Before WWDC 2025, Apple once again shone a spotlight on the creativity, innovation, and technical prowess of its developer community through the annual Apple Design Awards. These awards celebrate apps and games that push the boundaries of design, accessibility, and technology, leveraging Apple’s ecosystem to deliver unforgettable experiences. From language-learning apps to immersive games, this year’s winners represent the best in innovation, inclusivity, and artistry.
Apple Design Award Winners for 2025
Apple announced the Design Award winners across six categories:
- Delight and Fun
- Inclusivity
- Innovation
- Interaction
- Social Impact
- Visuals and Graphics
Below is a table summarizing the 2025 Apple Design Award winners, organized by category, including the app or game name, developer, and supported platforms, based on the provided document.
| Category | Type | Winner | Developer | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delight and Fun | App | CapWords | HappyPlan Tech, China | iPhone, iPad |
| App | Lumy | Raja V, India | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | |
| App | Denim | Feel Good Tech, India | iPhone | |
| Game | Balatro | LocalThunk, Canada | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro | |
| Game | Thank Goodness You’re Here! | Panic, USA | Mac | |
| Game | Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | Ubisoft Montpellier, France | Mac | |
| Inclusivity | App | Speechify | Speechify, USA | iPhone, iPad |
| App | Evolve | GTA Solutions, India | iPhone, iPad | |
| App | Train Fitness | Train Fitness, Canada | iPhone, iPad | |
| Game | Art of Fauna | Klemens Strasser, Austria | iPhone, iPad | |
| Game | Puffy Stickers | Lykke Studios, Thailand/Cyprus | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro | |
| Game | Land of Livia | Split Atom Labs, Australia | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro | |
| Innovation | App | Play | Rabbit 3 Times, USA | iPhone, Mac |
| App | Moises | Music.AI, Brazil | iPhone, iPad | |
| App | Capybara | Digital Workroom Ltd., UK | iPhone, iPad | |
| Game | PBJ | Philipp Stollenmayer, Germany | iPhone, iPad | |
| Game | Pawz | Bootloader Studio Holdings, Singapore | Apple Vision Pro | |
| Game | Gears & Goo | Resolution Games AB, Sweden | Apple Vision Pro | |
| Interaction | App | Taobao | Zhejiang Taobao Network, China | Apple Vision Pro |
| App | iA Writer | Information Architects AG, Switzerland | iPhone, iPad, Mac | |
| App | Mela | Silvio Rizzi, Switzerland | iPhone, iPad, Mac | |
| Game | DREDGE | Black Salt Games, New Zealand | iPhone, iPad, Mac | |
| Game | Gears & Goo | Resolution Games AB, Sweden | Apple Vision Pro | |
| Game | Skate City: New York | Snowman, Canada | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV | |
| Social Impact | App | Watch Duty | Sherwood Forestry Service, USA | iPhone, iPad |
| App | Ground News | Snapwise, Canada | iPhone, iPad | |
| App | Opal | Opal OS, USA | iPhone, iPad | |
| Game | Neva | Devolver Digital, USA | Mac | |
| Game | Picardy’s Promise | Daniel Jones, USA | Apple Vision Pro | |
| Game | Art of Fauna | Klemens Strasser, Austria | iPhone, iPad | |
| Visuals and Graphics | App | Feather | Sketchsoft, South Korea | iPad |
| App | Vocabulary | Monkey Taps, USA | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | |
| App | CellWalk | Timothy Davison, Canada | Apple Vision Pro | |
| Game | Infinity Nikki | Infold Games, Singapore | iPhone, iPad | |
| Game | Control | Remedy Entertainment PLC, Finland | Mac | |
| Game | Neva | Devolver Digital, USA | Mac |
Let’s check the details of winning apps / games under each category.
1. Delight and Fun
This category honors apps and games that deliver engaging, memorable experiences enhanced by Apple’s cutting-edge technologies.
Apps:
- CapWords (HappyPlan Tech, China) transforms language learning into a playful adventure. By snapping a photo of an object, users turn everyday items into interactive flashcards, complete with fun animations and real-world sounds. Available on iPhone and iPad, CapWords makes the world a vibrant language playground for kids and adults alike.
- Lumy (Raja V, India) is a beautifully designed sun and moon tracker for photographers and stargazers. Its intuitive interface, elegant widgets, and seamless Apple Watch integration provide celestial insights with style and simplicity.
- Denim (Feel Good Tech, India) elevates playlist creation with stunning cover art, smooth SwiftUI transitions, and custom haptics. Available on iPhone, it’s a joy to use and adds a creative spark to music curation.
Games:
- Balatro (LocalThunk, Canada), a solo-developed indie phenomenon, blends poker, solitaire, and deck-building with chaotic twists. Available across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro, its innovative mechanics and addictive gameplay have captivated players worldwide.
- Thank Goodness You’re Here! (Panic, USA) is a hilariously unhinged “slapformer” on Mac, packed with absurd humor, quirky characters, and a surprisingly cohesive world. It’s a wild, polished ride from start to finish.
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Ubisoft Montpellier, France) revitalizes the franchise with a stylish, time-bending adventure on Mac. Its acrobatic combat and labyrinthine world make it a platforming masterpiece.
2. Inclusivity
These winners create welcoming experiences for diverse audiences, prioritizing accessibility and representation.
Apps:
- Speechify (Speechify, USA) turns text into audio with over 50 languages and hundreds of voices, offering accessibility features like Dynamic Type and VoiceOver. Available on iPhone and iPad, it’s a vital tool for students, professionals, and auditory learners.
