Canadian iPhone game Splitter Critters makes Apple’s best of 2017 list

As the year winds down and the holidays roll in, it’s reassuring to know that we can continue to avoid our families thanks to our personal electronic devices.

Of course, thanks to Apple, there’s also a ton of games, apps, music, podcasts, movies and books we can use to get the most out of this year’s holiday season.

First, let’s get the corporate boasting out of the way.

Apple reports that customers have downloaded over 180 billion apps since the App Store launched in 2008. Developers have also been paid over $70 billion USD (roughly $89.9 billion CAD) since 2008.

The App Store currently features 2.2 million apps in total, serving 155 countries.

Editor’s picks

Each year, the App Store editors pick their favourite apps and games. 2017 was no different, with select iPhone apps and game, iPad apps and games, Apple Watch and Apple TV apps all receiving special mention.

• The iPhone app of the year is Enlight Videoleap.
• The iPhone game of the year is Splitter Critters, by Canadian studio RAC7.
• The iPad app of the year is Affinity Photo.
• The iPad game of the year is Old Man’s Journey.
• The Apple Watch app of the year is RunGo, from Canadian developers Leaping Coyote Interactive.
• The Apple TV app of the year is Chef’s Feed.

The best apps and games of 2017

Funnily enough, chances are high that you’ve already downloaded some of the apps and games on this list.

The top free iPhone apps in Canada

• Instagram
• Messenger
• Bitmoji
• Snapchat
• YouTube

The top paid iPhone apps in Canada

• 7 Minute Workout Challenge
• Facetune
• Full Fitness: Exercise Workout Trainer
• Tabs & Chords
• Enlight

The top free iPhone games in Canada

• Super Mario Run
• Snake Vs. Block
• Word Cookies!
• Paper.io
• Ballz

The top paid iPhone games in Canada

• Heads up!
• Minecraft
• Plague Inc.
• Bloons TD 5
• Geometry Dash

The top free iPad apps

• Netflix
• YouTube
• Messenger
• Facebook
• Google Chrome

The top paid iPad apps

• Procreate
• Toca Life: Hospital
• Toca Hair Salon 3
• Notability
• Toca Life: Stable

The top free iPad games

• Super Mario Run
• Paper.io
• Word Cookies!
• ROBLOX
• Snake Vs. Block

The top paid iPad games

• Minecraft
• Geometry Dash
• The Escapists
• Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location
• Bloons TD 5 HD

The best music, movies, television shows, books and podcasts of 2017

Of course, Apple doesn’t just tally apps and games. The media company is also a source of music, movies, television shows books and podcasts. Anyone following pop culture in 2017 most likely won’t be surprised by the inclusions on this list. However, it’s certainly interesting to know that Apple’s own products are top performers in the free e-book category.

The top albums in Canada

• Ed Sheeran, ÷
• Drake, More Life
• The Weeknd, Starboy
• Kendrick Lamar, DAMN
• Taylor Swift, Reputation
• Bruno, 24K Magic
• Post Malone, Stoney
• Cole, 4 Your Eyez Only
  Drake, Views
• The Chainsmokers, Memories…Do Not Open

The top songs in Canada

• Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”
• Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
• The Chainsmokers & Coldplay, “Something Just Like This”
• Imagine Dragons, “Believer”
• James Arthur, “Say You Won’t Let Go”
• Kygo & Selena Gomez, “It Ain’t Me”
• Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul and Anne-Marie, “Rockabye”
• The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk, “Starboy”
• Ed Sheeran, “Castle on the Hill”
• The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey, “Closer”

The top movies in Canada were

• Moana
• Wonder Woman
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
• Trolls
• Sing
• Arrival
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• Doctor Strange
• Boss Baby

The top television shows in Canada

• Game of Thrones
• Suits
• This is Us
• Homeland
• Outlander

The top fiction books in Canada

• The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
• Origin, by Dan Brown
• 1984, by George Orwell
• Camino Island, by John Grisham
• The Woman in Cabin 10, by Ruth Ware

The top non-fiction books in Canada

• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, by Mark Manson
• How to Win Friends & Influence People, Dale Carnegie
• Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari
• Lion, by Saroo Brierley
• You Are a Badass, by Jen Sincero

The top free books in Canada

• iPhone User Guide for iOS 11, by Apple
• iPad User Guide for iOS 11, by Apple
• The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Buried, by CJ Carmichael
• Silence, Natasha Preston

The top audiobooks in Canada

• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life (Unabridged), by Mark Manson
• The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
• The 5 Second Rule: Transform your Life, Work and Confidence with Everyday Courage (Unabridged), by Mel Robbins
• The Power of Now (Unabridged), by Eckhart Tolle
• You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life (Unabridged), by Jen Sincero

The most downloaded podcasts in Canada

• The Joe Rogan Experience
• The CUrrent from CBC Radio (Highlights)
• TED Talks Daily
• Stuff You Should Know
• The New York Times: The Daily

The most downloaded comedy podcasts in Canada

• The Joe Rogan Experience
• Monday Morning Podcast
• My Favourite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
• WTF with Marc Maron
• The Nerdist

The most downloaded news and politics podcasts in Canada

• The Current from CBC Radio (Highlights)
• The New York Times: The Daily
• BBC World Services: Global News
• This American Life: Serial
• CBC Radio: Someone Knows Something