Google follows Apple in announcing its app and game of the year — and if you’re looking for something new to install on your Android phone, these Play Store picks are well worth checking out.
these choices was manufactured (opens in a new tab) Presented by the Google Play editorial team, each category has some honorable mentions and winners. Google also highlights the best books and audiobooks.As far as we know, there are also some country-specific options: find your local options here (opens in a new tab).
Most of us probably cycle through the same core set of apps on our phones every day, so these lists are a great opportunity to check out new things we might not have come across before.
Best Android Apps of 2022
Best App Overall: Dream (opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – AI is getting better all the time, so it seems fitting that AI art generator Dream takes the top spot. All you need to do is enter a few prompts and the app will generate some beautiful digital artwork.
Best Entertainment App: pet star (opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – If we told you that PetStar gives you the tools you need to create music videos featuring your pet’s face, then we probably don’t need to say anything more. However, we’re not sure what effect your pet will have on the final result.
Best Apps for Personal Growth: Ventilator (opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – Ready to improve yourself next year? Breathwrk hopes to help you reduce stress and unleash energy in your body through hundreds of carefully planned breathing exercises guided by the app.
Best Apps for Everyday Essentials: plant parent (opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – As the name suggests, this app helps you nurse your plants by giving you customized tips on what your plants need to stay healthy. It can also identify almost any plant through your smartphone camera.
Best Hidden Gem Apps: resume athletics (opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – We’re not sure exactly what the “hidden gem” is, but Google has picked up Recover Athletics, which works with Strava to ensure your body recovers properly after exercise to avoid injury and fatigue.
Best Apps: shame app (opens in a new tab) (FREE) – The Stigma App has an important mission to normalize the conversation around mental health. You can use the easy-to-understand app to hear other people’s stories, ask for help, and support others.
Best Wearable App: Todoist (opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – If you’re looking for something to improve your Wear OS smartwatch experience, Todoist is well worth a look. The comprehensive to-do list app gives you everything you need to plan and organize your life.
Best Apps for Tablets: pocket (opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – There’s never enough time to read everything online, and Pocket helps you catch up by providing an archive of articles. A distraction-free layout and the option to read articles aloud add to the appeal of the app.
Best Apps for Chromebooks: band lab (opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – Chromebooks can now of course run Android apps, one of the best for laptop formats. BandLab makes creating and mixing music easy, whether you’re a veteran or a beginner.
Best app chosen by users: it’s true (opens in a new tab) (Free) – We’re not sure exactly which users voted for this category, but the winner is BeReal, the social app that asks you to post a photo of whatever you’re doing at a certain time of day when prompted by the app you come.
That’s not all: Google also finds time to give honorable mentions dance fitness (opens in a new tab), attention widget (opens in a new tab), Learn to Read – Duolingo ABC (opens in a new tab), Gym Log and Workouts (opens in a new tab), Yousician’s Ukulele (opens in a new tab), Book your morning routine (opens in a new tab), daily diary (opens in a new tab), sleep tracker (opens in a new tab), link tree (opens in a new tab), small lunch (opens in a new tab), stroll (opens in a new tab), sleep fruit (opens in a new tab) and Zario (opens in a new tab).
Best Android Games of 2022
Best Game Overall: Apex Legends mobile game (opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – This strategy battle royale shooter is still very popular and has won a User’s Choice Award. You can choose from a variety of game modes, and the speed and fun of combat is unmatched.
Best Multiplayer Game: dissolved matter (opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – An Urban Mythology RPG that stands out for its style, visual quality, and story throughout. The game also does a good job of staying challenging as you get better.
Best Pick Up and Play Games: angry birds tour (opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – For those of you who know its mobile gaming history, Angry Birds needs no introduction, the latest entry in the series. It’s as fun as ever, as you can throw birds to demolish structure after structure.
Best Indie Game: adventure dungeon (opens in a new tab) ($4.99/£4.19) – Sometimes the best games don’t have to be complicated, and Dicey Dungeons takes a simple format and uses it well. In this roguelike deck-building game, you’re a giant dice who must evade whims of opportunity.
Best Story Game: papers, please (opens in a new tab) ($4.99/£4.09) – Papers, Please is one of the most immersive and engaging games on the Play Store right now, described as a “dystopian papers thriller” that challenges you to be clever at spotting smugglers, spies and terrorist.
Best Continuous Game: Genshin Shock (opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – Assuming this is your genre (open world action RPG), you’re sure to have a ton of fun with Genshin Impact, complete with beautiful scenery and memorable characters.
Best Play Pass games: rarely have nightmares (opens in a new tab) ($4.99/£4.99 per month) – If you pay the monthly fee for Google Play Pass, you’ll get games like Very Little Nightmares, a creepy and addictive puzzle game for your enjoyment Hours of entertainment.
Best Games for Tablets: fantasy tower (opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – Tower of Fantasy is one of the best games on the Play Store when it comes to taking advantage of the larger screen that tablets offer, and this open-world fantasy-adventure game scores highly in most areas.
Best games for Chromebooks: Robles (opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – Roblox has made waves in gaming in recent years, and Google has named it one of the best Android games to run on a Chromebook, allowing you to use your keyboard and trackpad.
Hold on, because there are a lot of honorable mentions here too: you might also want to check out catalyst black (opens in a new tab), Diablo Immortal (opens in a new tab), rocket league sweep (opens in a new tab), guns and dungeons (opens in a new tab), hook up 2 (opens in a new tab), hyde and seek (opens in a new tab), Four lines (opens in a new tab), Dread Rock Dungeon (opens in a new tab), epilogue (opens in a new tab), one hand clap (opens in a new tab), phobia (opens in a new tab), DEEMO II (opens in a new tab), Inua – A Tale of Ice and Time (opens in a new tab), Secrets of Cat Island (opens in a new tab), Carrot boy tax evasion (opens in a new tab), candy Crush Saga (opens in a new tab), Garena Free Fire (opens in a new tab), Pokémon GO (opens in a new tab), bridge builder (opens in a new tab), Final Fantasy VII (opens in a new tab), Linear light (opens in a new tab)and giant’s cause (opens in a new tab).
