Apple announced the winners and finalists of the 2025 Apple Design Awards on Tuesday. Apple selected 12 winners from 36 finalists worldwide for excellence in innovation, accessibility, and design across six categories.
Apple Design Awards 2025: Categories and Winners
The awards honor one app and one game in each of the following categories: Delight and Fun, Innovation, Interaction, Inclusivity, Social Impact, and Visuals and Graphics. Winners represent diverse regions and showcase unique design approaches with meaningful user experiences.
Delight and Fun
Apps and games that deliver engaging, enjoyable experiences using Apple technology.
App: CapWords (HappyPlan Tech, China)
- Transforms everyday objects into interactive stickers for language learning. Supports nine languages for an intuitive, visual approach.
Game: Balatro (LocalThunk, Canada)
- Combines poker, solitaire, and deck-building with roguelike elements. Uses joker cards to create strategic synergies and challenging gameplay.
Finalists
- Lumy, Denim, Thank Goodness You’re Here!, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
Innovation
Recognizes creative use of Apple technologies.
App: Play (Rabbit 3 Times, USA)
- Lets users build interactive prototypes with SwiftUI. Features a user-friendly interface and real-time collaboration across Mac and iPhone.
Game: PBJ — The Musical (Philipp Stollenmayer, Germany)
- Reimagines Romeo and Juliet with condiments. Combines rhythm gameplay, haptic feedback, and an engaging soundtrack.
Finalists
- Moises, Capybara, Pawz, Gears & Goo.
Interaction
Focuses on intuitive interfaces and smooth controls.
App: Taobao (Zhejiang Taobao Network, China)
- Offers a 3D shopping experience on Apple Vision Pro. Enables side-by-side product comparison with realistic models.
Game: DREDGE (Black Salt Games, New Zealand)
- Mixes horror, exploration, and adventure. Players explore eerie islands and uncover mysteries on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Finalists
- iA Writer, Mela – Recipe Manager, Gears & Goo, Skate City: New York.
Inclusivity
Honors apps and games designed for diverse users.
App: Speechify (Speechify, USA)
- Converts text to audio in over 50 languages. Includes accessibility features like Dynamic Type and VoiceOver, aiding users with dyslexia, ADHD, or low vision.
Game: Art of Fauna (Klemens Strasser, Austria)
- An inclusive puzzle game featuring wildlife themes. Supports VoiceOver and haptic feedback.
Finalists
Evolve, Train Fitness, puffies., Land of Livia.
Social Impact
Highlights apps and games addressing important social or environmental issues.
App: Watch Duty (Sherwood Forestry Service, USA)
- Provides real-time wildfire updates including fire perimeters, wind conditions, and evacuation orders.
Game: Neva (Devolver Digital, USA)
- The story follows a girl and her wolf navigating a fading world, exploring care and environmental decline through vivid visuals.
Finalists
- Ground News, Opal, Ahoy! From Picardy, Art of Fauna.
Visuals and Graphics
Celebrates outstanding visuals and cohesive design.
App: Feather: Draw in 3D (Sketchsoft, South Korea)
- Allows users to convert 2D drawings into 3D models on iPad using touch and Apple Pencil.
Game: Infinity Nikki (Infold Games, Singapore)
- A colorful open-world adventure featuring magical outfits and whimsical creatures.
Finalists
Vocabulary, CellWalk, Control Ultimate Edition, Neva.
Availability
All winners and finalists are available worldwide on the Apple App Store. Visit developer.apple.com/design/awards or the Apple Developer app for more details.