Apple Reveals 45 Finalists for 2025 App Store Awards
Apple today announced the finalists for the 2025 App Store Awards, recognising a diverse group of 45 app and game developers who are pushing the boundaries of innovation, user experience, and cultural impact across the Apple ecosystem.
The selection highlights the best offerings across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro, narrowing down the massive App Store catalogue to a select group of standout titles. The winners of the 2025 App Store Awards will be announced in the coming weeks.
Celebrating Global Innovation
The 2025 App Store Awards finalists were chosen by Apple’s global editorial team for their ability to help users reimagine daily workflows, tap into creativity, and experience immersive gameplay.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate the App Store Award finalists, a diverse and talented group of developers from around the globe,” said Carson Oliver, Apple’s head of App Store Worldwide. “Their commitment to excellence is an inspiration, resulting in experiences that empower users to tap into their creativity, achieve more through technical innovations, and discover new adventures through the world of gameplay.”
Key Categories and Contenders
The 2025 App Store Awards finalists span 12 categories, ranging from productivity powerhouses to triple-A gaming experiences.
iPhone App and Game of the Year
The iPhone finalists focus on refining everyday life and delivering generation-spanning entertainment.
- App Finalists: BandLab (music creation), LADDER (strength training), and Tiimo (visual planning).
- Game Finalists: The viral hit Pokémon TCG Pocket, the quirky Capybara Go!, and the minimalist strategy game Thronefall.
Mac Gaming Gets Serious
In a sign of the Mac’s growing prowess as a gaming platform, the Mac Game of the Year category features high-profile, graphic-intensive titles.
- Finalists: Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, and the artistic adventure Neva.
- Mac Apps: On the productivity side, finalists include Acorn (photo editing), Essayist (academic writing), and Under My Roof (home organisation).
The Era of Spatial Computing
For the Apple Vision Pro, editors selected apps that leverage spatial computing to offer unmatched visual experiences.
- App Finalists: Camo Studio, D-Day: The Camera Soldier, and Explore POV.
- Game Finalists: Fishing Haven, Gears & Goo, and the atmospheric puzzle game Porta Nubi.
iPad, Watch, and TV
- iPad: Finalists include creative workflow tool Detail, art app Graintouch, and timeline visualizer Structured. Games include DREDGE, Infinity Nikki, and Prince of Persia Lost Crown.
- Apple Watch: Fitness and utility dominate with GO Club, Pro Camera by Moment, and Strava.
- Apple TV: Entertainment hubs HBO Max and PBS KIDS Video are joined by the game Super Farming Boy 4K.
Recognising Cultural Impact
Beyond technical prowess, Apple dedicated a specific category to apps that foster empathy, inclusivity, and community connection. The Cultural Impact finalists include:
- Be My Eyes: Empowering users who are blind or have low vision.
- A Space for the Unbound: Exploring mental health narratives.
- Venba: A narrative cooking game spotlighting cultural cuisine.
- Whoscall: Protecting users against scams.
- Yuka: Helping users make conscious consumption choices.
Other finalists in this category include Art of Fauna, Chants of Sennaar, despelote, Focus Friend, Is This Seat Taken?, Retro, and StoryGraph.
Apple is expected to announce the winners of the 2025 App Store Awards from this distinguished group of finalists in the coming weeks.
