Apple and Google Reveal Their Best Apps and Games of 2023
Today, Apple and Google unveiled their top apps and games for the year, with AllTrails, a hiking and biking companion, taking the title of Apple’s iPhone App of the Year for 2023. Meanwhile, Google's best app accolade went to Imprint: Learn Visually, an educational platform. In a rare alignment, both tech giants selected Honkai: Star Rail as their Game of the Year.
These annual “best of” lists not only spark interest in fresh applications and games but also offer insights into the evolving app marketplaces, highlighting what both platforms wanted to recognize and what captivated consumer attention throughout the year.
In a surprising twist this year, Apple deviated from the trend of spotlighting newly launched apps or those utilizing cutting-edge technologies. Instead, the finalists for iPhone App of the Year included established contenders that have long warranted recognition for their excellence, such as Duolingo, a language-learning app, and Flighty, a travel companion, alongside AllTrails.
Notably, this year's selections differ from previous years, where standout apps like the social phenomenon BeReal in 2022 and the beloved children’s app Toca Life World in 2021 took center stage.
Interestingly, both Apple and Google opted against naming an AI app as their top pick, despite the impressive popularity of applications like ChatGPT, which surged to 100 million users shortly after its launch this year. This is particularly notable as ChatGPT earned a reputation as the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Instagram Threads later broke this record by reaching the same user count within just five days, although it should be noted that Threads' initial figure included sign-ups rather than active monthly users, and ChatGPT’s milestone encompassed its web version as well.
Both app store platforms chose to highlight other applications instead of AI for their top honors. Nevertheless, the AI sector continues to thrive, with many applications generating substantial revenue, indicating that Apple's choice to steer clear of AI-related designations was likely intentional.
Other App Store winners include:
- 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
- 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
Apple CEO Tim Cook remarked, “It’s inspiring to see how developers continue to create outstanding apps and games that redefine our world. This year’s winners showcase the limitless potential of developers to realize their visions, resulting in apps and games characterized by remarkable ingenuity, exceptional quality, and meaningful missions.”
Simultaneously, Apple did not include an AI app among its Cultural Impact winners, despite the significant way AI is influencing culture both online and offline in 2023. The technology has permeated everyday tech, contributed to art and music creation, and transformed the job market. Instead, Apple honored cultural winners like the children’s gaming app Pok Pok, accessibility app Proloquo, food waste reducer Too Good To Go, puzzle app Unpacking, and the hidden-object game Finding Hannah.
However, Apple acknowledged AI indirectly by designating generative AI as the “Trend of the Year” and compiling a collection of generative AI apps to reflect this trend, although the specifics were not detailed in their press release.
In contrast, Google adopted a unique approach for its "best of" apps this year, emphasizing “multi-device” apps to enhance the user experience across different platforms. Spotify was named the best multi-device app—an intriguing choice given the recent revelations during the Epic Games antitrust case, which detailed a favorable arrangement between Spotify and Google that allows Spotify to circumvent Play Store fees. The top multi-device game was OUTERPLANE – Strategy Anime.
Google also allows users to vote for their favorite apps, and ChatGPT emerged as the User’s Choice App of the Year, while MONOPOLY GO! claimed the title of User’s Choice Game of the Year.
The company highlighted other notable apps with individual accolades such as:
- 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
While Apple has faced challenges with Meta due to its App Tracking Transparency changes, Google did not hesitate to feature Meta’s WhatsApp in its winners' list. Google also recognized the innovative AI-powered Artifact app, developed by Instagram’s co-founders. Although an AI app wasn’t selected as its overall winner, ChatGPT did win the User’s Choice award, and Google created a category specifically for AI apps, which Character AI—developed by former Google researchers—won.
Additionally, Google provided honorable mentions for apps that fell short of winning their categories, including Reelsy Reel Maker Video Editor, Imprint: Learn Visually (which won overall but was noted in Personal Growth), ChatGPT (also receiving User’s Choice but an Honorable Mention in AI), AllTrails: Hike, Bike & Run (Apple’s iPhone App of the Year), and several others such as Audible, LEGO DUPLO DISNEY, and Spotify.
Top games recognized by Google included:
- Best Multiplayer Game: Farlight 84
- Best Pick Up & Play: MONOPOLY GO!
- Best Indie Game: Vampire Survivors
- Best Story: Honkai: Star Rail
- Best Ongoing Game: 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
Honorable mentions for games were also announced, complemented by more insights available on Google’s official blog.
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