-(1).webp)
Apple has named the winners and finalists of the 2025 Apple Design Awards, honoring 12 outstanding apps and games that represent innovation, creativity, and technical talent. These awards, held each year at WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference), recognize developers globally who are redefining the limits of design and technology to build profoundly moving and exquisitely designed user experiences.
Key Details of WWDC 2025
-
Event Dates: June 9–13, 2025
-
Keynote Date and Time: June 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. PDT / 1:00 p.m. ET
-
Location: The keynote will be streamed live from Apple Park in Cupertino, California, with many developers and students attending in person.
What to Expect at WWDC 2025
Apple is expected to reveal major updates to its operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. Rumors suggest a significant overhaul of the system-wide design, possibly branded as "Solarium," which will introduce a more cohesive and unified interface across Apple devices. This redesign is said to feature rounded corners, layered transparency, and a layout inspired by visionOS.
Additional anticipated announcements include:
-
Updates to multitasking and health tools
-
Possible renaming of OS versions to iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 instead of continuing the previous numbering scheme.
-
Introduction of AI-powered developer tools, such as a new coding assistant integrated with Xcode, developed in partnership with Anthropic.
-
New features for AirPods and a dedicated gaming app.
Also Read | Top 10 Best Smartphone Brands by Market Share in India in 2025
Developer Sessions and Labs
Beyond the keynote, WWDC 2025 will feature over 100 technical sessions, group labs, and one-on-one labs where developers can interact with Apple engineers and designers. Group labs are hosted via Webex and include live Q&A with Apple experts, with accessibility features such as ASL interpretation available. One-on-one lab appointments open immediately after the keynote and can be booked through the Apple Developer app.
How to Watch WWDC 2025 Online
The WWDC 2025 keynote and sessions will be streamed live and available on-demand through multiple platforms:
-
Apple’s official website
-
Apple TV app (available on Apple devices)
-
Apple Developer app
-
YouTube (Apple’s official channel)
The event is accessible to everyone without the need to sign in, and viewers can set reminders and receive notifications when the stream goes live. The stream is optimized to work smoothly on modern browsers and devices, including Windows and Android platforms via YouTube or Apple’s website.
Time Zone Conversions for Keynote Start (June 9, 2025, 10:00 a.m. PDT)
-
1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)
-
6:00 p.m. United Kingdom (BST)
-
7:00 p.m. Central Europe (CEST)
-
10:30 p.m. India Standard Time (IST)
-
Next day early morning in Asia-Pacific: 2:00 a.m. Japan, 3:00 a.m. Australia local time
Overview of the 2025 Apple Design Awards
The honors celebrate exceptional achievements across six categories, each showcasing a distinct quality of app and game design:
- Delight and Fun
- Innovation
- Interaction
- Inclusivity
- Social Impact
- Visuals and Graphics
Out of 36 finalists around the world, one app and one game were chosen in each category for their great design and utilization of Apple technologies.
Expected Announcements WWDC 2025
- iOS 26 and iPadOS 26
- macOS 26
- watchOS 26
- tvOS 26
- visionOS 26
Winners and Finalists by Category
The winners and finalists by categories in the WWDC event are as follows-
Delight and Fun
This category appreciates apps and games that deliver memorable, fun, and satisfying experiences with Apple technologies.
App Winner: CapWords by HappyPlan Tech (China)
CapWords is an interactive language learning app that turns snapshots of common objects into stickers with nine languages. It gives an easy and visual method for students to discover new words, promoting independent learning using immersive environments.
Game Winner: Balatro by LocalThunk (Canada)
Balatro combines poker, solitaire, and deck-building with roguelike elements. Players craft unique decks using poker hands and joker cards with special abilities, creating strategic synergies to overcome challenges.
Finalists: Lumy by Raja V; Denim by Feel Good Tech; Thank Goodness You’re Here! by Panic; Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown by Ubisoft Montpellier.
Check Out| List of Top 10 Best Fighter Jets in the World
Innovation
This category honors apps and games that give exceptional experiences through novel uses of Apple technologies.
