Apple releases its best of podcasts, apps, and games of 2019

Dec 3 2019, 3:49 pm

It’s the most wonderful time of the year because Apple just released its annual “Best Of 2019” list.

From the podcasts that kept us tuned in and the apps and games that we couldn’t get enough of to the powerful trends that drove app culture in 2019, this best-of list has got it all.

It’s an invariable list of the who’s who and what’s what from the past year and knowing each category will definitely make for fun conversation around any holiday dinner table.

So who’s on top?

Podcasts:

“Apple Podcasts is the best place to listen to your favourite shows and discover the next big hit,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s Vice President of Apple Music and International Content.

“This year, we loved hearing new voices and fresh perspectives on historical events, and saw true crime stories from around the globe continue to dominate our charts.”

Crime Beat/Curiouscast

2019’s Most Popular NEW Podcast Shows

1. Crime Beat, by CuriousCast
2. Phil in the Blanks, Dr. Phil McGraw
3. Over My Dead Body, Wondery
4. On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Jay Shetty
5. The Shrink Next Door, Bloomberg
6. Stupid Genius with Emma Chamberlain
7. The Dropout, ABC News
8. Man in the Window: The Golden State Killer, Wondery
9. The Ron Burgundy Podcast, iHeartRadio and Ron Burgundy
10. The Clearing, Pineapple Street Media/ Gimlet
11. Root of Evil: The True Story of the Hodel Family and the Black Dahlia, TNT/ Cadence13
12. To Live and Die in L.A., Tenderfoot TV and Cadence 13
13. The Devil Beside Me: The Chris Watt Story — Husband, Father, Killer
14. The Viall Files, Nick Viall
15. Dateline NBC, NBC News
16. Against the Rules with Michael Lewis, Pushkin Industries
17. The Chernobyl Podcast, HBO
18. White Lies, NPR
19. Blackout, Endeavor Audio
20. Russia Rising, Curiouscast
21. The Band Played On, CBC Radio
22. Mommites Tell All, Westwood One Podcast Network
23. Inappropriate Questions, Inappropriate Questions
24. Who the Hell is Hamish?, The Australian
25. Jensen and Holes: The Murder Squad

2019’s Most Popular Podcast Shows Overall

1. The Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan
2. Call Her Daddy, Barstool Sports
3. The Daily, The New York Times
4. Spittin Chicklets, Barstool Sports
5. Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
6. Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations
7. Stuff You Should Know, iHeartRadio and HowStuffWorks
8. This American Life, This American Life
9. TED Talks Daily, TED
10. Uncover, CBC Podcasts
11. Serial, This American Life
12. Canadian True Crime, Kristi Lee
13. Revisionist History, Pushkin Industries
14. My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, Exactly Right
15. Someone Knows Something, CBC Podcasts
16. Freakonomics Radio, Dubner Productions and Stitcher
17. Radiolab, WNYC Studios
18. Crime Beat, Curiouscast
19. The Tim Ferriss Show, Tim Ferriss: Bestselling Author, Human Guinea Pig
20. Making Sense with Sam Harris, Sam Harris
21. Conan O’Brien Needs and Friend, Team Coco and Earwolf
22. Under the Influence from CBC Radio, CBC Radio
23. Casefile True Crime, Casefile Presents
24. Phil in the Blanks, Dr. Phil McGraw
25. Hidden Brain, NPR

Apps and games:

“Developers around the world inspire us all with innovative apps that have the power to influence culture and change our lives, and this year that is as true as ever,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

“The 2019 App Store Best Apps and Games winners reflect our global desire for connection, creativity and fun. We are excited to announce such a diverse group of 2019 App Store winners, showing that great design and creativity comes from developers large and small, and from every corner of the world,” said Schiller.

iPhone App of the Year: Spectre Camera (Lux Optics)/Apple

Best Apps of 2019

iPhone App of the Year:
Spectre Camera (Lux Optics)

iPad App of the Year:
Flow by Moleskine (Moleskine)

Mac App of the Year:
Affinity Publisher (Serif Labs)

Apple TV App of the Year:
The Explorers (The Explorers Network)

App Trend of 2019:
Storytelling Simplified

iPhone Game of the Year: “Sky: Children of the Light” (thatgamecompany)/Apple

Best Games of 2019

iPhone Game of the Year:
“Sky: Children of the Light” (thatgamecompany)

iPad Game of the Year:
“Hyper Light Drifter” (Abylight S.L.)

