If you’re looking for some distractions over the coming Christmas holiday, you could do a lot worse than checking out Apple’s annual best-of lists. Each year the company names its favorite apps, games, music, movies, and more. This year’s top pick in the category is AI-powered art filter Prisma, with Supercell’s card-based battler Clash Royale taking best game. (Pokémon Go gets a nod as “breakout hit” of the year, but nothing more than that — perhaps it wasn’t polished enough for Apple’s liking.)
10 Best Apps of the Year
- Prisma - AI-powered art filters
- MSQRD - Live selfie filters like you already get in Snapchat
- Quartz - News delivered like a conversation
- Vogue - It’s Vogue the magazine but on your phone
- Meditation Studio - Meditation guides including audio and background sound
- Detour - GPS based audio walking tours of cities
- Credit Karma - Free credit scores and reports
- Glasses by Warby Parker - Order glasses, pay with Apple Pay
- Hyper - Curated social videos, sharing one an hour
- Tinycards - Flashcards with plenty of pre-made decks
10 Best Games of the Year
- Clash Royale - Medieval card-based arena battler
- Reigns - Choose how to rule your kingdom, try not to die
- Plants vs. Zombies - It’s plants. Versus zombies.
- twofold Inc. - Whimsical, colorful puzzle game
- Riptide GP - 3D rocket-bike racer
- FIFA Mobile Soccer - The world’s most popular sport
- Rodeo Stampede - Endless runner with animals
- “klocki” - Minimalist puzzler based on geometric trickery
- Steppy Pants - A cross between Flappy Bird and Crossy Road
- The Trail - Someone made a game about hiking and being at peace
As well as apps and games, Apple also selected best movies, books, and more. The company picked “One Dance” by Drake as its song of the year, and the album that single came from (Views, by Drake, too, obviously) as its best album.
Now, this isn’t an undeserved pick (Drake was also Spotify’s most streamed artist this year, and his influence on pop culture in 2016 has been massive), but it’s worth pointing out that Apple has a long-standing relationship with the rapper. They’ve reportedly signed promotional deals together, and Drake has been one of the most visible spokespeople for Apple Music. Undoubtedly, Apple benefits when it promotes Drake, and vice versa.
Apple also picked a whole bunch of other favorite albums, including Rihanna, Adele, Frank Ocean, twenty one pilots, and the Hamilton soundtrack. And it created a playlist of “Top Songs of 2016” for Apple Music right here. You can also check out its picks for best movies and TV shows below:
Best Movies of 2016
- Best Blockbuster: Deadpool ($14.99)
- Best Comedy: Sausage Party ($14.99)
- Best Romance: La La Land ($19.99)
- Best Animated Movie: Kubo and the Two Strings ($14.99)
- Best Documentary: Weiner ($9.99)
- Best Feel-good Movie: Sing Street ($14.99)
- Best Breakout: American Honey ($14.99)
- Best New Filmmaker: Moonlight ($14.99)
Best TV Shows of 2016
- This Year’s Obsession - American Crime Story
- Most Thought-Provoking - O.J.: Made In America
- Late Night Rule-Breaker - Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
- Best New Comedy - Atlanta
- Most Original Kids Show - Steven Universe
- Extravaganza of the Year - RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars
- Most Consistently Great - The Americans
- Best New Drama - This Is Us