Skip to main content Tom's Guide Tom's Guide Search Tom's Guide View Profile Newsletters Best Picks Entertainment Switch 2 Pre-Orders Best laptops Best Mattress Wordle Today Recommended reading WWDC 2025 is make or break for Apple Intelligence — here's why Apple Intelligence Apple's WWDC 2025 keynote will be the most important one in years — here's why Apple WWDC 2025 date set for June 9 — iOS 19, Apple Intelligence and more expected Tech Events Apple announces WWDC 2025 keynote date and time — here's what to expect Apple's 'Solarium' UI for iOS 19 is about to bring the biggest design change to iPhones in over a decade We’re just weeks away from an iOS 19 preview — these are the 5 rumored changes I’m looking forward to Apple is working on a 'product renaissance' for 2027 — here's the potential products I'm most excited about Apple Design Award 2025 winners announced — apps and games recognized for innovation and ingenuity Scott Younker 3 June 2025 The winners will be feted at WWDC 2025 next week When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Klemens Strasser/Apple/Infold Games) All the winners Apple got a head start on WWDC 2025 by announcing the winners of its annual Apple Design Awards today (June 3), as it looks to highlight some of best apps and games available in its App Store. This year's edition features 12 winners picked by the App Store's editorial team, curated from a list of 36 finalists. The categories have changed over the years, but the 2025 iteration has the same categories as last year minus the spatial computing category for Apple Vision Pro apps. Returning categories include Delight and Fun, Inclusivity, Innovation, Interaction, Social Impact, Visuals and Graphics. Each category sees two winners — an app and a game, so the six categories result in 12 awards. The winners aren't defined by downloads or revenue but by a commitment to innovation and ingenuity, Apple says. You may like WWDC 2025 is make or break for Apple Intelligence — here's why Apple's WWDC 2025 keynote will be the most important one in years — here's why Apple WWDC 2025 date set for June 9 — iOS 19, Apple Intelligence and more expected The 2025 winners will be recognized during WWDC 2025, which starts next Monday (June 9). Here's the full list of winners, as well as a selection of our favorites we recommend you check out. Apple Design Award 2025 list of winners Delight and Fun - CapWords by HappyPlan Tech Delight and Fun - Balatro by LocalThunk Innovation - Play by Rabbit 3 Times Innovation - PBJ — The Musical by Philipp Stollenmayer Interaction - Taobao by Zhejiang Taobao Network Interaction - DREDGE by Black Salt Games Inclusivity - Speechify by Speechify Inclusivity - Art of Fauna by Klemens Strasser Social Impact - Watch Duty by Sherwood Forestry Service Social Impact - Neva by Developer Digital Visuals and Graphics - Feather: Draw in 3D by Sketchsoft Visuals and Graphics - Infinity Nikki by Infold Games Our top 7 favorite Apple Design Award 2025 winners Balatro — Deckbuilding, rogue-like Poker (Image credit: Apple / Local Thunk) Balatro took the gaming world by storm last year. It was even one of our picks for the best video games of 2024. If you haven't played, the game fuses poker, solitaire and deck building where you combine joker cards with abilities to score points. Don't let the poker scare you, the twists on the rules make it a familiar-but-fresh take on the card game. It's "one more round" on your iPhone or iPad. Honorable Mention: CapWords turns images of objects into stickers to help you learn new languages. If you're practicing a new language this could be a fun way to change things up. Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Play - accessible app development (Image credit: Apple / Rabbittt) Play is an app designed to help you create iPhone apps by letting you build prototypes in the Apple SwiftUI code. It was chosen for its intuitive interface to help app makers of all levels of experience collaborate and design. It can be synced between your Mac and your iPhone so you can move between devices as needed. Honorable Mention: PBJ — The Musical is an interactive music game based on Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. It features handcrafted paper figures and voice acting. It's clever and artistic. DREDGE — existential horror whilst fishing (Image credit: Apple / Black Salt Games) Dredge is an existential slow-burn horror game that has been available on other platforms for awhile. In fact, it was one of our favorite games that you might have missed in 2023. It only just got an excellent mobile port last year. In the game, you play as a contract fisherman who catches normal fish by day for a remote island settlement, but by night the horrors of the deep fill your nets. It's a haunting mystery with an eerie world to explore. And don't worry, it's not a gory or overly tense horror game, more disquieting. Honorable Mention: Taobao is a shopping experience app design