Apple has announced the winners of the 2023 Apple Design Awards at WWDC23. This year the winners include Marvel Snap, Resident Evil Village and more, recognised for innovation, ingenuity and technical achievement.

Here are the game winners in each of the six categories.

Inclusivity

“Winners in this category provide a great experience for all by supporting people from a diversity of backgrounds, abilities, and languages.”

stitch.
Developer: Lykke Studios (Thailand)

With cross-generational appeal, stitch., an Apple Arcade title, brings the calming, meditative art of embroidery to its users. As the game progresses, designs increase in difficulty while background music lulls players into a state of tranquility. With support for multiple languages and custom accessibility options for those with colour blindness, low vision, and motion sensitivities, everyone can join in on the fun.

Finalists for this category include Passenger Assistance by TRANSREPORT, Anne by Alessandro Di Maio, Ancient Board Game Collection by Klemens Strasser, and Finding Hannah by Fein Games GmbH.

Delight and Fun

Winners in this category provide memorable, engaging, and satisfying experiences that are enhanced by Apple technologies.

Afterplace
Developer: Evan Kice (United States)

A vintage pixel adventure with a contemporary twist, Afterplace is an unforgettable indie role-playing game with a modern edge, balancing nostalgia, dry humour, and exploration. It’s lovingly crafted for mobile and controlled by swipes and taps instead of virtual buttons. The game’s clever onboarding grounds players in the world, and its intuitive one-handed control system makes it easy and fun to discover Afterplace’s quirky surprises and hidden rewards.

Finalists for this category include Creme by The CREME Group Inc., Chantlings by IORAMA, Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! by GAME FREAK Inc., and Knotwords by Zach Gage and Jack Schlesinger.

Interaction

Winners in this category deliver intuitive interfaces and effortless controls that are perfectly tailored to their platform.

Railbound
Developer: Afterburn (Poland)

Interacting with Railbound delights with its simplicity, including an onboarding experience that noticeably leaves out words, points, and navigating through menus. Undoing and reworking mistakes is a breeze through the game’s clever designs. With pristine animation and colourful visuals, Railbound is a polished puzzler that’s easy to pick up and difficult to put down.

Finalists for this category include Shuffles by Pinterest by Pinterest, Inc.; Tide Guide: Charts & Tables by Condor Digital LLC; Automatoys by Idle Friday LTD; and Kimono Cats by HumaNature Studios Inc.

Social Impact

Winners in this category improve lives in a meaningful way and shine a light on crucial issues.

Endling
Developer: HandyGames (Germany)

In this side-scroller game, Endling casts players as a fox fighting to navigate a land charred by environmental disaster and human impact. Players are given the opportunity to build an immediate sense of empathy and connection to the lead character. The game’s simple controls ensure that the story remains the focus of the gameplay rather than the interactions.

Finalists for this category include Duolingo by Duolingo, Inc.; Sago Mini First Words by Sago Mini; Hindsight by Team Hindsight; and Beecarbonize by Charles Games s.r.o.

Visuals and Graphics

Winners in this category feature stunning imagery, skillfully drawn interfaces, and high-quality animations that lend to a distinctive and cohesive theme.

Resident Evil Village
Developer: CAPCOM Co., Ltd. (Japan)

This horror adventure game delivers masterful visual detail powered by Apple silicon, ProMotion, Metal 3, and extended dynamic range. From Resident Evil Village’s creepy castle to its decrepit factories, the graphics are among the most realistic and atmospheric delivered on Mac.

Finalists for this category include Gentler Streak Health Fitness by Gentler Stories LLC; Riveo by Forge and Form GmbH; Diablo Immortal by Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. and NetEase, Inc.; and Endling by HandyGames.

Innovation

Winners in this category provide a state-of-the-art experience through novel use of Apple technologies that set them apart in their genre.

MARVEL SNAP
Developer: Second Dinner (China)

MARVEL SNAP features fantastic animations and delightful haptics that perfectly channel the personalities of each multiverse character. This collectible card game is redefining the genre through its brisk gameplay and innovative “snap” mechanic that instantly doubles the stakes and introduces whole new layers of strategy to the game.

Finalists for this category include Camo by Reincubate Ltd.; Rise: Energy & Sleep Tracker by Rise Science Inc.; Resident Evil Village by CAPCOM Co., Ltd.; and stitch. by Lykke Studios.