Apple has named seven games and over fifty game developers in its annual ‘Best Of’ app store breakdown for 2017. The yearly list offers developers a snapshot of some of the most popular and innovative games and apps released during the past year, while also breaking down notable trends that popped up on Apple’s App Store throughout 2017.
This year, Art of War: Red Tides (iPad), Framed 2 (Apple TV), Hidden Folks (iPad), Micropolis! (Apple Watch), Old Man’s Journey (iPad, iPhone), Splitter Critters (iPhone), and The Witness (iPad, Mac) were selected as Apple’s Games of the Year for each of the platforms mentioned.
Though Apple’s editorial staff is ultimately in charge of each Game of the Year pick, the company’s system allows for different countries to name different GOTYs for the same platform. So while Hidden Folks was voted iPad Game of the Year in over 30 countries, Art of War: Red Tides walked away with the award in China and Old Man’s Journey received the same honors in Japan and 13 other countries.
Video games and game developer received notable shoutouts in some of Apple’s other categories as well. ‘Gamifying’ fitness was named one of the company’s Trends of the Year thanks to apps like Zombies, Run! (Six to Start) and Dungeon Runner: Fitness Quest (Six to Start) that fused familiar video game mechanics with traditional workout tracking apps.
Likewise, Augmented Reality was listed as a rising trend in 2017 with games like The Machines (Directive Games), YuME: Alice’s Dreams (NetEase Games), and Splitter Critters (RAC 7 Games) among the 42 notable games and apps that utilize AR highlighted by Apple.
The full list of apps, games, trends, and developers mentioned in Apple’s Best of 2017 can be found on the company’s developer portal.