Apple on Monday announced the best apps and games of 2019. As is usual, the selections were arranged by category. In addition to the usual press release, Apple also celebrated the awards with developers at a special event in New York.
iPhone App of the Year: Spectre Camera (Lux Optics) – This AI-powered app leverages a dizzying amount of tech to let anyone take stunning long-exposure photos.
iPad App of the Year: Flow by Moleskine (Moleskine) – Draw and sketch in this elegant digital notebook app, whose graphite pencils, chisel-tipped markers and more have been meticulously tuned to mimic the real thing.
Mac App of the Year: Affinity Publisher (Serif Labs) – With its elegant user experience and remarkably reasonable price point, Affinity Publisher makes pro-level design accessible to everyone, whether you’re creating a photo-rich coffee table book or a flyer for your second grader’s play.
Apple TV App of the Year: The Explorers (The Explorers Network) – This groundbreaking app was designed to support the community of explorers, scientists and artists working toward a common goal: To create a comprehensive “visual inventory” of the natural world through photo and video.
iPhone Game of the Year: “Sky: Children of the Light” (thatgamecompany) – Fly across sweeping landscapes to help celestial beings find their way back to the heavens in this groundbreaking social quest.
iPad Game of the Year: “Hyper Light Drifter” (Abylight S.L.) – A dazzling, action-packed reimagining of classic 16-bit adventure games, “Hyper Light Drifter” blends dreamlike exploration with fight-for-your-life survival.
Mac Game of the Year: “GRIS” (Devolver / Nomada Studio) – This spectacularly satisfying puzzle-platformer is a soul-stirring work of digital art — one that explores hope, grief and the triumph of piecing a life back together after tragic loss.
Apple TV Game of the Year: “Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap” (DotEmu) – Developed by Lizardcube with the cooperation of series creator Ryuichi Nishizawa, “Wonder Boy” — the beloved game from the ’80s, in which a lone half-lizard adventurer sets off on the challenge of a lifetime — gets a reboot with hand-drawn animation and a re-orchestrated soundtrack.
Apple Arcade Game of the Year: “Sayonara Wild Hearts” (Simogo) – In 2019, Apple expanded the App Store with the introduction of an all-new tab for Apple Arcade, a groundbreaking game subscription service without ads or in-app purchases. While every one of the 100+ games in Apple Arcade offers gamers something unique, there is one game that stands out even within this collection of outstanding titles, making it the Apple Arcade Game of the Year. “Sayonara Wild Hearts,” developed by Simogo and published by Annapurna Interactive, is a hopeful, gorgeous and unique game — the kind that gets your adrenaline pumping and makes your spirit soar. Prepare to race motorcycles, wield swords and break hearts at 200 mph.
Apple has also made available charts for the most downloaded apps and most downloaded games of the year.
“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,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “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.”