At the end of 2025, Google Play released its “Best of Play 2025” awards for India — a curated list celebrating the year’s standout games and apps based on design, cultural relevance, user engagement, and innovation.
While a few titles dominated the headlines, the full list of winners reflects the surprising diversity and evolving tastes of Indian gamers. From casual runners to horror-indie experiments, from cricket-themed swipes to smooth games for foldables — 2025 has been a surprisingly varied year for mobile gaming in India.
| Category | Winner | What Stood Out / Why It Won |
|---|---|---|
| Best Game (India) 2025 | CookieRun India: Running Game | Won Google's top honour for 2025 in India due to its playful India-first localisation, one-tap gameplay, festival-based events, and mass appeal across all age groups. |
| Best Ongoing Game | Free Fire Max | Consistent updates, India-themed events, competitive esports presence, and high monthly active users kept it ahead as India’s favourite long-term title. |
| Best Indie Game | Kamala – Horror Exorcism Escape | Distinctive rural-Indian horror setting, immersive sound design, and a refreshing indie approach to culturally rooted storytelling. |
| Best Made in India Game | Real Cricket Swipe | Fast, intuitive swipe-based cricket mechanics designed specifically for Indian players; highly replayable and smartphone-friendly. |
| Best Multi-Device Experience | Disney Speedstorm | Seamless performance across mobile, tablets and foldables; smooth controls and visually polished racing gameplay. |
| Best Multiplayer Game | 8 Pool Fever – Billiard City | Real-time multiplayer stability, fast matchmaking, competitive leaderboard system, and strong casual gaming appeal. |
| Best Story | Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | High-quality narrative experience, classic franchise energy, and immersive mobile storytelling execution. |
| Best on Play Pass | Dredge | Unique fishing-horror gameplay, strong replay value, and premium-quality content delivered through the Play Pass subscription. |
| Best PC Experience via Google Play Games | Whiteout Survival | Excellent optimisation for PC, smooth mouse-keyboard controls, and engaging survival-strategy mechanics that perform better on larger screens. |
Google explicitly noted that many winners succeeded because they leaned into “deep local and cultural connections”. Games like CookieRun India and Real Cricket Swipe — with their Indian-style aesthetics, music, themes or sport — resonated more with the Indian audience than generic global launches. Kamala, with its rural-India horror vibe, proves even indie and niche themes find space if authentically presented.
Not every player wants complex controls or hardcore competition. CookieRun India’s pickup-and-play design and Real Cricket Swipe’s swipe-based gameplay show there’s a huge appetite for easy, casual gaming too. Especially in a country as diverse as India, that can bridge age groups and tech capabilities.
2025’s list spans a wide set of genres: horror-survival (Kamala), sports (Real Cricket Swipe), action/adventure (Prince of Persia), casual runners (CookieRun India), multiplayer billiards (8 Pool Fever), and more. That variety signals that Indian gamers are no longer tuned to just a few genres — they’re open to experimentation.
Games like Disney Speedstorm (multi-device), Whiteout Survival (PC support via Google Play Games), and Dredge (Play Pass) show that developers are preparing for diverse device use: mobiles, tablets, foldables, even PCs. That suggests a maturing ecosystem where hardware differences are less of a barrier.
With so many native or India-tailored titles winning top spots, 2025 has proven that Indian developers — or global studios willing to localise deeply — can thrive. Google even highlighted that India’s developer community is adding value not just culturally, but economically — creating jobs and boosting digital growth.
For players, the message is clear: there’s something for everyone now. You don’t need to download heavy battle-royale shooters or global AAA games. Casual runners, cricket games, horror experiences, billiards — the variety has broadened.
For developers: quality, cultural understanding, and accessibility matter. It’s no longer about copying global trends. Games that reflect Indian sensibilities — in theme, controls, or narrative — are getting rewarded.
For the Indian gaming ecosystem: 2025’s winners show strong growth, diversification, and maturity. As more developers invest in localisation and device-adaptable design, India’s contribution to global gaming will likely grow in scale and influence.
India is expected to continue growing. With multiplayer modes, cultural events, regular updates and collaborations, it’s building an engaged community rather than relying only on casual players.
For Indian gaming as a whole, this year’s results offer a clear message, Games that are fun, accessible, and culturally grounded have the power to dominate the market — even over big-budget global titles. For new Students who are keen to go in this sector of Game design and development can join MAAC Institute for this.
The 2025 “Best of Play” list from Google Play paints a different, more encouraging picture of Indian gaming. Rather than just global blockbusters or shooters, what shines is variety, localisation, accessibility, and experimentation.
Whether you prefer a laid-back runner, intense horror, cricket nostalgia, multiplayer social games, or performance across devices — 2025 had a win for you.