Apple announced the winners of its App Store Awards for 2022, spotlighting six titles that earned the Game of the Year distinction. The ceremony showcases notable achievements across Apple’s ecosystem, highlighting a broad spectrum of gameplay styles and storytelling approaches. The official statement marks a moment when developers worldwide were recognized for crafting experiences that connected with players across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. The results frame a year of standout mobile and desktop experiences that influenced how users engaged with games in 2022.
Apex Legends Mobile earned the iPhone Game of the Year prize, delivering a fast-paced, real-time battle experience tailored for on-the-go competition on smartphones. For iPadOS, Moncage claimed the top puzzle title, celebrated for its striking visuals and inventive spatial challenges developed by Optillusion Studio. On Mac, a standalone project by Daniel Mullins stood out, weaving together multiple genres into a cohesive single-player journey. The Apple TV Game of the Year went to El Hijo, a narrative adventure that follows a young cowboy as he searches for his mother, blending exploration with storytelling on the living room screen.
In a complementary track, Apple also highlighted standout projects from non-mainstream channels within its ecosystem. The Chinese App Store edition recognized League of Legends Esports Manager as a premier title, reflecting a growing interest in strategic sports simulations within the gaming community. Separately, Wylde Flowers, a farm simulation, was celebrated within Apple Arcade, illustrating the allure of relaxed, life-simulation gameplay. The story follows Tara, a city-dwellers’ daughter who leaves the bustle of urban life to help her grandmother manage a village farm, forging new friendships along the way and presenting a gentle, character-driven journey that resonates with players seeking slower-paced experiences.
Each developer behind these celebrated projects will receive an App Store emblem crafted from recycled aluminum as a token of Apple’s appreciation for their creative contributions. This physical symbol serves as a reminder of the commitment to sustainability and the value placed on bringing innovative ideas to the platform for players around the world.
Earlier reporting from Socialbites.ca noted that Apple selected BeReal, an Instagram-like app, as the best iPhone app of 2022. The report also mentions broader context about Meta within a regional ban landscape, though the primary focus here remains the App Store Awards and the developers whose work was recognized in 2022. These recognitions collectively illustrate Apple’s effort to showcase a diverse range of experiences—from action shooters to intricate puzzles, from narrative adventures to farm-life simulations—within a single award framework. [Citation: Apple App Store Awards 2022]