FROM THE EDITORS
Our Favorites of 2022
A look at this year’s coolest games and apps.
As 2022 winds down, here’s a recap of our favorite games and apps that were released or updated this year.
10 Games That Made Our Year
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Diablo Immortal
The legendary action-RPG franchise’s iOS debut blew us away. Incredible graphics, massive locations, endless amounts of sweet, sweet loot—it’s everything we wanted in a made-for-mobile Diablo. Whether playing on iPhone or iPad, we loved partying up to take down Helliquary bosses and turning our mild-mannered Monk into a force of nature.
Marvel Snap
When the Marvel multiverse slammed into our puny planet in October, it changed everything. Loaded with both famous characters (Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow!) and deep cuts (Polaris, Arnim Zola, Hell Cow!), this finely tuned collectible card game quickly took over our lives as we debated decks and mastered the speedy, smart mechanics. Marvelous, indeed!
Apex Legends Mobile
Intense action, stunning speed, powerful characters—our 2022 iPhone Game of the Year is a sublime mobile battle royale. It runs smoothly on iPhone and iPad alike, and both first- and third-person cameras are readily available. We love the deep customization options, from full control mapping to thoughtful accessibility features.
Automatoys
That sense of wonder you get from real-world marble runs? You’ll feel it while rolling through this charming puzzler. Its virtual obstacle courses are mechanical marvels overflowing with ramps, elevators, catapults, and mazes. Simple, tactile controls give each playset startling physicality.
Vampire Survivors
The genre-defining survival RPG made the move to iOS devices in December—and it was every bit as good as we hoped. One game, you’re a winged guitarist repelling mummies with knives and axes; the next, you’re an adorable mutt smiting giant skulls with fireballs and lightning bolts.
Banana Kong 2
There’s a lot to love about this tricky, side-scrolling infinite runner—most of all its attention to detail. You’ll crack up at the pained expression on Kong’s face when he slams headfirst into a thorny boulder or gets snagged by a giant skeleton in a mineshaft.
Rocket Bot Royale
This bite-size battle royale appears simple—just maneuver around sinking islands as you blast online foes to bits. But there’s tactical depth here too. In a brilliant twist, firing rockets and other wild power-ups doesn’t just punish enemies—it also launches you acrobatically across the map.
Railbound
Keeping locomotives moving is easier said than done in this under-the-radar puzzler. Cars need to be in the right order, and you have limited track to work with. We love the game’s simple, understandable design and whimsical visuals.
Micro RPG
You’re surrounded by monsters—and that’s right where you want them in Micro RPG. The game’s adorable graphics and subtle strategy (every weapon has a different attack range and every opponent possesses unique behaviors) really resonated.
Knotwords
Blending elements of sudoku and crosswords, this imaginative puzzler from ace indie developer Zach Gage challenges you to complete grids by forming interlocking words. It’s one of our new day-to-day must-plays.
10 Apps That Made Our Year
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Duolingo Math
Beloved language-learning app Duolingo tackles a language that stumps many of us: math! Dive into essential concepts through gamelike lessons that are perfect for kids as well as adults who want to brush up on basics.
Airbnb
Airbnb has long been a go-to for finding the perfect vacation digs. This year, the app’s revamped search feature gave savvy travelers more ways to find a dream stay. Glamp under the stars, luxuriate by the seaside, or paint/write/record your masterpiece in an artist’s loft!
Shuffles
This new app from Pinterest is a fresh take on the classic mood board. Using the one-tap background-removal feature, instantly cut out your bouclé pillow and layer it on top of a floral-print couch for the perfect coastal grandma vibe. Seeking inspiration? Browse the community’s meticulously curated boards.
1Password 8
Creating (and keeping track of) strong passwords has never been more important. In addition to securely storing all your website logins, this friendly app handles credit card details, Wi-Fi passwords, and much more. It’s a complete locker for the keys to your digital life.
Sago Mini First Words
This educational app helps young children practice speech by mimicking videos of children their own age. Using the camera on an iPhone or iPad, they can see and hear themselves repeat what they see and hear other children saying. Fun activities—like solving a puzzle or taking a selfie while wearing virtual dog ears—reinforce the context of the words they’re learning.
Gentler Streak
By emphasizing recovery as much as intensity, our Apple Watch App of the Year helps you form realistic exercise habits that take your boundaries into account. We love the app’s holistic view of exercise too—housecleaning, gardening, and dog walking all count!
Rebel Girls
With this Apple Design Award winner, children and adults alike can stream audio stories about notable women such as Frida Kahlo, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Amanda Gorman, and Simone Biles. Don’t miss the digital scrapbooks featuring photos from key moments described in the audio.
Finch
This virtual pet makes maintaining healthy habits a bit less daunting. As you complete guided self-care journeys and good-for-you goals, you’ll be nurturing your supercute companion. Along the way, you’ll take time to reflect, stay mindful, relax, and much more with a library of fun exercises and soundscapes.
Affinity Photo 2
Not everyone needs a desktop-class photo editor on iPad, but if you’re the type who needs to adjust chromatic aberration, study histograms, or apply customizable mesh warps, Affinity Photo is the way to go.
Proloquo
This venerable AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) app for iPad is designed to help people who have difficulty speaking communicate with ease. It presents a variety of simple drawings; tap them to have the app speak them aloud as a sentence. Proloquo offers more than 100 voices, including kids’ voices.