Top 20 Games Like Pokémon GO for AR Adventurers in 2025

For years, Pokémon GO has dominated the world of location-based AR games, inspiring millions to explore their neighborhoods. However, veteran players or those seeking a new challenge may be looking for the next great adventure to accompany their daily walks. The search for a fresh experience is on.

While the GPS gaming market has seen high-profile shutdowns, many stable and engaging alternatives thrive. This guide is curated to help you discover your next favorite games like Pokémon GO. Whether you are a collector, an RPG fan, or a strategist, we have highlighted the best active games available, ensuring your next adventure is a lasting one.

Part 1: 5 Games Focused on Monster Taming

If your favorite part of Pokémon GO is the thrill of the hunt and the joy of filling out a roster of creatures, these games will be right up your alley. They take the core "gotta catch 'em all" mechanic and apply it to new and exciting universes.

1. Monster Hunter Now

Developed by Niantic in partnership with Capcom, this is the most polished and direct competitor to Pokémon GO. You are a hunter, and the real world is filled with massive, fearsome monsters from the beloved Monster Hunter series.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: You walk the map to find monsters, tap on them to engage, and collect resources from points of interest (which function like PokéStops).
Unique Twist: The combat is far more active and skill-based. You must actively dodge, block, and time your attacks to take down powerful beasts. The crafting system for weapons and armor is deep and rewarding.

2. Jurassic World Alive

Ever wanted to see a T-Rex stomp through your backyard? Jurassic World Alive makes it happen. This game tasks you with collecting dinosaur DNA to create and evolve prehistoric creatures.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: You explore a real-world map to find dinosaurs and collect resources from supply drops.
Unique Twist: Instead of catching creatures directly, you deploy a drone to collect their DNA. The real standout is the deep creature-hybrid system, allowing you to fuse dinosaurs to create powerful new species for strategic PvP battles.

3. Draconius GO

Often cited as one of the most direct "clones" of Pokémon GO, Draconius GO offers a high-fantasy setting with a robust set of features that many players wished PoGO had from the start.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: The interface and core loop are incredibly familiar: walk, find creatures, spin pillars for items, and battle for control of buildings.
Unique Twist: It includes a main questline, treasure hunts, artifacts to equip, and a much more accessible PvP battle system from day one. If you want "Pokémon GO with a fantasy skin and more features," this is it.

4. Let's Hunt Monsters

A massively popular game in China from Tencent, this game uses a blocky, charming art style. It's a whimsical take on the monster-catching genre that feels fresh and unique.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: GPS-based map, monster catching, and team-based gyms.
Unique Twist: The catching mechanic involves a rhythm-based mini-game. It also features a robust breeding system and integrates with social platforms like WeChat for a highly connected experience.

5. World of Ether

For those interested in the blockchain space, World of Ether is a crypto-collectible game where you discover and battle Etherians.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: Discovering and collecting creatures based on your location.
Unique Twist: Every monster is a unique digital asset (an NFT) on the Ethereum blockchain that you truly own. You can buy, sell, and trade them in a player-driven economy.

Part 2: 4 Role-Playing Games on the Go

If you wished Pokémon GO had more stats, skill trees, classes, and dungeons, these games fuse the exploration of AR gaming with the depth of a classic Role-Playing Game.

6. Orna: The GPS RPG

Orna is the gold standard for location-based RPGs. It's a love letter to classic, pixel-art RPGs, using your real-world location as the game world. It's complex, deep, and incredibly rewarding.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: Your movement in the real world moves your character on the game map, where you encounter monsters and find locations.
Unique Twist: Everything else. Choose a class, equip gear, fight world bosses with other players, claim real-world territories for your kingdom, build a base, and delve into randomly generated dungeons. It's a full-fledged RPG that just happens to use GPS.

7. Magic Streets

This game strikes a balance between the depth of Orna and the accessibility of Pokémon GO. You are a hero in a fantasy world, building your own town and completing quests.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: Walk to find resources, enemies, and points of interest.
Unique Twist: A strong focus on settlement building. You can place your own buildings (like smithies and taverns) on the map, which you can then visit to craft gear and get quests.

8. Kingdom of Heroes

A fantasy RPG that uses your location to generate a unique kingdom for you to explore and conquer.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: GPS-based exploration is central to the gameplay.
Unique Twist: The world is procedurally generated based on your surroundings. It features a rich crafting system, skill-based character progression, and the ability to build a formidable castle.

9. Tectonicus

A newer entry in the GPS RPG space with a focus on community and cooperative play.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: Team-based territory control and real-world points of interest.
Unique Twist: It's heavily focused on its "Circle" (guild) system. Players work together to build, defend, and attack structures in a persistent world war.

Part 3: 6 Games of Territory and Discovery

This category is for players who love the exploration aspect of Pokémon GO and the strategic thrill of taking over gyms. These games are less about collecting cute creatures and more about territory, tactics, and real-world treasure hunting.

