Apple Design Awards 2023: Best designed apps and games

Apple recently announced the winners of its Apple Design Awards 2023 at the Worldwide Developers Conference. Alongside exciting announcements like the powerful M2 Ultra chip and the introduction of ‘spatial computing’ through the Apple Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, the first day of the conference also showcased the winners of this year’s Apple Design Awards.

The winners were carefully selected from a pool of 36 finalists across 6 categories. The categories include Inclusivity, Delight and Fun, Interaction, Social Impact, Visuals and Graphics, and Innovation. Below, you’ll find the list of winners for the Apple Design Awards 2023.

Winners of Apple Design Awards 2023

Inclusivity

Winners in this category provide a great experience for all by supporting people from a diversity of backgrounds, abilities, and languages.

App: Universe — Website Builder
Developer: Universe Exploration Company (United States)

Universe – Website Builder enables everyone to build websites easily with its block-centric design system, available on all Apple platforms. It integrates Apple’s accessibility features like Dynamic Type and VoiceOver, making it user-friendly for diverse needs. Supporting over 17 languages, it empowers individuals to create their online presence by eliminating complexity and barriers to entry through inclusive design.

Game: stitch.
Developer: Lykke Studios (Thailand)

stitch. is not your average game. It’s a relaxing experience for all ages, blending puzzles, relaxation, and crafting. Players can go at their own pace, enjoying well-crafted puzzles, soothing music, and a gentle atmosphere. It’s user-friendly with tutorials, supports multiple languages, and offers accessibility options for colour blindness, low vision, and motion sensitivities, ensuring everyone can play.

Delight and Fun

Winners in this category provide memorable, engaging, and satisfying experiences that are enhanced by Apple technologies.

App: Duolingo
Developer: Duolingo, Inc (United States)

Duolingo, the popular language learning app, underwent a redesign to enhance user experience and enjoyment. It introduced quests, challenges, and leaderboards to make learning more engaging. The app continuously updates its content and offers courses for endangered and indigenous languages, keeping users motivated and committed to learning.

Game: Afterplace
Developer: Evan Kice (United States)

Afterplace, a delightful RPG game by Evan Kice, combines nostalgia with a modern twist. Its expansive open world is a seamless fusion of classic elements and contemporary humour. The game’s dark forest is an adventurous playground, hiding mysteries, treasures, and even sarcastic vending machines. Despite its depth, Afterplace is accessible to players with its clever onboarding and user-friendly one-handed controls, making exploration and discovery a truly enjoyable experience.

Interaction

Winners in this category deliver intuitive interfaces and effortless controls that are perfectly tailored to their platform.

App: Flighty
Developer: Flighty LLC (United States)

Flighty is a versatile and well-designed app that serves as a flight tracker, travel planner, airport navigator, and concierge. It offers Live Activities and Dynamic Island integration, making it a valuable companion throughout your journey. The app provides user-friendly access to essential information, including comprehensive live maps, while maintaining the classic airport design.

Game: Railbound
Developer: Afterburn (Poland)

Railbound is a puzzle game suitable for all ages, despite its kid-friendly appearance. The objective is to arrange train cars in the right order, using a simple tap-and-drag mechanic to lay tracks. The game provides useful features like changing direction, adding switches, and undoing mistakes. It incorporates delightful design elements, such as a frustration cloud for misplaced cars and charming characters that accompany your journey.

Social Impact

Winners in this category improve lives in a meaningful way and shine a light on crucial issues.

App: Headspace
Developer: Headspace (United States)

Headspace is a leading app that has made mindfulness accessible to many. With its thoughtful design, user-friendly interface, and comforting illustrations, it sets the standard for meditation and mental health apps. The app is easy to navigate, offering clear labels for different collections, whether you prefer longer guided sessions or shorter breaks. It integrates seamlessly with the Apple Watch, bringing mindfulness to your wrist. Additionally, Headspace’s dedication to inclusivity is reflected in its diverse contributors and staff, ensuring representation for all.

Game: Endling
Developer: HandyGames (Germany)

Endling is a beautiful side-scrolling game where you play as a fox in a post-disaster world impacted by humans. As the animal protagonist, you develop empathy and connection while safeguarding your vulnerable offspring from human-made dangers. The game’s simple controls prioritize the engaging storyline over complex interactions. Endling delivers a timely blend of narrative and message, though it may pose challenges along the way.

Visuals and Graphics

Winners in this category feature stunning imagery, skillfully drawn interfaces, and high-quality animations that lend to a distinctive and cohesive theme.

App: Any Distance
Developer: Any Distance Inc (United States)

Any Distance is a stylish fitness tracker that presents workout stats in captivating formats. It offers dynamic charts, 3D maps, and even augmented reality (AR). With Live Activities and Apple Watch integration, it tracks various activities like running, cycling, wheelchair exercise, stroller runs, walks, and recumbent bike rides. The app also features collectables to motivate users. Any Distance sets a new benchmark in fitness tracking.

Game: Resident Evil Village
Developer: CAPCOM Co, Ltd (Japan)

Resident Evil Village redefines Mac gaming by harnessing the power of Apple silicon, ProMotion, and Metal 3. This horror adventure surpasses expectations with its breathtaking character design, immersive lighting, and smooth animation. The game features astonishingly realistic graphics, including haunting castles, decaying factories, and menacing enemies.

Innovation

Winners in this category provide a state-of-the-art experience through novel use of Apple technologies that set them apart in their genre.

App: SwingVision: A.I. Tennis App
Developer: SwingVision Inc (United States)

SwingVision is an AI-powered tennis coach that uses advanced video-tracking technology to analyse your form, highlight strengths, and offer improvement suggestions. Simply point your camera at the court and let SwingVision do the rest. The app seamlessly integrates with Apple Watch to gather data for a comprehensive analysis. It’s worth mentioning that SwingVision was developed by two self-taught Swift developers, showcasing their impressive technical achievements.

Game: MARVEL SNAP
Developer: Second Dinner (China)

MARVEL SNAP has it all: fast-paced gameplay, stunning artwork, and addictive mechanics. Its unique “snap” mechanic adds strategy and psychological warfare. With impressive visuals, 3D graphics, animations, and immersive haptics, the game offers a rewarding experience. It caters to both Marvel enthusiasts with a wide range of characters and variants, and newcomers with its accessible gameplay. MARVEL SNAP is a groundbreaking achievement that redefines the collectable-card-game genre.