Pokémon Go has caused legions of players around the world to get up and explore their surroundings. There is something exciting about this newfound popularity of location-based games, a genre that has been technically possible for several years, but has languished in relative ease until now. The widespread adoption of mobile devices with GPS and powerful processors has allowed developers to explore new types of games that combine the digital and analog worlds.
The genre continues to grow, but the massive popularity of Pokémon Go has already spawned some impressive new titles. Here are the eleven best location-based games for iOS and Android.
Ingress Prime
Pokémon Go didn’t come out of nowhere. Developer Niantic (founded in 2020 as a grant from Google) launched Ingress in 2012, which was, until now, the largest GPS location-based mobile game. Players are divided into two rival factions of “agents” who battle for control of the “portals,” which correspond to points of interest in the real world, such as PokéStops and Gyms in Pokémon Go . Triangulating three portals gives you control over the area bounded to that faction, earning them points as long as the area is held.
Ingress’s narrative framework is a science fiction setting in which a newly discovered form of exotic matter (XM), causes a heated division over how it should be used for humanity. Due to its direct relationship, Ingress has a lot in common with Pokémon Go , but the former features stronger gaming and social elements, along with a passionate community that has already invested years. The game has changed a lot over the years, so much so that the developers decided to rename the entire project to Ingress Prime .
Zombies, Run!
Ingress and Pokémon Go count exercise as a side benefit of the game, but they don’t provide the same direct motivation as a horde of zombies on your heels. As the name implies, this title is an “exergame” that provides a mission and reward structure as motivation for jogging. With over a million players, its website boasts that the title is the most popular fitness game ever for smartphones.
While zombies, as a whole, may be a bit overused in today’s popular culture, so it’s hard to argue that the theme doesn’t fit perfectly with the game’s activity. The game has over 200 missions and a base-building meta, which should help even the most reluctant racers stay engaged.
Landlord
Do you want to buy the Brooklyn Bridge?
The owner is basically IRL Monopoly . Players start out with a generous loan of in-game currency that they invest to become real estate moguls. You buy a percentage of buildings, landmarks, and local businesses, and then collect a rent based on the number of people checking into the location via Facebook and Foursquare. Players can also trade and upgrade your properties to increase their value, competing against each other to be the greatest tycoon out there.
Geocaching
Unlike other games on this list, Geocaching is not a low-key product from a particular developer, but rather a great community-driven activity. In many ways, it is the ancestor of all these location-based games, ever since it began in 2000 when GPS was first opened to the general public.
Participants hide GPS containers around the world and then other people use the coordinates to find them and see what they contain. At the very least, it contains a log book that players sign, but some contain more interesting secrets.
Community standards dictate that if players find something in a cache, they replace it with something of equal or greater value. We’ve included the link to two free Geocaching apps below, but there are more feature-rich premium options available as well. While you may not have the elaborate metagame compared to Ingress , this title has a vibrant global community behind it that is far more established than any other game on our list.
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
This is the closest thing to a traditional Pokémon Go experience . Also developed by Niantic, Wizards Unite takes the same formula as its sibling, but adds a unique Harry Potter twist to the action. You’ll keep roaming your town, but instead of catching Pokémon, you’ll be looking for Foundables. These come in the form of creatures, mementos, and other objects from the Harry Potter universe that have been possessed by evil magic.
Players cast spells and fight these forces by tracing patterns on the screen with their finger, some of which become increasingly difficult at higher levels. Fans of the wizarding world owe it to themselves to download this location-based game. In a free game and can be found on both iOS and Android.
Minecraft earth
Not surprisingly, Minecraft’s blocky world is perfectly suited for location-based augmented reality (AR) gameplay. The game takes everything we love in the original and does an excellent job of turning it into a mobile title. Players are free to explore their surroundings, but can also take on smaller sections that allow them to dig underground, explore cave systems, and deal with the dreaded creepers.
The crafting approximates a virtual Lego set, where you can let your imagination run wild before expanding to a life-size creation. As usual, there is your usual variety of leveling up, crafting equipment, and exploring the world with your friends. She is an ambitious of the genre and shows great use of technology.
Resources
Looking for something a little more strategic? Resources is a more complex game than others on this list as it attempts to simulate a massive player-driven economy. You will scour the real world in search of resource deposits, while managing your inventory of coal, clay, oil, and other commodities.
If that gets tedious, you can always attack other players and try to loot their hard-earned resources. No matter how you acquire them, you’ll want to amass a horde of these items to improve your operations and make headlines in game news. It’s not for the faint of heart, and it has a bit of a learning curve, but there is nothing like it on the market.
Jurassic World Alive
Although it may not be as popular as Wizards Unite or Pokémon Go , Jurassic World Alive has a dedicated player count and enough content to keep you busy for years. Fans of the series will encounter iconic beasts that will level up, replay, and battle in real-time matches.
You will have to wander your world to find these prehistoric creatures and collect your DNA, the main driving force of the game. Between combat, evolution, and breeding, there’s a lot to think about. Fortunately, Jurassic World Alive does a great job of guiding you through its various mechanics and is fairly easy for beginners to learn.
Orna
Players who enjoy classic turn-based RPGs will find much to love in Orna . This bizarre title combines common RPG tropes like turn-based combat, party building, and class specializations, with all the features seen in today’s best location-based games. You’ll dive into dungeons, face challenging bosses, and collect over 1,000 items as you explore the real world around you.
Once you’ve formed an unstoppable team, take action online and compete with others on a PvP battlefield, or join a kingdom to access online raids. It has a lot to offer especially for demanding players, even being as popular as other games of this genre.
Dragon Quest Walk
Currently only available in Japan but playable elsewhere through some technical shenanigans, Dragon Quest Walk has been making waves since its launch in late 2019. By early 2020, the game had already racked up over $ 150 million. income, despite being available in only one country.
Unsurprisingly, players find themselves wandering the game’s fields as they battle slimes, golemns, and other franchise staples. They can also personalize their own home and furnish it with items found during their trip. Nothing is known yet about the location for the west, but we can be hopeful that a 2020 release is on the horizon. Until then, tech-savvy users can internally use this workaround to run on their devices.
Ghostbusters world
Turn off the proton beam and defeat the Marshmallow Man in this wild mobile game. It’s not as polished as other titles, but Ghostbusters World is more than just a cash grab. The action unfolds around a new story featuring several fan-favorite characters from the original film.
Players in the same area can team up to battle powerful bosses or put their mettle to the test in PvP matches. Clear your world of ghosts, discover hidden locations, and level up your powers as you race through your haunted neighborhood. Ghostbusters World can be downloaded for free on both iOS and Android.