Apple Design Awards honors excellence in innovation and technical achievement in app and game design. This year, the list of winners includes mobile titles like League of Legends: Wild Rift and Genshin Impact.
Delight and Fun category — Little Orpheus
It is a platformer developed by The Chinese Room and published by Sumo Digital. It tells the story of Soviet cosmonaut Ivan Ivanovich who went on a journey to the center of the Earth. Apple praised Little Orpheus for bringing a “console-like experience to a casual game.”
Social Impact category — Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
It is an open-world adventure developed by Ustwo Games, known for its award-winning series Monument Valley. A girl named Alba wants to save local wildlife after a natural reserve was almost destroyed by the city. “This game demonstrates the positivity that comes from respecting the environment, while telling a story about family, community, activism, and kindness,” Apple noted.
Visuals and Graphics category — Genshin Impact
It is a worldwide hit developed by the Chinese studio miHoYo. The game surpassed $1 billion in lifetime revenue on mobile in March. Apple praised Genshin Impact’s visuals, saying that its “heart-pounding battle scenes and far-reaching landscapes push the visual frontier for mobile gaming.”
Innovation category — League of Legends: Wild Rift
It is a mobile version of the hit MOBA game League of Legends. According to Apple, Riot Games managed to reimagine the original title through polished touchscreen controls, an auto-targeting system for new players, and special camera settings for mobile users.
You can find the full list of winners and finalists here.