Entering the final month of each year prompts reflection and analysis, summarising the experiences and events of the past months. Sam Bright, the vice president and general manager of Google Play, unveiled the recipients of the Google Play Best of 2023 Awards. In a blog post, he provided an overview of the most widely embraced applications and games on Google Play. Recognising contemporary trends, new categories have been introduced for apps leveraging cutting-edge technology (“Best with AI” and “Best Game for Good”), spotlighting applications that demonstrate compatibility across various devices.
Also Read: 6 Best New Games of December 2023
Without further ado, let’s directly delve into revealing the winners of Google Play Best of 2023 Awards.
Google Play Best of 2023 Awards Winners Full List
Google Play Best of 2023 Awards: Best Overall App and Game
Best App: Imprint: Learn Visually
Selected as the top app of 2023, Imprint: Learn Visually delivers concise lessons employing visual storytelling to vividly present concepts. Immerse yourself in the realms of psychology, history, health, technology, and beyond through a fresh and engaging approach.
Best Game: Honkai: Star Rail
Securing the title of Google Play’s game of the year, this science fiction spectacle stands out for its impressive depth of content, captivating visuals, and meticulous design. Honkai: Star Rail provides enduring entertainment for both role-playing game enthusiasts and newcomers by seamlessly incorporating lore and character backstories into the gameplay.
Related: 3 Best Honkai Star Rail Team Comps to Unlock Fu Xuan’s Full Potential
Google Play Best of 2023 Awards: Best Multi-Device App and Game
Best Multi-device App: Spotify
Enjoying your preferred music in the kitchen, during your commute, or on a hike, Spotify excels in seamless cross-device functionality. The ability to remotely control playback on another device and download tracks or episodes for offline listening enhances the overall experience.
Moreover, Spotify has just launched Spotify Wrapped for 2023, so be sure to take a look at yours!
Best Multi-device Game: OUTERPLANE – Strategy Anime
Beyond its enchanting characters and compelling narrative, OUTERPLANE distinguishes itself from other turn-based strategy offerings on Play with its seamless cross-device compatibility. Whether delivering outstanding performance on PC or smoothly transitioning between screens on foldables, OUTERPLANE stands out for its visually stunning design, technical prowess, and sheer enjoyment.
Google Play Best of 2023 Awards: Users’ Choice App and Game
Users’ Choice App: ChatGPT
Users’ Choice Game: MONOPOLY GO!
Google Play Best of 2023 Awards: Best Apps of 2023
Best for Fun: Bumble For Friends: Meet IRL
- Honourable mention: Reelsy Reel Maker Video Editor
Best for Personal Growth: Voidpet Garden: Mental Health
- Honourable mention: Imprint: Learn Visually
Best Everyday Essential: Artifact: Feed Your Curiosity
- Honourable mention: ReciMe: Easy & Tasty Recipes
Best Hidden Gem: Aware: Mindfulness & Wellbeing
- Honourable mention: Stippl: Explore, Plan & Share
Best with AI: Character AI: AI-Powered Chat
- Honourable mention: ChatGPT
Best for Families: Paw Patrol Academy
- Honourable mention: LEGO DUPLO DISNEY
Best App for Good: AWorld in support of ActNow
Best for Watches: WhatsApp Messenger
- Honourable mentions: AllTrails: Hike, Bike & Run, Audible: Audio Entertainment
Best for Tablets: Concepts: Sketch, Note, Draw
- Honourable mentions: Canva: Design, Photo & Video, Everand: Ebooks and audiobooks
Best for Chromebooks: FlipaClip: Create 2D Animation
- Honourable mentions: Evernote – Note Organizer, Wideo
Best for Google TV: Max: Stream HBO, TV, & Movies
- Honourable mentions: Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Disney+, Tubi: Movies & Live TV
Best for Cars: Amazon Prime Video
- Honourable mentions: Beach Buggy Racing, Spotify
Google Play Best of 2023 Awards: Best Games of 2023
Best Multiplayer: Farlight 84
- Honourable mentions: Arena Breakout, Call of Dragons, MARVEL SNAP, Undawn
Best Pick Up & Play: MONOPOLY GO!
- Honourable mentions: Chrome Valley Customs, Mighty DOOM, Monster Hunter Now, Ninja Must Die
Best Indies: Vampire Survivors
- Honourable mentions: Roto Force, Song of Bloom, Super Meat Boy Forever, Underground Blossom
Best Story: Honkai: Star Rail
- Honourable mentions: Down in Bermuda, FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS, Lost Words: Beyond the Page, MementoMori: AFKRPG
Best Ongoing: Stumble Guys
- Honourable mentions: Clash of Clans, EA SPORTS FC™ Mobile Soccer, Merge Gardens, Royal Match
Best Games for Good: Pokémon Sleep
- Honourable mentions: Beecarbonize, Garden Joy – Design Game, Lingo Legend Language Learning, Longleaf Valley: Merge & Plant
Best on Play Pass: Magic Rampage
- Honourable mentions: ARIDA: Backland’s Awakening, Linea: An Innerlight Game, Machinarium, Silly Royale – Devil Amongst Us
Best for Tablets: Honkai: Star Rail
- Honourable mentions: MARVEL SNAP, MONOPOLY GO!, Roto Force, SOULS
Best for Chromebooks: Minecraft
Best for Google Play Games on PC: Arknights
Google Play Best of 2023 Awards: Best Books of 2023
- “All the Sinners Bleed: A Novel” by S.A. Cosby (Ebook, Audiobook)
- “Bellies: A Novel” by Nicola Dinan (Ebook, Audiobook)
- “Boys Weekend” by Mattie Lubchansky (Ebook)
- “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros (Ebook, Audiobook)
- “Girls Like Girls” by Hayley Kiyoko (Ebook, Audiobook)
- “Hijab Butch Blues: A Memoir” by Lamya H (Ebook, Audiobook)
- “In the Lives of Puppets” by TJ Klune (Ebook, Audiobook)
- “The Art of Scandal” by Regina Black (Ebook, Audiobook)
- “The Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese (Ebook, Audiobook)
- “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin (Ebook, Audiobook)
Also Read: Unlock the New Gaming Benefit: YouTube Premium Playables in 2023
Final Thoughts
That’s all for the list of the Google Play Best of 2023 Awards, in which one can spot that Honkai: Star Rail, Spotify, MONOPOLY GO! and MARVEL SNAP have appeared more than once. It’s a total win for them as what they brought to us was just great. Indeed, Google Play’s success is closely tied to developers, and has undergone significant development and updates in the past year and this year, such as the previous Beta update, bringing us a better experience through the app. The Google Play Best of 2023 Awards also marks as a closing for Google Play in 2023 with different winners.
In addition to Google Play’s Best of 2023 Awards, another eagerly awaited event on the horizon, especially for gamers, is The Game Awards scheduled for December 7. Make sure to explore the list of nominees ahead of the winners’ announcement in this article.