If you’re looking for new apps to download, Apple has officially announced the recipients of the 2023 App Store Awards. These 14 apps and games stood out for empowering users to express their creativity, explore novel adventures, and enjoy quality time with family and friends.
The international pool of winners, carefully selected by the App Store’s Editorial team, represents developers who have contributed meaningful experiences and influenced cultural shifts. The winning selections emerged from a competitive field of nearly 40 finalists, with criteria based on exceptional technical innovation, user experience, and design.
App of the Year Winners
Here’s a roundup of all the App of the Year winners of the year for different categories:
iPhone App of the Year: AllTrails, from AllTrails, Inc.
iPad App of the Year: Prêt-à-Makeup, from Prêt-à-Template.
Mac App of the Year: Photomator, from UAB Pixelmator Team.
Apple TV App of the Year: MUBI, from MUBI, Inc.
Apple Watch App of the Year: SmartGym, from Mateus Abras.
Games
iPhone Game of the Year: Honkai: Star Rail, from COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.
iPad Game of the Year: Lost in Play, from Snapbreak Games.
Mac Game of the Year: Lies of P, from NEOWIZ.
Apple Arcade Game of the Year: Hello Kitty Island Adventure, from Sunblink.
Cultural Impact Winners
On top of giving props to the coolest apps and games for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV, the editors at Apple’s App Store also picked out five winners that made a real cultural impact and were all about making a positive difference through their apps and games.
The winners inspired users to learn and expand in a super inclusive and accessible environment, play a part in a more sustainable future, and dive into self-reflection and connections that span generations.
Pok Pok from Pok Pok
Designed with inclusivity in mind, Pok Pok is a digital toy room for kids, offering a universal space for preschoolers of all backgrounds and abilities to play, explore, and see the world as one.
Proloquo from AssistiveWare
An accessibility app pioneer for over a decade, AssistiveWare’s Proloquo is creating augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools that help the world communicate in new ways.
Trend of the Year
In 2023, generative AI took center stage, mirroring the ongoing evolution of culture and captivating users’ collective imagination in real-time. Throughout the year, apps began incorporating AI in various ways. While many of these features are still in the early stages, they provided users with a firsthand look at the technology in action, allowing them to form their own opinions about the associated benefits and risks. Alongside the winners of this year’s App Store Awards, App Store Editors worldwide have showcased a lineup of generative AI apps that epitomize the Trend of the Year.
