Why are there religious/novel/ebook apps under indie GAME section in App Store?

I’ve noticed this too, and as a developer in the creative writing space, I think I know why this is happening.

It’s likely due to the "Gamification" trend in non-game apps. Apple’s algorithm for the "Indie" section seems to be prioritizing "Interactive" and "Independent" tags over strict category definitions.

Apps like Wattpad or the others you listed often include features like "reading streaks," "daily challenges," or "interactive fiction" (where you choose the story path). To the App Store's curation bot, these engagement mechanics look exactly like mobile games.

The line is definitely blurring. For example, I’m currently building a web-based tool called Scribely (it’s a visual novel generator). Even though it’s a utility for writers, we use "game-like" mechanics—like a slot machine for plot twists and visual prompts—to help users overcome writer's block.

If I were to submit it to the App Store, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the algorithm tagged it as an "Indie Game" because of those interactive elements.

It's definitely messy for users looking specifically for games, but it seems to be Apple's way of highlighting "Indie Creators" regardless of whether they are making pure games or gamified apps.

Hope that sheds some light on the chaos!see more

The apps listed in your screenshot are not actually books. They are apps that allow you download books from specific libraries or groups of books. Some, like Kindle and Audible, require you to subscribe in order to download their books.