Mountain View-based tech giant Google has released a list of the best apps and some interesting games on Play Store in India in the year 2025. Zomato’s ticketing platform, District: Movies, Events, Dining, has been awarded the Best App in India in 2025. The app has been widely praised for offering everything from movie ticket booking to event information and dining options on a single platform.
Toonsutra, a webtoon and manga app, emerged in 2025 to become the best hidden gem app of the year in India. Journaling platform Daily Planner won the award for Best Everyday Essential App. Edits (Instagram-based creative editing) which attracted the youth was the best android app for fun, while AI’s Zaria was for creating AI video beans Award Winner of Growth.
Top Android Apps 2025
Meanwhile, Instamart, which has been making waves in the shopping category recently, emerged as the top trending app, while the Seekho app topped the education category. Adobe Firefly: AI Generator Apps topped the art and design category. According to Google, 69% of Indian users have experienced AI for the first time through Android apps, demonstrating the rapid growth of AI adoption in the country. In the gaming category, Cookie Run India won the India’s Best Game 2025 award this year. Its characters and simple gameplay, designed with Indian players in mind, are said to have made it very popular. The winning games in other categories include Best Indie Game: Kamala, Best Pick Up and Play: Cookie Run India, Best Made in India: Real Cricket Swipe, Best Multi-Device Game: Disney Speedstorm and Best Multiplayer: 8 Pool Fever.
Special categories for Google Play Best of 2025 include Best Story: Prince of Persia: Lost Crown, Best Ongoing Game: Free Fire Max, Best on Play Pass: Dredge, and Best for Google Play Games on PC: Whiteout Survival. Unlike previous years, this year Google specifically recognized apps and games that reflect local culture and users’ daily needs, as well as those that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) technology. According to Google, the Android and Google Play ecosystem has helped create approximately 3.5 million jobs in India, adding ₹4 lakh crore to the country’s economy. This is a significant indicator of the growth of the app development and gaming industry in India. The Google Play Best of 2025 list once again emphasizes the importance of creativity, use of AI, and localism by app and game developers in India. This is a key driver of the rapid growth of the Indian digital ecosystem.
