Focus Friend, the screen time assistant from YouTuber and entrepreneur Hank Green, is Google Play’s app of the year. Launched in August, the productivity tool lets you block yourself from distracting phone apps while encouraging you with the aid of a virtual friend. This friend is a little cartoon bean that likes to knit socks and scarves, which can later be exchanged for décor for the little bean’s room.
The premise behind the app is that users might be encouraged to manage their screen time better if they know their actions would impact others, even if it is just a little bean that would be sad if you interrupted its knitting project. The app was a hit at launch, reaching number one on Apple’s App Store after rapidly climbing the charts. On Android, Focus Friend has over one million installs, according to its Play Store listing.
Google calls Focus Friend a helpful and cute app and an effective tool for helping users disconnect. In a year that again saw AI assistants and tools climb the app store charts repeatedly, it is interesting to see a timer that helps you disconnect from your tech winning Google’s highest app award. On Google Play, for instance, the top apps currently include both of OpenAI’s consumer-facing tools, ChatGPT at number one, and the video app Sora. Other top apps focus on social media, entertainment, or shopping, like TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, Temu, and GoWish. Clearly, consumers are rewarding apps that engage and addict, not those that encourage you to log off.
Google also announced several other app winners across categories like games, watches, XR headsets, and more. The trading card game Pokémon TCG Pocket won the best game award. The best multi-device app was the photo editor Luminar, and the best multi-device game was the racing game Disney Speedstorm.
Other winners for 2025 include the following. The best app for fun was Edits, an Instagram app. The best for personal growth was Focus Friend by Hank Green. The best everyday essential was Wiser, an app for fifteen minute audio books. The best hidden gem was Pingo AI Language Learning. The best for families was ABCmouse 2, a kids learning game. The best for watches was SleepisolBio, an app for sleep and alarms. The best for large screens was Goodnotes, an app for notes, documents, and PDFs. The best for cars was SoundCloud, for the music you love. The best for XR headsets was Calm, an app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation.
For games, the best multiplayer was Dunk City Dynasty. The best pick up and play game was Candy Crush Solitaire. The best indie game was Chants of Sennaar. The best story game was Disco Elysium. The best ongoing game was Wuthering Waves. The best on Play Pass was DREDGE. The best for Google Play Games on PC was Odin: Valhalla Rising.