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Best Apple TV Apps of 2016

ICYMI: AppAdvice's Best Apple TV Apps of 2016 Include Streaming, Gaming Titles

The top Apple TV apps and games of the year
Apple TV
December 31, 2016

Back in 2015, Cupertino finally added apps and games to Apple TV. We’re glad that they did. From Late Shift to The Incident TV, here are AppAdvice’s Best Apple TV Apps of 2016.

The Best of the Best
Late Shift

The Best of the Best

Late Shift
Late Shift The Best of the Best

Apple TV is a place to find great films and games. With Late Shift, you get the best of both worlds. Late Shift is a film with yourself as the director.

While the high-quality film plays out, you’ll help the main protagonist Matt make decisions by selecting a response using your Siri Remote. Your choices will help guide the movie’s action.

There are more than 180 different choices to make throughout, and seven different endings.

Late Shift
Late Shift
Late Shift
CtrlMovie AG

Hang on to the remote

Hang on to the remote
No right answer.

You're basically watching a well-made movie. But the fun twist is that during certain points, you'll get to choose how Matt reacts and responds. The high-quality movie was filmed on location in London.

Action packed

Action packed
Make a quick decision.

The movie features a number of great drama scenes where your decision could mean the different between life and death.

Dive on in

Dive on in
There is more than four hours of movie content.

After finishing the movie for the first time, you can go back and select a different chapter to start with.

Get
Late Shift
Late Shift
The Runner-Up
PlayStation Vue

The Runner-Up

PlayStation Vue
PlayStation Vue The Runner-Up

In 2016, subscription-based TV video stream services went mainstream. Joining Sling TV (which debuted in 2015) in the mix were DirecTV Now and our runner-up for best Apple TV app of 2016, Sony’s PlayStation Vue.

While previously available for the iPhone and iPad, PlayStation Vue offers live TV channels without the need of a long-term cable or satellite contract. Best of all, it’s the only current service to offer a DVR feature.

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PlayStation Vue
PlayStation Vue
Sony Network Entertainment International LLC

Welcome home

Welcome home
The home screen is a great starting point.

After starting up the app, the handy home screen features what your currently watching, recently watched shows, live TV, your saved shows, and featured content. As a nice touch, each family member can create their own profile for a more personalized viewing experience.

A traditional guide

A traditional guide
A guided tour.

For those viewers who enjoy a more traditional TV browsing experience, there is a detailed guide that shows upcoming and previous shows from all of your available channels. It's easy to navigate using the touchpad on the Siri Remote.

A cloud DVR

A cloud DVR
One of the best features.

Instead of a traditional DVR, PlayStation Vue takes a different approach. You can save any program to your My Shows section. Once added, it will save any episodes of the program for 28 days.

Get
PlayStation Vue
PlayStation Vue
Finalists
BADLAND 2

Finalists

A Mix of Games and Apps
BADLAND 2 Finalists

Our finalists this year include a previous award winner, a very important Man, and an App Store classic that made the jump to tvOS.

Apple’s Game of the Year for 2015 didn't arrive on Apple TV until June

$3.99
BADLAND 2
BADLAND 2
Frogmind Oy

The Berliner Philharmoniker in your home

Free
Digital Concert Hall
Digital Concert Hall
Berlin Phil Media GmbH

High octane hydrojet racing

$2.99
Riptide GP: Renegade
Riptide GP: Renegade
Vector Unit Inc

Tons of beat-em-up action

Free
Dan The Man
Dan The Man
Halfbrick

Hollywood entertainment for the under 30 crowd

Free
Fullscreen
Fullscreen
Fullscreen, Inc.

A personalized TV experience

Free
Rheo
Rheo
Copper Studios, Inc.

An action packed aquatic adventure

Free
Hungry Shark Evolution
Hungry Shark Evolution
Future Games of London

The classic on Apple TV

$3.99
The Incident TV
The Incident TV
Matthew Comi

What were your favorite Apple TV titles in 2016? Leave your comments below.