Pokemon GOtook the world by storm in its 2016 release, and it’s maintained a steady following ever since. With the wonders of augmented reality (AR),Pokemon GOfinally brought the hit Pokemon franchise on a more personal level to its fans worldwide. Given its international acclaim, it’s no wonder other franchises and concepts adoptedPokemon GO’sapproach to using AR for rather immersive gaming experiences.
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And while there’s been a number ofPokemon GOclones to have used the hit game’s AR approach, very few rose to the status of being their “own” phenomenon. For fans ofPokemon GO, just whichPokemon GOclones are worth trying out?
10Angry Birds AR: Isle Of Pigs
Albeit lacking the AR exploration component ofPokemon GO, players can useAngry Birds AR: Isle of Pigsto make their tabletop adventures more entertaining. Players bored to death near a surface can log off their social media and boot upIsle of Pigs. In this AR title, the game transforms any surface into the samedestructible environments ofAngry Birds.
Despite lacking the deeper mechanics ofPokemon GO,Isle of Pigscan definitely take boredom off the equation for players. The lack of demand for walking and exploration can makeIsle of Pigsa very stationary yet equally-entertaining AR title. After all, if players stretch the mechanics (pun intended), pulling a slingshot to topple a puzzle does seem similar to throwing a Pokeball off the screen.
9dARk: Subject One
Players who want to takePokemon GOand its exploration component to another dimension can “literally” do so indARk: Subject One. This game, which uses Apple’s ARKit tech, is an AR-basedhorror title. Despite its short story, Subject One explores the potential of AR in creating immersive and thrilling experiences.
The game takes place in the real world, where players are prompted to enter a “tear” in spacetime to an alternate reality while finding someone. Unlike the exploration-heavy components ofPokemon GO,Subject Onecan have its story happen right where players are standing. This makes it less strenuous in terms of exploration yet still captures the innatePokemon GOappeal of walking around.
8AR Dragon
Perhaps more inspired by the Trainer-Pokemon relationships in thePokemonfranchise,AR Dragongets players their very own dragon. When they start the game, they hatch a baby dragon that they need to take care of as days go by. Akin to a virtual pet, they can see their dragon in full AR view - from cute little hatchlings to giant dragons that occupy the AR space.
Contrary toPokemon GO,AR Dragonputs a huge emphasis on the “caring” aspect for the dragons. Players can feed their dragons with various foods or play with them to increase their mood. Oftentimes, players can train their dragons to do various tricks and engage in minigames to keep gamers entertained for hours.
7Ghostbusters World
Fans of horror who want a lighter ghost hunting experience will know who they gotta call. Or in this case, what app they’re going to boot. As the name suggests,Ghostbusters Worldwill task players into doing ghostbusting into their own neighborhood.
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At its core,Ghostbusters Worldis an exploration-based AR where players capture ghosts using various ghost traps. UnlikePokemon GO, the game has quite a refreshing take on the monster-hunting concept. However, franchise fans would appreciate the game’s unique storyline - a tale that ties into the series’ main narrative!
6Geocaching
Players more interested inPokemon GOand its exploration aspect can become treasure hunters inGeocaching.As devs from Groundspeak Inc. describe, Geocaching is perhaps the largest treasure hunt in the entire world. Taking its name from the real-world concept,Geocachingreplicates real-world “Geocaching” that supposedly uses GPS to locate hidden stashes of items called geocaches. In the app, the concept works much in the same way.
Despite the travel restrictions in today’s pandemic, players can hop on theGeocachingapp to see if there are real geocaches near their location. What separatesGeocachingfrom other AR games is the fact that geocaches are often real-world items. And other players who create their own geocaches sometimes leave puzzles for others to solve, adding a mystery component to them.
5Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
What betterPokemon GOclone to play than one created by the game’s devs, themselves? This time around, Niantic Studios will transform players into Wizards of the Wizarding World throughHarry Potter: Wizards Unite. In this ARG, players explore the real world transposed with locations, creatures, concepts, andeven characters from the acclaimed Wizarding World.
LikePokemon GO, players can gather resources in Inns (instead of PokeStops), and fight mythical beasts (instead of Pokemon). At the beginning of the game, players create a character that will eventually become an Auror, a Magizoologist, or a Professor!
Fans ofThe Walking Deadcan get into Walker-slaying themselves withThe Walking Dead: Our World.In this ARG, the real world gets transposed intothe Walker-filled apocalypse ofThe Walking Dead. This time around, players roam the world as Survivors - gathering supplies, establishing bases, and killing Walkers that threaten their progress.
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Despite the existence of other zombie-themed ARGs, Our World has the depth ofThe Walking Dead. In turn, players can expect a solid gameplay loop alongside entertaining battles.
3Ingress
Fans ofPokemon GOwho want to get involved in a world of spies and hackers might appreciate the clandestine world of Ingress. What’s more, fun is that Ingress served asthe first game from the folks of Niantic Studiosprior toPokemon GO!
In Ingress, players take on the role of agents who need to discover portals around them. As players progress through the game, they become part of either the Resistance or the Enlightened. Agents who are part of the Enlightened try to conquer the world, whereas the Resistance brings the fight back to the Enlightened.
2Run An Empire
Anyone who’s ever jogged for a while will feel a sense of “ownership” to the areas they’ve been running in. Thanks toRun An Empire, players become mini-rulers themselves as their very running grounds become their own turf. At its core, this transforms the idea of jogging into a light-hearted strategy game.
When gamers playRun An Empire, the locations around them become segregated into areas highlighted in hexagons. Players who complete running around hexes will capture them, adding to their territory. This strategy will actively encourage players to get more active, if not for fitness, at least for their turf.
1Zombies, Run!
Unlike otherPokemon GOclones, players can get a more straightforward experience withZombies, Run!Instead of being a typical ARG,Zombies, Run!isheavily a cardio experience. In the game, players take on the role of Runners, sprinters who bring resources around bases on foot. Players can then choose missions to play, each of which has dynamic options such as distance units.
However, the fun begins when players turn on “Zombie Chases.” With this option, fictional zombies chase players around throughout the mission - encouraging them to run further and much faster. Players can fail the mission if they get caught, giving them more incentives to get going with their cardio.
