Bold statement: Apple’s 2025 App Store Awards spotlight a thrilling mix of familiar favorites and fresh entrants, proving innovation can ride alongside beloved franchises. But here’s where it gets controversial: does the lineup truly reflect broad player experiences across devices, or does platform bias shape what gets crowned?
Pokemon TCG Pocket, Dredge, & Cyberpunk win Apple Game of the Year honors
As 2025 draws to a close, Apple revealed its annual top picks for games and apps, highlighting winners across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro platforms. The full list also features category-specific honors like Apple Arcade Game of the Year and several Cultural Impact awards, underscoring how different Apple platforms shape standout titles.
In the iPhone category, The Pokemon Company’s Pokemon TCG Pocket earned Game of the Year. This digital card battler, released in October 2024, exploded in early adoption, racking up 30 million downloads within the first two weeks and surpassing 150 million by October 2025. The rapid surge illustrates how a well-loved tabletop IP translates into a compelling mobile experience.
For iPad, Black Salt Games’ horror-tinged fishing game Dredge took the top prize. Although Dredge originally released on consoles and PC in 2023, it arrived on iPad and iOS on February 27 of this year, bringing its eerie atmosphere to a broader touchscreen audience.
Mac’s top honor went to CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, continuing the trend of blockbuster RPGs earning acclaim on Apple’s desktop ecosystem. In the realm of Apple Vision Pro, Porta Nubi from developer Michael Temper claimed the immersive puzzle crown, while Apple Arcade’s What The Clash from Triband was recognized as Arcade Game of the Year.
Cultural Impact awards were notable this year for their broader social significance. Rather than naming a single winner, Apple selected three games and three apps to illustrate how interactive media can drive positive change, foster understanding, and cultivate inclusivity.
From Apple’s announcement: these recipients were recognized for their positive impact, offering practical tools, promoting comprehension, and contributing to a more inclusive world.
This year’s Cultural Impact winners include Art of Fauna by Klemens Strasser, a cozy puzzle game celebrating wildlife illustration and praised for accessible design; Chants of Sennar from Playdigious, a vivid adventure game that foregrounds language and its complexities; and Panic, Inc’s Despelote, a slice-of-life title about soccer camaraderie amid national upheaval.
To explore the complete list of winners, visit Apple’s official announcement: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/12/apple-unveils-the-winners-of-the-2025-app-store-awards/
About the Author
Editorial Director, GameDeveloper.com
As the Editorial Director of Game Developer, Alissa McAloon brings a decade of experience in the video game industry and media. When not reporting on the frontiers of game journalism, Alissa enjoys immersive sandbox titles and occasional tabletop role-playing games.
