How come the best augmented reality games deliver a satisfyingly thrilling user experience and go head to head with consoles in the gaming war?
The augmented reality has been at the center of the gaming technology for quite some time now. Evidently, it has moved beyond a mere concept as gamers are fighting aliens, grabbing historical treasures, roaming ancient ruins, and rampaging through a dreaded roller coaster from an AR-equipped smartphone or gaming console.
According to this year’s data, the global augmented reality market size is expected to grow at 32% CAGR with $76.99 billion in revenue from a period of 2020 to 2024. Apparently, still a lot more to come in the AR/VR technology for both app developers and businesses alike.
Here are some of the best augmented reality games for Android and iOS that you should consider playing in 2020.
Pokémon Go
Although the release was around four years back, but this epic project by Niantic is still considered a major breakthrough in the AR technology. Pokémon Go allows users to roam around real surroundings and collect virtually animated objects.
Until now, users might have collected millions, or even billions, of Pokémon as the augmented reality marvel is still going strong.
Ingress
Another popular Niantic name that came out in 2012, still a hit among many Android and iOS users. The core essence of the game is its captivating plot—the world has discovered a dark energy which has the power to alter your thought process. With the two factions fighting for dominance, the Enlightened aims to use the energy to dominate humanity, while the Resistance wants to control mankind.
The user will select a side, and locate and grab the sources present in the city. Seemingly, this open world game offers plenty of things against a smartphone perspective. You’ll walk through streets; discover powerful energy sources; acquire skills, signs and hidden clues; and battle between factions.
ARrrrrgh
The game is a twisted version of hide-n-seek elements with a pirate touch—paired with a parrot, treasure hunts and rum. The surroundings in the gameplay are the quest places where you’d find treasure boxes with gold.
As the game is still in its early stages, it doesn’t display any in-app ads, allowing users to totally focus on the gameplay.
Temple Treasure Hunt
A geolocation based game especially tempting for users into mysteries and myths. You either play as a treasure protector or hunter, hence, allowing you to play indoors or outdoors. Throughout the gameplay, users encounter Indian mythical characters as the guardians of treasures.
Temple Treasure Hunt encourages users to use real map and place guardians on the outdoor areas, or physical touchpoints in the indoor places. And the location markers keep you moving in the right direction.
Zombies, Run!
The best AR game for The Walking Dead lovers and alike! Users get to become a hero in this Zombie apocalyptic game and run for survival of the fittest.
Zombie, Run! uses GPS and pace tracking to precisely track your location in the game. Users will also play their favorite tracks in the background as they try to walk, jog, or outrun zombies while collecting essential supplies.
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
Certainly, a game for the pure Potterheads! Although the novels and movies are long gone, but this AR game travels you back in time to relive the magic and mysteries at Hogwarts.
Users have the freedom to choose their own house, wand, profession, etc. and prepare to battle the mystical beasts in the mythical world. As an entertaining pitstop, you can visit greenhouses, inns, and fortresses located near your actual surroundings.
Jurassic World Alive
It’s time to bring back your primordial imaginations and visit the Jurassic period, for real. Jurassic World Alive, a game by Ludia Inc., provides missions for users to gather dinosaur DNAs from various places and create new dinosaur hybrids accordingly.
You can also go head to head with your friends’ teams in real time areas for a relentlessly exciting experience. Through your smartphone’s GPS, find and collect numerous species within your locality. The seamless, classic graphics allow users to easily make their own strategies and create the most powerful dinosaur hybrid out there.
Ghostbusters World
As the name suggests, you’re getting ready to bust some ghosts in your area. You have the best chance to create your own Scooby Doo team and kills ghosts through this AR-based game.
Users get to choose various classic story characters as their in-game avatars including Peter Venkman, Raymond Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddemore. Besides hunting ghosts in the neighborhood, you can also enter different dimension doors in close locations.
Euclidean Lands
If you’re into spatial games, then Euclidean Lands is the title to try right away. Users will go through a complex puzzle where their characters will walk through different 3D structures. Throughout the maze, you’ll encounter opponents to kill in order to make it through the exit.
You can even change the perspectives by rotating the 3D puzzles. Apparently, a game that will challenge your problem solving skills and patience to the limit.
Splitter Critters
How about playing a brainless game and keep yourself entertained for as long as you want? Then Splitter Critters is the easiest AR-based game to lay your hands on.
Users are assigned the mission to escort cute little critters back to their spaceship safe and sound. However, it’s not as boring and simple as it sounds, the gameplay presents a planet consisting various dangers, complex puzzles, and creative navigation to keep the fun element intact. The graphics and soundscapes perfectly align with the soft tone of the game.
Thoughts!
This is our list of the best augmented reality games for Android and iOS in 2020. However, the margin to add more is always there as professional app developers are working relentlessly to create top-notch gaming apps with superior UI/UX elements.
It doesn’t matter if you go through tech and software based online sources for mere knowledge, or hire a development team separately, the battle to create powerful business tools has heated up with more versatile players entering the market and fighting to claim a competitive edge.
Imran Abdul Rauf is a Digital Marketing Strategist, employed at CMOLDS, and specializes in content marketing, email marketing campaigns, lead generation, and other aspects of digital marketing. A content enthusiast by the day, and hardcore gamer by night, Imran is also a regular guest contributor at some of the top tech and digital marketing platforms.
