Last night, Apple published its annual “Best of iTunes” list, which includes editorial picks for the best releases in music, movies, TV shows, apps, books, and podcasts of 2013. The special page, featured across the entire iTunes Store, can be viewed here.
For apps, as in previous years Apple has picked apps and games of the year, runner-ups, and other notable app releases of the year. The App Store category is organized in iPhone, iPad, and Mac apps; this year, Apple has included sub-sections as “Trends”, listing apps belonging to popular categories such as photo editing, productivity, and multiplayer games.
On iOS, Apple has picked Duolingo and Ridiculous Fishing as app and game of the year for iPhone, and Disney Animated and BADLAND on the iPad. For the Mac, Apple has chosen Wunderlist and XCOM: Enemy Unknown as app and game of the year; on the Mac App Store, Apple hasn’t included Trends, opting for a simpler “best apps” and “best games” organization.
Last year, Apple picked Day One and Deus Ex: Human Revolution as winners for the Mac; Paper and The Room for the iPad; and Action Movie FX and Rayman Jungle Run for the iPhone.
We have compiled the full list of apps below.
iPhone
App of the Year
Duolingo
Runner-Up
- VSCO Cam
- Endless Alphabet
Game of the Year
Ridiculous Fishing
Runner-Up
- DEVICE 6
- Plants vs. Zombies 2
Trends
Stylish Photo Editing
- Mextures
- Repix
- Rhonna Designs
- Tangent
- Afterlight
- Facetune
Indie Games
- Oceanhorn
- rymdkapsel
- EPOCH.2
- Kingdom Rush Frontiers
- LIMBO Game
- Quell Memento
Innovative Kids Apps
- Toca Hair Salon Me
- The Human Body by Tinybop
- Dora Appisode: Perrito’s Big Surprise
- Sago Mini Doodlecast
- Color Zen Kids
- Little Red Riding Hood by Nosy Crow
Blockbuster Games
- XCOM: Enemy Unknown
- FIFA 14
- DEAD TRIGGER 2
- Deus Ex: The Fall
- Call of Duty: Strike Team
- Infinity Blade III
Split-Second Video
- Vine
- Snapchat
- Spark Camera
- Cameo
- Directr
Fast-Reaction Games
- IMPOSSIBLE ROAD
- Knightmare Tower
- Duet Game
- Boson X
- Slayin
- Mega Dead Pixel
Fitness Revolution
- Moves
- ARGUS
- Nike+ Move
- Touch fit
- Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker by MyFitnessPal
- 7 Minute Workout
Great Multiplayer
- Heads Up!
- Battle Camp
- Stampede Run
- Say the Same Thing
- Dungeon Hunter 4
- Super Stickman Golf 2
Bite-Sized News
- Circa News
- Umano
- Yahoo
- BuzzFeed
- Read time
- NowThis News
Crafting Games
- Block Fortress
- Junk Jack X
- Terraria
- The Blockheads
- Survivalcraft
- Minecraft
Smart Productvity
- IFTTT
- OmniFocus 2
- Notability
- Vesper
- Gneo
- Launch Center Pro
Racing Redefined
- Asphalt 8
- Real Racing 3
- Angry Birds Go
- Riptide GP2
- 2K Drive
- CSR Classics
iPad
App of the Year
Disney Animated
Runner-Up
- Traktor DJ
- WWF Together
Game of the Year
BADLAND
Runner-Up
- XCOM: Enemy Unknown
- IMPOSSIBLE ROAD
Trends
Innovative Kids Apps
- Winston Show
- Endless Alphabet
- Toca Hair Salon Me
- La Luna
- The Human Body by Tinybop
- Dora Appisode: Perrito’s Big Surprise
Indie Games
- Oceanhorn
- The Room Two
- LIMBO Game
- Kingdom Rush Frontiers HD
- EPOCH.2
- Frozen Synapse
Beautiful Cookbooks
- The Whole Panty
- Cook
- UNIQLO RECIPE
- Cooking Basics
- Healthy Desserts
- Basil
Blockbuster Games
- Plants vs. Zombies 2
- Assassin’s Creed Pirates
- Deus Ex: The Fall
- DEAD TRIGGER 2
- FIFA 14
- Call of Duty: Strike Team
Engaging Educational Apps
- Duolingo
- Beethoven’s 9th Symphony
- Sky Guide
- Lumosity
- Poems by Heart
- MyScript Calculator
Fast-Reaction Games
- Duet Game
- Boson X
- Mega Dead Pixel
- Slayin
- Knightmare Tower
- Pivvot
Smart Productivity
- Talkboard
- Morning
- Gneo
- Quip
- Editorial
- Concepts
Memorable Characters
- Clumsy Ninja
- Tiny Thief
- Rayman Fiesta Run
- Robot Unicorn Attack 2
- Cordy 2
- Le Vamp
Fitness Revolution
- Lose It!
- Zumba Dance
- FitStar
- Jillian Michaels Slim-Down
- Beautiful Belly Prenatal Yoga
- Runtastic Six Pack Abs
Crafting Games
- Block Fortress
- Junk Jack C
- Terraria
- The Blockheads
- Survivalcraft
- Minecraft
Racing Redefined
- Asphalt 8
- Real Racing 3
- Angry Birds Go
- Riptide GP2
- 2K DriveCSR Classics
Best of Newsstand
- NYTimes for iPad
- Giada
- Martha Stewart Living Magazine
- Vanity Fair
- Rolling Stones Magazine
- The Loop Magazine
Mac
App of the Year
Wunderlist
Runner-Up
Essential Anatomy
Game of the Year
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Runner-Up
BioShock Infinite
Best Apps of 2013
- 1Password
- DaisyDisk
- StockTouch
- Ember
- 2Do
- The Elements
- NoteSuite
- Acorn 4
- Delicious Library 3
- DM1
- Ulysses III
- Home Inventory
- Kaleidoscope
- Napkin
- OmniPlan
- ReadKit
- Diptic
- Intensify
- Simplenote
Best Games of 2013
- LEGO The Lord of the Rings
- Gone Home
- KAMI
- Rayman Origins
- Metro: Last Light
- Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition
- Batman Arkham City GOTY
- Anomaly 2
- The Bureau
- Reaper
- Block Fortress
- Solstice Arena
- Surgeon Simulator 2013
- Blast-A-Way
- Little Inferno
- SHADOWGUN: Deadzone
- The Sandbox
- Hero Academy
- The Cave
- Napoleon: Total War - Gold Edition
