For 2021, the iPhone App of the Year went to kids’ world-building release Toca Life World, while video editing app LumaFusion, took out top honours for iPad. Similarly, sports media service DAZN nailed the Apple TV+ stakes and in a surprise move League of Legends took out the iPhone Game of the year. Here are all the winners from Apple’s 2021 App Store Awards.

In this children’s app, you can create your own world and play out any story you like. Designed from the kids’ perspective, the app is created to empower kids to be playful and creative, while developing important spatial and problem-solving skills.

Perhaps the best video editing app on iOS, LumaFusion was recognised for its full-scale approach to multitrack mobile editing. The easy-to-use app allows you to create stunning visual stories without an expert knowledge of editing.

Designed as a productivity tool for workers, Craft lets you create documents and notes, before easily sharing them with one tap. Best of all, Craft supports inline markdown, backlinks, code snippets, images, videos, attaching PDF files, and rich link previews.

The 24/7 sports streaming app scored big with Apple editors this year, thanks to it’s easy to use interface and quality range. With NFL, football, rugby, boxing, baseball and pretty much everything else, DAZN’s content stream is solid, to say the least.

Gamifying the weather doesn’t exactly sound fun, but Apple Watch App Carrot Weather has somehow made it work. Here, you follow clues to track down 90+ secret locations. and unlock achievements, using Carrot’s super accurate weather data. You can even film your own TV-news-style weather report videos, or use Augmented Reality Mode to bring CARROT into your living room.

Taking the skills and processes of the 5v5 MOBA experience of League of Legends, Wild Rift is a mobile-first game with a lot going for it. Like its grown-up sibling, you can team up with friends, lock in your champion, and go for the big plays.

A game inspired by Marvel Studio’s Eternals, this game lets you fight alongside the superheroes against the powerful army of Deviants. Gameplay=wise, this iPad version is actually super impressive and well worth a look.

Originally released in 1993, Myst has undergone some serious changes in the last three decades. This Mac version sees you journey to Myst Island and other stunning, long-dormant locations. Tasked with unravelling a mystery, you uncover a story of ruthless family betrayal, and make choices that will affect both you, and the world of Myst itself.

The best Apple TV game of 2021, Space Marshals 3 sees you join a rowdy crew for a new adventure in outer space. The story-driven action game has an emphasis on stealth and tactical combat, so definitely one you can spend some time on.

From industry legend and the creator of Final Fantasy, Hironobu Sakaguchi, Fantasian is a crazy new RPG that has all the elements we’ve come to love from previous releases. Set against a spectacular backdrop made from nearly 160 handmade dioramas, the visuals blend physical environments and 3D characters.

Alongside recognising its best apps and games of the year, Apple’s global App Store editors also named a Trend of the Year which for 2021 was ‘Connection’. According to the brand, the goal was to identify a movement that had a lasting impact on people’s lives and champion the apps and games that managed to embody this. Here are the releases that best characterised ‘Connection’ in 2021.

It’s hard not to note the appeal of Among Us this year. “With a mix of cooperation and competition, “Among Us!” cultivated community through bite-size matches that urged users to talk — and listen — to each other via banter, bluffing, and teamwork.” Apple said.

Dating apps also got a workout this year, courtesy of global lockdown restrictions, however, Bumble came out on top. Apple said the app met the moment by adding and enhancing features designed to “bridge the gap for users hoping to date, forge platonic friendships, and broaden their professional networks — all while fostering women-powered conversations”.

For those working from home, easy-to-use graphic design app Canva offered elegantly simple design tools and templates for anyone and everyone. “Canva helps users tap into their entrepreneurial spirit by making design simple for professionals, students, job seekers, community leaders, and teams of every kind.”

Focusing on representation, in 2021 EatOkra built a robust, user-driven guide to more than 11,000 Black-owned eateries that helps people find tasty ways to invest in their community.

With the issues raised during 2021, more and more people went looking for help and Peanut was there to deliver. The app launched social audio Pods led by experts on everything from pregnancy and menopause to relationships and self-care, Peanut is creating space for honest conversations on every aspect of womanhood at every stage of life.