App store awards 2025 announced: Tiimo, Cyberpunk 2077… and a shock entry no one saw coming

Apple has announced the winners of its 2025 App Store Awards. These winners were selected for being the best apps and games on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Vision Pro. The award recognises apps with best design and usability, and with the most significant cultural impact.

Tiimo was announced as the iPhone App of the Year. The app is a visual planner that brings AI-powered features to the time-management space. Tiimo has an eye-catching design that creates a cohesive aesthetic between the to-do list and calendar components, and this, in particular, is why Apple recognised the app in this category.

Pokémon TCG Pocket won the iPhone Game of the Year category.

iPhone Game of the Year was given to Pokémon TCG Pocket. It is an adaptation of the Pokémon Trading Card Game and it was recognised for bringing everything about the game to mobile through polished presentation, intuitive card interactions, and mobile-optimized battles. The app was competing with games like Capybara Go!, and Thronefall.

On the iPad, Detail was announced as the App of the Year. The app is an AI-powered video-editing app that Apple says aims to make video creation accessible to everyday creators. DREDGE won the iPad Game of the Year. Essayist won the Mac App of the Year award. It “helps simplify the entire writing and reference formatting process for academic papers”, according to Apple. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition won Mac Game of the Year with Apple describing the game as an “exciting, immersive open-world sci-fi action adventure.”

Explore POV took the App of the Year award on Apple Vision Pro, while Strava was chosen as the Apple Watch App of the Year.

Apple also recognised apps and games with “cultural impact” in 2025. Some of the apps included in this list are Be My Eyes and Focus Friend. Be My Eyes, as per Apple, has over 7 million registered blind and low-vision users across the world, while Focus Friend is said to encourage communities with exercise challenges and create rewards, that is beneficial for users’ wellbeing.

“This year’s winners have set a new standard for the App Store,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “They are a testament to the creativity and excellence of our developer community, which turns their best ideas into innovative apps and games that enrich people’s lives.”