2022 APP STORE AWARDS

Apple TV Game of the Year

Sneak through El Hijo’s Old West as a quick-witted 6-year-old.

El Hijo

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This spirited stealth adventure values brains over brawn—and looks stunning on the big screen.

—App Store Editors

Want to feel like the world’s craftiest kid? As the courageous young hero Hijo, armed only with a slingshot, a few toys, and a 6-year-old’s dogged determination, you’ll face bandits and other no-good varmints as you try to reunite with your mother. El Hijo is essentially a cinematic spaghetti Western—except without the violence.

Hide behind boulders. Hop into a giant pot. Be sneaky to survive these stealthy sequences.

Hijo’s strength comes from his resourcefulness: You outsmart foes instead of outfight them. How to slip past that attentive soldier? Break a lantern with your trusty slingshot to draw the bad guy’s attention. Hijo’s diminutive size is a boon, letting him hide beneath a 10-gallon hat to avoid detection. Progressing through El Hijo takes more than guts—it takes a childlike problem-solving perspective most of us lose when we transition to adulthood.

And it looks brilliant on Apple TV. From its sun-baked terrain and inky shadows to the dust trail Hijo kicks up when he runs, the game’s graphics infuse its take on the Old West with color and charm. It’s a refreshing spin on a well-worn theme—and reminds us how a little mischief can go a long way.

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Our favorite moment

Creeping through the dusty monastery, we spotted her: the little girl making a bed under the watchful eye of a stern monk. When the scowling man finally left, we hopped up on the bed and encouraged our new friend to do the same. She jumped like a carefree kid again—and our hearts melted.

Finding and inspiring the dozens of other kids spread across the world of El Hijo entails risk. Some offer useful items, like a wind-up tin soldier (handy for distracting guards) or a cactus flower (hide in its pollen cloud after you throw it). But the kids who simply enjoyed our company were just as meaningful.

Fun fact

El Hijo was partly inspired by the 1970 Western El Topo, directed by and starring avant-garde filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky. In the film, Jodorowsky plays the ruthless outlaw El Topo, while his real-world son portrays the gunslinger’s onscreen kiddo, Hijo.

Quick tip

If you’re having trouble passing sharp-eyed goons patrolling a train, try climbing onto the roof of the railcar (though you might have to dangle off the side to stay out of sight). Remember: There are often multiple ways to get through an area in El Hijo!

Meet the creator

Prolific publisher HandyGames—whose previous work includes SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom—teamed up with Berlin-based indie developer Honig Studios to create El Hijo’s remarkable world.

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2022 App Store Award Winners

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