Every year Apple takes the time to look back and was was popular and what was amazing from the year gone in the world of Apps and Games.

This year, three Aussie developed Apps make it into the eight global categories – a huge result for Aussie developers.

And the Aussie representation starts right at the top, with the iPhone App of the year – Procreate Pocket, developed in Tasmania.

Apple Say “Procreate Pocket is iPhone App of the Year because it allows artists of all levels to paint, draw, and sketch without compromise, wherever inspiration strikes. It’s not often we see an app with the depth and power of Procreate Pocket. This best-in-class digital-art app unlocks the power of iPhone as a tool for professionals and hobbyists alike, combining a portable canvas with precision features previously only available on iPad and Mac.”

The other global category winners are:

  • iPhone Game of the year – Donut County
  • iPad App of the year – Froggipedia
  • iPad Game of the year – Gorogoa
  • Mac App of the year – Pixelmator Pro
  • Mac Game of the year – The Gardens Between (Australian – developed in Melbourne)
  • Apple TV App of the year – Sweat (Australian – developed in Adelaide)
  • Apple TV Game of the year – Alto’s Odyssey

The Melbourne developers behind The Gardens Between are recognised by Apple with Mac Game of the Year because “it proves puzzle games can have a real heart” 

Apple say “The Gardens Between is Mac Game of the Year for good reason: It’s the rare puzzle game that finds a way to be deeply moving. Don’t be surprised if it inspires you to catch up with an old friend.”

And the Apple TV App of the year, also Aussie developed in South Australia was SWEAT with Apple Saying it won the gong  “For helping women around the world to meet their health and wellness goals—and to have a blast doing it.”

Recognition on this scale is amazing, there are 2.2 million apps in the App Store with developers reaping the benefits – earning over $100 Billion USD.

As for the charts – here are Australia’s most downloaded Apps and Games for 2018:

Most Downloaded Free iPhone Apps in 2018:

  1. Instagram
  2. Messenger
  3. Facebook
  4. Spotify Music
  5. YouTube
  6. Snapchat
  7. WhatsApp Messenger
  8. Google Maps
  9. Netflix
  10. Bitmoji
  11. Uber Eats
  12. Uber
  13. Gmail
  14. Wish
  15. CommBank
  16. ANZ Australia
  17. Gumtree
  18. Microsoft Outlook
  19. Google Chrome
  20. eBay

Most Downloaded Paid iPhone Apps in 2018:

  1. TripView
  2. The Wonder Weeks
  3. WikiCamps Australia
  4. kirakira+
  5. Facetune
  6. PlantSnap Plant Identification
  7. Monash University FODMAP diet
  8. Forest – Stay focused
  9. Afterlight 2
  10.   Second Everyday: Video Diary
  11. Rain Parrot
  12. AutoSleep Tracker for Watch
  13. My Talking Pet Pro
  14. TouchRetouch
  15. CamToPlan PRO
  16. Glitché
  17. Pocket Secure
  18. Photo Scanner Plus
  19. 7 Minute Workout Challenge
  20. SkyView – Explore the Universe

Most Downloaded Free iPhone Games in 2018:

  1. Fortnite
  2. Helix Jump
  3. Hole.io
  4. Rise Up
  5. PUBG MOBILE
  6. Love Balls
  7. Word Link – Word Puzzle Game
  8. Snake VS Block
  9. Subway Surfers
  10. Sling Drift
  11. Wordscapes
  12. Knife Hit
  13. Episode – Choose Your Story
  14. Dune!
  15. Baseball Boy!
  16. Candy Crush Saga
  17. Happy Glass
  18. 8 Ball Pool
  19. Hello Stars
  20. Sniper 3D Assassin: Gun Games

Most Downloaded Paid iPhone Games in 2018:

  1. Plague Inc.
  2. Heads Up!
  3. Minecraft
  4. Bloons TD 6
  5. Pocket Build
  6. Bloons TD 5
  7. Sunday Lawn
  8. Earn to Die 2
  9. Hitman Sniper
  10. True Skate
  11. Geometry Dash
  12. Papa’s Freezeria To Go!
  13. Monument Valley 2
  14. Getting Over It
  15. The Room: Old Sins
  16. The Game of Life
  17. hocus.
  18. Terraria
  19. Doodle Jump
  20. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Most Downloaded Free iPad Apps in 2018:

  1. Netflix
  2. YouTube
  3. Messenger
  4. Spotify Music
  5. Facebook
  6. Google Chrome
  7. Gmail
  8. 7plus
  9. 9Now
  10. The Calculator
  11. Microsoft Word
  12. Google Maps
  13. ABC iview
  14. Wish
  15. YouTube Kids
  16. SBS On Demand
  17. Stan.
  18. Google Drive
  19. Google Earth
  20. Sandbox Coloring

Most Downloaded PaId iPad Apps in 2018:

  1. Procreate
  2. Book Creator for iPad
  3. Notability
  4. GoodNotes 4
  5. WikiCamps Australia
  6. Explain Everything Whiteboard
  7. Green Screen by Do Ink
  8. Toca Life: Pets
  9. Popplet
  10. Toca Life: After School
  11. GoodReader
  12. Duet Display
  13. Toca Hair Salon 3
  14. MyScript Nebo
  15. Toca Life: Office
  16. Toca Kitchen 2
  17. PDF Expert by Readdle
  18. Toca Life: Hospital
  19. Toca Lab: Elements
  20. PicCollage EDU – Collage Maker

Most Downloaded Free iPad Games in 2018:

  1. Fortnite
  2. Helix Jump
  3. ROBLOX
  4. Love Balls
  5. Hole.io
  6. Color by Number Coloring Game!
  7. Kick the Buddy
  8. Rise Up
  9. Bowmasters – Multiplayer Game
  10. Subway Surfers
  11. Snake VS Block
  12. slither.io
  13. Happy Glass
  14. Run Sausage Run!
  15. PUBG MOBILE
  16. Toon Blast
  17. Rules of Survival
  18. Cooking Fever
  19. Pixel Art – Color by Number
  20. Paper.io

Most Downloaded Paid iPad Games in 2018:

  1. Minecraft
  2. Geometry Dash
  3. Terraria
  4. Plague Inc.
  5. The Escapists: Prison Escape
  6. Bloons TD 6
  7. Goat Simulator
  8. Bloons TD 5 HD
  9. True Skate
  10. Five Nights at Freddy’s
  11. LEGO Jurassic World
  12. The Room: Old Sins
  13. The Game of Life
  14. Goat Simulator PAYDAY
  15. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location
  16. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
  17. Teen Titans Go! Figure
  18. Heads Up!
  19. Pocket Build
  20. Monument Valley 2