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

Supercell's Squad Busters Wins Apple's 2024 iPad Game of the Year Award

Despite a rocky start, Supercell's Squad Busters has achieved remarkable success, culminating in a prestigious win at the 2024 Apple App Store Awards. The game was named iPad Game of the Year, sharing the spotlight with other award winners like Balatro+ (Apple Arcade Game of the Year) and AFK Journey (iPhone Game of the Year).

Squad Busters' initial launch was underwhelming for Supercell, a surprising setback given the company's history and careful selection process. The question arose: how could a company known for billion-dollar hits release a seemingly less successful title?

However, the Apple award suggests the game's core mechanics weren't the issue. The unique blend of battle royale and MOBA elements, while potentially unexpected, appears to have found its audience. Perhaps the initial lack of player engagement stemmed from market saturation or a departure from Supercell's established individual IP strategies.

This award serves as a significant validation of Supercell's persistence with Squad Busters. While the debate surrounding its initial performance continues, the recognition is a well-deserved reward for the development team's efforts. Interested in seeing how other games fared in our Pocket Gamer Awards? Check out our rankings!