10. Ingress Prime

The original location-based AR game from Niantic and the direct predecessor to Pokémon GO. Ingress is a complex, sci-fi game of global territory control.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: Uses real-world landmarks as "Portals" (the equivalent of PokéStops/Gyms) that you must physically visit.
Unique Twist: It's a deep strategy game. Players join one of two factions (The Enlightened or The Resistance) and fight for control of the world by linking Portals to create massive triangular "Control Fields." It has a steep learning curve but an incredibly dedicated community.

11. Geocaching

This isn't just a game; it's a global, real-world treasure-hunting community. Players use the app and GPS coordinates to find hidden containers ("geocaches") placed by other users all over the world.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: It uses your phone's GPS to guide you to a physical location for a reward. It motivates you to explore new places.
Unique Twist: The treasure is real! Finding a geocache involves signing a physical logbook and sometimes trading small trinkets. It's the ultimate real-world adventure.

12. Coin Hunt World

Want to earn a little cryptocurrency while you explore? Coin Hunt World gamifies crypto faucets, turning your city into a trivia-based treasure map.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: You walk a map to find points of interest ("Vaults").
Unique Twist: When you open a Vault, you must answer a trivia question correctly to be rewarded with small amounts of Bitcoin or Ethereum. It's a fun, free way to learn about and earn crypto.

13. The Walking Dead: Our World

Survive the zombie apocalypse by fighting off walkers that appear in your real-world environment.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: AR encounters on a real-world map, collecting resources.
Unique Twist: You collect iconic hero characters from The Walking Dead series who fight alongside you. You can build safe houses on the map for other players to use.

14. Resources

A simple but addictive real-world simulation game where you scan your surroundings to find and mine virtual resource deposits.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: Motivates exploration to find valuable locations.
Unique Twist: It's a pure economic simulation. You claim land, build mines, and trade resources with other players to try and get rich. There is no combat.

15. Parallel Kingdom

One of the oldest location-based games, Parallel Kingdom is a classic that still has a dedicated following.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: Real-world map populated with resources and monsters.
Unique Twist: A massive, open-ended world with 40 character classes, player-built cities, and a deep, player-driven economy. Its old-school charm is a major draw.

Part 4: 5 Fitness & Relaxation Hybrids Games

If you enjoy the motivation to walk but find the constant battling and gym meta of Pokémon GO stressful, these games offer a more zen-like experience.

16. Pikmin Bloom

Another charming entry from Niantic, Pikmin Bloom is less of a "game" and more of a delightful walking companion app.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: You walk to achieve goals, and cute creatures follow you on a map.
Unique Twist: The goal is to bloom flowers everywhere you walk. Your steps grow Pikmin seedlings, which you can pluck and add to your squad. It's a passive, beautiful experience focused on making your daily walk more colorful.

17. Zombies, Run!

An innovative blend of a fitness app and an audio drama. This game puts you at the center of a zombie survival story.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: Uses GPS to track your movement and encourages you to get outside.
Unique Twist: It's primarily an audio experience. As you run or walk, you listen to missions and story chapters. When zombies are near, you have to speed up to "escape," making it an incredible motivator for cardio.

18. WallaBee

A relaxing collecting game with a simple premise: find and collect numbered virtual items to complete sets.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: Find items at real-world locations (like restaurants and parks).
Unique Twist: It's all about the joy of collecting and trading. The beautiful artwork and friendly community make it a low-stress alternative.

19. Mobbles

A cute and simple monster-collecting game designed for a more casual audience.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: Use your location to find and capture creatures.
Unique Twist: Focuses heavily on caring for your Mobbles, decorating their rooms, and playing mini-games. It's a virtual pet game powered by real-world exploration.

20. City Guesser

While not an AR game, City Guesser scratches the same itch for exploration and discovery. It drops you into a random street-view video from somewhere in the world, and you have to guess the location.

Similarity to Pokémon GO: Fosters a sense of global exploration and landmark recognition.
Unique Twist: It's a browser-based knowledge game you can play from anywhere. It's perfect for when you want to explore the world without leaving your home.

Bonus Tip. How to Play GPS-based Games Without Walking

Want to play GPS-based games on your iOS and Android devices without walking? Try using a GPS spoofing program like TunesKit Location Changer. TunesKit Location Changer is a tool designed to alter the GPS settings on your mobile device, allowing you to change your location to anywhere in the world. It is particularly effective for playing GPS-based augmented reality games like Pokémon GO and Monster Hunter Now because it offers a dedicated "Game Mode" and multiple ways to simulate GPS movement for a more immersive and realistic experience.
Besides, players can use features such as Joystick Movement, Two-Spot Movement, and Multi-Spot Movement to create customized virtual routes. Furthermore, it includes a critical cooldown timer feature, designed to help gamers avoid account penalties by calculating the necessary wait time after teleporting, which makes it a stable and safe.

Conclusion

When choosing your next game like Pokémon GO, check for an active community and consistent developer support to ensure it has a future. Most importantly, pick a game that matches your motivation—whether you love combat (Monster Hunter Now), RPGs (Orna), or just want an excuse to walk (Pikmin Bloom). If you want to enjoy these games just at home without walking, TunesKit Location Changer is a smart option.