The ever-going development of technology has contributed on a lot of levels to the modernization of gadgets like our smartphones and PCs. The last few years have been hijacked by tech like Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Talking specifically about AR, it integrates the virtual world elements into the real world to make the users experience products in an entirely different way.
In respect of smartphone gaming, AR has been in the game for a long time now. The trailblazers of AR gaming were Ingress and Pokemon Go, and we believe that most of you have heard about both games. The stats of these games speak out about their popularity; Ingress has over 10 million downloads, while Pokemon Go has a whopping 100 million plus download count.
Not only this, but a report by Deloitte Digital and Snap Inc. suggested that approximately 75% of the global population will start actively using AR by 2025. This will further increase the share of AR gaming in the market for sure. But the story doesn’t end here.
As of now, the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store have a superabundance of AR games that you can play to experience jaw-dropping graphics and integration with the real-time world. Nonetheless, finding the best ones is always a task when you don’t know where to start.
Well, don’t get your tinsel in a tangle, as we are here with our list of the best Augmented Reality games for Android and iOS that you can have a weakness for. Before moving on to the list, we will have a word regarding the impact of AR games on generic audiences and how they can be game changers in terms of killing boredom without being unproductive.
What do AR games do, and how do they benefit us?
➡️ First things first, a few AR games in the market help in increasing online social interaction with the use of multiplayer modes and dedicated leaderboards.
➡️ In addition, most AR games require physical movement, which will always help you in making a small effort for your health (that doesn’t mean you should stop exercising and only play AR games).
➡️ No surprise that AR games add more fun and adventure to your life. Remember the time when most of us used to roam in the streets or here and there just to catch Pokemon in the real world via Pokemon Go? That’s what we are talking about; AR games give us the feeling of the lead character in a real-world game where we are responsible for our actions.
With all that in the picture, here we will kick start the list of best Augmented Reality games for Android and iOS that you can get your hands on.
Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs
The majority of us have played Angry Birds at least once in our lives. Now, this one from the franchise is a perfect blend of the real world and the virtual one. Imagine seeing your favored birdies in your room or the place where you are comfortable, destroying the pigs in the best way they can.
What we loved most about the Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs is that it allows you to get a 360-degree view of the pig towers so that you can find all the unrevealed surprises and bomb the pigs with high accuracy. Another major highlight of the game is that you can customize it according to your space (large to small) to enhance your experience.
The game consists of more than 70 levels, and the graphics of the game are quite satisfying. The UI of the game is identical to most of the Angry Birds games by Rovio; just the AR integration hits completely differently.
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Five Nights at Freddy’s AR
If you are someone who is into horror games, then Five Nights at Freddy’s AR is something that you are going to fall in love with. In the game, the players are supposed to subscribe to Fazbear Funtime Service and get their favorite animatronics on demand.
However, things go south when the visiting animatronics start malfunctioning and attacking the subscribers rather than entertaining them. The animatronics visit you at your place and even when you go somewhere.
To make the game interactive, the developers have also provided the option to send animatronics to your friends and other players in the game. The game’s graphics support its central theme and create a terrifying environment. Get ready for jump scares in case you have already made up your mind to play this one.
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Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
Potterheads, this is what you were craving for. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is the magical world created for Harry Potter fans where they can get a near-to first-hand experience of the magical journey of their favorite character.
Due to a magical catastrophe in the wizarding world, the Ministry of Magic has called you (don’t daydream, here we are talking about the in-game scenario) to right the ship.
In the game, you get to explore all the mainstream characters from both Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter, like Harry, Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore, Newts, Hippogriffs, Dragons, Nifflers, and a lot more. You can also make alliances with other witches and wizards in the game.
What intrigues us is the Adventure Sync feature of the game, which uses the location of the players in order to earn walking distance even when the application is not running.
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Download: Android
Jurassic World Alive
Our list of best Augmented Reality games is injected with nostalgia, and Jurassic World Alive strengthens the mentioned statement. Indulge in the world of dinosaurs and see what it would be like to walk with the dinosaurs in the real world. The players will also be able to control the dinosaurs’ size.
These ones are high-resolution dinosaurs that breathe, move, and even produce sounds in the environment with their activities. The application allows you to create videos and photos with these dinosaurs, too, and you can even share the media with your friends and family to amaze them.
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NBA All-World
How can we miss mentioning NBA All-World while talking about the best Augmented Reality games for smartphones? All the basketball fans are going to love the graphics and gameplay. You can even explore your neighborhood and go head-to-head with your favorite NBA players.
On top of that, the game also consists of drill basketball mini-games coupled with 1v1 gameplay. You can change the looks of the players in the game as well with top-notch gear from iconic sports and lifestyle brands. Setting up the game on your smartphone is no rocket science, and you even get a tutorial at the beginning.
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Download: Android
Pokémon GO
Pokémon GO is the revolutionary AR smartphone game that gained a lot of traction right after its launch in the global market. The game can be dubbed as the pioneer of the AR gaming industry as it has been relevant in the same since 2016. You are supposed to take part in the game as a trainer and catch all the Pokémon around you.
Furthermore, you can also work on your buddy Pokémon to make it more powerful with training and earn astounding rewards. With the latest update, the game also allows you to compete with other Pokémon GO trainers available in your proximity. All in all, we can say that Pokémon GO takes you down memory lane with the collection of Pokémon, and you’ll have to ‘catch them all’.
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The Walking Dead: Our World
The Walking Dead: Our World offers you the chance to fulfill your childhood wish of eradicating zombies along with millions of other players on the globe. As for the basic theme of the game, zombies or ‘the walkers’ have taken over the neighborhood and are feeding off humans. To save the world from destruction, you must get down in the arena with your weaponry and hunt each of these brain-dead menaces.
You can also go far away from your neighborhood while killing zombies with the Free Roam feature. Frosting on the cake is that you will also get a chance to lay with characters like Daryl Dixon from Season 1 of the show and Alpha from Season 10.
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Download: Android
Zombies, Run!
This one has a poles-apart approach towards a zombie apocalypse as compared to The Walking Dead. In Zombies, Run!, you are surrounded by zombies, and the only thing you have to do is run from them. The best part about the game is that you have to run in the real world to make sure you are safe in the game (that’s AR at its best for you).
The experience of heart pumping with fear, topped with zombie groans, and your favorite playlist from your phone makes the game highly immersive. You also have to gather supplies on your way back home. The game is ideal for people who want something highly challenging in a minimal way.
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Peridot
Have you ever wondered about keeping a magical creature as your pet? To be honest, we did. Peridot fulfills your fantasy as the game allows you to get in touch with a magic-fused creature that can even fly and always wants to be with you. You can even meet your friends and hatch new dots in the game that will carry their parent’s traits.
The most intriguing part about Peridot is that each dot has one-of-a-kind DNA, which means they are created especially for you. You can also share photos and videos of your dot on social media. So, if you are someone who was looking for a pet (that too a magical one), head to Peridot now to experience how it feels.
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In a nutshell
You can try any of the games mentioned earlier to experience Augmented Reality (AR) in real time. Most of the mentioned games keep getting updates regularly, enhancing aesthetics and functionality.
Not only most of the titles will hit you with nostalgia, but also they will let you play your favorite games in an all-new setting. In addition, we will also get to see more AR games for both iOS and Android in the future, considering the latest trends.
On the contrary, if you are someone who has a thing about challenging and tricky games, then you can check out our list of escape room games for the best suggestions.
