Apple Arcade Game of the year: Sayonara Wild Hearts Sayonara Wild Hearts Simogo Price: Part of an Apple Arcade subscription, which costs 4.99 per month. What it is: You set out to find the harmony of the universe amid catchy pop music and while riding a variety of vehicles including motorcycles and skateboards, all while fighting with swords.

Spectre won the best iPhone app of the year award, while Flow by Moleskine won the best iPad app.

The best iPhone game went to Sky: Children of Light, while the best iPad game was awarded to Hyper Light Drifter.

VIDEO 5:10 05:10 Apple unveils its favorite apps of 2019 Squawk Box Apple just announced the best apps and games of 2019.

Unlike past years, it announced this years winners in a small event in New York City where it gathered the developers of the apps, Apple executives and the press, and handed out small notecards with the winners names inside.

App and game winners were revealed inside an envelope at a special Apple event.

Todd Haselton CNBC In previous years, Apples best of lists have included everything from apps to music, books and podcasts.

Itll reveal some of those top items this year, too, but said it wanted to hold an event that focused specifically on the achievements by developers -- the people who actually build these apps.

Todd Haselton CNBC I learned a bit about how the process for selecting these winners is conducted.

It starts with the team behind the editorials in the App Store, who highlight and review apps throughout the year.

The group begins by selecting new apps and games, or those with big improvements, that launched between October 2018 and October 2019.

They look at specific criteria like the app or games user experience, design, storytelling and creativity.

Popularity is considered, but these are not just the most downloaded apps, nor the apps that make Apple the most money.

Todd Haselton CNBC This year, 130 editors from the App Store team participated and picked apps from around the world.

They get together, vote, and argue a bit on which apps are the best.

Then, they brought the list to Apples senior vice president of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, and he gave the final nod of approval.

Its awesome and gives you the ability to shoot long exposures without fancy camera equipment.

This means you can take those neat pictures of traffic moving where the lights are just a blur, or a waterfall where the water looks caught in motion.

Why Apple loves it: This AI-powered photo app magically captures the beauty of motion.

What it is: Sky: Children of the Light is by the same team that built Journey, which won game of the year in 2013.

You fly through 7 dreamlike realms to uncover a mystery and can socialize with other players from around the world on your adventures.

I was most impressed by its graphics; it looked like something youd normally find on a more powerful console.

Plus, its free, so you can check it out to get the gist without spending money.

Why Apple loves it: Few games convey the thrill of discovery, flight, and collaboration like this groundbreaking title.

Apple Arcade Game of the year: Sayonara Wild Hearts Sayonara Wild Hearts Simogo Price: Part of an Apple Arcade subscription, which costs 4.99 per month.

Molesine App For Mac