Google I/O 2019 begins today, and before everything gets started, Google has announced the results of its fourth annual Google Play Awards.
The Google Play Awards is Google's way of celebrating developers who have gone above and beyond. It highlights the best of the best on the Google Play Store and serves as an example for other developers of best practices to follow. It's also just a great list of apps to give a try if you're curious about seeing what makes them so special.
The awards cover nine categories, including some new additions such as Most Inventive, Best Living Room Experience, and Most Beautiful Game.
This year's lineup puts a focus on mental health with apps such as Woebot that features tools for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Wisdo that allows you to share your story or meet new people in groups that range from Body Positive, Motherhood, Finding your Dream Job, and many more.
It also includes some apps for winding down and having fun. For example, Neverthink helps you kick back and enjoy videos which are 100% human curated, and if you're looking to get your game on, you can check out a shooter like SHADOWGUN LEGENDS or Tick Tock: A Tale of Two for an eerie two-player puzzle experience.
While those are the winners of the prestigious 2019 Google Play Awards, you can get a look at the full list of NOMINEES to see what other great apps they beat out for the top spot.
The Google Play Awards is Google's way of celebrating developers who have gone above and beyond. It highlights the best of the best on the Google Play Store and serves as an example for other developers of best practices to follow. It's also just a great list of apps to give a try if you're curious about seeing what makes them so special.
The awards cover nine categories, including some new additions such as Most Inventive, Best Living Room Experience, and Most Beautiful Game.
This year's lineup puts a focus on mental health with apps such as Woebot that features tools for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Wisdo that allows you to share your story or meet new people in groups that range from Body Positive, Motherhood, Finding your Dream Job, and many more.
It also includes some apps for winding down and having fun. For example, Neverthink helps you kick back and enjoy videos which are 100% human curated, and if you're looking to get your game on, you can check out a shooter like SHADOWGUN LEGENDS or Tick Tock: A Tale of Two for an eerie two-player puzzle experience.
Standout Well-Being App
Apps empowering people to live the best version of their lives, while demonstrating responsible design and engagement strategies.
- Woebot by Woebot Labs
Best Accessibility Experience
Apps and games enabling device interaction in an innovative way that serve people with disabilities or special needs.
- Envision AI by Envision Technologies BV
Best Social Impact
Apps and games that create a positive impact in communities around the world (focusing on health, education, crisis response, refugees, and literacy).
- Wisdo by Wisdo LTD.
Games that exemplify artistry or unique visual effects either through creative imagery, and/or utilizing advanced graphics API features.
- Shadowgun Legends by MADFINGER Games
Best Living Room Experience
Apps that create, enhance, or enable a great living room experience that brings people together.
- Neverthink by Neverthink
Most Inventive
Apps and games that display a groundbreaking new use case, like utilize new technologies, cater to a unique audience, or demonstrate an innovative application of mobile technology for users.
- Tick Tock by Other Tales Interactive
Standout Build for Billions Experience
Apps and games with optimized performance, localization and culturalization for emerging markets.
- Canva by Canva
Best Breakthrough App
New apps with excellent overall design, user experience, engagement and retention, and strong growth.
- Slowly by Slowly Communications Ltd.
Best Breakthrough Game
New games with excellent overall design, user experience, engagement and retention, and strong growth.
- MARVEL Strike Force by FoxNext Games
While those are the winners of the prestigious 2019 Google Play Awards, you can get a look at the full list of NOMINEES to see what other great apps they beat out for the top spot.