Apple has announced the winners of Apple Design Awards 2024, its annual award that honors 14 best-in-class apps and games on its iOS and macOS.
The winners of Apple Design Awards 2024 include developers from around the world, selected for their technical achievement, brilliant design, and innovation.
“It’s inspiring to see how developers are using our technology to create exceptional apps and games that enhance the lives of users,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations.
“This year’s winners have demonstrated how apps can create powerful and moving experiences — and we’re excited to celebrate their hard work and ingenuity at WWDC this year.”
There are 7 different categories in Apple Design Awards 2024, each recognizing 1 app and 1 game, chosen from 42 finalists.
Delight and Fun
Winners in this category provide memorable, engaging, and satisfying experiences that are enhanced by Apple technologies.
App: Bears Gratitude by Isuru Wanasinghe (Australia)
Bears Gratitude is a journaling app that provides a welcoming way to establish daily gratitude practices, encourage, and embrace self-reflection.
Game: NYT Games by The New York Times Company (United States)
New York Times Games has expanded its gaming catalog, introducing a compelling mix of titles such as Connections – calibrated for maximum replay value.
Finalists for the category of “Delight and Fun” include Dudel Draw by Silly Little Apps, LLC; Hello Kitty Island Adventure by Sunblink Entertainment LLC; Rooms by Things, Inc.; and WHAT THE CAR? by Triband ApS.
Inclusivity
Winners in this category provide a great experience for all by supporting people from a diversity of backgrounds, abilities, and languages.
Game: Crayola Adventures by Red Games Co. (United States)
Crayola Adventures is a colorful adventure game that comes with a wide variety of character creation options, from different skin tones, body types, and pronouns to abilities and full-game narration. It is a title that caters to all ages, offering a mix of activities that include solving puzzles, reading storybooks, and making decorations.
Other finalists for the “inclusivity” category include Complete Anatomy 2024 by Elsevier, quadline by Kovalov, Tiimo by tiimo ApS, and Unpacking by Humble Bundle.
Innovation
Winners in this category provide a state-of-the-art experience through novel use of Apple technologies that sets them apart in their genre.
Procreate Dreams is a design tool that allows creatives to create 3D animations utilizing its extensive library of brushes, gestures, and PencilKit-enabled behaviors from the original Procreate – with intuitive controls and support for both multitouch interactions and Appel Pencil.
Game: Lost in Play by Happy Juice Games (Israel)
Lost in Play is an adventure game filled with charming characters and fun minigames, with thoughtfully crafted puzzles. This point-and-tap journey features hand-drawn graphics, easy-to-learn interactions, and compelling gameplay.
Other finalists in the “Innovation” category include Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile by Activision Publishing, Inc.; Copilot Money by Copilot Money, Inc.; SmartGym by Mateus Abras; and Wavelength by Palm Court LLC.
Interaction
Winners in this category deliver intuitive interfaces and effortless controls that are perfectly tailored to their platform.
Game: Rytmos by Floppy Club (Denmark)
Rytmos is a puzzle game that challenges players to use simple drag gestures to create pathways and solve puzzles and every completed level adds a new element to an evolving song.
Finalists for the “Interaction” category include Arc Search by The Browser Company of New York Inc; finity. by Seabaa, Inc.; Little Nightmares by Playdigious; and Procreate Dreams by Savage Interactive Pty Ltd.
Social Impact
Winners in this category improve lives in a meaningful way and shine a light on crucial issues.
Game: The Wreck by The Pixel Hunt (France)
The Wreck is a visual novel that follows the story of Junon, a writer who is abruptly called to a hospital to make a life-changing decision that will impact her family forever. This is a deeply written narrative that reflects stressful situations.
Finalists for this category include Ahead: Emotions Coach by ahead Solutions GmbH; Cityscapes: Sim Builder by MagicFuel Games; How We Feel by The How We Feel Project, Inc.; and The Bear by Mucks Games.
Visuals and Graphics
Winners in this category feature stunning imagery, skilfully drawn interfaces, and high-quality animations that lend to a distinctive and cohesive theme.
Game: Lies of P by NEOWIZ (South Korea)
Lies of P is a grimdark Souls-like action RPG take on the fairy tale of Pinocchio, where players must survive a torn-down city. “The visuals showcase a world of beautiful textures, detailed lighting, and stunning effects, and visual customization options like MetalFX upscaling and volumetric fog effects on Mac let users style the game to their liking.”
For the Visuals and Graphics category, other finalists include DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT by 505 Games (U.S.), Inc.; Honkai: Star Rail by COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.; Meditate by RhythmicWorks; and Sunlitt: Sun Position and Path by Nicolas Mariniello.
Spatial Computing
Winners in this category bring extraordinary craftsmanship to their exceptional spatial experiences.
Finalists in the “spatial computing” category include Loóna: Cozy Puzzle Games by Loona Inc.; NBA by NBA MEDIA VENTURES, LLC; Sky Guide by Fifth Star Labs LLC; and Synth Riders by Kluge Strategic Inc.
Our congratulations to the winners as well as the finalists of the Apple Design Awards 2024.