Games Like Pokemon Go: 15 Similar Augmented Reality & Monster Games Alternatives

Introduced in 2016, Pokemon Go, the augmented reality mobile game, came onto the scene and quickly took the world by storm. It was developed for Android and iOS devices, and uses GPS to find, capture, train, and battle an array of virtual Pokemon creatures, which appear in the player’s actual physical location.

When we say this free-to-play game took the world by storm, we really aren’t kidding; people around the world were literally out in droves searching for and capturing Pokemon on their mobile devices. In fact, if you’re reading this, you were probably one of them!

If you’re looking for games that are similar to Pokemon Go, you’ve come to the right place! Plenty of developers rode the coat tails of this game and introduced their own renditions of the AR game.

Without further ado, keep on reading to discover some great titles that are similar to Pokemon Go.

Pokemon Go Game Features

1. Pikmin Bloom

Starting out our list of games that are like Pokemon Go is Pikmin Bloom. This game was also made by Nintendo (well, Pokemon Go was made in collaborate with Nintendo), and is one of the tech giant’s most popular game series.

The experience is a lot like Pokemon Go in that you walk about in search of little creatures, which appear in your physical location, and capture them; however, the Pikmin are much easier to understand than Pokemon, yet they’re just as cute and endearing.

With Pikmin Bloom, you can create more virtual creatures, which will don special décor, depending on where they appear on your device in your physical world. The game works in conjunction with Google Fit, which makes keeping track of your daily steps, a breeze (if you’re into that). Once you’ve finished your walk, the lengthof your walk, you can send Pikmin out to demolish mushrooms, and earn points.

Another way in which Pikmin Bloom is similar to Pokemon Go is that you can keep tabs of your memories on this game, and even share them with your friends. When you’re out and about exploring with your buddies, you’ll earn rewards, and you can play the game with your friends, no matter where they may be.

If you’d like, you can even team up with friends to work on achieving goals together, put your Pikmin in the physical world, and share images with your friends. The more you walk, the more Pikmin will join you.

There are more than 150 kinds of unique Pikmin décor to collect, including some that are wearing hamburgers buns, fishing lures, paper airplanes, and other silly decorations. There’s a new challenges features, too, which lets you join forces with other players and receive bonuses for your Pikmin and improve your overall performance.

2. Monster Masters

Next up on our list of games that are like Pokemon Go is Monster Masters, in which you also collect, train, and evolve tons of virtual monsters in real-time. You can develop your own strategies for the monsters you collect and prepare them for battle.

The virtual monsters are unique little critters, and like Pokemon, they’re quite endearing. You can use your monsters to play solo, or you can create a team or play a dual. There are 56 monsters in all to collect and evolve.

The primary objective of Monster Masters is collecting as many monsters as you can and using them in battle with other players. There’s no storyline in this game, nor is there a main character; just battling. It’s entirely about battling your adversaries. You’ll be “assigned” to a team, and you’ll advance and level-up with your team.

When you win a battle, you’ll earn a chest, dubbed the “battle box”, which holds all of your monsters experience points. The points consist of eggs, which allow you to add new monsters to your team.

3. Dynamons World

Dynamons World has clearly used the official series of Pokemon games, including Pokemon Go, as its inspiration. In this game, you can travel around the world and collect Dynamons, or Dynamic monsters, which can be found pretty much everywhere. Once you collect the monsters, you can use them to battle other players, as well as explore the open world.

Dynamons World also features an online multiplayer option, which means that if your buddies want to join in on the fun, you will be able to battle them and compete with them in order to create your own team. The game is updated on a continuous basis, and new monsters and regions expand different battle mechanic options.

4. Monster Hunter Stories

Released in 2017, the year following Pokemon Go’s initial release, Monster Hunter Stories is, as you can probably guess, inspired by the original AR mobile game that took the world by storm; however, with a totally different twist. In this AR game, you take control of a rider who has the ability to steal and hatch eggs from the nests of monsters.

Players can then use the eggs that they acquire to battle other monsters. As far as combat goes, players take turns battling, which makes it similar to the battles in Pokemon Go.

Monster Hunter Stories can be played on the Nintendo 3DS, and in 2018, it was made available for download on iOS and Android devices; however, it isn’t available for the Nintendo Switch.

Once you finish playing this game, if you enjoyed it, check out Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, which was released in 2021, for both switch and PC. It’s similar to the first Monster Hunter Stories, but it offers a bit of a twist.

5. Ooblets

Ooblets is a simulator game that reenacts aspects of real life, and it’s available to play on both Windows, as well as Xbox One. It joins together the mechanics of farming that games like My Time at Portia, as well as Stardew Valley,

popularized, with the gathering creatures element that Pokemon Go is famous for. While it might sound a bit like blending oil and water, believe it or not, the combination of these elements is actually quite enjoyable, making Ooblets totally worth checking out.

