In a yearly custom, Google has revealed its Best of 2020 selections today – a compilation of the most highly-regarded applications, games, films, and books of the year. Reflecting the challenging nature of 2020, the leading applications, as chosen by Google Play users and editorial staff, address the stresses of the year, with Loóna, a leading sleep application, earning the distinction of “Best App” of 2020 in the United States. Simultaneously, Disney+, a streaming platform, was selected as the preferred choice by Google Play’s user base.

Loóna’s recognition this year is particularly appropriate. This sleep support tool provides an experience designed to positively influence mood, assisting users in processing daily emotions during sleep. The application notes that increasing anxiety and stress levels can negatively impact sleep quality and REM sleep. To counteract this, Loóna delivers nightly “sleepscapes” that integrate relaxing activities, narratives, and ambient sounds to help users alleviate stress and achieve relaxation.

Loóna distinguishes itself from typical sleep or meditation applications by encouraging users to unwind while remaining engaged with their devices. Users interact by coloring images as the sleep story unfolds. The company also introduced music playlists, known as soundscapes, this year.

The company reported in October that its application – also accessible on iOS – maintained an average daily usage time of 34 minutes among its subscribers. Furthermore, the conversion rate from trial users to paid subscribers averaged 52.5%. Currently, Loóna reports a user base of 500,000, with users collectively spending over 35 million minutes utilizing the application’s mindful features. With the upcoming version 2.0, Loóna intends to broaden its focus beyond bedtime relaxation, evolving into a comprehensive mood management tool that encompasses the entire sleep-wake cycle and will incorporate personalized content suggestions.

Alongside Loóna, Google Play editors highlighted Genshin Impact, a free-to-play action role-playing game, as the year’s best game, praising its immersive world and captivating mysteries. This open-world game, miHoYo’s debut in the genre, features combat utilizing elemental magic, character swapping, and a gacha system for acquiring new characters, weapons, and other in-game items.

However, Google Play users favored SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off as the year’s best game.

Disney+ also experienced a surge in popularity due to the coronavirus lockdowns, earning the User’s Choice award for Best App. The streaming service provided entertainment for families spending more time at home, and its original content, such as “The Mandalorian,” also appealed to adult viewers.

Beyond the primary winners, Google acknowledged other noteworthy titles, including Centr, a fitness application led by Chris Hemsworth, Intellect, an app focused on behavioral modification, and games such as The Gardens Between, Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells, and Sky: Children of the Light.

The Play Store also presented awards within specific gaming subgenres, including best competitive games, best indie titles, best pick-up-and-play games, and best game changers. The recipients of these awards are Brawlhalla, Bullet Echo, GWENT: The Witcher Card Game, Legends of Runeterra, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, Cookies Must Die, GRIS, inbento, Maze Machina, Sky: Children of Light, Disney Frozen Adventures, DreamWorks Trolls Pop, EverMerge, Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells, SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off, Fancade, Genshin Impact, Minimal Dungeon RPG, Ord., and The Gardens Between.

Additional top applications received recognition in categories like best everyday essentials, best for personal growth, best hidden gems, best for fun, and best apps for good. These winning applications include Calmaria, Grid Diary, The Pattern, Whisk, Zoom, Centr, Intellect, Jumprope: How-to Videos, Paired: Couples App, Speekoo, Cappuccino, Explorest, Loóna, Paperless Post, Tayasui Sketches, Bazaart, Disney+, Dolby On, Reface, Vita, GreenChoice, Medito, and ShareTheMeal.

The “Best of” film selections for 2020 included “Bill & Ted Face the Music,” “Just Mercy,” “Miss Juneteenth,” “Onward,” and “Parasite”; while the winning books were “A Promised Land” by Barack Obama, “The City We Became” by N.K. Jesmin, “Riot Baby” by Tochi Onyebuchi, “Solutions and Other Problems” by Allie Brosh, and “You Had Me at Hola” by Alexis Daria.