App Store and Google Play have announced the winners of its annual awards. Let’s take a closer look at the best games in various categories.
Honkai: Star Rail wins big on mobile
- miHoYo’s blockbuster Honkai: Star Rail was named the iPhone Game of the Year (finalists include Afterplace and Vampire Survivors) and Google’s Best Game of 2023.
- It also won Google Play awards for Best Story and Best Game for Tablets, with the company praising Honkai: Star Rail’s “excellent depth of content, stunning visuals and thoughtful design.”
- Interestingly, Genshin Impact was awarded the same honors three years ago, with Apple and Google naming it iPhone Game of the Year and Best Game of 2020, respectively.
- Both titles have been a huge success for Chinese developer miHoYo. Honkai: Star Rail reached $500 million in player spending on mobile within three months of its global launch in April 2023. According to gaming research firm Naavik, it crossed the $1 billion mark in September.
- Genshin Impact surpassed $4 billion in player spending in December 2022, and the numbers are still growing. Despite a slight revenue decline in 2023, the game remains miHoYo’s biggest hit.
Best games of 2023, according to Apple and Google
Apple’s best games of 2023
- iPad Game of the Year — Lost in Play, a puzzle adventure title by Happy Juice Games;
- Mac Game of the Year — Lies of P, a Pinocchio-inspired soulslike from South Korean publisher Neowiz;
- Cultural Impact — Finding Hannah (hidden object title by Fein Games), Pok Pok (educational simulation playroom for kids), Unpacking (award-winning puzzle game by Witch Beam);
- Apple Arcade Game of the Year — Hello Kitty Island Adventure, a life sim game with focus on exploration and social elements.
Google’s best games of 2023
- Best multi-device game — OUTERPLANE, a free-to-play anime battler by South Korean developer/publisher Smilegate (Crossfire, Lost Ark);
- Users’ Choice — Monopoly GO!, a global hit from Scopely that became the fastest casual game to cross $1 billion in revenue on mobile;
- Best Multiplayer — Farlight 84, a hero shooter/battle royale created by a subsidiary of Rise of Kingdoms maker Lilith Games;
- Best Pick Up & Play — Monopoly GO!
- Best Indie — Vampire Survivors, a mobile version of Luca Galante’s reverse bullet hell game that became a global phenomenon;
- Best Ongoing — Stumble Guys, a Fall Guys-like mobile title created by Finnish studio Kitka Games (and later acquired by Scopely);
- Best Game for Good — Pokémon Sleep, a sleep-tracking app that rewards players with new Pokémons based on how well they sleep;
- Best on Play Pass — Magic Rampage, an action platformer made by indie team Asantee Games;
- Best for Chromebooks — Minecraft (hardly needs any introduction);
- Best for Google Play Games on PC — Arknights, a tower defense game with RPG elements by Chinese studio Hypergryph.