At WWDC 2021, Apple announced some interesting new controller-related features coming to iOS and iPadOS15 in the future. These include being able to make full use of Sony’s PS5 DualSense controller features, better capturing for key gameplay moments, and more. Today, Apple just announced the Apple Design Awards winners for 2021 and it includes our Game of the Year for 2020, two of the best Apple Arcade games, and more. Here’s the full list of winners in 2020.
Little Orpheus (Apple Arcade)
The Chinese Room and Sumo Digital have released some great stuff on iOS and iPadOS through Apple Arcade and individual releases. Little Orpheus is an Apple Arcade Exclusive that has been awarded the Apple Design Award for ‘Delight and Fun’ thanks to its platforming, storytelling, music, and for bringing a console-like experience to an accessible game. Check out our forum thread for it here.
Bird Alone
Bird Alone by George Batchelor wins an Apple Design Award for interaction. If you’ve not tried it yet, Bird Alone uses haptics, parallax, gestures, and dynamic sound effects for a more immersive experience. The game adapts based on the real world weather, season, and time. It is available on iOS and iPadOS as a premium universal release. Check out our forum thread for it here.
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure from Ustwo Games is another Apple Arcade game to win an Apple Design Award. It wils for social impact. Alba: A Wildlife Adventure has hit even more platforms recently and I’m glad more people get to experience it. Ustwo Games releases are always worth checking out and while I think this one is great on touchscreen, just about every platform now has access to it through the recent ports. If you’ve not played Alba: A Wildlife Adventure yet, it tells a story about family, community, kindness, and more with the developers planting one tree to help a reforestation project in Madagascar for every copy downloaded. Check out our forum thread for it here.
Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact wins an Apple Design Award for visuals and graphics (as expected). It recently got a major update with a ton of new content but it has consistently been one of the best looking games on not just mobile but in general with its superb character designs, performance, particle effects, and more. I also love how good the soundtrack is. We awarded Genshin Impact our Game of the Year for 2020. If you’ve not played Genshin Impact yet, you absolutely need to see how good it can look on your iPhone or iPad. Check out our forum thread for it here.
League of Legends: Wild Rift
League of Legends: Wild Rift from Riot Games is the final Apple Design Award winner for innovation. League of Legends: Wild Rift brings the full League of Legends experience to mobile platforms with some exclusive features. If you’ve not played it yet, read Eli’s impressions from when the open beta released in North America here. Hopefully League of Legends: Wild Rift makes it to more regions worldwide as the full release comes closer. Check out our forum thread for League of Legends: Wild Rift here.
If you’d like to check out the full list of winners for apps and games, read this. What do you think of the Apple Design Awards winners for this year?
