Google unveils the best apps and games of 2023 for Android phones, tablets and Chromebooks

Google’s VP and GM of Google Play. Sam Bright, has announced the winners of Google Play’s Best of 2023 awards, highlighting this year’s most outstanding apps, games and books across various categories.

Earlier this year, Sam Bright took on a new role leading Google Play. and he explains in his blog post, which I’ve reproduced below, that one of the best parts of this job is that he gets “to see all the different ways Play impacts people around the world — whether it’s users discovering new trending apps, or developers building the game they’ve been dreaming of for years.”

To support this entire community, Bright says Google has “made lots of improvements to the Play Store this year. For example, we made it even easier to discover all that Play has to offer, including for different device types like wearables, foldables and tablets. We also introduced new ways to redeem Play Points, along with new features and titles on Google Play Games on PC.”

Bright continues: “And because Play is only successful when our developers are, we continued to make updates to help them grow their businesses. That included launching tools to help them make their apps more discoverable, generate revenue and protect users’ privacy. It’s been amazing to see developers showcase their creativity and build great content people love on Play.

“Today, we’re celebrating their success with Google Play’s Best of 2023 Awards, a roundup of the best apps, games and books on Play. To reflect this year’s trends, we introduced new award categories that recognize helpful apps using the latest technology (such as “Best with AI” and “Best Game for Good”), and experiences that work well across a wide range of devices (such as “Best Multi-device App and Game” and “Best for Google Play Games on PC”).”

This list below is Bright’s full list of award winners in the U.S. Google has also published winners for other countries, and you’ll need to visit the Best of 2023 page on the Play Store. As Bright says: Congratulations to everyone!

As you’d expect, Bright looks forward “to seeing what 2024 brings and continuing to help people discover new (and maybe their next favorite) apps, games and books — wherever they are, on whatever device.”

So, here are the winners, and it is certainly interesting to see that the best app as judged by users is ChatGPT!

Best overall app and game

Best App: Imprint: Learn Visually

As our best app of 2023, Imprint: Learn Visually shares bite-sized lessons that use visual storytelling to bring concepts to life. Explore the worlds of psychology, history, health, technology and more in a brand new way.

Best Game: Honkai: Star Rail

This sci-fi extravaganza takes the title of our best game of the year thanks to its excellent depth of content, stunning visuals and thoughtful design. By sprinkling lore and character backstories throughout the game, Honkai: Star Rail delivers lasting entertainment for role-playing game enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

Best multi-device app and game

Best Multi-device App: Spotify

Whether listening to your favorite music in the kitchen, on the commute or out on a hike, Spotify shines when it comes to working smoothly across devices. We love how you can remotely control playback on another device, and download tracks or episodes for offline playback.

Best Multi-device Game: OUTERPLANE – Strategy Anime

While we love its charming characters and captivating story, OUTERPLANE’s ability to easily work across multiple devices sets it apart from other turn-based strategy experiences on Play. From outstanding PC performance to flawless transition between screens on foldables, OUTERPLANE is visually stunning, technically impressive and just plain fun.