The style of artwork used in Ooblets is reminiscent of Pokemon; however, in our opinion, the colors are way more vibrant, which will definitely add to its appeal for some players.

The animations featured In this game are fun and endearing, just like in Pokemon Go; however, there aren’t anywhere near as many Ooblets to collect as there are Pokemon.

With that said, though, the Ooblet creatures are brilliantly designed and while there may not be as many, there’s a surprising amount of diversity.

6. Nexomon

In Nexomon, you’ll have the opportunity to catch, evolve, and collect more than 300 one-of-a-kind virtual creatures that are hiding throughout an interactive, colorful world. It’s really quite similar to Pokemon Go in these respects, yet it offers a unique twist.

In Nexomon, you’ll have the chance to build your very own team and bring them on an epic journey to battle other tamers and their formidable Nexomon. In this game, you can gather and arrange the ultimate team of Nexomon, which you will use to save your friends, as well as the world!

If you like Pokemon games, you’ll be sure to enjoy Nexomon, as it draws its inspiration from the primary series of Pokemon games, providing players with an interactive, engaging, and just plain fun experience.

While there are many features that are similar to Pokemon Go, it should be pointed out, however, that there are some distinct differences that make the game unique; for example, while you can collect Nexomon creatures, just like in Pokemon Go, you have the ability to select one of seven starter Nexomon, which is unique to this game, as Pokemon Go only permits you to select between the four first-generation starters from the Kanto region when you first start out.

7. Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs

Angry Birds has long been a staple in the mobile gaming industry; for more than 10 years, as a matter of fact. Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs is the most recent addition to the primary series, and it’s just like one of the series’ classic puzzle games.

If you have ever played any Angry Birds game, you will already kind of know what to expect when it’s in an AR version.

That said, for a brief overview, you will have the chance to see foundations topple down right onto your own home in augmented reality, so it’s totally lifelike, and adds to the fun (of course, you won’t have to worry about the foundation of your home actually being invaded by falling buildings).

8. Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy!

While it is true that many people would associate it with the Pokemon franchise, the Mystery Dungeon series was actually around long before Pokemon; in fact, it predates Pokemon by a number of years.

The very first Chocobo-themed Mystery Dungeon game was released all the way back in 1997, and it was such a hit that the developers have made and released several other versions in the decades since the first version came onto the scene.

Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy! Is the most recent addition to the series, and it’s available to play on both PS4, as well as the Nintendo Switch.

While you can’t catch monsters in this game like you can in Pokemon games, you can befriend an assortment of unique, colorful creatures using a Buddy system. You will then use the creatures that you’ve befriended to battle alongside other players as they travel through the numerous dungeons that are found throughout the game.

9. Shin Megami Tensei V

While we admit that some fans of Pokemon Go may not agree with this comparison, the reality is that Shin Megami Tensei V and Pokemon Go actually share quite a few similarities.

The most apparent – and impossible to ignore – similar is the ability to catch and go to battle with a large variety of virtual creatures. This feature is a central role of Shin Megami Tensei V, and obviously, it’s a central role in Pokemon Go, so it’s easy to see why we’re comparing the two games.

The above said, what makes the Shin Megami Tensei series of games really different from Pokemon is that the battle systems are a lot more complex, and the narrative are a lot more mature and go a whole lot deeper, which, in our opinion, only adds to the enjoyment of playing.

We argue that Pokemon does a pretty decent job of preparing you for the Shin Megami Tensei series of games, which makes the fifth installment an excellent choice for players who enjoy Pokemon Go and other Pokemon games.

10. Zombies, Run!

Whether you’re looking for a game that is like Pokemon Go, you want to start running but you’re having a hard time motivating yourself to do so – or both – then Zombies, Run! is definitely a game that you’re going to want to check out.

While you’re out running or walking, listen to your own tunes through the app, and when you reach certain points on your journey, the app will alert you to the fact that the undead are in your area and that they’re after you via a notification that will be sent directly through your mobile device. In order to escape the zombies and save yourself, you will need to run as fast as you can, which, as you can probably guess, will definitely make running more exciting and is a great motivation to get you going.

The fact that you’re being chased by zombies – and you don’t know when they’re going to strike, also helps you learn how to pace yourself and alternate speeds at a moment’s notice, which is excellent for interval training.

Zombies, Run! takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, which is actually a story that was authored by the famous novelist Naomi Alderman. You can listen to the story while you’re using the app, which is pretty cool.

There are literally hundreds of different missions to complete, as well as a base-building system, which will make you feel as if you are being rewarded for managing to escape the zombies. Zombies, Run! is a great way to keep yourself motivated, achieve your fitness goals, and just have fun!

11. The Walking Dead: Our World

Perhaps you played Pokemon Go with your children and you enjoyed it, but you’re looking for something a bit more grown-up, or you played the game yourself, but you’re interested in moving to something that’s better suited for more mature audiences.

