Apple has unveiled the finalists for the 2023 App Store Awards, an annual recognition of outstanding apps and games available on its platform. Each year, the App Store’s editorial team highlights the most innovative and technically proficient apps across various categories. This year’s finalists feature over 40 developers competing across 10 distinct categories, showcasing talent from both seasoned and emerging creators. Among the recognized applications are popular options such as the language learning software Duolingo, professional video editing tool DaVinci Resolve, and film streaming service Mubi.
Leading the pack is the iPhone App of the Year category, with finalists including the hiking application AllTrails, the language coaching app Duolingo, and the flight tracking service Flighty. In the gaming segment, nominees for the best iPhone games feature the retro RPG Afterplace, miHoYo’s Honkai: Star Rail, and the highly acclaimed roguelike Vampire Survivors.
For the iPad App of the Year, the focus shifts towards creativity, with finalists that include the sketching app Concepts, DaVinci Resolve, and the makeup design platform Prêt-à-Makeup. In the iPad Game of the Year category, contenders include the social party game Eggy Party, the puzzle adventure Lost in Play, and the city simulation game Pocket City 2.
Finalists for the best games on Mac for 2023
Photo Credit: Apple
On the Mac front, the finalists for the best apps encompass Linearity Curve, a graphic design tool, Photomator, a photo-editing application, and the immersive productivity application Portal. For the best Mac games, the nominees include the open-world RPG ELEX II, the popular Soulslike title Lies of P, and the point-and-click adventure Return to Monkey Island.
On watchOS, the finalists for the best Apple Watch app feature the task manager Planny, the workouts application SmartGym, and the weather application Tide Guide. For Apple TV, standout apps include the creature collection game Bugsnax, fitness app FitOn, and streaming service Mubi.
The App Store has also revealed finalists from its Apple Arcade service, with noteworthy mentions such as the city-building simulator Cityscapes, the cozy adventure game Hello Kitty Island Adventure, and the puzzle embroidery game Stitch. Additionally, the Cultural Impact Finalists highlight apps that promote diverse ways of connection, including the menopause support app Balance, personal finance tool Copilot, and environmental awareness app Endling, among others.
Winners will be determined from these finalist categories, with Apple announcing the results in the coming weeks.