Mac Game of the Year:
“GRIS” (Devolver / Nomada Studio)

Apple TV Game of the Year:
“Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap” (DotEmu)

Game Trend of 2019:
Blockbusters Reimagined

Apple Arcade Game of the Year:
“Sayonara Wild Hearts” (Simogo)

Apple

Instagram/Shutterstock

Top Free iPhone Apps

  1. Instagram
  2. YouTube
  3. Spotify
  4. Snapchat
  5. WhatsApp Messenger
  6. Google Maps
  7. Messenger
  8. TikTok
  9. Netflix
  10. Facebook
  11. Gmail
  12. Amazon
  13. SkipTheDishes
  14. Uber
  15. FaceApp
  16. Bitmoji
  17. Wish
  18. Google Chrome
  19. Google Home
  20. Google Photos

Facetune/Apple App Store

Top Paid iPhone Apps

  1. Facetune
  2. The Wonder Weeks
  3. TouchRetouch
  4. AutoSleep Tracker for Watch
  5. Procreate Pocket
  6. Forest — Stay Focused
  7. Toca Hair Salon 3
  8. Oh She Glows
  9. kirakira+
  10. iMotoneige
  11. Full Fitness: Exercise Workout Trainer
  12. SkyView
  13. Sky Guide
  14. Shift Worker
  15. Scanner Pro: PDF Scanner
  16. Monash University FODMAP diet
  17. Things 3
  18. Halide Camera
  19. DSLR Camera
  20. HappyCow Find Vegan Food

Mario Kart Tour/Apple App Store

Top Free iPhone Games 
  1. Mario Kart Tour
  2. Color Bump 3D
  3. aquapark.io
  4. Polysphere — art of puzzle
  5. BitLife — Life Simulator
  6. AMAZE!!!
  7. Wordscapes
  8. Roller Splat!
  9. Stickman Hook
  10. Paper.io 2
  11. Fun Race 3D
  12. Traffic Run!
  13. Fortnite
  14. Clean Road
  15. Call of Duty: Mobile
  16. Homescapes
  17. Helix Jump
  18. Drive and Park
  19. Crowd City
  20. Mr. Bullet — Spy Puzzles
Apple

Minecraft/Apple App Store

Top Paid iPhone Games

  1. Minecraft
  2. Heads Up!
  3. Plague Inc.
  4. Bloons TD 6
  5. Geometry Dash
  6. The Game of Life
  7. Rebel Inc.
  8. Stardew Valley
  9. Bloons TD 5
  10. True Skate
  11. Papa’s Freezer To Go!
  12. Packet Build
  13. Terraria
  14. Earn to Die 2
  15. Kingdom Run Vengeance
  16. Alto’s Odyssey
  17. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
  18. Exploding Kittens
  19. Five Nights at Freddy’s
  20. Pocket City
Apple

Netflix

Top Free iPad Apps 
  1. Netflix
  2. YouTube
  3. Messenger
  4. Google Chrome
  5. Spotify
  6. Amazon Prime Video
  7. Facebook
  8. The Calculator
  9. Gmail
  10. TikTok
  11. Google Maps
  12. The Weather Network for iPad
  13. Crave
  14. Amazon
  15. Google Docs
  16. Google Drive
  17. Google Home
  18. Microsoft Word
  19. Wish
  20. YouTube Music

Procreate Pocket/Apple App Store

Top Paid iPad Apps 
  1. Procreate
  2. Notability
  3. GoodNotes 5
  4. Duet Display
  5. Toca Hair Salon 3
  6. Taca Life: Neighborhood
  7. Teach Your Monster to Read
  8. Nebo Professional Note-taking
  9. LumaFusion
  10. Affinity Designer
  11. Toca Kitchen 2
  12. Affinity Photo
  13. Green Screen by Do Ink
  14. forScore
  15. RoughAnimator
  16. Book Creator for iPad
  17. Pixelmator Photo
  18. GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer
  19. Paprika Recipe Manager 3
  20. Elmo Loves ABCs
Apple

aquapark.io/Apple App Store

Top Free iPad Games 
  1. aquapark.io
  2. Color Bump 3D
  3. Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
  4. Wordscapes
  5. Paper.io 2
  6. Polysphere — Art of Puzzle
  7. Roblox
  8. Matchington Mansion
  9. Homescapes
  10. Tiles Hop — EDM Rush
  11. Stickman Hook
  12. Fortnite
  13. Kick the Buddy: Forever
  14. Happy Color — Color
  15. Jigsaw Puzzle Collection
  16. Fun Race 3D
  17. Word Stacks
  18. Helix Jump
  19. Tomb of the Mask
  20. Traffic Run!
Apple

Minecraft/Apple App Store

Top Paid iPad Games 
  1. Minecraft
  2. Geometry Dash
  3. Plague Inc.
  4. Bloons TD 6
  5. The Game of Life
  6. Heads Up!
  7. Stardew Valley
  8. Terraria
  9. The Room: Old Sins
  10. Five Nights at Freddy’s
  11. Amazing Frog?
  12. Kingdom Rush Vengeance
  13. Rebel Inc.
  14. Goat Simulator
  15. Bendy and the Ink Machine
  16. True Skate
  17. The Room
  18. Five Nights at Freddy’s
  19. Exploding Kittens
  20. Earn to Die 2

Ainsley SmithAinsley Smith

+ News
+ Venture
+ Tech
+ Curated
ADVERTISEMENT