Games Similar to Pokemon GO

While AR games existed in a minor capacity before Pokemon GO, Pokemon GO was the game that ended up truly popularizing the concept. This is why, after Pokemon GO hit it big, scores of AR games flooded the app stores, eager to get a piece of the action. Most of these games are, to put it politely, cheap knock-offs, but some of them actually utilize Pokemon GO’s framework in new and interesting ways. Here are some games similar to Pokemon GO that may be worth checking out.

Zombies, Run!

Do you like to go jogging on a regular basis, but find the whole process a bit boring? Well, you know really gets the blood pumping? Zombies biting at your heels! In this game, your regular jogs become full of virtual zombies hounding you down the sidewalk. Using an advanced audio system, the game provides sound cues that clue you in to when zombies are nearby, all while painting a surprisingly engrossing audio drama of your efforts to secure supplies for a survivor settlement. 

Ingress

The mobile game that helped Niantic get their feet wet with AR, Ingress encourages you to explore your neighborhood in order to seek out mysterious portals leaking otherworldly energy. Visit local landmarks (not unlike PokeStops) to gather energy and resources, link portals together to create control fields, and wrest control of the world away from the rival faction. You can make friends with other players to coordinate the capture and control of all of your town’s portals. 

Geocaching

The only thing more fun than a treasure hunt is a treasure hunt where everyone in the world is a participant. In Geogaching, you can use your radar to track down millions of hidden chests and trinkets around the world. These prizes are accompanied by clues and puzzles to point you in the right direction. Geocaches aren’t just in-app prizes, though; they’re real! Players of the app have hidden real-life items in various spots, and when you find one, you can take something from it, sign a log book, or leave a little prize of your own. It’s a great community to join, and a fun way to get out and explore your town.

AR Dragon

Part of the appeal of Pokemon GO is being able to interact with a cute little extra-dimensional fantasy creature, and when it comes to fantasy creatures, you can’t do much better than an old fashioned dragon. AR Dragon allows you to hatch and raise your very own dragon from a baby, playing with it, caring for it, and dressing it up in funny hats. With the AR camera, you can also take pictures of your dragon in real places, or take selfies with it. Thanks to the game’s built-in algorithms, every single dragon that hatches is entirely unique, your very own flying, fire breathing little buddy. 

Pikmin Bloom

Another, more recent joint trip from Nintendo and Niantic, Pikmin Bloom lets players grow their own tiny, squeaking legion of Pikmin. Walk around your neighborhood to pick up seeds and plant them in planters to grow even more Pikmin, then send those Pikmin off on journeys to local landmarks to bring you back helpful resources. They’ll even take pictures of their trips for you! Oh, and don’t worry, you can put hats on them. Every AR game is improved by letting you put hats on things. It’s a fact.

The Witcher: Monster Slayer

A common staple of contemporary fiction is that there are monsters hiding around the corner of every facet of modern society. Vicious monsters, I mean, not cute and marketable ones like Pokemon. Well, what would you do if you could suddenly see those monsters? Pick up a sword and fight back, that’s what! In The Witcher: Monster Slayer, you can track monsters and creatures of the night as they stalk around the countryside (i.e. your backyard) and hunt them down. When you make contact with a monster, you’ll take up a sword and do battle with them through the AR camera! In addition to battling monsters, you can also encounter quest-giving NPCs, all designed in the dark fantasy style that The Witcher is known for.