These are Google Play’s best apps and games of 2020

Google Pixel 4a upper half of display with apps 2

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority

It’s finally December, and that means the latest annual list of Google Play’s best apps and games is now live. Unsurprisingly, this year’s roundup is dominated by wellness apps.

This means the top app in 2019 – Appy Weather – makes way for a sleep readiness app, Loóna. The app was also named a Hidden Gem by Google this year, letting users “quickly disconnect from a long stressful day and get in the right mood for sleep,” according to its description. Genshin Impact was named by Google as 2020’s best game. The action RPG title was also named one of our top open-world games to play on mobile this year.

Google also asked users to vote for their favorites of 2020. Here’s what the US public decided.

Users’ Choice 2020

  • App: Disney Plus
  • Game: SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off
  • Movie: Bad Boys For Life
  • Book: If It Bleeds by Stephen King

Have a look at all of Google’s picks of the year for the US below, which includes five categories for apps, and four for games.


Google Play’s Best Apps of 2020

Best App

  • Loóna: Bedtime Calm & Relax

Best Personal Growth Apps

  • Paired: Couples App
  • Centr, by Chris Hemsworth
  • Speekoo
  • Intellect
  • Jumprope: How-to Videos

Best Hidden Gem Apps

  • Paperless Post Flyer Invitation Maker
  • Loóna: Bedtime Calm & Relax
  • Explorest – Photo Locations
  • Cappuccino
  • Tayasui Sketches

Best Everyday Essential Apps

  • Grid Diary – Journal, Planner
  • Whisk
  • The Pattern
  • ZOOM Cloud Meetings
  • Calmaria

Best Apps for Good

  • GreenChoice: Healthy Grocery Shopping
  • Medito
  • ShareTheMeal: Donate to Charity and Solve Hunger

Best Apps for Fun

  • Disney Plus
  • VITA
  • Reface
  • Dolby On: Record Audio & Music
  • Bazaart: Photo Editor and Graphic Design

Google Play’s Best Games of 2020

Genshin Impact best open world games for Android

Best Game

  • Genshin Impact

Best Indie Games

  • Cookies Must Die
  • Maze Machina
  • Sky: Children of the Light
  • Inbento
  • GRIS

Best Casual Games

  • Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
  • DreamWorks Trolls Pop: Bubble Shooter & Collection
  • SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off
  • Disney Frozen Adventure
  • EverMerge

Best Innovative Games

  • Fancade
  • Minimal Dungeon RPG
  • The Gardens Between
  • Genshin Impact
  • Ord.

Best Competitive Games

  • Legends of Runeterra
  • The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross
  • Bullet Echo
  • Gwent: The Witcher Card Game
  • Brawlhalla

That’s it for Google Play’s best apps and games of 2020 roundup! Do you think the company missed any gems? What were your favorite apps or games of the year? Let us know with a comment below.