Apple announces App Store’s best apps and games for 2021. Apple announced the winners of the 2021 App Store Awards, honoring the top 15 apps and games that helped consumers explore new creative outlets, connect with new people and experiences, and just have fun. This year’s winners are international developers whose apps and games were chosen by Apple’s worldwide App Store editorial team for their excellent quality, innovative technology, creative design, and positive cultural influence.
Apple has been honoring the finest applications and games at the end of each year for more than a decade. Last year, Apple designers launched a tradition of celebrating via painstaking craftsmanship with real App Store medals for each victory to recognize the effect of the winning developer teams. Each award features the App Store emblem set into the 100 percent recyclable aluminum used to build Apple products, with the winner’s name etched on the other side, inspired by the iconic blue App Store icon.
“The developers who won App Store Awards in 2021 harnessed their own drive and vision to deliver the best apps and games of the year — sparking the creativity and passion of millions of users around the world,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “From self-taught indie coders to inspiring leaders building global businesses, these standout developers innovated with Apple technology, with many helping to foster the profound sense of togetherness we needed this year.”
This year’s best apps and games offered extraordinary experiences across Apple devices. Ten years after its App Store debut, Toca Life World is masterfully iterating on the art of play and self-expression for kids. The developers behind DAZN guided local sports culture into the global spotlight for everyone to enjoy, while Carrot Weather brought its best-in-class meteorological forecasts — and the witty character behind it — to users’ wrists. LumaFusion made video editing faster, less intimidating, and more portable for creators at every level and Craft creatively enabled efficiency and artistry through a notebook with seemingly limitless capabilities. The incredible graphics and rich storylines are woven into “League of Legends: Wild Rift,” “MARVEL Future Revolution,” “Myst,” “Space Marshals 3,” and Apple Arcade’s “Fantasian” transported players of all ages into immersive gaming experiences.
2021 App Store Award Winners:
Apps
iPhone App of the Year:
Toca Life World, from Toca Boca.
iPad App of the Year:
LumaFusion, from LumaTouch.
Mac App of the Year:
Craft, from Luki Labs Limited.
Apple TV App of the Year:
DAZN, from DAZN Group.
Apple Watch App of the Year:
Carrot Weather, from Grailr.
Games:
iPhone Game of the Year:
“League of Legends: Wild Rift,” from Riot Games.
iPad Game of the Year:
“MARVEL Future Revolution,” from Netmarble Corporation.
Mac Game of the Year:
“Myst,” from Cyan.
Apple TV Game of the Year:
“Space Marshals 3,” from Pixelbite.
Apple Arcade Game of the Year:
“Fantasian,” from Mistwalker.
Trend of the Year: Connection:
Apple’s global App Store editors pick a Trend of the Year in addition to recognizing the greatest apps and games on Apple devices. The idea is to find a movement that left an indelible mark on people’s lives, as well as the notable applications and games that accompanied it. “Connection” is the top trend for 2021. The trend winners for this year brought people together in meaningful ways while also addressing the social, personal, and professional demands of users all across the world.
“Among Us!” From Innersloth:
With a mix of cooperation and competition, “Among Us!” cultivated community through bite-size matches that urged users to talk — and listen — to each other via banter, bluffing, and teamwork.
Bumble, from Bumble Inc.
Bumble met the moment by adding and enhancing features designed to bridge the gap for users hoping to date, forge platonic friendships, and broaden their professional networks — all while fostering women-powered conversations.
Canva, from Canva:
Canva, which makes design simple for professionals, students, job seekers, community leaders, and teams of all kinds, helps people tap into their entrepreneurial spirit by providing aesthetically simple design tools and gorgeous templates.
EatOkra, from Anthony Edwards Jr. and Janique Edwards
EatOkra built a robust, user-driven guide to more than 11,000 Black-owned eateries that helps people find tasty ways to invest in their community.
Peanut, from Peanut App Limited
By launching social audio Pods led by experts on everything from pregnancy and menopause to relationships and self-care, Peanut is creating space for honest conversations on every aspect of womanhood at every stage of life.
