The rising popularity of AR games like Pokemon Go is rapidly increasing. With the limitless opportunities to enter into a fantasy world where players get to be any creature they want to be and go on adventures that are virtually out of this world, AR games are leading the ranks in the gaming industry. The best thing about it is that you only need a good mobile data connection and your smartphone to enjoy all the adventures that await you in all the best AR games.
Unlike many mobile games that have been criticized for causing gamers and other frequent mobile players to spend hours at home, leading a sedentary lifestyle, AR games merge the real and the virtual. It gets people moving!
The Rise of Pokemon Go
If you don’t know what Pokemon is, you’ve probably been living out in a desolate area. Pokemons are mystical, amazing, and very cute creatures that you can capture, train, and fight with on various platforms. There are currently multiple versions of the game, each with its own variation on the original set of 829 monsters. The goal is simple: You gotta catch ‘em all!
Even before the actual Pokemon Go game came out, Pokemon was already very popular. What the game did, however, was bringing this fantasy world into reality as players could “see” the Pokemon through their screens. Relying on GPS technology and the cameras on your smartphones, you had to walk around and explore the world to discover and capture these creatures. Even more amusing was how the game made it feel like actual pokemon were somehow roaming the real world.
Top 20 Mobile Games Like Pokemon Go
1. Ingress
Developer: Niantic, Inc.
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: FREE
Downloads: over 10 million at Google Play
Enter a Sci-fi world where you get to choose which side you’re on. The plot revolves around the discovery of Exotic Matter (XM) and other energies that you can discover when you explore the real world around you. The two sides that you can play on are referred to as factions, where “The Enlightened” seek to harness XM to take over mankind or to fight against those forces as part of the “Resistance”. Choose your side and enjoy the adventure with other “Agents” – as players are called – from around the world. The game actually allows communication between agents so you also get to make a couple of friends on this journey.
2. ARrrrrgh
Developer: Warpin Media
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: FREE
Downloads: over 10,000 at Google Play.
This pirate-themed game takes you out on a treasure hunting adventure with your smartphone as the map to help you discover the hidden treasures. Find the gold! That is the main goal for this AR adventure game. It’s a simple game that is really easy to play.
3. Temple Treasure Hunt
Developer: MobiTech Solutions
Available on:
Cost: FREE / 0.87$
Downloads: over 10,000 at Google Play.
Explore existing treasure trails to discover the Temple treasure of the game or create your own trails. This AR game lets you choose. You can also opt to play the game inside or outside of your home. The goal is to collect all the guardians and find the hidden treasure by searching the surrounding area. Don’t worry because you have an interactive map to guide you on your search. Your smartphone’s GPS gives the app your location, and this simulates the real game play of hunting for treasure. When you do find the guardians or the treasure, you’ll see it on your screen as though it was actually there.
4. Sharks in the Park
Developer: Duality Agreement
Available on: Android only
Cost: FREE
Downloads: over 1,000 at Google Play
This game is great for kids. It creates a digital underwater world on your phone’s screen. The immersive graphics creates a looking glass that brings you under the sea – virtually. It relies on GPS and should be played on a large outdoor field where a view of the sky and land is clear. It is definitely a lot more fun to explore in a large open space where you can see all the different underwater creatures on your screen.
5. dARk: Subject One
Developer: Combo Games
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: FREE
Downloads: over 1,000 at Google Play.
Horror enthusiasts will love this game as it takes on a similar plot from popular horror movies like Insidious and the Sci-Fi series Stranger Things, and creates a virtual parallel universe that you must enter in search for someone. If you aren’t into scary things, this game might not be for you; but you can challenge yourself to face this horror adventure.
6. WallaMe
Developer: Wallame Ltd
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: FREE
Downloads: over 50,000 at Google Play.
This game lets you become part of a community that shares secret messages all around. Create hidden messages of your own or enjoy perusing the digital graffiti that people get to leave around with this app. The only way to see the messages is through this app. WallaMe allows users to draw and write on walls around the world. With GPS tracking, the messages are digitally saved and become “permanent” digital graffiti on the walls.
7. Army of Robots
Developer: Sinergia Studios
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: FREE
Downloads: over 1,000 at Google Play
This game is not the usual shoot and play shooting game you can download on your phone. This game actually requires you to get up, scan around the area, and dodge the bullets and attacks. If you don’t move, you lose.
8. Zombie GO
Developer: HITGPX MEDIA
Available on:
Cost: FREE
Downloads: over 50,000 at Google Play.
Ever wondered what you should do if an actual zombie apocalypse happened? This game has got you. It gets you walking around, hunting zombies, and shooting them dead. Keep yourself alive by taking them head on. You also get a bunch of bonuses, weapon upgrades, and first aid cases to heal you. If you’re up for a challenge, the game also features “Hoard Mode” where you’ll have hoards of zombies coming at you.
9. Nightenfell: Shared AR
Developer: Hookbang LLC
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: $1.02
Downloads: over 1,000 at Google Play.
Multiplayer AR games are a fun way to go on adventures with your friends. Share the burden of having to save the world from the oncoming comets with up to 3 friends. You each have a set of magical powers that you can use to either blast the comets into pieces or to create special spells to freeze or divert the debris.
