Pokémon GO has been the AR game par excellence for 4 years. But are there any alternatives? We present to you 5 games that can be compared to Pokémon GO.
What does this list show? When Pokémon GO was released in the summer of 2016, it was many players’ first experience with AR games. These are games in which the real world and the digital world merge.
In this list, we introduce games that are comparable to Pokémon GO but still possess unique features. So if you’re bored with Pokémon GO, you can easily fall back on these mobile games.
Ingress
What is Ingress? Ingress, just like Pokémon GO, comes from American developer Niantic. In the game, you have to choose one of two factions that fight against each other for the energy “Exotic Matter,” or short XM.
You must hack and destroy the portals of the other faction, which are spread all over the real world. Since November 2018, you have been playing Ingress Prime. The mobile game is said to greatly improve the graphics of Ingress. However, the gameplay has remained the same since 2012.
What is special about it? In Ingress, it’s not good against evil, but rather two sides, both with good intentions. You’re faced with a choice at the start of the game:
- Do you want to use XM to help humanity? Then you join the Enlightened.
- Or do you want to destroy XM because you see it as a dark power? Then you belong to the Resistance.
Moreover, Ingress is the direct predecessor of Pokémon GO. Pokémon GO was even built on the foundations of Ingress.
What is similar to Pokémon GO?
- The portals you must hack from the opponent in Ingress are comparable to gyms or PokéStops. The portals are even adopted in Pokémon GO and create new PokéStops there.
- The game world looks quite similar due to the same portals/PokéStops.
- You can attack other players: In Ingress, you hack the portals, while in Pokémon GO, you battle in gyms.
How does it differ from Pokémon GO?
- Monsters play no role here. It’s purely the battle at the portals against other players.
- Features like PvP found in Pokémon GO are not present in Ingress.
- In Ingress, a whole story revolves around XM. In contrast, Pokémon GO only has small, self-contained stories, such as special research tasks.
What do players say? In the Play Store, Ingress has received over 417,000 ratings. On average, it received 3.0 out of 5 stars.
The majority of players praise the new layout that came with Ingress Prime in November 2018. They also appreciate the numerous tasks available to complete.
Negatively mentioned is the high battery consumption, a problem that Pokémon GO also faces. In addition, many players from rural areas complain that there is not as much to do in their towns as there is in major cities, simply because there are more portals there.
Who is Ingress suitable for? Ingress is especially a game for those who actively play Pokémon GO. If you reach high levels in Ingress, you can submit portals that then become PokéStops in Pokémon GO. By playing Ingress, you can also advance in Pokémon GO.
Ingress is also suitable for players who enjoy discovering landmarks while playing Pokémon GO. This works effortlessly with Ingress as well, as it features the same stops for exploration.
Ultimately, Ingress is also suitable for players who enjoy the gameplay of Pokémon GO but simply cannot get into Pokémon. In Ingress, you definitely won’t encounter any small monsters.
Here to download:
