Most Downloaded iOS Apps and Games of 2019 Include Mario Kart Tour, Minecraft, YouTube and FaceTune

Along with sharing its picks for the best apps and games of 2019, Apple today also updated the App Store with Top Charts that highlight the top free apps and games, paid and free, on the iPhone and the iPad.

When it comes to free games, Nintendo's latest title, Mario Kart Tour, topped the charts. Launched on September 25, Mario Kart Tour was a highly anticipated game and features one of Nintendo's most popular franchises.

iphonetopcharts2019
Below are the top five free ‌iPhone‌ games:

  • Mario Kart Tour
  • Color Bump 3D
  • aquapark.io
  • Call of Duty Mobile
  • BitLife Life Simulator

As for paid ‌iPhone‌ games, many titles that have been popular for years continued to hold on to their number one spots. Minecraft was the number one app on the paid game chart, followed by Heads Up, Plague Inc., Bloons TD 6, and Geometry Dash.

Many familiar apps also topped the free apps chart, including YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook Messenger, while the top paid app was FaceTune. Apple's top five paid ‌iPhone‌ apps are listed below:

  • FaceTune
  • HotSchedules
  • Dark Sky Weather
  • The Wonder Weeks
  • AutoSleep Apple Watch Sleep Tracking

Apple also did separate top charts for the ‌iPad‌, highlighting the most popular games and apps downloaded on its tablets. The top free game was Roblox, and the top paid ‌iPad‌ game was Minecraft. Top five charts are below.

ipadfreetopcharts2019
Top 5 Free iPad Games

  • Roblox
  • aquapark.io
  • Paper.io 2
  • Color Bump 3D
  • Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game

Top 5 Paid iPad Games

  • Minecraft
  • Geometry Dash
  • Bloons TD 6
  • Plague Inc.
  • Amazing Frog

As for free ‌iPad‌ apps, YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Google Chrome, and Hulu secured the top spots, while the top paid ‌iPad‌ apps included Procreate, Notability, GoodNotes 5, Duet Display, and kids game Toca Hair Salon 3.

Apple separately created a top chart to highlight the most popular Apple Arcade games available for ‌Apple Arcade‌, the company's $4.99 per month gaming service. Top picks are listed below.

  • Oceanhorn 2
  • Sonic Racing
  • Hot Lava
  • Frogger in Toy Town
  • Skate City
  • LEGO Brawls
  • Shinsekai Into the Depths
  • Sayonara Wild Hearts
  • Overland
  • Assemble With Care
  • Speed Demons
  • WHAT THE GOLF?
  • Rayman Mini
  • Mini Motorways
  • Sneaky Sasquatch
  • Agent Intercept
  • Super Impossible Road
  • Where Cards Fall
  • Outlanders
  • Cricket Through the Ages

Apple's full ‌App Store‌ charts for the ‌iPhone‌ and the ‌iPad‌ can be found in the ‌App Store‌ under the respective Apps and Games categories for each device. Apple lists the top 20 paid and free games and apps in these charts.

If you missed it yesterday, Apple also shared its editors choice picks for the best games and apps of the year on ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, Mac, and Apple TV.

  • Apple Arcade‌ Game of the Year - Sayonara Wild Hearts by Simogo
  • iPhone‌ App of the Year - Spectre Camera by Lux Optics ($2.99)
  • ‌iPhone‌ Game of the Year - Sky: Children of the Light by thatgamecompany (Free)
  • iPad‌ App of the Year - Flow by Moleskine (Free)
  • iPad‌ Game of the Year - Hyper Light Drifter by Abylight S.L. ($4.99)
  • Mac App of the Year - Affinity Publisher by Serif Labs ($49.99)
  • Mac Game of the Year - GRIS by Devolver / Nomada Studio ($4.99)
  • Apple TV‌ App of the Year - The Explorers by The Explorers Network ($4.99)
  • Apple TV‌ Game of the Year - Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap by DotEmu ($7.99)

More information on all of the apps and other gaming and app trends of the year can be found in the "Today" section of the ‌App Store‌ on the ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, Mac, and ‌Apple TV‌.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...

Top Rated Comments

kanki1985 Avatar
75 months ago
I have been living under a rock! I have not used any of these apps or games ever!!
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FightTheFuture Avatar
75 months ago

Is there any such thing as a game that doesn’t have in-app purchases?
There's about a hundred of them on Apple Arcade.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
farewelwilliams Avatar
75 months ago
the worst mario kart version ever
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mcdj Avatar
75 months ago
Is there any such thing as a game that doesn’t have in-app purchases?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
foobarbaz Avatar
75 months ago

the worst mario kart version ever
I wonder how many of the downloads have never even been played.
The first thing it does is ask to create a Nintendo account. Given the bad reviews, I never bothered to continue …

The download count is really a terrible metric to give away awards for. Especially since the game could be "pre-ordered" before reviews were in.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
martinX Avatar
75 months ago
Something's wrong. I can't see Lee Carvello's putting challenge in the list.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)