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Google Play Reveals Best Apps and Games of 2022

An AI-art generator and a free-to-play shooter top the list.

Zachary McAuliffe Staff writer
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Zachary McAuliffe
2 min read
Google Play Store logo on a tablet screen

These are Google Play's favorite apps and games of 2022.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Google Play announced its Best of Play 2022 awards Wednesday for the best apps and games for phones, tablets and other electronic devices. The winners were chosen by Google Play's Editorial Team, with the exception of User's Choice winners for Favorite Game and Favorite App.

The winners of the awards range from apps and games that help people escape reality to ones that help people stay grounded and present. Google Play also announced new awards for best apps and games for Chromebooks, best story game, best ongoing game and best game available on Play Pass.

Here are the Best of Play 2022 app and game award winners.

Read more: Apple's 2022 App Store Award Winners

Best apps

Best App
Dream 
Developer: Wombo

Best for Fun
PetStar
Developer: Good Boy Studios Inc.

Best for Personal Growth
Breathwrk
Developer: Breathwrk Inc.

Best Everyday Essentials
Plant Parent
Developer: Glority LLC

Best Hidden Gems
Recover Athletics
Developer: Strava Inc.

Best Apps for Good
The Stigma App
Developer: Stigma App

Best for Wear
Todoist
Developer: Doist Inc.

Best for Tablets
Pocket
Developer: Mozilla Corporation

Best for Chromebooks
BandLab
Developer: BandLab Technologies

Best games

Best Game
Apex Legends Mobile
Developer: EA

Best Multiplayer
Dislyte
Developer: LilithGames

Best Pick Up & Play Game
Angry Birds Journey
Developer: Rovio Entertainment Corporation

Best Indies
Dicey Dungeons
Developer: Terry Cavanagh

Best Story
Papers, Please
Developer: 3909

Best Ongoing
Genshin Impact
Developer: Cognosphere PTE. LTD.

Best on Play Pass
Very Little Nightmares
Developer: Bandai Namco

Best for Tablets
Tower of Fantasy
Developer: Level Infinite

Best Game for Chromebooks
Roblox
Developer: Roblox Corporation

User's choice award winners

User's Choice Award for Best Apps 
BeReal
Developer: BeReal

User's Choice Award for Best Game
Apex Legends Mobile
Developer: EA

For more Google Play news, check out how Google Play store changes could make app subscriptions cheaper and which Google Play Android games you can now play on PC

Watch this: Google's New Search Trick Finds Items You Can't Explain