With the advancement of digitization in the past decade, AR has come a long way in the field of mobile app development. Many apps now offer AR integration, from interactive maps and virtual showrooms, taking the user experience to an entirely new level.
AR operates on the concept of superimposing computer-generated images on top of your reality. At the rate it’s taking over the world, you can expect sales to skyrocket exponentially.
That said, if you want to invest in AR mobile games, here are some of the best augmented-reality games in app stores to take inspiration and learn from the competition.
25 best & upcoming augmented reality games for Android & iOS
Augmented reality games dominate the mobile gaming industry, from fighting zombies and aliens to leading kingdoms. Best of all, users can enjoy the experience of just their smartphones, tablets, and more.
Here are a few upcoming augmented reality games that top the charts for Android & iOS, including adventure games, strategy planning, AR shooting games, and more:
1. Pokémon go
Pokémon Go is an augmented reality game most recognized for its exceptional performance and user experience. Its release marks the turning point in the mobile game industry and AR technology.
Developed by Niantic, it is an adventure AR mobile game. It is the best augmented reality games android users enjoy playing AR games. It places a virtual battlefield and animates objects onto the players’ environment, allowing them to find and capture Pokémon in their surroundings.
Downloads: Over 100 million on Google Play
User Ratings: 4.1 for Android & iOS
App Revenues: Free to download with in-app purchases.
2. Temple treasure hunt
Temple Treasure Hunt is one of the augmented reality games for Android that uses geolocation. It is free to download and offers a ton of adventure, mysteries, and myths.
Choose to be a treasure protector or hunter and enjoy an augmented reality mobile game indoors or outside.
As a protector, you are tasked with creating treasure trails, while as a hunter, you have to follow the interactive map to find it. Plus, along the way, Indian mythology characters rise as guardians of the treasure.
Downloads: 10,000+ on Google Play.
User Rating: 3.2
App Revenues: Ads and in-app purchases.
3. Zombies run!
Make your morning jog more enjoyable with an augmented reality mobile game like Zombies, Run! It is a free app that offers an exciting adventure for Android and one of the best augmented reality games for iPhone users who enjoy a morning stroll through the city.
Players are the protagonist who survived the zombie attack. You have to complete an array of missions by walking or running and collecting items while avoiding the zombies chasing you.
The AR mobile game also plays music and different narrations to keep you motivated for morning exercise.
Downloads: More than a million downloads on Google Play
User Rating: 4.3 on Play Store & 4.8 on the App Store
App Revenues: Ads and in-app purchases.
4. Jurassic world alive
Jurassic World Alive is among the best adventure-based augmented reality games. If you have ever thought of capturing a dinosaur, then try the game on your smartphone.
In virtual reality, dinosaurs roam the earth, and players are tasked with exploring their surroundings to hunt them. Then, you have to collect their DNA sample to create a hybrid species to fight alongside in a real-time battle against other players.
Developed by Ludia, Inc, it is one of the best augmented reality games for iPhone and Android mobile users.
Downloads: Over 10 million on Google Play
User Rating: 4.3 on Play Store & 4.4 on the App Store.
App Revenue: Ads with in-app purchases.
5. AR sports basketball
Another augmented reality mobile game in the sports category is AR Sports Basketball, where players shoot hoops in real-time at any location. It is much simpler with basic level AR integration than others in the list.
It is one of the augmented reality games for iPhone users that offers various game modes, including desk, standard, and the best augmented reality multiplayer games. Players can also choose between hoop sizes.
Downloads: Undisclosed
User Rating: 3.6 on the App Store
App Revenues: In-app purchases.
6. Harry potter: wizards unite
Much like Pokémon Go, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is an adventure augmented reality mobile game.
A calamity has struck the wizarding world, and wizards must unite to solve it. Players roam their surroundings in search of various collectibles while battling with foes along the way.
Harry Potter fans can enjoy cameos from popular characters of the series as well as new characters. It is one of the best augmented-reality games for Android and iOS users who love fantasy and adventure.
Downloads: Over 10 million on the Play Store
User Rating: 3.9 on Android & 4.6 on iOS
App Revenues: In-app Purchases.
7. Beer pong AR
The classic Beer Pong game has gone digital with the evolution of AR tech. Beer Pong AR is one of the augmented reality games in the table & board game category.
Players scan their surroundings, choose where to install the beer, and start by throwing ping pong balls with other users. Best of all, unlike in real life, you don’t have to worry about the mess.
As one augmented reality game on Android, it offers players the freedom to find the best angle before throwing. The winner is who sinks ten cups with fewer throws.
That said, the game has relatively fewer downloads and user ratings than other names on the list.
Downloads: 1000+ on the Play Store
User Rating: 2.1 on Android
App Revenues: Undisclosed
8. Sharks in the park
Sharks in the Park is one of the Android AR games for adults and children to enjoy. Its AR feature allows users to make extraordinary animals and wonderous landscapes a part of their reality.
Using the phone’s GPS, players can go on adventurous trips, exploring dinosaur lands or underwater life. The best augmented reality app games have built-in sensors that read your movements, so the faster you will move in the game if you run in real.
