On May 20, 2016, Google announced the inaugural winners of its newly minted Play Awards for the best Android apps. A total of 50 apps were nominated, spanning 10 different categories. Apps were nominated and selected based on quality, innovation. And the requirement that they have launched or had a significant update in the past year. Google announced nominees in April 2016, with the likes of Dubsmash, Alto’s Adventure, Toca Nature, Robinhood, Minecraft Story Mode, and Clash of Kings all found on the list. So who won? Let’s take a look.
Best Game: Clash Royale
Supercell is known for its Clash of Clans game. And now is giving the company props for its Clash Royale game. Clash Royale looks feels like a spin-off of the Clans before it. Here players battle one another in real-time using a series of strategic cards. Those cards offer different types of troops you can march into battle. If you’re good enough, you come out victorious on the other side. It’s very different from the base building of Clash of Clans.
Clash Royale (free)
Best use of Material Design: Robinhood
Robinhood wasn’t commended for giving commoners access to free stock trading. Awarded the Robinhood team for its design prowess. Despite the Material design being found in millions of Android apps. It makes sense that it would want to highlight an app with the freshest, most extensive use of material design. Tapping and swiping through Robinhood. It’s clear that the team thought a lot about making looking at rather boring financial stats playful and exciting.
Robinhood (free)
Best use of Play Game Services: Table Tennis Touch
Is anyone ready for a quick game of Table Tennis? If your friends answer no, Table Tennis Touch will find some random stranger using Play Game Services. Who can put your backhand, forehand, lob, spin, or table tennis terminology to the test? If you are still looking for someone to play against. You can constantly challenge the computer to a quick match to 11.
Table Tennis Touch ($2.99)
Stout Startup: Hopper
Don’t let the cute bunny on the app’s icon fool you; Hopper is brutal to airlines. Unlike most travel apps that give you the current price for plane tickets. Hopper will tell you if you need to buy tickets now, wait, or find different dates. To get the best deal on your flight. Hopper will send you alerts for trips you’ve entered. Letting you know when the price drops or about to go up. I just looked at prices for a trip I’ve been considering booking. If I wait two more weeks to book it. Hopper tells me I could save up to $30 based on historical pricing data. Thanks, my little furry friend.
Hopper (free)
Stout Indie: Alphabear
Achieving success as an independent developer is a rough and tough process. What do the developers at Spry Fox do? They release an adorable game, Alphabear. The game’s goal is to spell words using various letters on the game board, helping bears grow. You can unlock different types of bears based on the number of points you earn in each level. Just make sure you use as many letters as you can. If not, you risk some of the letters turning into rocks, preventing your bear’s size.
Alphabear (free)
Most Innovative: NYT VR
Innovation in VR was a hot topic this year at I/O, with Android’s upcoming Daydream feature taking center stage. Furthering the theme of innovation VR, The New York Times NYT VR app. Took home the award for the most innovative app. The NYT VR app users can use Cardboard to go inside the news. Those who don’t subscribe to the NYT, can use the app to view interactive videos.
NYT VR (free)
Go Global: Pokémon Shuffle Mobile
What’s more Global than Pokémon? Nothing, according to some people. Google’s Go Global award is for developers who create an app or game with broad appeal. And offer it in localized languages. Fellow nominees in this category included Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle. Pokémon prevailed and is now ready for you to train and battle your Pokémon by completing puzzles. It’s reminiscent of Bejeweled.
Pokémon Shuffle Mobile (free)
Early Adopter: World Around Me
Ever wanted to have X-Ray vision? Well, with World Around Me, you can make that happen. After installing the app, you can pick a venue or category and hold your phone to eye level. As you spin around, signs are displayed giving you names, ratings, and the distance to nearby places. It’s similar to previous augmented reality apps we’ve seen that overlay Wi-Fi connections and whatnot.
World Around Me (free)
Best Families App: Thinkrolls 2
If you have kids, you know how hard it can be to find a quality app. You feel comfortable with them using. Google thought enough of Thinkrolls 2 to proclaim it as the best app for families in 2016. The game’s object is to roll a character through various levels. Using a series of gestures and critical thinking to get past things. First, players will need to slide an accordion out of the way. Advanced players will deal with obstacles such as water, gravity, and sequencing. In the few minutes I experimented with it this morning, I went from stumped to excited and back to bewildered. My kids would love it, no doubt.
Thinkrolls 2 ($2.99)
Best App: Houzz
Taking top honors is Houzz, which I assume is pronounced house. Unlike other home decoration improvement apps. Houzz gives you ideas and puts you directly in touch with contractors or designers within the app. It has a Pinterest-like feel, whereby you can save different photo design ideas to your account. And share them with friends. You can take an existing photo sketch over it to illustrate your argument. Go ahead, get carried away. The most intriguing feature. The ability to view pieces of furniture or decorations in a room of your home using a photo. Neat! The app is free, which is good. If I were to ever show it to my wife, it’d cost me thousands. Hey, every bit counts, right?
Houzz (free)
