Google Play honors AI innovators and cross-device experiences in the 2023 awards

At the start of the month, Google dropped the list of nominees for this year's Play Users' Choice Awards. Users cast their votes in three categories—best apps, games, and books. The results are in, and we've got the scoop on both user picks and editors' choices for the top apps and games in 2023. Let's dive in!

In line with this year's vibes, Google brought in some new award categories. It is shining a spotlight on apps making waves with the latest tech, like "Best with AI" and "Best Game for Good." Plus, it gives props to experiences that seamlessly navigate various devices, with categories such as "Best Multi-device App and Game" and "Best for Google Play Games on PC."

Taking the crown for the best overall app of the year is Imprint: Learn Visually. This app dishes out bite-sized lessons infused with visual storytelling, giving life to concepts. With it, you can dive into psychology, history, health, technology, and more in a new and engaging way.

Claiming the title of the best game for 2023 is Honkai: Star Rail, a sci-fi spectacle boasting outstanding content depth, stunning visuals, and thoughtful design. With a sprinkle of lore and character backstories woven into the game, Honkai: Star Rail offers enduring entertainment for both seasoned role-playing game enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

Securing the top spot in the Best Multi-device App category is Spotify, sharing the limelight with the game OUTERPLANE - Strategy Anime. Play's editors took notice of OUTERPLANE's "ability to easily work across multiple devices," setting it apart from other turn-based strategy experiences on Play.

Now, let's see what the users have to say about the cream of the crop in apps, games, and books for this year. Not surprisingly, given the rapid integration of AI into our lives, Google Play's users have crowned ChatGPT as the best app for 2023. OpenAI's chatbot has gained such popularity that even Elon Musk, who is working on his own generative AI chatbot named Grok, remarked that "ChatGPT is scary good."