It is among the best augmented reality games android users freely play and can enjoy in the outdoors. (Note that the app is not available on Play Store but can be downloaded using Android APK via third-party app stores.)
Downloads: 1000+ on Android.
User Rating: 4.6 on Android.
App Revenues: In-app purchases and ads.
9. Dark: subject one
If you love adventure and mystery, then Dark is an augmented reality mobile game to have on your smartphone.
The game is a short horror story with the players as the protagonist, Subject #3. Beyond the portal, you step into a dark, parallel universe, where you set off on a thrilling adventure, following the clues to unearth the story behind your colleague’s disappearance.
On the downside, many users also report glitches and bad tracking that affect the overall user experience. But it is still among the best upcoming augmented reality games for Android and iOS users.
Downloads: 1000+ on the Play Store
User Rating: 4.0 on Android & 4.4 on iOS
App Revenue: Undisclosed
10. Army of robots
Army of Robots is a shooting augmented reality game for iPhone and Android users. It is a spectacular first-person shooting game with an immersive interface and exceptional performance.
Players can enjoy destroying an army of enemy robots of different kinds and sizes as they move through levels. The game is incredibly interactive and responds to the users’ movements in the real world.
Downloads: 5000+ on the Play Store
User Rating: 4.1 on Android
App Revenue: In-app purchases
11. Zombie gunship revenant AR
It is the ultimate Augmented Reality shooter game where players can enjoy shooting down zombies while airborne in a military helicopter. Armed with lots of ammunition, guns, missiles, sniper pods, and rockets, players can get real-time experience flying a helicopter while in a battle for survival against the undead.
It is one of the best augmented-reality mobile games for Android and iOS users.
Downloads: 100,000+ on the Play Store
User Rating: 3.5 on Android & 4.7 on iOS
App Revenue: In-app purchases
12. Nightenfell: shared AR
It is the best augmented reality multiplayer game for iPhone and Android users. Ultimately, the game is a shooter game that offers comets, spells, and riddles for friends to enjoy, combine powers, and advance to the following levels.
Players can experience shooting virtual comets and defending the world. You can also cast spells like invoking a time freeze and more.
Downloads: 1000+ installs on the Play Store
User Rating: 4.7 on Android & 5.0 on iOS
App Revenue: $0.99 per download
13. Geocaching
The best thing about augmented reality mobile games is that you have the freedom to explore which category best suits your business goals. From treasure hunting games to table & board games, shooting games, and more, developers can create AR games for any number of app categories.
Geocaching is another AR-based treasure hunting game in our list of best augmented-reality games for Android and iOS users. It is an excellent way to explore your surroundings while searching for geocaches.
Through the app, players can locate geocaches, log in photos, and hide them again for another user on the hunt.
Downloads: Over 10 million installs on Play Store.
User Rating: 4.3 on Android & 4.8 on iOS.
App Revenue: In-app purchases
14. Jenga AR for Android
If you’ve ever enjoyed a game of Jenga in real, then its AR version is sure to be a treat. The rules are the same; players have to remove blocks, one at a time, from the center to place them at the top until the tower topples. The loss goes to the player who triggers its fall.
Jenga AR is one of the best AR games for Android users. It offers excellent graphics, smooth controls, and multiplayer options for groups of 2-5 to enjoy.
Downloads: 50,000+ installs on the Play Store
User Rating: 3.1 on Android, and 4.0 on IOS
App Revenue: In-app ads
15. AR invaders attack
If you’re tired of hunting for zombies or Pokémon, then join the Earth’s Resistance Forces to defend the planet against an invasion. In the augmented reality mobile game, iOS users can enjoy destroying the descending UFO as humanity’s last hope. The goal is to shoot and destroy before the invaders land. Otherwise, it’s game over!
Downloads: Undisclosed
User Rating: 4.4 on iOS
App Revenue: In-app purchases
16. Zombie night terrors
It’s another apocalypse, but with a twist! Instead of fighting for humanity’s survival, you are responsible for its end. Android and iOS users must infest innocent people to create their army of the living dead.
Downloads: 10,000+ installs on the Play Store
User Rating: 4.5 on Android & 4.7 on iOS
App Revenue: $2.99 per download.
17. Peronio pop-up book
Peronio Pop-Up Book is an augmented reality mobile game for the little ones at home. It is an interactive book that offers a holographic game experience, combining the best of AR and VR.
The book follows the adventure of Peronio as he overcomes exciting challenges on his journey to discover who he wants to be when he grows up.
Downloads: Undisclosed
User Rating: 4.5 on iOS
App Revenue: In-app purchases
18. Ingress prime
Developed by Niantic, Ingress Prime is an android and also one of the best augmented reality games pc users can also play on the large screen. It is a strategy game where players must choose between two factions, the Enlightened or the Resistance, and fight for the universe's fate.
Downloads: Over 10 million installs on the Play Store
User Rating: 3.1 on Android & 3.7 on iOS
App Revenue: In-app purchases
19. Neyon clash
Neyon Clash is one of the upcoming augmented reality games that are still in the early stages of its development. It is a multiplayer strategy game where the in-game character actions are synced with a player’s real-life movements.
