Google Play, on Thursday, announced the winners of 'Best of 2023 in India', an initiative through which the platform puts the spotlight on the top apps and games that made a mark on their audience.

“Many of these titles come from Indian developers. It gives us immense joy to see local developers of all sizes leverage the potential of reaching over 2.5 billion monthly active users in 190 markets on Google Play, and building winning solutions for India and the world,” the company said.

According to Google, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by developers to build and offer enhanced user experiences emerged as one of the top innovation trends in apps and games. Several of the local developers on the list have even integrated AI into their offerings.

At the forefront of this is Google Play’s Best of 2023, Level SuperMind, which helps people improve their mindfulness with personalised AI-enabled paths comprising a mix of meditation, exercises, journals, and sleep stories. Level SuperMind was also the winner in the Best for Personal Growth category.

Talking about the win, Aayush Anand, Co-Founder, Level SuperMind, said, “Anchored in timeless principles, our app integrates heritage with modernity for a global audience. Launched 1.5 years ago, the app thrives on ingenuity and a commitment to global mental fitness. This recognition validates our pursuit of excellence, resonating with our tagline, 'SuperCharge the Mind'. The journey has just begun, heralding a transformative path for personal growth on a global scale."

Winners Stimuler also utilised AI-powered voice technology to enhance English language proficiency and SwiftChat employed conversational AI chatbots for personalised learning content in multiple Indian languages. Both apps topped the Best in AI category.

The Users’ Choice App of the Year in India was THAP: Your Happiness Gym, also an app that focuses on the user’s mental well-being. As per Google, the app helps people improve their mental well-being and manage issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress, with easy access to resources and licensed therapists.

The best apps make it very clear that Indian users prioritised taking care of themselves physically and mentally in 2023, Google said.

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"THAP was founded with a vision to change India’s relationship with mental healthcare, aiming to normalise conversations about mental health and encourage people to enhance their mental well-being. There's no greater validation than when our users discover genuine value in the solutions we've crafted. This recognition fuels our determination to continue pushing boundaries, ensuring mental health is within reach for everyone," Natasha Sagar, CEO, THAP (The Happiness Project) said.

In the personal growth category, platforms like Infinity Learn, upGrad, and AmbitionBox are meeting the rising demand for high-quality e-learning and career guidance.

Gaming in India saw continued momentum, with Monopoly Go! crowned the Best Game of the Year. Subway Surfers Blast secured the Users' Choice Game of the Year award, and Mighty Doom claimed victory in the Best Pick Up & Play category. Battlegrounds Mobile India garnered attention with updates, including a new NUSA map and integration of Dragon Super Ball characters, earning a spot in the Best Ongoing Game category.

Here is the full list of Google Play’s Best of 2023 (India) winners:

Best Apps in India for 2023

Best Games of 2023

Also Read: Google commits to responsible AI, takes action against deepfakes

(Edited by : Vijay Anand)