Throughout 2022 we ran a ‘Classics’ series dedicated to seminal apps and games that laid the foundations for the App Store as we know it today.
Resident app aficionado Craig Grannell plucked a handful of brilliant breakthrough from the annuls of app history to wax lyrical about, often interviewing the creators for a better understanding of how these icons came to be. These articles really shine a light on independent developers and the influence they’ve had on the wider app landscape.
Although we’ll be continuing the series into 2023, now seems a good time to look back on ‘season one’ of App Store Classics. Below we’ve rounded up all sixteen titles that made the cut this year, most of which should be considered required reading for app lovers everywhere.
Classic Apps
Twitterific: The Twitter client that initially called updates a load of twits
Reeder: The app that taught iPhone users how to control their news – and make it look great too
PCalc: A calculator app for iPhone that truly adds up
Fantastical: When iPhone users got to make a date with a new type of calendar app
NetNewsWire: Here is the news: this was (and is) the best RSS app around
Carrot Weather: The app that provided a sunny outlook for creative weather apps on iPhone
Streaks: An app that turned you into a creature of habits – but only the good ones
Classic Games
Doodle Jump: When people argued iPhone gaming was on the up, this release took that literally
Eliss: An early iPhone gem for players with a magic touch
Spelltower: We’re trying to find the words to say how good this word search game is
Trainyard: A single-screen train-based puzzler that gave your brain a railly good workout
Desert Golfing: Not keen on sand bunkers? Probably steer clear of this golf game, then
Osmos: It’s survival of the blobbiest in this hypnotic and deeply strange arcade game
Bit Pilot: An avoid ’em up perhaps better named Constantly Smashed To Bits Pilot