Either way, if enjoy AR and you want content that’s a bit more exhilarating – and even scary – then The Walking Dead: Our World, is definitely worth checking out.

As you can guess, the game is inspired by the famous The Walking Dead zombie series. Rather than catching Pokemon, however, YOU are the one who is being hunted, and frightening hordes of walkers are the ones who will be hunting you.

In order to progress, you will have to gather new weapons, build shelters, rescue survivors, and unlock some of the character from the TV series. There’s a free-roam feature, too, which means that you will be able to explore the map without having to walk around the real world; something that you may or may not like.

12. Jurassic World Alive

Another AR mobile game that features more adult-friendly, spine-chilling content is Jurassic World Alive. Based on the Jurassic World franchise, this AR game is a lot more violent than Pokemon Go, but it’s similar to game that set the augmented reality revolution off in that you get to collect a variety of dinosaurs and can then pit them against one another in combat.

In addition to battling, you also have to explore the real world in order to locate specific dinosaurs, which is another feature that’s like Pokemon Go. You can even use DNA to create your own hybrid virtual creatures, which you will earn rewards for.

The tutorials in the game are narrated by characters in the Jurassic World films, which helps link the game and the movies together; however, we do want to point out that the characters do seem to be a bit flat and even soulless at times. With that said, you can participate in PvP battles, which will allow you to engage with other players.

13. Pokemon Quest

Since we’re talking about games that are similar to Pokemon Go, it only makes sense to include other Pokemon mobile games on our list of options. While Pokemon Quest doesn’t feature AR, there are elements that are similar to Pokemon Go.

For instance, if you liked the Go Battle League, as well as other types of PvP in the Pokemon Go game, then you’ll be sure to like that Quest offers you the ability to analyze stats, as well as movesets, and even boosting your combat potential, as well as jumping into optimizing your Pokemon.

In Quest, you’ll find yourself strands on a weird island with a cuboid Pokemon by your side. You’ll need to assemble a three-man team, and take on opponents that get increasingly difficult as you advance levels and enter different areas.

As you progress, you’ll acquire ingredients that you can add to stews, which will help you attract even more Pokemon, as well as stones that will power up your Pokemon in a variety of ways.

Pokemon Quest is definitely an entertaining game that will be sure to hold your attention for a long, long time; in fact, if we’re honest, it’s a bit addicting. You even have the opportunity to automatically run levels while you’re engaging in something else.

Once you reach the end of the game, you’ll need to put in a lot of hard work in order to optimize your team, as well as develop the best builds, which is really what makes this game so appealing, especially if you enjoy the PvP aspect of Pokemon Go.

There is one downside to Pokemon Quest, however, and that’s that it hasn’t been updated in several years, and as such, it still only contains Pokemon creatures from the Kanto region in much of the world. That said, Pokemon Quest is still a really enjoyable and entertaining game that will be sure to keep you engaged.

14. Pokemon Masters EX

Another game that players who enjoy battling Pokemon will be sure to enjoy is Pokemon Masters EX. This game is incredible expansive, as it features a massive amount of content.

In this game, you’ll encounter classic, as well as newer characters from the Pokemon franchise, and each of these characters has a specific Pokemon creature as his or her partner (in this game, the characters and creatures are known as Sync Pairs). It’s a “gacha”-style game that involves engaging in battles, captivating storylines, and a whole lot more.

In Pokemon Masters EX, the battles are a bit different than they are in other Pokemon games. For example, all of the Pokemon on the field advance at pretty much the same time, and their moves, as well as the type matchups, function a bit differently.

There are different Sync Pair styles, such as Tech, Strike, and Support, as well as several passive skills and moves. There are so many different missions and stories, too, as well as an impressive amount of available Sync Pairs, which means that no two players will ever create the same builds.

15. Ingress

Wrapping up our list of games is a title that predates Pokemon Go: Ingress. It was actually Niantic’s very first AR game, and if you’re a fan of the AR features in Pokemon Go, then you will be sure to find Ingress appealing; however, it does need to be noted that it is a lot more in-depth and you might even say hardcore.

In fact, Pokemon Go was loosely built on the foundations of Ingress, and as such, there are a lot of similarities between the two games.

In Ingress, you’ll interact with portals, which can be equated to PokeStops, by using your phone (dubbed a “scanner”), and exploring the real world.

It features a science fiction story, which revolves around Exotic Matter, or XM. You’ll join forces with one of the two factions, which are both stuck in a struggle against each other over the future of humanity.

Conclusion

If you’re a fan of Pokemon Go and you’re looking for other options that are similar, then you’ll be sure to enjoy some of the options featured on this list.

Options include AR, characters and battles that are similar to Pokemon Go, similar characters – or all three. The games featured on this list are packed with fun and excitement, and there’s a title that will be sure to appeal to anyone, no matter what their interests may be.