- Evolve (GTA Solutions, India) is a health and fitness app designed for the LGBTQ+ community, offering inclusive breathing exercises, affirmations, and journaling. Its thoughtful design and integration with Apple features make it a safe, welcoming space on iPhone and iPad.
- Train Fitness (Train Fitness, Canada) uses CoreMotion and CoreML to log workouts via Apple Watch and AirPods, making it accessible for users who are blind, have low vision, or face mobility challenges.
Games:
- Art of Fauna (Klemens Strasser, Austria) combines inclusivity and ecology in a wildlife puzzle game. With VoiceOver, phobia settings, and support for conservation organizations, it’s a thoughtful experience on iPhone and iPad.
- Puffy Stickers (Lykke Studios, Thailand and Cyprus) brings nostalgic ’80s-style puzzles to iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro, with accessibility features like high-contrast modes and Reduce Motion.
- Land of Livia (Split Atom Labs, Australia) is a low-key fantasy adventure with VoiceOver and Haptics, designed for players who are blind or have low vision, available across multiple Apple platforms.
3. Innovation
These apps and games stand out for their novel use of Apple technologies, redefining their genres.
Apps:
- Play (Rabbit 3 Times, USA) simplifies prototyping with SwiftUI, allowing designers to create interactive prototypes that integrate seamlessly with Xcode. Its approachable UI is a game-changer for developers on iPhone and Mac.
- Moises (Music.AI, Brazil) uses machine learning to isolate instruments in songs, letting users remix tracks or create a cappella versions. Its mind-bending yet user-friendly design shines on iPhone and iPad.
- Capybara (Digital Workroom Ltd., United Kingdom) offers transcription, translation, and summarization with a charming capybara mascot, powered by the Apple Intelligence Translate API, on iPhone and iPad.
Games:
- PBJ (Philipp Stollenmayer, Germany) is a snack-themed musical retelling of “Romeo and Juliet” on iPhone and iPad. Its hand-animated cutouts, catchy soundtrack, and clever controls deliver pure joy.
- Pawz (Bootloader Studio Holdings, Singapore) brings virtual pets to Apple Vision Pro, using passthrough technology to blend them into real-world environments for a charming, interactive experience.
- Gears & Goo (Resolution Games AB, Sweden) reimagines tower defense on Apple Vision Pro with spatial audio, hand tracking, and a playful steampunk aesthetic.
4. Interaction
This category celebrates intuitive interfaces and controls tailored to their platforms.
Apps:
- Taobao (Zhejiang Taobao Network, China) sets a new standard for 3D interaction on Apple Vision Pro, with lifelike product models and intuitive controls for shopping.
- iA Writer (Information Architects AG, Switzerland) offers distraction-free writing with swipe-based navigation and iCloud sync, available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
- Mela (Silvio Rizzi, Switzerland) is a recipe app with a polished cooking mode, integrating with Dynamic Island and the Reminders app for a seamless experience on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Games:
- DREDGE (Black Salt Games, New Zealand) combines Lovecraftian horror with fishing in a haunting adventure with smooth touch and controller interactions across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
- Gears & Goo (Resolution Games AB, Sweden) delivers tactile tower defense fun on Apple Vision Pro, leveraging eye and hand tracking for an immersive experience.
- Skate City: New York (Snowman, Canada) offers intuitive touch and controller gameplay for skateboarding fans, with accessible onboarding across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
5. Social Impact
These apps and games make a meaningful difference, addressing critical issues and improving lives.
Apps:
- Watch Duty (Sherwood Forestry Service, USA) proved invaluable during California wildfires, delivering real-time updates and resources on iPhone and iPad.
- Ground News (Snapwise, Canada) promotes media literacy by comparing coverage across political spectrums, fostering transparency on iPhone and iPad.
- Opal (Opal OS, USA) encourages healthier tech habits with delightful tools like widgets and haptics, available on iPhone and iPad.
Games:
- Neva (Devolver Digital, USA) is a poignant tale of environmental decline, following a girl and her wolf through a decaying world on Mac. Its emotional storytelling and stunning visuals leave a lasting impact.
- Picardy’s Promise (Daniel Jones, USA) blends environmental themes with a redemption arc on Apple Vision Pro, using spatial interactions to highlight stewardship.
- Art of Fauna (Klemens Strasser, Austria) raises awareness for endangered species through serene puzzles, with proceeds supporting conservation efforts.
6. Visuals and Graphics
These winners showcase stunning imagery and cohesive visual design.
Apps:
- Feather (Sketchsoft, South Korea) transforms 2D designs into immersive 3D models on iPad, with a minimalist interface optimized for Apple Pencil.
- Vocabulary (Monkey Taps, USA) charms with consistent illustrations and modern typography across iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
- CellWalk (Timothy Davison, Canada) offers a breathtaking 3D cell model on Apple Vision Pro, powered by Metal for real-time rendering.
Games:
- Infinity Nikki (Infold Games, Singapore) dazzles with its open-world visuals, featuring detailed fabrics and advanced lighting on iPhone and iPad.
- Control (Remedy Entertainment PLC, Finland) is a visual masterpiece on Mac, with ray-traced environments and meticulous details.
- Neva (Devolver Digital, USA) combines emotional storytelling with seasonal color palettes and fluid animations for a breathtaking Mac experience.
A Bright Future for Apple Developers
The 2025 Apple Design Award winners showcase the incredible diversity and talent within the Apple developer community. From indie gems like Balatro to socially impactful tools like Watch Duty, these apps and games demonstrate how innovation, inclusivity, and artistry can converge to create experiences that delight, inspire, and make a difference. Go to App Store and install those apps to enjoy the excellence on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
