Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR
Google has announced the best Play Store apps and games of 2025.
The best overall app was Focus Friend while Pokemon TCG Pocket was chosen as the best overall game.
Other winners include Instagram’s Edits app, Disco Elysium, and Luminar.
Google chooses the best Play Store apps and games each year, giving developers their kudos and shining a light on apps worth downloading. Now, the company has announced the top picks for 2025.
The best overall app this year was Focus Friend by Hank Green. This is a gamified focus timer starring a “Bean Friend” avatar. Completing focus sessions rewards you with virtual items that can be used to decorate your avatar’s room. Meanwhile, Pokemon TCG Pocket was the best overall game in 2025. The game, which actually launched in October 2024, is a virtual take on the Pokemon card game.
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Google picked image editor Luminar as the best multi-device app, citing its suite of AI-powered editing tools across platforms. Meanwhile, racing title Disney Speedstorm was chosen as the best multi-device game, running on Android phones, tablets, and Windows PCs.
You can check out the rest of Google’s picks below.
Best apps of 2025
Best for Fun: Edits, an Instagram app
Best for Personal Growth: Focus Friend by Hank Green
Best Everyday Essential: Wiser — 15 Minute Audio Books
Best Hidden Gem: Pingo AI Language Learning
Best for Families: ABCmouse 2: Kids Learning Game
Best for Watches: SleepisolBio
Best for Large Screens: Goodnotes
Best for Cars: Soundcloud
Best for XR Headsets: Calm
Best games of 2025
Best Multiplayer: Dunk City Dynasty
Best Pick up and Play: Candy Crush Solitaire
Best Indie: Chants of Sennaar
Best Story: Disco Elysium
Best Ongoing: Wuthering Waves
Best on Play Pass: DREDGE
Best for Google Play Games on PC: Odin: Valhalla Rising
For what it’s worth, 2024’s big winners included Partiful (best overall app), AFK Journey (best overall game), and Max (best multi-device app). Much like 2024’s awards, Google also chose the best books of the year. You can visit the official blog post to view these picks.
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