App Winner: Play by Rabbit 3 Times (United States)
Play is a powerful but easy-to-use prototyping tool with SwiftUI frameworks. It allows designers to create interactive prototypes with an effective, easy-to-explore interface, supporting real-time collaboration on Mac and iPhone.
Game Winner: PBJ — The Musical by Philipp Stollenmayer (Germany)
A rhythm game retelling Romeo and Juliet in condiments, PBJ combines story storytelling with play, augmented by haptic feedback, savvy camera work, and a charming soundtrack.
Finalists: Moises by Music.AI; Capybara by Digital Workroom Ltd; Pawz by Bootloader Studio Holdings; Gears & Goo by Resolution Games AB.
Interaction
Honoring intuitive design and seamless controls perfectly suited to their platforms.
App Winner: Taobao by Zhejiang Taobao Network (China)
Taobao on Apple Vision Pro provides a realistic shopping experience in 3D with side-by-side comparison of products with accurate control over size and position.
Game Winner: DREDGE by Black Salt Games (New Zealand)
Slow-burn horror, exploration, and adventure blend together as players explore chilling islands by fishing vessel, resolving mysteries through seamless interactions on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Finalists: iA Writer by Information Architects AG; Mela - Recipe Manager by Silvio Rizzi; Gears & Goo by Resolution Games AB; Skate City: New York by Snowman.
Also Read | Indus Waters Treaty Timeline (1947-2025): Major Events, Suspension and What It Means for India?
Inclusivity
Apps and games that deliver great experiences for a range of backgrounds, abilities, and languages are to be celebrated in this category.
App Winner: Speechify by Speechify (United States)
Speechify transforms text into speech in more than 50 languages with hundreds of voices. Developed with accessibility options such as Dynamic Type and VoiceOver, it is conducive to people with dyslexia, ADHD, low vision, and auditory learners.
Game Winner: Art of Fauna by Klemens Strasser (Austria)
A puzzle game that combines retro wildlife images with diversity and conservation messages. Full VoiceOver support and haptic feedback make it accessible and interactive.
Finalists: Evolve by GTA Solutions; Train Fitness by Train Fitness; puffies. by Lykke Studios; Land of Livia by Split Atom Labs.
Social Impact
This category showcases apps and games that enrich lives significantly and highlight important issues.
App Winner: Watch Duty by Sherwood Forestry Service (United States)
Watch Duty offers essential wildfire information, evacuation updates, and resources in Southern California wildfires, providing clear and credible information on fire boundaries, wind patterns, and evacuation orders.
Game Winner: Neva by Devolver Digital (United States)
Neva is a deeply moving action-adventure game that is set in a world that is deteriorating as a girl and her wolf companion journey through it. It touches on the themes of care, bonding, loss of the environment, and leadership within stunning environments and narrative.
Finalists: Ground News by Snapwise; Opal by Opal OS; Ahoy! From Picardy by Daniel Jones; Art of Fauna by Klemens Strasser.
Visuals and Graphics
Apps and games with great visuals, beautifully drawn interfaces, and well-crafted animations with matching themes are celebrated in this category.
App Winner: Feather: Draw in 3D by Sketchsoft (South Korea)
Feather allows designers to craft professional-grade 3D models from 2D blueprints on iPad using touch and Apple Pencil to deliver creative vision with a human touch and emphasis on user experience.
Game Winner: Infinity Nikki by Infold Games (Singapore)
Infinity Nikki is a richly illustrated open-world adventure with magical attires, fantastical creatures, and intricate environments that provides a warm and magical experience.
Finalists: Vocabulary by Monkey Taps; CellWalk by Timothy Davison; Control Ultimate Edition by Remedy Entertainment PLC; Neva by Devolver Digital.
2025 Apple Design Awards highlight how developers across the globe are using Apple's technologies to build creative, accessible, and beautiful apps and games. These finalists and winners not only raise the bar for design but also bring more creativity, accessibility, and social good to people's lives. The awards will be celebrated during WWDC25, reflecting the craftsmanship and vision-driven spirit of the developer community.
.jpg)
