Apple Announces Its 2026 Apple Design Award Finalists

Today, Apple announced the finalists for the Apple Design Awards in six categories:

• Delight and Fun
• Inclusivity
• Innovation
• Interaction
• Social Impact
• Visuals and Graphics

Each category includes three finalists for a total of 18 apps and games from across Apple’s platforms:

Delight and Fun

Finalists in this category provide memorable, engaging, and satisfying experiences enhanced by Apple technologies.

Apps

• Blippo+ from Panic, Inc.
• Metaballsfrom Apposite
• grug from Ocho

Games

• PowerWash Simulatorfrom FuturLab Limited and published by Square Enix Collective
• Is This Seat Taken?from Poti Poti Studio
• Ball x Pit from Kenny Sun Studios

Inclusivity

Apps

• Guitar Wiz from Bijoy Thangaraj
• Hearing Buddy from Scott Krager
• Structured from unorderly GmbH

Games

• Sago Mini Jinja’s Gardenfrom Sago Mini
• Pine Hearts from Hyper Luminal Games Limited
• Civilization VII from Firaxis Games

Innovation

Apps

• Detail: AI Video Editor from Detail Technologies B.V.
• NBA: Live Games & Scores from NBA Media Ventures, LLC
• D-Day: The Camera Soldier from TARGO

Games

• TR-49 from inkle
• Blue Prince from Dogubomb and Raw Fury
• Pickle Pro from Resolution Games AB

Interaction

Apps

• The Outsiders: Athlete Tracker from Gentler Stories, LLC
• Moonlitt: Moon Phase Tracker from Flipping Hues Srls
• Tide Guide: Charts & Tables from Condor Digital

Games

• TR-49 from inkle
• Sago Mini Jinja’s Garden by Sago Mini
• Grand Mountain Adventure 2 from Toppluva AB

Social Impact

Apps

• Primary: News in Depth by Wood Metal Rocks LLC
• Katha Room by Parjanya Creative Solutions
• Harvee from Peak Labs Ltd.

Games

• Consume Me by Jenny Jiao Hsia and AP Thomson (published by Hexecutable)
• Despelote from Julián Cordero and Sebastian Valbuena (published by Panic, Inc.)
• Spilled! from Lente Cuenen

Visuals and Graphics

Apps

• Tide Guide: Charts & Tables from Condor Digital
• Caradise from PSQV AB, Sweden
• (Not Boring) Camera from Not Boring Software LLC

Games

• Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition from CD PROJEKT RED
• Arknights: Endfield from Hypergryph and Gryph Frontier PTE. LTD.
• SILT from Spiral Circus, United Kingdom

There is a wealth of excellent apps and games here that do a good job of representing the breadth of design excellence on Apple’s platforms. Congratulations to all the winners.¹

1. But especially congratulations to Detail ↩