for the Vision Pro that lets you compare 3D models of products side by side. Art of Fauna - beautiful puzzles (Image credit: Klemens Strasser) Art of Fauna is a cozy, beautiful, illustrated puzzle game where you solve puzzles by moving around visual elements or texts. The puzzles are coupled with descriptions of the animals they depict. You can solve either the image or the text. It also promotes animal conservation and inclusivity. Honorable Mention: Speechify is an app that reads text and turns it into audio. The app is meant to help people with dyslexia, ADHD and low vision, or for those who learn better by listening. Watch Duty - keep safe from fires (Image credit: Apple / Watch Duty) During the devastating California wildfires at the start of the year, the Watch Duty app was indispensable for tracking what was happening with the Palisades and Eaton fires as they spread through those Los Angeles neighborhoods. Through user and agency reports, the app shows fire perimeters and progress and evacuation orders. Plus, it's free and subsists on donations. Honorable Mention: Neva is absolutely gorgeous 2D platformer where a girl and her wolf, Neva, travel the world and fight against corrupted seasons. It's heartbreaking and beautiful and you should play it. Feather: Draw in 3D - transform 2D into 3D (Image credit: Apple / Sketchsoft) On one level, Feather is meant for designers and artists. At the same time, it's a delightful app that takes 2D images and renders them in 3D. It's meant for people of all skills and enables you to create 3D models on the iPad using touch or the Apple Pencil features to create images. You don't need to have an image to start as you can create things from scratch in the app as well. Honorable Mention: Infinity Nikki is a cozy open-world game that continues the Nikki series which focuses magical outfits. Combat in the game is based on style duels and not physical. More from Tom's Guide Apple's WWDC could be a flop for AI — but 4 major Apple Intelligence updates are on the horizon Apple could announce a new dedicated gaming app at WWDC 2025 Apple says this iPhone is now obsolete — what it means for you Today's best Apple iPhone 16, Apple iPhone 16e, Apple iPhone 16 Pro, Apple iPhone 16 Plus andApple iPhone 16 Pro Max deals $23.06View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices See more Phones News Scott Younker Social Links Navigation West Coast Reporter Scott Younker is the West Coast Reporter at Tom’s Guide. He covers all the lastest tech news. He’s been involved in tech since 2011 at various outlets and is on an ongoing hunt to build the easiest to use home media system. When not writing about the latest devices, you are more than welcome to discuss board games or disc golf with him. He also handles all the Connections coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game since it released. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. WWDC 2025 is make or break for Apple Intelligence — here's why Apple's WWDC 2025 keynote will be the most important one in years — here's why Apple WWDC 2025 date set for June 9 — iOS 19, Apple Intelligence and more expected Apple announces WWDC 2025 keynote date and time — here's what to expect Apple's 'Solarium' UI for iOS 19 is about to bring the biggest design change to iPhones in over a decade We’re just weeks away from an iOS 19 preview — these are the 5 rumored changes I’m looking forward to Latest in iPhones iOS 26 supported devices: These iPhones likely won't make the cut iOS 19's redesign had me worried — but now I think it will turn out fine All four iPhone 17 models just tipped for ‘metalens’ upgrade iPhone 17 rumor claims the base model could miss a key performance upgrade WWDC 2025 is make or break for Apple Intelligence — here's why iPhone 17's display could be the same size as iPhone 17 Pro — what we know Latest in News Reddit was down — live updates on latest outage Google’s NotebookLM just got a huge upgrade — here’s why it beats ChatGPT for team projects Wyze just made installing outdoor security cameras as easy as changing a light bulb Dangerous new Android malware is adding fake contacts to your phone while draining bank accounts Spotify just got 3 handy upgrades — here's the new features you can try now iOS 26 supported devices: These iPhones likely won't make the cut LATEST ARTICLES Buying a Switch 2? I've picked the best trade-in options for your old console Google’s NotebookLM just got a huge upgrade — here’s why it beats ChatGPT for team projects Reddit was down — live updates on latest outage 'MobLand' season 2: Everything we know so far Wyze just made installing outdoor security cameras as easy as changing a light bulb Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. Terms and conditions Contact Future's experts Privacy policy Cookies policy Accessibility Statement Advertise with us Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Please login or signup to comment Please wait...