NHS app most popular iPhone app of 2021, but 15 others win App Store Awards

(Pocket-lint) – Apple has revealed what it believes are the best apps of the year, in addition to confirming the most popular apps of 2021.

The annual App Store Awards recognise just 15 apps and games from the millions that are available across its ever-growing range of devices including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and mac platforms, however aren’t just about which ones have been downloaded the most or those with the biggest budgets.

And in a sign of the times that we find ourselves still living in the most downloaded app in the UK was the NHS app that allows you to show your vaccination status. It beat out popular iPhone apps like WhatsApp, TikTok, YouTube and others.

Perhaps not surprisingly, apps like Microsoft Teams and Zoom still dominated the iPad app download charts as many continue to work from home rather that have face to face meetings, while there was also a rise in home delivery services too.

For the App Store Awards there are five top apps, five top games, and a further five that are the best apps based on a trend that Apple says has dominated app downloads this year.

The best apps are:

iPhone App of the Year: Toca Life World, from Toca Boca.
iPad App of the Year: LumaFusion, from LumaTouch.
Mac App of the Year: Craft, from Luki Labs Limited.
Apple TV App of the Year: DAZN, from DAZN Group.
Apple Watch App of the Year: Carrot Weather, from Grailr.

The best games are:

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iPhone Game of the Year: League of Legends: Wild Rift, from Riot Games.
iPad Game of the Year: MARVEL Future Revolution, from Netmarble Corporation.
Mac Game of the Year: Myst, from Cyan.
Apple TV Game of the Year: Space Marshals 3, from Pixelbite.
Apple Arcade Game of the Year: Fantasian, from Mistwalker.

This year’s trend says Apple is “Connection” with five apps helping to bring people “together in meaningful ways”.

They including dating app Bumble, multiplayer game Among Us!, creativity app Canva, dinning app EatOkra, and social network Peanut.

The 15 apps are very different from the list of most downloaded apps in 2021 which are still heavily dominated by the new hybrid life we’ve all found ourselves living through since March 2020.

The download charts for 2021

Top Free iPhone Apps

NHS App
WhatsApp Messenger
TikTok
Instagram
YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream
Microsoft Teams
Snapchat
Facebook
Google Maps
Messenger
NHS COVID-19
Uber Eats: Food Delivery
ZOOM Cloud Meetings
Amazon
Spotify New Music and Podcasts
Shop: package & order tracker
Gmail – Email by Google
My McDonald’s UK
Netflix
Deliveroo: Food Delivery

Top Paid iPhone Apps

Driving Theory Test 4 in 1 Kit
Official DVSA Theory Test Kit
The Wonder Weeks
Procreate Pocket
CITB Op/Spec HS&E test 2019
Forest – Your Focus Motivation
TouchRetouch
Squeezy NHS Pelvic Floor App
Facetune
Freya • Surge Timer
Dark Sky Weather
AutoSleep Track Sleep on Watch
Driving Theory by James May
CITB MAP HS&E test 2019
Site Audit Pro
Da Vinci Eye: AR Art Projector
Carbs & Cals: Diet & Diabetes
ChirpOMatic – Europe
The TeamTOMM App
WiFi Now Remote

Top Free iPhone Games

Among Us!
Roblox
Project Makeover
Water Sort Puzzle
High Heels!
Count Masters: Crowd Runner 3D
8 Ball Pool™
Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
Shortcut Run
Subway Surfers
BitLife – Life Simulator
Roof Rails
Stacky Dash
Call of Duty®: Mobile
Score! Hero 2
Bridge Race
Parking Jam 3D
Pokémon GO
Happy Printer
Nail Salon 3D

Top Paid iPhone Games

Minecraft
Football Manager 2021 Mobile
Monopoly
Heads Up!
Bloons TD 6
Plague Inc.
The Chase: Ultimate Edition
My Child Lebensborn
Geometry Dash
Tipping Point
Pocket Build
Countdown – The Official TV Show App
Earn to Die 2
Bloons TD 5
True SkateCluedo: The Official Edition
The Game of Life 2
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Incredibox
Tenable

Top Free iPad Apps

ZOOM Cloud Meetings
Microsoft Teams
YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream
Netflix
Disney+
Amazon Prime Video
Google Chrome
BBC iPlayer
TikTok
Microsoft Word
ITV Hub: TV Player & Catchup
All 4 – Watch Live & On Demand
Amazon
Spotify New Music and Podcasts
Facebook
Messenger
Gmail – Email by Google
Sky Go
Google
Microsoft PowerPoint

Top Paid iPad Apps

Procreate
GoodNotes 5
Notability
Messaging for WhatsApp on iPad
Driving Theory Test 4 in 1 Kit
Teach Your Monster to Read
Hit the Button Maths
Spelling Shed
Official DVSA Theory Test Kit
Toca Life: Hospital
Duet Display
Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar
Toca Kitchen 2
Affinity Designer
Affinity Photo
Toca Life: Neighborhood
LumaFusion
Toca Life: Vacation
Numberblocks: Hide and Seek
Numberblocks: Card Fun!

Top Free iPad Games

Among Us!
Roblox
Phone Case DIY
Project Makeover
Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
Hair Challenge
Tiles Hop – EDM Rush
Blob Runner 3D
DOP 2: Delete One Part
Chat Master!
Shortcut Run
Teacher Simulator
Subway Surfers
Bridge Race
Acrylic Nails!
io
Count Masters: Crowd Runner 3D
Sculpt people
Water Sort Puzzle
Mario Kart Tour

Top Paid iPad Games

Minecraft
Monopoly
Bloons TD 6
Football Manager 2021 Touch
Football Manager 2021 Mobile
Plague Inc.
The Chase: Ultimate Edition
Geometry Dash
Stardew Valley
The Game of Life 2
Five Nights at Freddy’s
Tipping Point
Cluedo: The Official Edition
PAW Patrol: Adventure Bay!
My Child Lebensborn
Human: Fall Flat
LEGO® Jurassic World™
Terraria
Ultimate Custom Night
RFS – Real Flight Simulator

Top Arcade Games

Sonic Racing
Mini Motorways
Cut the Rope Remastered
Skate City
PAC-MAN Party Royale
NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition
Angry Birds Reloaded
SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit
Hot Lava
Sneaky Sasquatch
Fruit Ninja Classic+
Rayman Mini
SongPop Party
Crossy Road Castle
Outlanders
Solitaire by MobilityWare +
WHAT THE GOLF?
LEGO® Brawls
Oceanhorn 2
Spire Blast

Writing by Stuart Miles. Originally published on 2 December 2021.

Source: https://www.pocket-lint.com/apps/news/apple/159274-best-apple-app-store-awards-app-downloads-2021