Image: Apple
Apple named the finalists for the annual App Store Awards on Monday. These are intended to honor “exceptional user experience, design, and innovation,” according to the Mac-maker. App awards come in a range of categories, like iPhone App of the Year, Mac Game of the Year, and many more.
The nominations aren’t just kudos for developers — they’re a great way for users to find high-quality software.
2024 App Store Award finalists include new categories
Each year, Apple honors what it considers the best applications and games.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate this year’s App Store Award finalists, whose imagination and craftsmanship have produced amazing apps that users love,” said Carson Oliver, Apple’s head of Worldwide App Store. “From games that transport players to fantastical new worlds, to apps that fuel creativity, these developers are delivering remarkable experiences that captivate and inspire.”
There are categories for software for every type of Apple computer, like iPad, Apple Watch and more. Plus, the 2024 list includes a couple of new categories because the Vision Pro AR headset launched last winter. Nominees were named for Apple Vision Pro App of the Year and Game of the Year for the first time.
Winners will be revealed before the end of 2024.
iPhone App of the Year finalists:
- Kino for turning everyday moments into cinematic masterpieces.
- Runna for offering tailored training plans to runners of all experience levels.
- Tripsy for keeping travelers organized and stress-free.
iPhone Game of the Year finalists:
iPad App of the Year finalists:
iPad Game of the Year finalists:
Apple Arcade Game of the Year finalists:
- Balatro+ for inventing a thrilling card game that’s like no other.
- Outlanders 2 for captivating players with revamped graphics and imaginative levels.
- Sonic Dream Team for introducing new adventures to the characters players know and love.
Mac App of the Year finalists:
- Adobe Lightroom for enhancing the photo editing process with AI-powered features.
- OmniFocus 4 for fostering focus with simplified task management.
- Shapr3D for transforming the 3D design workflow.
Mac Game of the Year finalists:
Apple Watch App of the Year finalists:
- LookUp for improving vocabularies with daily definitions.
- Lumy for connecting users to the rhythms of the sun and moon.
- Watch to 5K for giving runners a boost, all the way to the finish line.
Apple Vision Pro App of the Year finalists:
- JigSpace for empowering users to view 3D and augmented reality models with ease.
- NBA for redefining the future of how users watch the sports they love.
- What If…? An Immersive Story for inviting players into a new kind of Marvel experience.
Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year finalists:
- Loóna for crafting relaxing puzzles to unwind with.
- THRASHER for introducing smooth, trailblazing controls and a mesmerizing alien world.
- Vacation Simulator for taking players to destinations filled with funny characters and even funnier activities.
Apple TV App of the Year finalists:
- DROPOUT for providing endless laughter and fun.
- F1 TV, for transporting fans straight into the cockpit of a race car.
- Zoom for keeping groups connected in innovative ways.
Cultural Impact finalists:
- Arco for letting players shape their own story.
- The Bear for turning bedtime into a calming, interactive experience.
- BetterSleep for helping users sleep — and feel — better.
- Brawl Stars for delivering quick bites of action-packed gameplay.
- DailyArt for inspiring curiosity about artistic masterpieces.
- Do You Really Want to Know 2 for addressing misconceptions about HIV through an endearing interactive story.
- EF Hello for empowering language learners with AI-enhanced tools.
- NYT Games for uniting puzzle lovers across generations with a daily dose of fun.
- Oko for making street-crossing safer and more accessible to all.
- Partiful, for simplifying social gatherings to foster connection and community.
- Pinterest for inspiring new ideas and endless possibilities.
- The Wreck for telling an intimate and impactful story via cinematic gameplay.
