Google Play: Best Apps and Games in India in 2025
We’re thrilled to announce the Best of Play winners for 2025! The year has seen apps and games on Google Play chart new frontiers in creativity and daily impact for users in India. And our winners are engaging Indian users in ways they truly value, with experiences built on deep local and cultural connections, as well as a bold embrace of AI.
Leading the charge in India this year are the overall winners: District: Movies Events Dining, the Best App of 2025, now the go-to social utility for urban India, and CookieRun India: Running Game, the Best Game of 2025, which has built strong connections with local players. These apps’ success, alongside the excellence seen across every category, proves the growing depth and maturity of India’s developer talent.
Best of Play 2025: Apps
Play’s Best Apps of 2025 show that Indian users love technology that enriches their lives.
AI is becoming foundational to Indian apps, providing meaningful value to users - in fact, 69% of Indian users say their first interaction with AI came through an app on their Android device 1 . Apps like invideo AI: AI Video Generator, Best for Personal Growth, are helping people create videos directly from text prompts, and Toonsutra: Webtoon & Manga App, Best Hidden Gem, with its new AI-powered ‘Cinematic Mode', is turning original comics by Indian creators into immersive experiences.
Even District: Movies Events Dining uses AI to analyze individual taste profiles and real-time local dining trends to provide each user bespoke, hyper-local recommendations for nearby activities and events.
AI’s impact extends beyond generation: winning apps like Goodnotes: Notes, docs, PDF, Best App for Large Screens, and Luminar: Photo Editor, Best Multi-device App, leverage AI to optimize workflows, enhancing deep focus and learning in note-taking, and streamlining image editing in photography, respectively.
Productivity isn’t just about tasks anymore; it’s maturing to also address holistic well-being. Daily Planner: To Do List Task, Best Everyday Essential, offers people a holistic view of their day by integrating task management with journaling and mood tracking. SleepisolBio: sleep, alarm, Best for Watches app, supports a healthy and productive lifestyle by assisting with managing sleep and stress.
We’re also launching a new collection, Top Trending, which spotlights apps that have grown significantly in popularity over the year and have had a notable impact on the ecosystem. This collection demonstrates that digital activities increasingly mirror key industry drivers. Instamart: 10 Mins Grocery App highlights quick commerce’s rapid growth; Seekho: Short Learning Videos the rise of gamification in learning; and, Adobe Firefly: AI Generator the ongoing transformation in art and design with generative AI.
These apps also speak to the significance of the digital economy in India’s growth story. The Google Play and Android ecosystem has enabled over 3.5 million jobs across India, and supported the Indian economy with over INR 4 trillion in revenue. This momentum highlights the capabilities of India’s developer talent, already the second largest on Google Play across the world, to scale India’s app economy to global heights. 1
Best of Play 2025: Games
Gaming continues to be a key contributor to India’s digital economy, and this year’s winning developers reveal they are committed to the country’s diverse player base as it grows vital to the global industry.
International game developers are emphasizing deep localization, incorporating cultural elements and nuances that resonate strongly with Indian players. CookieRun India: Running Game, the Best Game and Best Pick Up and Play, and Free Fire Max, the Best Ongoing game, have created authentic connections with local audiences through in-game content, including skins, distinctly Indian soundtracks, and characters in Indian outfits.
Along with strong cultural connections, Indian developers have embraced genre diversity, introducing a greater variety of games than ever before. Kamala - Horror Exorcism Escape, the Best Indie game, set in 1980s rural India, has delivered an immersive survival puzzle horror experience, a new and challenging genre. Real Cricket Swipe, the Best Made in India game, has reflected regional fandom, including references to popular regional teams.
Inclusive design and multi-device performance continue to be key priorities. CookieRun India: Running Game features one-touch controls and Real Cricket Swipe short swipes, which have made these games easy to play. Disney Speedstorm, the Best Multi-device Game, has demonstrated strong performance across multiple form factors, including seamless continuity on foldable phones.
The Best Apps and Games 2025 winners in India reveal a vibrant ecosystem that has made the Indian user central to its growth journey. Congratulations to all the developers and studios on the opportunities they’re unlocking across India and the world!
Explore the full list of winners and download your favorites on Google Play.
