What are the best geolocation-based (GPS) games for mobile (Android and/or iOS) ?

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Jul 28, 2022

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6 Games Considered

Best geolocation-based (GPS) games for mobile (Android and/or iOS)	Price	Genre	Co-Op
-- Ingress	Free	Augmented reality	Online
-- Pokémon GO	Free	-	-
-- Orna: A Geo-RPG	FREE	-	-
-- Badge(r)s	FREE+	-	-
-- Launched!	-	-	-

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score 4 · Answer 1

Ingress

Top Con

To play seriously, you need to get involved with the local community as the strength of one alone is not enough

Top Pro

Intriguing cyberpunk story that is always evolving

There's a story of espionage, near-future technology and conspiracy surrounding the game. Mainly told through nianticproject.com and recently branched to Google Plus. See More

Specs

Genre:Augmented reality

Co-Op:Online

Controller Support:No

Top Con

Congested areas are already dominated

It's an extremely fun concept, walking around and building up an affinity with local nodes to you. However, the fun comes to an abrupt stop when a wandering high-level player, in one visit, levels your affinity and puts you in a position where you have no hope of affecting their control. The long-term and serious players leave new players with very little recourse. Completely kills the fun. Though if left untended the whole area will be neutral again in around 7 days. There is also a way to gain Experience (AP) off enemy portals. While being a problem it does appear to be an isolated issue that can be rectified by working in groups. Even when that is not possible there should still be enough density of portals to allow low-level players to achieve higher levels that then can affect most portals. See More

Top Pro

Enveloping real-world gameplay where the environment is part of the game itself

Ingress is an augmented reality game, so you have to move around the real world to progress in the game, with all that it entails - weather, time of day, city density, etc. The game will follow your movement through your devices' GPS, meaning it works in real time and considers all of the surrounding environment. This makes for a situation that feels all that more real due to traveling in the real world. See More

Top Con

Requires data plan and location

This game, or any game with the same concepts, cannot be used without both a data plan and location. That being said, the game works fine over a wifi connection, which is useful if you can sweet-talk portal owners into giving you the password. See More

Top Pro

Great for exploration and physical activity thanks to how much the game asks the user to travel around

Ingress will get you out and about, walk, bike, drive, swim, float or otherwise. You will notice more of your surroundings, more artwork and interesting places. You will explore areas to find potential new points of interest. It will also get you fitter in the meantime. See More

Top Con

Drains battery quickly

The game requires players to walk around real-life locations using mobile data and GPS for periods of time, which is a massive battery drain. Don't expect to get more than a couple of hours gaming outside from most smartphones. See More

Top Pro

Great way to meet new people as the game directs numerous people to the same locations

Meeting new people through a game is a very new concept, and it helps to increase your social circle and gives you a reason to get out of your house and discover your local area. See More

Top Con

Cheating is extremely prevalent

People use multiple accounts/devices and GPS spoofing in some regions, which makes it difficult if not impossible to take points away from them. See More

Top Pro

Helps teach cryptography principles through the gameplay

Niantic posts daily storyline updates containing passcodes solvable with common cryptographic principles for in-game items. Loads of fun, helps you get gear, and lets you learn a thing or two about classical crypto and encodings. See More

Top Con

Now has In-App purchases

With the most recent updates, Niantic has introduced a number of game items that are only available via in-app purchase. See More

Top Pro

Huge organized events where you can meet up with like minded people

Officially sanctioned anomaly events are hosted in cities around the world. Hundreds and sometimes thousands of players gather to try and dominate for their faction. Check the Ingress event page as well as the Ingress Google+ page for more info. See More

Top Con

Poor interface

It's a pain to manage 2000 keys manually without any option of group operation on them. This is not an issue at first, but as the player's key collection adds up, it becomes a lot more difficult to manage. See More

See All

score 1 · Answer 2

Pokémon GO

Top Con

Drains battery fast

While battery life varies greatly person to person, with the constant data and GPS connection as well as the screen constantly on, Pokemon GO drains battery very quickly. Hardcore players will want certainly want to invest in a portable battery pack. See More

