If you¡¯re a smartphone user today, chances are you¡¯re either an Android or iOS user. And Android comprises over 85 percent of smartphones on this planet (according to an IDC report), so obviously Android users are a big deal.?
One of the reasons why Android got so popular was due to its affordable nature -- whether it was smartphones or the apps on the Play Store.
Today, Android¡¯s app market consists of over 3.4 million apps according to a Statista report. And now, Google has announced the best apps to be featured on Google Play in India. It has segregated apps in different categories, shortlisting the ones loved by its users.?
According to the Play Store, the best app this year in India has been ¡®Sleep Stories for calm sleep and Meditation by Wysa¡¯ -- essentially a sleep meditation app to calm the user from stress and anxiety.?
We even got to interact with the creator of this app to learn about why she decided that this app was the need of the hour, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.?
In case you just want to have some fun, Google Play shortlisted five apps as the best apps for fun: An audio-story and podcast app dubbed Pratilipi FM which has content in not just English but also regional languages like Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil & Gujarati.?
This list also includes several video creation apps and platforms. It includes two TikTok clones -- Moj and MX TakaTak.?
Reface is an app that swaps your faces on images and videos and has seen over 10 million downloads.?
VITA is a nifty video editing app that allows users to clone backgrounds, add text in fancy fonts and effects.
In the category of personal growth, Google has picked apps that are popular for generating employment or improving a skill set or apps that provide a platform for people to explore new opportunities.
Apna -- a job searching app to help users get employment in a variety of fields.
Bolkar is an Indian general knowledge app where people can ask questions in Hindi using their voice.?
Mindhouse -- another meditation app that offers guided meditations along with calm and peaceful sounds, imagery & visualisations.?
MyStore -- an app where anyone can make their online marketplace to sell goods right from their smartphone.?
Writco is a platform for writers to share their stories, poems and quotes with the world. Users can sell their stories through the app¡¯s bookstore and earn money too.?
Here, Google has picked some cool apps to help you get more productive, network and plan your day.?
Koo is a platform for people to share their opinions and feelings about something where they can be heard, somewhat similar to Twitter, but for the Indian audience.?
Microsoft Office is one of the apps on the list too, which includes Word, Excel, Powerpoint and other Microsoft apps.?
Pattern is a networking/friend-making app where users can find people who have a similar set of likes/ dislikes or ¡®pattern¡¯ as the app likes to call it.?
For people who cook for their family every day, Zelish is a personalized kitchen management app that helps a user plan their daily meals. It helps you with grocery lists scaled depending on the servings right suited for a family while also offering links to shop with a single click.?
The last app on this list is the video conferencing app Zoom, that people have been using for their work as well as personal interactions during the pandemic.?
The title for the best game on the Play Store has been claimed by Legends of Runeterra -- a strategy card game that has garnered over 5 million downloads on the platform.?
This year¡¯s best competitive games include Bullet Echo -- a PvP tactical team shooter, Kartride Rush+ -- a cute yet exhilarating racing game, Rumble Hockey -- a strategic turn-based ice-hockey game and Top War: Battle Game -- a strategy based war game.?
In terms of casual games, the first on the list is Asian Cooking Star -- a kitchen simulator/ restaurant management game.?
Second on the list is EverMerge -- an adventure puzzle game built on matching and combining to create one big magical world!
The third is Harry Potter: Puzzles and Spells -- a game where you use spells to create matches and eliminate them, like Candy Crush, but with Harry Potter lore and elements.?
Fourth is Spongebob: Krusty Cook-off -- another kitchen/restaurant simulator except here you¡¯re flipping through Krabby Patties and taking care of the Krusty Krab restaurant from the Spongebob Squarepants universe.?
Fifth on the list is Tuscany Villa -- a Hotel management game where you¡¯re taking care of a small inn, and dealing with challenges like getting it cleaned, decorated etc.?