ve been swiping around your home screen looking for something fresh to cheer-up your gadget, this could be the perfect time to download a new application to make you more productive, or an award-winning game to help pass the time on your commute.
Apple has decided to highlight a number of different apps, from stylish games – like Sayonara Wild Hearts on iPhone – to practical workhorses – like Affinity Publisher on Mac. Although there isn’t anything controversial here, the judges’ picks should throw the spotlight on smaller developers who might not crack the Top Ten on the App Store, but that millions of iPhone, iPad and Mac owners might find useful or entertaining to use every single day.
The App Store is a serious phenomenon. The digital store, which is used to download all applications and games on iPhone and iPad hardware, has earned developers $120 billion worldwide. Although Mac users can download software from other sources, there is still a curated App Store where the applications are vetted by Apple’s famously strict rules. Apple Watch owners recently gained the ability to search their own dedicated App Store and download and install apps from their wrist following the launch of watchOS 6.
Arch-rival Google recently announced its own picks of the Best Apps of the year. Although there is a lot of crossover between the App Store and the Google Play Store (the equivalent for Android smartphones and tablets), both have a number of popular exclusives.
Apple has also published a definitive list of the most popular apps downloaded from its App Store over the last 12 months, too. This allows some of the most widely-downloaded software – like Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, and more – that wasn’t fortunate enough to get a spot on the podium during Apple’s awards can still get some recognition.
And speaking of awards, Apple has just hosted its first-ever Apple Music awards. The show was designed to celebrate the best musical talent that has been streamed on the music service, which directly competes with Spotify and is available on all Apple hardware as well as Android smartphones and tablets.
Here is the full list of the winners of the Best Apps Of The Year, as chosen by Apple:
iPhone App of the Year: Spectre Camera
iPad App of the Year: Flow by Moleskine
Mac App of the Year: Affinity Publisher
Apple TV App of the Year: The Explorers
iPhone Game of the Year: Sky: Children of the Light
iPad Game of the Year: Hyper Light Drifter
Mac Game of the Year: GRIS
Apple TV Game of the Year: Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap
Apple Arcade Game of the Year: Sayonara Wild Hearts
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Speaking about the awards, Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Phil Schiller said: “Developers around the world inspire us all with innovative apps that have the power to influence culture and change our lives, and this year that is as true as ever.
“The 2019 App Store Best Apps and Games winners reflect our global desire for connection, creativity and fun.
“We are excited to announce such a diverse group of 2019 App Store winners, showing that great design and creativity comes from developers large and small, and from every corner of the world. We congratulate all the winners and thank them for making 2019 the best year yet for the App Store.”
