Apple has officially revealed the winners of the 2025 App Store Awards across various categories. The announcement divided winners primarily into two categories: apps and games, and we will focus on the latter. The team selected its Game of the Year for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro from a list of 12 finalists. Additionally, it selected three games as the winners of the Cultural Impact award.
2025 App Store Awards Game of the Year Winners List
Pokémon TGC Pocket emerged as the iPhone Game of the Year in the 2025 App Store Awards. It is simply a digital version of opening card packs and collecting Pokémon cards. It offers a wide range of card designs that can feature nostalgic illustrations alongside a modern, immersive 3D feel. You can choose to trade cards with your friends or showcase your collection in a digital binder/display board.
iPad Game of the Year award was won by Dredge, a survival fishing video game released in 2023. It was released for Apple devices earlier this year, which is why it received the award this year. Similarly, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition took home the Mac Game of the Year trophy as it was launched for Mac devices in July 2025. It managed to defeat Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Shadows for the top spot.
Porta Nubi, an immersive XR puzzle experience, was selected as the Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year. The game challenges you in your attempt to guide a beam from its source to its destination. Each level has unique obstacles that you need to think about and overcome to progress further. Lastly, Apple has selected What The Clash? as the Apple Arcade Game of the Year. It features hundreds of mini games that you can play solo or with others.
Art of Fauna, Chants of Sennnaar, and Despelote were selected for the Cultural Impact award in the 2025 App Store Awards. Apple says these games were selected as they “fostered greater understanding and gave users more ways to interact with their communities”.
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple said,
“Every year, we’re inspired by the ways developers turn their best ideas into innovative experiences that enrich people’s lives. This year’s winners represent the creativity and excellence that define the App Store, and they demonstrate the meaningful impact that world-class apps and games have on people everywhere.”
