Apple presents the best of 2018

As the year comes to a close there are so many unanswered questions: Who is Kiki, and does she love me? Should I start a podcast? Where is Donut County? Why didn’t Offred escape Gilead (again!)? Today, Apple reveals the Best of 2018, a global collection of top charts and selects from our editors across every category highlighting all of the amazing things to watch, read, listen to and play across apps, music, podcasts, books, TV and movies. It’s an invariable list of the who’s who and what’s what from the past year that is certain to help answer at least some of the most burning questions and make for fun conversation around any holiday dinner table.

This year, Battle Royale-style games like Fortnite and PUBG Mobile dominated global gaming culture with exciting, last-player-standing action, while innovative apps like Fabulous, Shine, 10% Happier and Headspace expanded the practice of wellness around the world to make self-care more accessible than ever before.

Best Apps of the Year

App Trend of the Year - Self-care
Game Trend of the Year - Battle Royale-style gaming
iPhone App of the Year - Procreate Pocket
iPhone Game of the Year - Donut County
iPad App of the Year - Froggipedia
iPad Game of the Year - Gorogoa
Mac App of the Year - Pixelmator Pro
Mac Game of the Year - The Gardens Between
Apple TV App of the Year - Sweat
Apple TV Game of the Year - Alto’s Odyssey
Favorite Watch Apps of the Year

Charts

iPhone users running iOS 11 and later will view iPhone charts below; iPad users running iOS 11 and later will view iPad charts. 

Top Apps Charts
Top Games Charts

To close out an extraordinary year, Apple Music’s editors have awarded highest honours to the artists who truly represent the very best of 2018. Drake owns the Artist of the Year category while country’s Kasey Musgraves scores Album of the Year for her dynamic Golden Hour. The fiery collaboration between Cardi B, J. Balvin and Bad Bunny made “I Like It” an easy choice for Song of the Year and Breakout Artist Juice WRLD has been giving everyone “Lucid Dreams” all year long. But these all-stars weren’t the only stars: Apple Music’s global year-end charts and editorial playlists are packed with the year’s biggest hits and favourites from all over the world.

Best Music of the Year

Artist of the Year: Drake
Breakout Artist of the Year: Juice WRLD
Song of the Year: I Like It - Cardi B featuring Bad Bunny & J. Balvin
Album of the Year: Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves

Charts

Top 100 Global Songs
Top 100 Global Albums

Australian podcasting becomes bigger, more interesting and increasingly innovative every year. For proof, look no further than this list. From offbeat comedies (Alice Fraser Trilogy) and guilty pleasure shows…about guilty pleasures (Shameless) to the best in science and social issues (Australian Birth Stories, Science Friction), these podcasts will make you laugh, cry, think and learn. Explore our personal favourites and shows that topped our charts. 

Best Podcasts of the Year

The Alice Fraser Triology
The Squiz Podcast
Is It On? 
Chat 10 Looks 3 
Lady Startup
Dispatch to a Friend
Science Friction
Ask Me Anything 
Please Explain 
The Teacher's Pet 
Totally Obsessed
Deep Listening
Cher and Retweet
The Betoota Advocate Podcast
Healthy-ish
Story Club
Shirtloads of Science
Crappy to Happy 
The Prospectives 
Australian Birth Stories 
Shameless

Charts

Top 25 Most Downloaded Podcasts of the Year
Top 25 Most Downloaded New Podcasts of the Year 

One hundred bags of popcorn and many sleepless nights later, we've finally decided on our favourite movies of 2018. In "A Star Is Born," Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga sang their way into our hearts; the special effects of superhero extravaganza "Avengers: Infinity War" were a delight for the eyes, and we were terrified beyond belief in the John Krasinski-directed horror, “A Quiet Place”. 

Best Movies of 2018

A Quiet Place 
Mission: Impossible - Fallout
Avengers: Infinity War
Hereditary
A Star Is Born
Leave No Trace
Incredibles 2
The Death of Stalin
Lady Bird
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best TV Shows of 2018

Killing Eve
The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel
The Assassination of Gianni Versace
The Handmaid’s Tale
The Americans
Barry
Atlanta 
Sharp Objects
Patrick Melrose
Better Call Saul

In 2018, Apple Books launched as a brand new app, making it effortless for iPhone and iPad users to discover and enjoy books and audiobooks. This year Apple Books celebrates works from a diverse group of authors, including Australian author Jane Harper’s The Lost Man, A. J. Finn’s The Woman in the Window—our Book of the Year—and a headline-grabbing true crime story, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, by Michelle McNamara. David Sedaris’ brilliant self-narrated Calypso is our Audiobook of the Year, while Tara Westover’s stunning biography, Educated, is both one of our favourite books and audiobooks for 2018. Fire and Fury set the spotlight on US politics, self-help guides The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck and 12 Rules for Life dominated charts all year, and fiction fans adored book-to-movie adaptations—particularly Red Sparrow, Crazy Rich Asians and A Simple Favour.

Best Books of the Year 

Book of the Year: The Woman in the Window 
Best Fiction: The Lost Man
Best Crime: Snap
Best Biography: Educated
Best Romance: Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating
Best Fantasy: Spinning Silver
Best Non-Fiction: I'll Be Gone in the Dark
Best Young Adult: Children of Blood and Bone

Best Audiobooks of the Year

Audiobook of the Year: Calypso 
Best Fiction: An American Marriage 
Best Crime: The Nowhere Child
Best Biography: Educated
Best Business: Dare to Lead
Best Self-Development: Own the Day, Own Your Life
Best Kids: Worlds Worst Children 3
Best Non Fiction: Bad Blood

2018 Apple Books Charts

Top 100 Books Fiction
Top 100 Books Non-Fiction