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Apple releases annual ‘Best of’ lists highlighting top apps, movies, music, TV, and more of 2016

As it does every year, Apple today has put together its end-of-the-year “Best of” sections on the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBooks Store. The sections are meant to highlight the best content of the year across various categories. For instance, Apple has named photo editing app “Prisma” as the iPhone App of the Year.

Moving down the list, Apple has named “Clash Royale” iPhone Game of the Year, while “Severed” has been named iPad Game of the Year. “Sketchbook Motion,” meanwhile, has been named iPad App of the Year.

For those unfamiliar, Prisma is a popular photo editing app released earlier this year. The app, which is free, has gained popularity because of its design and feature capabilities.

Clash Royale is the latest game from the creators of the hugely-popular Clash of game. Clash Royale is free and relies on in-app purchases for revenue.

Enter the Arena! From the creators of Clash of Clans comes a real-time multiplayer game starring the Royales, your favorite Clash characters and much, much more.

Moving on, Severed is a popular game that allows users to use touch controls and complete puzzles and “battle with a host of disturbing monsters” with a one-armed warrior named Sasha. Severed is currently on sale for $3.99.

Sketchbook Motion is one of the most powerful apps of its kind on the App Store. From developers Autodesk, the app allows artists to create animated scenes and apply motion to their sketches. The app is free and subscription based.

Apps of the year:

Games of the Year:

In addition to apps, Apple also this evening named its top picks for music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and books. As far as music goes, a wide array of choices made the cut.

  • Top Song of 2016: One Dance – Drake
  • Top Album of 2016: Views – Drake

Apple has published a separate Apple Music playlist breaking down the Top Songs of 2016, including picks from Coldplay, G-Eazy, The Chainsmokers, Justin Timberlake, Zayn, DNCE, Rhianna, and Gnash.

As far as movies, Deadpool, Sausage Party, Sing Street, American Honey, and several others received nods from Apple. While Atlanta, American Crime Story: People v. O.J. Simpson, This Is Us, and more earned recognition in the TV category.

Books included are Moonglow, If I Was Your Girl, Homegoing, Evicted, and others. Podcasts are Revisionist History, How I Built This, My Favorite Murder, Pardon My Take, and more.

The full lists of the various “Best of” categories can be seen in the iTunes Store.

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Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Chance is the editor-in-chief of 9to5Mac, overseeing the entire site’s operations. He also hosts the 9to5Mac Daily and 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcasts.

You can send tips, questions, and typos to chance@9to5mac.com.

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