Both Apple and Google have unveiled their picks for the best apps and games of the year, providing insight into the state of the app marketplaces and highlighting noteworthy achievements. Surprisingly, both Apple and Google selected Honkai: Star Rail as their Game of the Year. Apple’s iPhone App of the Year went to AllTrails, a hiking and biking companion, while Google Play’s best app was Imprint: Learn Visually. Notably, neither Apple nor Google named an AI app as its app of the year, despite the success of apps like ChatGPT.
Apple’s Winners:
Apps of the Year:
- iPhone App of the Year: AllTrails
- iPad App of the Year: Prêt-à-Makeup
- Mac App of the Year: Photomator
- Apple TV App of the Year: MUBI
- Apple Watch App of the Year: SmartGym
Games of the Year:
- iPhone Game of the Year: Honkai: Star Rail
- iPad Game of the Year: Lost in Play
- Mac Game of the Year: Lies of P
- Apple Arcade Game of the Year: Hello Kitty Island Adventure
Cultural Impact Winners:
- Pok Pok: Children’s gaming app
- Proloquo: Accessibility app
- Too Good To Go: Food waste minimizer
- Unpacking: Puzzle app
- Finding Hannah: Hidden-object game
Trend of the Year:
- Generative AI
Google’s Winners:
Overall Winners:
- App of the Year: Imprint: Learn Visually
- Game of the Year: Honkai: Star Rail
User’s Choice Winners:
- App of the Year: ChatGPT
- Game of the Year: Monopoly Go!
Multi-Device Winners:
- Best Multi-Device App: Spotify
- Best Multi-Device Game: OUTERPLANE – Strategy Anime
Other App Highlights:
- Best App for Fun: Bumble for Friends: Meet IRL
- Best for Personal Growth: Voidpet Garden: Mental Health
- Best Everyday Essential: Artifact: Feed Your Curiosity
- Best Hidden Gem: Aware: Mindfulness & Wellbeing
- Best with AI: Character AI: AI-Powered Chat
- Best for Families: Paw Patrol Academy
- Best App for Good: AWorld in support of ActNow
- Best for Watches: WhatsApp Messenger
- Best for Tablets: Concepts: Sketch, Note, Draw
- Best for Chromebooks: FlipaClip: Create 2D Animation
- Best for Google TV: Max: Stream HBO, TV, & Movies
- Best for Cars: Amazon Prime Video
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Game Highlights:
- Best Multiplayer Game: Farlight 84
- Best Pick Up & Play: MONOPOLY GO!
- Best Indie: Vampire Survivors
- Best Story: Honkai: Star Rail
- Best Ongoing: Stumble Guys
- Best Games for Good: Pokémon Sleep
- Best on Play Pass: Magic Rampage
- Best for Tablets: Honkai: Star Rail
- Best for Chromebooks: Minecraft
- Best for Google Play Games on PC: Arknights
These awards reflect the platforms’ choices and celebrate noteworthy achievements in the app and game ecosystem.