Apple names Genshin Impact as iPhone game of the year

Apple has named the App Store’s best games and apps of 2020, and Genshin Impact won the iPhone Game of the Year award. The game caused Chinese game studio MiHoYo to become recognized on a global stage — and reap an estimated $393 million in revenues in its first two months, according to measurement firm Sensor Tower.

Apple’s team of editors chose the game as its winner because it fit within the theme of “helpfulness.” In this case, it was one of those game worlds that could take our minds off the pandemic. All told, Apple honored 15 apps and games in different categories. (Wakeout! from Andres Canella won the iPhone App of the Year, and Zoom won the iPad App of the Year). The theme of “helpful” applied to the apps and games that helped us stay fit and mindful, keep our children’s education on track, fight world hunger, and otherwise distract us from an awful 2020.