Apple Reveals the 16 Apps That Won in Its 2022 App Store Awards — Which Are They?

Apple has named the winners of its 2022 App Store Awards.

The Cupertino-based tech giant recently named 16 apps and games to be the winners of this year's App Store Awards, with them reimagining Apple customers' experiences from fresh, thoughtful, and genuine perspectives.

These apps, which span all Apple devices, are either free to download or locked behind a one-time purchase.

Apple App Store Awards 2022 Details

Apple mentioned in its announcement that the 16 apps and mobile games it named as the winners of its 2022 Apple App Store Awards represent its diverse developer community and its capability to inspire users to engage more deeply with the world.

These developers, which Apple CEO Tim Cook said to be making a meaningful impact in which apps and games influence various people and communities, include self-taught creators and international teams worldwide.

Here are the categories that Apple added to its 2022 App Store Awards and the apps that won in them:

Apps:

• iPhone App of the Year - BeReal, from BeReal.
• iPad App of the Year - GoodNotes 5, from Time Base Technology Limited.
• Mac App of the Year - MacFamilyTree 10, from Synium Software GmbH.
• Apple TV App of the Year - ViX, from TelevisaUnivision Interactive, Inc.
• Apple Watch App of the Year - Gentler Streak, from Gentler Stories LLC.

Mobile Games:

• iPhone Game of the Year: Apex Legends Mobile, from Electronic Arts.
• iPad Game of the Year - Moncage, from X.D. Network Inc.
• Mac Game of the Year - Inscryption, from Devolver.
• Apple TV Game of the Year - El Hijo, from HandyGames.
• Apple Arcade Game of the Year - Wylde Flowers, from Studio Drydock Pty Ltd.
• China Game of the Year - League of Legends Esports Manager, from Shenzhen Tencent Tianyou Technology Ltd.

Apple said that this year's App Store Awards winners represent the "abundant possibilities across the App Store and Apple's ecosystem of devices," while naming notable winners and their defining features.

For instance, the company said that BeReal gives users an authentic look into the lives of their family and friends, while Gentler streak helps users find the balance between fitness and rest to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

On the other hand, Apple praised Apex Legends Mobile for bringing the fast-paced gameplay of a battle royale game to the iPhone, while HandyGames' Wild West Tale, El Hijo, is a "smartly designed" stealth game that also looks exceptional on TV screens thanks to Apple TV.

Interestingly, Apple also took note of League of Legends Esports Manager, a widely popular gacha mobile game in its Chinese market.

Apple App Store Awards 2022 Cultural Impact Category

Apple also named five of the 16 winners as the apps that left a lasting impact on people's lives that influenced culture as a result. The company also added that these winners encouraged their users to engage with their emotions more deeply, connect with other more genuinely, and pay homage to their heritage and their ancestors while helping them create a better world today.

These "Cultural Impact" winners are:

1. How We Feel from the How We Feel Project, Inc.
2. Dot's Home from the Rise-Home Stories Project
3. Locket Widget from Locket Labs, Inc.
4. Waterllama from Vitalii Mogylevets
5. Inua - A Story in Ice and Time from ARTE Experience

"How We Feel" helps users address difficult emotions and put them into words with doable strategies at the moment, while Dot's Home shows how housing injustices impact communities of color through a "compelling and thoughtful" time-traveling tale.

"Locket Widget" lets users send live photos to family and friends without the pressure of social media, while "Waterllama" helps its users stay hydrated by keeping track of their hydration goals.

Lastly, Inua - A Story in Ice and Time, gives users a chance to explore historical events that weave in elements of Inuit traditions, folklore, and stories through a virtual adventure game.