10. Zombie Gunship Revenant AR
Developer: Limbic
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: FREE
Downloads: over 1,000 at Google Play.
Fly and shoot with this app. Even better, you get to shoot at undead zombies. The game puts you at the controls of a battle helicopter that flies over a land infested with zombies. The HD graphics are really immersive and put you right in the middle of the action. While the controls can be a bit tricky to start, you’ll get used to it after some game time. Flight is controlled not by your fingers but by your body’s movement instead.
11. AR Dragon
Developer: Talking Pet
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: FREE
Downloads: over 10,000+ at Google Play
Are you ready for a pet dragon? Unfortunately, you won’t find any dragons up for adoption at your local pet shop. Instead, the AR Dragon game will give you one – that is, if you are ready for such great responsibility.
This AR game isn’t just a virtual pet that you keep on your phone. You have to feed, play, and take care of it as you would any other pet. You also have the added fun of dressing up your scaly friend with hats and glasses.
12. Zombies, Run!
Developer: Six to Start
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: FREE
Downloads: over 1 million at Google Play.
This game should actually be counted as a sports app to motivate – or scare you to exercise more. Unlike the other zombie apocalypse games, this one takes a more realistic approach. It also actually trains you in case an actual apocalypse occurs. This AR game relies on audio to guide you through a zombie adventure where you can hear them right behind you. Aside from just running away from zombies, the game also motivates you to help out the remaining survivors. Every run gives you supplies for the community.
13. Geocaching
Developer: Groundspeak Inc.
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: FREE
Downloads: over 5 million at Google Play.
Treasure hunting has been made a whole lot easier with AR games. Geocaching allows you to look for geocaches, which are hidden containers and treasures. It’s a great way to motivate yourself to explore the world around you. The fun part is that you get to solve different mini-puzzles on the game to unlock clues for the treasure. Make a few online friends who are also into geocaching so you can help each other out.
14. Brickscape
Developer: 5minLab
Available on:
Cost: Free / Up to $12.99
Downloads: over 500,000+ at Google Play.
If you’re into logic puzzles, Brickscape is a fun way to spend your time. The 3D graphics are great and each level is definitely challenging. The main goal of the game is to get the main piece outside of the box through this single exit route. In order to do this, you have to rearrange all the other blocks in the box to make way for the main piece to get out.
15. Egg, Inc
Developer: Auxbrain Inc
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: Freemium
Downloads: over 10 Million at Google Play.
This game only relies on a few AR components. However, the actual gameplay is a farm simulation where you get to start your own farm, grow your resources, and upgrade your equipment. It’s a simple game that is easy to navigate around. Growing your farm is quite fun. Overall, it’s a very laid back game that you can easily enjoy on your own time.
16. FishingStrike
Developer: Netmarble
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: Freemium
Downloads: over 5 Million at Google Play.
Turn your smartphone into a fishing rod as you fish for over 500 types of virtual fish. The realistic graphics makes you feel like you’ll be cooking up some of your catch for the day. However, the game doesn’t rely fully on AR technology. But you can view your fish in 3D mode when you decide to store them in your own virtual aquarium.
17. Ghostbusters World
Developer: FourThirtyThree Inc.
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: Freemium
Downloads: over 1 Million at Google Play.
In the popular Pokemon catching AR game, you explore the world to catch the Pokemon. In this AR game, you enter a world where ghosts are real and it is your job to catch them. There are many types of ghosts out there. Integrating a few characters from the Ghostbusters movie, you’ll definitely enjoy this if you’ve seen the film. And even if you haven’t, the chance to catch, collect, and battle your ghosts with other ghosts makes one exciting, and spooky game.
18. Knightfall AR
Developer: A&E Television Networks Mobile
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: Free
Downloads: over 100,000+ at Google Play.
Knightfall AR places you back to a time when knights were tasked to protect the kingdom. In this AR game, you have to battle invaders and protect the city’s most prized treasures. You have to defend your kingdom and attack the Mamluk enemies. In order to do that, you have to move around. Each win awards you with coins that help to level up your character, or upgrade your weapons and armor.
19. My Tamagotchi Forever
Developer: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: Freemium
Downloads: over 1 Million at Google Play.
A modern remake of the classic virtual pet. My Tamagotchi Forever adds in better graphics and fun mini-games to help you as you raise your Tamagotchi. Like any other pet, you have to feed, care, and play with it. You also get to accessorize your Tamagotchi. What makes this an AR game is how you get to explore towns.
20. The Walking Dead: Our World
Developer: Next Games
Available on: Android and iOS
Cost: Freemium
Downloads: over 5 Million at Google Play.
Based on the popular series, The Walking Dead, this AR game puts players in a world where killer zombies roam free. Using your smartphone, you have to keep an eye out for those brain eaters, kill them, and collect different memorabilia along the way. If you’re a fan of the series, this also lets you play the characters and upgrade them. Avoid getting killed and you can even get to unite and save other players.
The available AR games like Pokemon Go on the market cover a wide range of activities. Whether you are out looking for something that offers a thrill, a sense of adventure, or something more relaxing, there are AR games like Pokemon Go out there for you.
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