Apple dropped its list of the best games of 2023 for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and Lies of P, a game that earned glowing reviews among Mashable’s own tech team, received recognition from the Cupertino-based tech giant itself.
Lies of P can be played on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and Windows, but it has a macOS port, too. For the uninitiated, Lies of P is an action role-playing game that, according to its Steam page, spins the classic story of Pinnochio and “turns it on its head” with dark (yet elegant) twist.
Why did it win over Apple’s heart? “Lies of P presents players with an exquisitely crafted dark fantasy world,” the MacBook maker said. Who else made the cut? Check out the list below.
1. Honkai: Star Rail
Honkai: Star Rail won Apple’s “Best iPhone Game of the Year” award. I got to play this game during a media event — and it gave me Genshin Impact vibes.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
As it turns out, the same developer that launched Genshin Impact (i.e., Cognosphere PTE Ltd.) also dropped Honkai: Star Rail. Although they have similar striking graphics, they’re not the same. Unlike Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail is a turn-based combat game in a closed world.
Why did Apple choose Honkai: Star Rail as the game of the year for iPhone? Its tactically rich combat and narrative full of complex characters.
2. Lost in Play
Lost in Play lets you dive into the shoes of a brother and sister duo that try to find their way back home, but not before stumbling upon horned beasts, goblins, and other quirky characters.
Credit: Steam
“Lost in Play invites players to tap into a charming, childlike imagination during an epic point-and-click adventure,” Apple said in a press release, revealing the game’s charm that earned it a “Best iPad Game of the Year” award.
3. Hello Kitty Island Adventure
Apple honored Hello Kitty Island Adventure as the best Apple Arcade game of the year.
Credit: Apple
The game whisks you away to an adorable adventure with everyone’s favorite Japanese bobtail cat. In this game, it’s your job to restore an abandoned island back to its former days of glory. Hello Kitty Island Adventure caught Apple’s eye because it “delivers an immersive gaming world with its main goal being as sweet as can be: making friends,” the press release said.
You can snag Lies of P, Honkai: Star Rail, Lost in Play in the Apple App Store while you can find Hello Kitty Island Adventure among Apple Arcade’s portfolio.
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