Squad Busters Wins iPad Game of the Year at 2024 Apple App Store Awards

Squad Busters has clinched the prestigious 2024 Apple Award for iPad Game of the Year, positioning itself alongside other notable winners such as Balatro+ and AFK Journey. Despite a rocky start, Squad Busters has impressively regained its footing and earned significant recognition in the gaming community.

Supercell's latest release, Squad Busters, faced a less-than-stellar launch, which was surprising given the company's track record of selectively releasing only the most promising games after numerous cancellations. However, the game has since demonstrated resilience and growth, culminating in its accolade as the iPad Game of the Year at the 2024 Apple App Store Awards.

In the same awards, AFK Journey by Farlight Games was honored with the iPhone Game of the Year, while Balatro+ rightfully secured the title of Apple Arcade Game of the Year. This places Squad Busters in esteemed company, highlighting its successful comeback and the quality of its gameplay.

The initial stumble of Squad Busters sparked discussions and interest across the mobile gaming industry. Many questioned how Supercell, known for its meticulous approach to game development, could release a game that didn't immediately meet expectations. Yet, the iPad Game of the Year award suggests that the issue was not with the game's content itself. From my experience, Squad Busters offers a compelling blend of battle royale and MOBA elements, though perhaps the combination of Supercell's IPs was not what players initially anticipated.

While debates about its launch continue, this award serves as an early Christmas present for Supercell, affirming the dedication and effort put into Squad Busters. For those interested in how other games fared this year, you can explore the rankings in our Pocket Gamer Awards.