Google has you apple in announcing their best apps and games of the year — and if you’re looking for something new to binge on android phone Then these Play Store picks are worth checking out.
these picks Manufactured (Opens in a new tab) By the Google Play editorial team, there are some honorable mentions in addition to the winners in each category. Google has also highlighted the best books and audiobooks. From what we can tell, there are some country-specific options, too: find your local one over here (Opens in a new tab).
Most of us probably spend our days cycling around the same set of basic apps on our phones, so these lists are a good opportunity to check out something new that we may not have encountered before.
The best Android apps of 2022
Best app overall: dreams (Opens in a new tab) (freemium) – The AI just keeps getting better and better, so it seems only fitting that Dream AI Business Builder should be number one. All you have to do is enter a few prompts, and the app will produce some amazing digital artwork.
Best app for fun: PetStar (Opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – If we tell you that PetStar gives you the tools you need to create a music video featuring your pet’s face, we probably don’t need to say anything else. However, we’re not quite sure what your pet will do with the end results.
Best Personal Growth App: breathwork (Opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – Are you ready for a self-improvement campaign over the next year? Breathwrk wants to help you reduce stress and release energy from your body through hundreds of carefully curated, app-led breathing exercises.
Best app for daily essentials: Plant father (Opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – As the name suggests, this app helps you nurture your plants, giving you personalized advice on what your plants need to stay healthy. It can identify almost any plant with your smartphone camera as well.
Best hidden gem app: Athletics recovery (Opens in a new tab) (freemium) We’re not quite sure what’s considered a “hidden gem,” but Google chose Recover Athletics, which works with Strava to ensure your body recovers properly after a workout to avoid injury and fatigue.
Best app for good: Stigma application (Opens in a new tab) (Free) Stigma is on an important mission to normalize conversations about mental health. You can use the live app to hear stories from other people and to reach out for help and support from others as well.
Best app for Wear: Todoist (Opens in a new tab) (freemium) – If you’re looking for something to improve the experience on a Wear OS smartwatch, Todoist is worth a look. This comprehensive to-do list app gives you everything you need to plan and organize your life.
Best app for tablets: pocket (Opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – There’s never enough time to read everything on the internet, and Pocket helps you by providing an archive of articles to keep you up to date whenever you can. Distraction-free design and the option to read articles out loud add to the appeal of the app.
Best app for Chromebooks: bandlap (Opens in a new tab) (freemium) Chromebooks can run Android apps now, of course, and this is one of the apps more suited to the laptop format. BandLab makes creating and mixing music easy, whether you’re a beginner or a veteran.
Best app chosen by users: be realistic (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 challenges you to post a photo of everything you’re doing at a certain time of day, whenever the app asks you too.
That’s not all either: Google also found time to give honorable mentions to Dance Fit Me (Opens in a new tab)And the Notice that widget (Opens in a new tab)And the Learn to read – Duolingo ABC (Opens in a new tab)And the Record gym workouts (Opens in a new tab)And the Lycian’s harp (Opens in a new tab)And the The Morning Routine Wake Up Book (Opens in a new tab)And the diary (Opens in a new tab)And the sleep tracker (Opens in a new tab)And the link tree (Opens in a new tab)And the Small lunches (Opens in a new tab)And the wamble (Opens in a new tab)And the The fruits of sleep (Opens in a new tab) And the zario (Opens in a new tab).
The best Android games of 2022
Best game overall: Apex Legends Mobile (Opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – This strategic battle royale shooter continues to be incredibly popular and has earned a User’s Choice award as well. You have a choice of game modes to choose from, and it’s hard to beat the speed and fun of the combat.
Best multiplayer game: Dislate (Opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – An urban legend role-playing game that stands out from the crowd due to its style, visual quality, and storyline. The game also does well in taking on a challenge as you get better at it.
Best Pick Up and Play Game: Angry Birds Flight (Opens in a new tab) (Freemium) – Angry Birds needs no introduction for those who know the history of their mobile games, and this is the latest in the series. It’s more fun than ever, as you shoot birds to demolish one structure after another.
Best indie game: Dungeons (Opens in a new tab) ($4.99 / £4.19) – Sometimes the best games don’t have to be incredibly complex, and Dicey Dungeons takes a simple format and puts it to good use. You are a giant dice in this deck building, and you have to escape the whims of chance.
Best story game: Papers, please (Opens in a new tab) ($4.99 / £4.09) – One of the most immersive and engaging games on the Play Store right now, Papers, Please is described as a ‘dark document thriller’, asking you to get smart about smugglers, spies and terrorists.
Best ongoing game: Genshin effect (Opens in a new tab) (freemium) – Assuming this is your game type (open-world role-playing game), you are guaranteed to get a great deal of fun from Genshin Impact, which features beautiful landscapes and memorable characters.
Best Game on Play Pass: Very few 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 brilliantly disguised and creepy puzzle game that will give you hours of entertainment.
Best game for tablets: fantasy tower (Opens in a new tab) (freemium) – Tower of Fantasy is one of the Play Store’s best games when it comes to taking advantage of the larger screens that tablets have to offer, and this open-world fantasy adventure title scores highly in most areas.
Best game for Chromebooks: Roblox (Opens in a new tab) (freemium) Roblox has been something of a gaming sensation over recent years, and Google named it one of the best Android games to run on a Chromebook, giving you access to a keyboard and trackpad.
Wait a minute, because there are plenty of honorable mentions here, too: You might also want to check out black catalyst (Opens in a new tab)And the Immortal Devil (Opens in a new tab)And the Sideswipe League Rocket (Opens in a new tab)And the Gun and dungeons (Opens in a new tab)And the hook 2 (Opens in a new tab)And the Hyde & Seek (Opens in a new tab)And the Quadruple line (Opens in a new tab)And the Dungeons of Dreadrock (Opens in a new tab)And the Knot (Opens in a new tab)And the One hand clap (Opens in a new tab)And the Phobia (Opens in a new tab)And the DEEMO II (Opens in a new tab)And the Inua – A story set in ice and time (Opens in a new tab)And the The secret of Cat Island (Opens in a new tab)And the Turnip Boy commits tax evasion (Opens in a new tab)And the Candy Crush Saga (Opens in a new tab)And the Garena Free Fire (Opens in a new tab)And the Pokemon GO (Opens in a new tab)And the Building bridges (Opens in a new tab)And the Final Fantasy 7 (Opens in a new tab)And the line light (Opens in a new tab)And the Giants Road (Opens in a new tab).
