Last year, Apple focused on life in quarantine at its App Store Awards. For 2021, it continues that concept with a focus on “connection” as the trend of the year – basically things that have brought us together even though we are still dealing with a global pandemic. This trend award was given to five apps, including well-known names such as Bumble and Among Us !. But the niche winners are even more interesting: there’s EatOkra, an app that helps you find black-owned restaurants; Canva, which helps anyone create professional designs; and Peanut, a social network focused on connecting women for support during important life events.
You will likely be surprised by some of the winners in Apple’s main categories as well: Apple TV app of the year was boxed streaming service Dazn, which I admit I have never heard of. Apple TV game of the year, Space Marshals 3, also seemed to come out of nowhere. But the strong ratings for these two apps make it clear that users are really enjoying them.
While the App Store Awards are primarily a marketing exercise, it’s also a useful way to highlight some of the best apps that users may have missed out on. (And I’m sure developers will appreciate the recognition and the aluminum App Store icon to display on their shelves.) Best iPad app of the year, LumaFusion makes complex multi-track video editing easy with your fingers. And Carrot Weather, the best Apple Watch app, looks like a really unique watch face.
Apple
Here are the rest of the Apple App Store Awards for 2021:
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iPhone App of the Year: Toca Life World
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Mac App of the Year: Craft
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iPhone Game of the Year: League of Legends: Wild Rift
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Mac Game of the Year: Myst
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iPad game of the year: MARVEL Future Revolution
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Apple Arcade Game of the Year: Fantasian (the incredible RPG from the creators of Final Fantasy)
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