In Summary
Google Play’s Best of 2021 list for the best apps and games across various categories is out. What’s special about this year’s awards is the addition of two new award categories: Wear OS and Google TV. Balance and BitClass won the Best App of 2021 award in the US and India, respectively, whereas Pokémon UNITE and Battlegrounds Mobile India triumphed as the Best Game of 2021, respectively.
However, what’s new with this year’s list is the expansion of awards to apps and games on tablets, Google TV, and Wear OS, as well. Google says this is to encourage innovation across Google Play and introduce users to never-before-seen experiences. Follow along as we dive in to check out the winners for Google Play’s Best of 2021 awards across multiple categories.
Best Android App of 2021
Starting with the most popular category, Google suggests 2021 saw high demand in personal growth apps, just like the previous year. As such, the Balance app, which helps people improve their stress and sleep through personalized meditation, earned the Best App of 2021 award. In line with Balance, apps such as Moonly, which provides tips and guidance based on the lunar calendar, and Laughscape, which helps users achieve a meditative state through laughter, came out as the Best Hidden Gems for 2021. In India, BitClass, one of the largest online learning platforms, won the Best App of 2021 title for facilitating an interactive learning environment for classes across numerous categories, including baking, dance, music, personal finance, etc.
Best Android Game of 2021
Coming to gaming, Pokemon UNITE won the Best Game of 2021 title for its dynamic gameplay and cross-platform experience. Similarly, Indie developers also made it to the awardees list for titles like Bird Along and Donut County under the Best Indies category. Battlegrounds Mobile India, a battle royale game developed and published by Krafton exclusively for India, received the Best Game of 2021 award.
Google Play’s Best of 2021 in the US
Aside from the “best apps” and “best games” titles, Google also honors apps and games in other categories. Below is a list of such apps and games in the US.
Users’ Choice 2021
App: Paramount+ Game: Garena Free Fire MAX
Best App
Balance
Best Game
Pokémon UNITE
Best of App Winners
Best Apps for Good
Empathy Mentor Spaces Speechify
Best Everyday Essentials
Blossom PhotoRoom Rabit
Best for Fun
Clubhouse Noobly Whatifi
Best Hidden Gems
Laughscape Moonbeam Moonly
Best for Personal Growth
Balance Clementine Uptime
Best for Tablets
Canva Concepts Houzz
Best for Wear
Calm MyFtinessPal Sleep Cycle
Popular on Google TV
Disney+ ESPN Tubi
Best of Game Winners
Best Competitive
League of Legends: Wild Rift MARVEL Future Revolution Pokémon UNITE Rogue Land Suspects: Mystery Mansion
Best Game Changers
Inked JanKenUP! Knights of San Francisco Overboard! Tears of Themis
Best Indies
7 Billion Humans Bird Alone Donut County My Friend Pedro: Ripe for Revenge Puzzling Peaks EXE
Best Pick Up & Play
Cats in Time Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! Disney POP TOWN Switchcraft Towers
Best for Tablets
Chicken Police — Paint it Red! League of Legends: Wild Rift My Friend Pedro: Ripe for Revenge Overboard! The Procession to Calvary
Google Play’s Best of 2021 in India
Google’s Best of 2021 awards list is region-specific, and as such, it includes the following apps and games in its awardees list for India.
Users’ Choice 2021
App: Clubhouse Game: Garena Free Fire MAX
Best App
BitClass
Best Game
Battlegrounds Mobile India
Best of App Winners
Best Apps for Good
Being Evergreen Club Speechify
Best Everyday Essentials
Guardians from Truecaller SARVA Sortizy
Best for Fun
Clubhouse FrontRow Hotstep
Best Hidden Gems
Jumping Minds – Talk & Feel Better FWD Moonbeam
Best for Personal Growth
BitClass EMBIBE Evolve
Best for Tablets
Canva Concepts Houzz
Best for Wear
Calm MyFtinessPal Sleep Cycle
Best of Game Winners
Best Competitive
Battlegrounds Mobile India MARVEL Future Revolution Pokémon UNITE Summoners War: Lost Centuria Suspects: Mystery Mansion
Best Game Changers
JanKenUP! NieR Re[in]carnation Tears of Themis Unmaze: a myth of shadow & light
Best Indies
Bird Alone DeLight: The Journey Home Huntdown My Friend Pedro: Ripe for Revenge Ronin: The Last Samurai
Best Pick Up & Play
Cats in Time Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! Dadish 2 Disney POP TOWN Switchcraft: Magical Match 3
Best for Tablets
Chicken Police — Paint it Red! My Friend Pedro: Ripe for Revenge Overboard! The Procession to Calvary
That concludes the list of winners for Google Play’s best of apps and games awards this year. What are your thoughts on this year’s winners? And were any of your favorite apps and games listed on the list? Let us know in the comments below.
