Adobe Lightroom, Balatro+ honored in Apple's App Store Awards

In November, Apple released a list of 45 finalists for the App Store Awards. On Wednesday, it revealed the 17 winners from the class of 2024.

"We are thrilled to honor this impressive group of developers who are harnessing the power of Apple devices and technology to deliver experiences that enrich the lives of users and have a profound impact on their communities," said CEO Tim Cook. "The remarkable achievements of this year's winners demonstrate the incredible ingenuity that can be unlocked through apps."

The list of creative apps winning this year includes Kino, which provides film-inspired filters and advanced controls for filming video, and Moises for enabling AI tools for musicians on iPad. Adobe Lightroom also gets a win for its Mac app.

For gaming, the list includes the tactical adventures of AFK Journey, the multiplayer gameplay of Squad Busters, and the addictive card fun of Balatro+ as the Apple Arcade Game of the Year.

The Apple Vision Pro was also included as a platform for the 2024 list, with What If? An Immersive Story and Thrasher: Arcade Odyssey gaining awards.

Apple also includes a selection of apps that are Cultural Impact winners, recognized for the lasting impact they made on user's lives and communities. The list includes Oko, an app to help blind and visually impaired users navigate streets, and Do You Really Want to Know 2's discussion of living with HIV.

The full list of winners follows:

Apps

• iPhone App of the Year: Kino, from Lux Optics Inc.
• iPad App of the Year: Moises, from Moises Systems Inc.
• Mac App of the Year: Adobe Lightroom, from Adobe Inc.
• Apple Vision Pro App of the Year: What If? An Immersive Story, from Disney.
• Apple Watch App of the Year: Lumy, from Raja V.
• Apple TV App of the Year: F1 TV, from Formula One Digital Media Limited.

Games

• iPhone Game of the Year: AFK Journey, from Farlight Games.
• iPad Game of the Year: Squad Busters, from Supercell.
• Mac Game of the Year: Thank Goodness You're Here!, from Panic, Inc.
• Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year: THRASHER: Arcade Odyssey, from Puddle, LLC.
• Apple Arcade Game of the Year: Balatro , from Playstack Ltd.

Cultural Impact Winners

• Oko from AYES BV.
• EF Hello from Signum International AG.
• DailyArt from Zuzanna Stanska
• NYT Games from The New York Times Company
• The Wreck from The Pixel Hunt
• Do You Really Want to Know 2 from Gamtropy Co., Ltd.