Highlights
- Apple announced 17 winners of the 2025 App Store Awards across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Arcade and Vision Pro.
- Top winners – Tiimo won iPhone App of the Year, Pokémon TCG Pocket took iPhone Game of the Year, Detail and DREDGE led on iPad, Essayist and Cyberpunk 2077 topped Mac.
- Apple also honoured six apps and games for fostering accessibility, inclusion, creativity and social awareness.
Caption – Apple Reveals 2025 App Store Award Winners. (Image credit – Apple)
Apple has officially announced the winners of the 2025 App Store Awards, celebrating 17 standout apps and games across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. This year’s selections were recognised for their innovation, design, user experience, and cultural significance.
AI-powered planner Tiimo secured the iPhone App of the Year, while Pokémon TCG Pocket earned the iPhone Game of the Year title. Other notable winners include Strava, HBO Max, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, StoryGraph, and more.
Apple App Store Awards 2025 – Complete List of Winners
Caption – Tiimo app.
Tiimo topped competitors such as BandLab and LADDER to win iPhone App of the Year, having also been an Apple Design Awards Finalist in 2024. For gaming, Pokémon TCG Pocket beat titles like Capybara Go! and Thronefall to claim iPhone Game of the Year.
In the official newsroom post, Apple CEO Tim Cook said, “This year’s winners represent the creativity and excellence that define the App Store, and they demonstrate the meaningful impact that world-class apps and games have on people everywhere.”
Caption – Detail app.
For iPad users, the AI-backed video editing app Detail was crowned iPad App of the Year, offering intuitive auto-editing tools for short-form and long-form video creation. On the gaming front, DREDGE won iPad Game of the Year, outperforming contenders such as Infinity Nikki and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
Caption – Essayist app.
On Mac, Essayist secured Mac App of the Year, while Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition by CD Projekt Red won Mac Game of the Year, surpassing Assassin’s Creed: Shadows and Neva.
For Apple Arcade, WHAT THE CLASH? from Triband ApS was declared the best game on the platform.
Apple Vision Pro also had its own category this year. Explore POV claimed Vision Pro App of the Year, and Porta Nubi took home Vision Pro Game of the Year.
On the wearables and TV categories, Strava earned Apple Watch App of the Year, while HBO Max secured Apple TV App of the Year.
Cultural Impact Winners
Beyond technical excellence, Apple honoured five titles that delivered positive cultural and social contributions through the Cultural Impact Awards. These apps and games were highlighted for fostering inclusion, accessibility, awareness, and creativity.
The Cultural Impact awardees include:
Art of Fauna (Klemens Strasser) – A relaxing wildlife illustration puzzle game that sets new benchmarks for accessibility.
Chants of Sennaar (Playdigious) – An adventure game celebrating language and communication through a symbolic narrative.
despelote (Panic, Inc.) – A first-person story offering a heartfelt look at a community united by football amidst national challenges.
Be My Eyes (Be My Eyes) – An AI-supported app that uses a global volunteer network to assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
Focus Friend by Hank Green (B-Tech Consulting Group LLC) – A gamified focus timer that helps users fight digital distractions.
StoryGraph (The StoryGraph) – A reading platform that fosters community and discovery, elevating diverse authors and authentic storytelling.
Apple highlighted that “these apps and games were recognised for their positive impact, providing users with helpful tools, promoting understanding, and shaping a more inclusive world.”
FAQs
Q1. Which apps won iPhone App and Game of the Year in 2025?
Answer. Tiimo was named iPhone App of the Year, while Pokémon TCG Pocket won iPhone Game of the Year.
Q2. What were the standout winners across iPad and Mac categories?
Answer. Detail was crowned iPad App of the Year, DREDGE won iPad Game of the Year, Essayist took Mac App of the Year, and Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition won Mac Game of the Year.
Q3. What is the Cultural Impact Award of App Store Awards and who were the winners?
Answer. The Cultural Impact Award honours apps and games with positive social contributions. Winners included Be My Eyes, StoryGraph, Chants of Sennaar, despelote, Focus Friend, and Art of Fauna.