Apple has presented the list for this year’s App Store Awards, with numerous selections showing the potential of what is possible when you push the limits of innovation.
Across a range of categories, the tech giant recognizes global developers and partners for recently launched apps and games. Those featuring ongoing support for their software are also in the spotlight.
“It’s an honour to be able to recognize the achievements of this year’s App Store Award winners, who reimagined our experiences with apps throughout 2022 with fresh, thoughtful, and genuine perspectives,” said Apple’s CEO Tim Cook. “From self-taught solo creators to international teams spanning the globe, these developers are making a meaningful impact that represents the ways in which apps and games continue to drive culture, leaving a seismic influence on our communities and lives.”
From a gaming perspective, Inscryption is a unique and exciting choice for this year’s App Store Award. Created by Vancouver’s Daniel Mullins Games and published by Devolver Digital, it won ‘Mac Game of the Year upon release. Originally appearing for PCs on October 19th, 2021, it was released for Mac on June 22nd, 2022. With a new platform, Inscryption found a new audience.
Inscryption is a Rogue-Like card battle game, inspired by Magic: The Gathering and other TCG’s As the player fights their way further into the game, the game incorporates more found footage aspects from The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield.
In CGM writer Lane Martin’s 8/10 review, he summed up his thoughts on the game, explaining that “Inscryption is a great creepy experience to get your skin crawling with some thought-provoking depth in its gameplay.”
Apps
- BeReal (BeReal) iPhone App of the Year
- GoodNotes 5 (Time Base Technology Limited) iPad App of the Year
- MacFamilyTree 10 (Synium Software GmbH) Mac App of the Year
- ViX: Cine y TV en Español (TelevisaUnivision Interactive, Inc) Apple TV App of the Year
- Gentler Streak (Gentler Stories LLC) Apple Watch App of the Year
Games
- Apex Legends Mobile (Electronic Arts) iPhone Game of the Year
- Moncage (X.D. Network Inc.) iPad Game of the Year
- Inscryption (Devolver Digital) Mac Game of the Year
- El Hijo (HandyGames) Apple TV Game of the Year
- Wylde Flowers (Studio Drydock Pty Ltd.) Apple Arcade Game of the Year
- League of Legends Esports Manager (Tencent) China Game of the Year
Cultural Impact
Beyond recognizing the “best” apps and games on Apple devices, Apple’s App Store editors also selected five Cultural Impact award winners. The Cultural Impact awards acknowledge apps that are pushing the boundaries of what apps can do, giving people new ways to experience moments that matter.
The Cultural Impact Award winners encourage users to engage more deeply with their emotions, authentically connect with others, and pay homage to their heritage and the generations that came before them while envisioning how to create a better world today.
Included in this year’s Cultural Impact App Store Award selections is the visually stunning Inua. A unique and mystical point-and-click adventure game where you take control of three protagonists living in different eras and locations. Travel through time and manipulate the characters’ minds to fix their past mistakes and restore peace to their world. Inua is a beautiful and mysterious world that fans of the deep stories will enjoy and be enthralled by.
A full list of cultural impact award winners includes:
- How We Feel ( How We Feel Project, Inc.)
- Dot’s Home (Rise-Home Stories Project)
- Locket Widget (Locket Labs, Inc.)
- Water Tracker Waterllama (Vitalii Mogylevets)
- Inua – A Story in Ice and Time (ARTE Experience)
We congratulate all the winners of this year’s App Store Awards, and with a solid set of games and apps, Apple is rewarding ideas that go beyond sales and show what is possible on their respective platforms. You can find all this year’s winners on the Apple App Store, for their respective platforms.
