Top 10 Best Augmented Reality Games of All Time
Augmented reality (AR) games bring the digital world into your everyday surroundings, blending technology with real-life experiences in a way that makes gaming more interactive than ever. Unlike traditional video games that keep you glued to a screen, AR games use your phone's camera, GPS, and sensors to overlay digital elements onto the real world. This means you could be catching virtual creatures in your local park, defending your neighborhood from alien invasions, or uncovering hidden clues on your daily walk.Some AR games focus on exploration, encouraging you to get outside and discover new places, while others transform fitness into an adventure, turning your run into a thrilling escape from zombies. There are also AR games built around strategy, teamwork, and puzzles, giving you new ways to interact with friends or even strangers who are playing the same game in the same area. No matter the style, the best AR games make you feel like part of the action, blurring the line between fantasy and reality.
This list features some of the most popular and innovative AR games, and it's up to you to decide which ones deserve the top spots.
Pokémon Go is perhaps one of the first augmented reality games to reach the top, sparking the trend of augmented app development. Since early July 2016, Pokémon Go has gained over a hundred million downloads. It is still played by millions today, though common technical issues have driven many people away. Despite this, it remains one of the best mobile games of all time.
Pokémon Go brings people of all ages, races, genders, and backgrounds together for a common cause: to defeat the Raid Boss! Playing games is an important part of life, and Pokémon Go does a great job of getting people up, outside, and walking. It's one of the best ways to make new friends on a neutral platform.
Footnote: Wizards Unite might be another great game, but I spend too much on Pokémon Go as it is to start another AR game.
The next Pokémon Go trend craze, developed by the same company, follows similar concepts but allows players to cast spells and battle fantasy creatures. It's a Harry Potter-themed game (hence the title). Since its release, it has reached over 5 million downloads this year.
Zombies, Run! is a zombie-themed augmented reality game where the player's goal is to survive a zombie apocalypse by running, following missions, and listening to audio narrations throughout the game. Players can also collect supplies like food and other essential items to support bases while running. This game is perfect for strenuous exercise.
Developed by the same company, Niantic, it was released a few years before Pokémon Go and is still actively played today. It comprises interesting and dynamic plots: an unusual material was discovered in the game and named Exotic Matter (XM). This resulted in two factions: The Resistance and The Enlightened. The main goal of The Resistance is to defend human society from the exotic material, while The Enlightened aims to use XM to evolve society. Players can choose the faction they most believe in. There are still many clues to uncover in this game.
An upcoming game that is rarely released, Minecraft Earth shares many concepts and mechanics with the original game. It is currently in the beta stage and available on certain platforms and in certain locations. Since Minecraft is considered one of the most popular games, this game is expected to reach immense popularity upon public release.
A horror-based game not for the faint of heart. Night Terrors offers a virtual paranormal experience with scary but realistic creatures lurking behind obstacles. Overall, it's an interesting but frightening concept.
A shooting game with impressive gameplay and an outstanding concept. You'll fly a helicopter capable of bombarding multiple zombies using various weapons. Paired with satisfying gameplay, graphics, and user-friendly controls, this game is addictive, though it can get tedious later.
A location-based and augmented reality game that is extremely overlooked. Discover Indian myths and treasure trails both indoors and outdoors.
The concept is simple: stack bricks as high as possible. The bricks get smaller over time with each placement. The game can be optionally played in AR.
It has the typical basic gameplay elements of basketball. The gameplay is extremely simple: shoot hoops in this game. For sports lovers, it's a satisfactory game in the short term.