Top Pro

Is more viable solo, but a team helps when dealing with Gyms

Top Con

Requires a constant data connection

While it only takes around 15MB of data per hour (give or take), Pokemon GO requires a constant data and GPS connection. This can use up your megabytes fairly quickly if you go out somewhat frequently. See More

Top Pro

Rich experience thanks to a seasoned developer team

The Pokémon team grouped up with Nyantic Labs (creators of Ingress) for Pokémon GO. Nyantic Labs is affiliated with Google, and use Google's data to create a vast database of public areas. The partnership with the Pokemon Team allows Pokemon GO to use Ingress data to have a rich experience right out of the gate, sharing many of the same points of interest. See More

Top Pro

Encourages walking around outside

You need to physically wander around to find pokémon, visit points, and incubate eggs (your phone tracks your steps which will eventually hatch the egg). It's a great incentive to get a little exercise. See More

Top Pro

Uses intuitive setting placement for gameplay

Pokemon GO takes place in the world around you, and invites you to go out and explore the area. There are Pokestops which offer items, and these Pokestops are typically interesting places such as libraries, churches, parks, etc. Pokemon also typically stay in regions which appeal to them, water Pokemon show up more frequently around ponds or lakes, while normal Pokemon (Mouth, Ratatta, and Eevee) show up more in urban areas. See More

See All

score 2 · Answer 3

Orna: A Geo-RPG

Top Con

It can get grindy at higher levels

Top Pro

Constantly updated with new content

Top Pro

Uses old-school turn based combat

Top Pro

Has great GPS mechanics

Top Pro

Free

See All

score 2 · Answer 4

Badge(r)s

Top Pro

Even possible in single player

But multiplayer is recommended. See More

Top Pro

Worldwide available

Top Pro

Casual

You can play it every day but also once a year without much disadvantage. See More

Top Pro

Totally unique

See All

score 1 · Answer 5

Launched!

Top Pro

Amazing community

Just a lot of really chill people, and an active discord. See More

Top Con

Kind of hard

It can be difficult to build up during war time. See More

PrudentSpes's Experience

A wonderful game overall. Tons of fun. The world map concept is amazing, and it has some riveting battles. The feeling of launching dozens of missiles at someone is fantastic. The multiplayer experience really adds to everything in a way that most geolocation games really fail at. Just a wonderful game if you drive a lot, or just need something to pass the time. See More

Top Pro

Multiplayer aspect is fantastic

There are some really kickass battles where dozens of players shoot hundreds of missiles at eachother. See More

Top Pro

Something to do while you drive

You can collect ore from mines and such. See More

See All

score 1 · Answer 6

Munzee

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Answer 7

6 Games Considered

My Recommendation for Ingress

My Recommendation for Ingress

To play seriously, you need to get involved with the local community as the strength of one alone is not enough

Intriguing cyberpunk story that is always evolving

Congested areas are already dominated

Enveloping real-world gameplay where the environment is part of the game itself

Requires data plan and location

Great for exploration and physical activity thanks to how much the game asks the user to travel around

Drains battery quickly

Great way to meet new people as the game directs numerous people to the same locations

Cheating is extremely prevalent

Helps teach cryptography principles through the gameplay

Now has In-App purchases

Huge organized events where you can meet up with like minded people

Poor interface

My Recommendation for Pokémon GO

My Recommendation for Pokémon GO

Drains battery fast

Is more viable solo, but a team helps when dealing with Gyms

Requires a constant data connection

Rich experience thanks to a seasoned developer team

Encourages walking around outside

Uses intuitive setting placement for gameplay

My Recommendation for Orna: A Geo-RPG

My Recommendation for Orna: A Geo-RPG

It can get grindy at higher levels

Constantly updated with new content

Uses old-school turn based combat

Has great GPS mechanics

Free

My Recommendation for Badge(r)s

My Recommendation for Badge(r)s

Even possible in single player

Worldwide available

Casual

Totally unique

My Recommendation for Launched!

My Recommendation for Launched!

Amazing community

Kind of hard

Multiplayer aspect is fantastic

Something to do while you drive

My Recommendation for Munzee

My Recommendation for Munzee

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