Apple just revealed the 45 finalists for its 2025 App Store Awards, and the gaming categories are packed with indie darlings and accessibility champions. This year’s selections show Apple is serious about celebrating games that do more than just entertain.
What’s New
Apple announced finalists across 12 categories yesterday, with gaming nominations spanning iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The iPad Game of the Year finalists include DREDGE (a haunting fishing mystery), Infinity Nikki (an open-world dress-up adventure), and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. On Mac, Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition are competing for top honors.
But the most interesting category might be Cultural Impact, which celebrates apps making real differences in people’s lives. Be My Eyes, which helps people who are blind or have low vision, sits alongside games like Chants of Sennaar (celebrating language and connection) and A Space for the Unbound (exploring mental health through narrative).
Why It Matters
These nominations signal Apple’s evolving approach to gaming. Rather than just rewarding the biggest budgets or highest graphics, they’re highlighting games with strong narratives, innovative mechanics, and genuine cultural value. The inclusion of accessibility-focused apps in the same conversation as blockbuster games shows Apple treating different types of “impact” with equal weight.
For indie developers, landing an App Store Award finalist spot means massive visibility. Past winners have seen significant download spikes and increased recognition within the industry.
The Bottom Line
Apple’s 2025 finalists prove great games don’t need to be loud or flashy – they need heart, innovation, and a reason to matter. Winners will be announced in the coming weeks. Which finalists are you rooting for?
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