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Apple named 45 finalists for the 2025 App Store Awards on November 19, 2025, across 12 categories. The list spans apps and games for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Apple Vision Pro, plus a Cultural Impact category. Apple later recorded 17 winners selected from those finalists in its awards archive.

How the 2025 finalists were organized

The awards recognize apps and games for innovation, user experience, design, and cultural impact, Apple said in its announcement. Eleven categories are tied to a product or service; Cultural Impact is the twelfth. Apple’s descriptions of the finalists range from practical tools and creative workflows to games, accessibility, and cultural storytelling.

The category lists below preserve Apple’s finalist groupings. A finalist is not necessarily a winner: Apple’s later archive names 17 winners from the 45-title field.

iPhone finalists

iPhone App of the Year

  • BandLab: Record and mix music with a community.
  • LADDER: Strength training.
  • Tiimo: A calming presentation of to-do lists.

iPhone Game of the Year

  • Capybara Go!: A quirky idle adventure.
  • Pokémon TCG Pocket: Collect and play Pokémon cards.
  • Thronefall: Minimalist defense battles.

iPad finalists

iPad App of the Year

  • Detail: A content-creation workflow.
  • Graintouch: Ink-inspired print art.
  • Structured: Visual timelines for busy days.

iPad Game of the Year

  • DREDGE: A haunting mystery with smooth gameplay.
  • Infinity Nikki: The world of Miraland.
  • Prince of Persia Lost Crown: An epic adventure.

Mac finalists

Mac App of the Year

  • Acorn: Pro-level photo editing.
  • Essayist: Academic paper sourcing and formatting.
  • Under My Roof: Home organization and preparedness.

Mac Game of the Year

  • Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Stealth in feudal Japan.
  • Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition: Futuristic visuals.
  • Neva: An emotionally moving story with striking imagery.

Apple Arcade finalists

Apple Arcade Game of the Year

  • Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE: Sticky-ball chaos.
  • PGA TOUR Pro Golf: Golf-course simulation.
  • WHAT THE CLASH?: Hundreds of mini games.

These are the finalists in Apple’s Arcade category. Check the title’s current listing and access requirements before installing; availability can change.

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Apple Vision Pro finalists

Apple Vision Pro App of the Year

  • Camo Studio: Livestreaming and video creation.
  • D-Day: The Camera Soldier: Immersive storytelling.
  • Explore POV: Apple Immersive videos filmed around the world.

Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year

  • Fishing Haven: A calm-water retreat.
  • Gears & Goo: Strategic gameplay.
  • Porta Nubi: Atmospheric light-bending puzzles.

Apple Watch and Apple TV finalists

Apple Watch App of the Year

  • GO Club: Activity and hydration.
  • Pro Camera by Moment: Wrist photography.
  • Strava: Fitness community and performance.

Apple TV App of the Year

  • HBO Max: Streaming series and accessibility.
  • PBS KIDS Video: Kid-friendly entertainment and educational programs.
  • Super Farming Boy 4K: Chain-reaction adventure.

Cultural Impact finalists

This category includes 12 titles, reflecting themes such as accessibility, empathy, cultural identity, community, and consumer choices.

  • Art of Fauna: Accessible wildlife puzzles.
  • A Space for the Unbound: A mental-health slice-of-life narrative.
  • Be My Eyes: Support for blind and low-vision users.
  • Chants of Sennaar: Language and connection.
  • despelote: A culturally grounded soccer story.
  • Focus Friend: Gamified focus sessions.
  • Is This Seat Taken?: Empathy and inclusivity.
  • Retro: A privacy-friendly social platform.
  • StoryGraph: An inclusive book community.
  • Venba: Cultural cuisine and storytelling.
  • Whoscall: Scam protection.
  • Yuka: Conscious consumption choices.

What to check before choosing a finalist

The nominations are a useful discovery list, not a guarantee that every title suits every device or user. Apple notes that regional availability and other access factors can vary. Before recommending or downloading one, check its current store listing for:

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  • Platform compatibility: Confirm that it supports the device you plan to use.
  • Purpose: Distinguish apps for work, creativity, or daily routines from games and entertainment.
  • Access model: Check whether it is free, paid, subscription-based, or requires Apple Arcade.
  • Hardware and age restrictions: Verify Vision Pro requirements, age rating, and any applicable device or account restrictions.
  • Availability: Confirm the listing in your region, since availability can vary.
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Where to see the winners

Apple’s awards archive records the 17 winners selected from the 45 finalists and identifies winning developers and supported platforms. Use the November 19 announcement for the complete finalist field and the later archive for winner status.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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