It is the best augmented reality games pc users can choose between various game modes, including Capture the Flag, Last Man Standing, etc. You also have an option of six different languages. So, create a map first or jump into the game with your friends.
Downloads: 1000+ installs on the Play Store
User Rating: 4.3 on Android & 4.5 on iOS
App Revenue: Undisclosed.
20. ARrrrgh
ARrrrgh offers a spin on the classic ‘hide-n-seek’ game. It is an augmented reality mobile game that transforms users into pirates, who can then hide treasure within their virtual surroundings while others hunt for it.
Let’s not forget the trusty pirate that assists the players on their journey for treasure!
That said, the game is still in its early stages of development, so it’s not compatible with all devices.
Downloads: 5000+ installs on the Play Store
User Rating: 3.5 on Android
App Revenue: Undisclosed.
21. Egg, Inc.
Egg, Inc. is a screen-augmented simulation game about a tiny chicken farm. The eggs must be cared for and hatched by you. Because it's a chicken farm, more eggs your bird’s lay, which leads to more revenue.
The game's quality is good, and the attractive girls walking about the living room will undoubtedly get the youngsters' attention. It is free to play and currently has more than 10 million downloads on both app stores. To improve your gameplay experience, you may buy golden eggs in-game.
Download: 10,000,000+ play store
User Rating: 4.6 on Android
App Revenue: In-app purchases
22 Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs
Angry Birds is a game that does not require any introduction. This Angry Birds AR version is more exciting since you can play with green pigs on real-world surfaces. This game has a maximum level of 70. It is available for free download and has over 500,000 downloads on the Google Play Store.
All you need is a little space to play, and you may use green pigs to destroy structures, just as in the original game. This game is enjoyable and straightforward for people of all ages, so give it a try!
Download: 500,000+ play store
User Rating: 4.1 on Android
App Revenue: In-app purchases
23 Father.io
A smartphone game that uses augmented reality to bring you laser tag multiplayer fights. Because not all phones have AR functionality, this first-person shooter requires a specific AR gadget called Inceptor by the same manufacturer, which is geared for gameplay augmentation. For example, mounted players may use it to track down other players using GPS, strike adversaries up to 50 meters away, and take headshots from up to 15 meters away.
There are four different weapon types to pick from (assault rifle, sniper rifle, submachine gun, and pistol), each with its unique firing range, accuracy, and damage potential. The game may be played indoors or outdoors, with up to 16 versus 16 teams or individuals. Unfortunately, the latest update was in 2018. Therefore the project's future is unknown.
Download: 1M+ Play store
User Rating: 3.7 on IOS and 3.9 on Android
App Revenue: In-app purchases
24 Knightfall AR
The universe of Templar knights and battles is shown as an Augmented Reality experience that combines strategy, adventure, and combat games into one experience. Mamluk warriors protecting castle walls are virtually defending the Holy Grail, and you must outsmart or battle them with arrows and fireballs. The scene is presented on the screen when all of the characters have been put in the user environment.
The world of the Templar knights and their conflicts is shown as an Augmented Reality experience that blends strategy, adventure, and combat games into one. The Mamluk troops guarding the castle walls are effectively safeguarding the Holy Grail, and you must outwit or combat them with arrows and fireballs. When all of the characters are placed in the user environment, the scene is displayed.
Download: 100 000+ Play store
User Rating: 3.2 on Android
App Revenue: Undisclosed.
25 Sling Shot AR
Shoot a fruit on your friend's or girlfriend's head with a stone in this Augmented Reality slingshot shooter. As you go, you'll be able to unlock different fruits as well as animated face masks and filters, and you'll be able to share all of your hilarious adventures via images on social media. There are dynamic sound effects to go along with it, and there is no need for an Internet connection to play.
Download: 5000+ Play store
User Rating: 3+ on android
App Revenue: Undisclosed.
Design your augmented reality mobile game!
Augmented reality is steadily seeping into the world of mobile app development. It offers immense potential for entrepreneurs and developers to get ahead of the competition.
Thus, the future of AR in mobile gaming is promising. It allows players to experience the real-world surroundings digitally, altering our view of reality. But, conversely, businesses can rake in return on investment in terms of user engagement, downloads, revenue, and more.
That said, if you want to bring your idea for an AR-powered mobile game for Android or iOS to reality, our expert developers are here to offer consultancy. So, get in touch and design your augmented reality mobile game!
FAQS about augmented reality mobile game
What is the most popular AR game now?
The best augmented reality app game on this list is definitely Pokémon Go. This program is well-known for its excellent speed and user interface. The game is fascinating, and it was published in July 2016, it caught the globe by storm.
Is augmented reality used in gaming?
While virtual reality games necessitate the usage of specialist VR goggles, augmented reality devices do not. Smartphones, tablets, and portable gaming systems are commonly used to play AR games. A user's actual surroundings are widely superimposed on top of a pre-created scene in an augmented reality game.
What was the first AR game? Does AR need an app?
ARQuake was, in fact, the first prototype of an augmented reality video game, and it was based on the popular first-person shooter (FPS) launched by ID Software in 1996.
There was a time when AR needed an app. But, thanks to cutting-edge AR technology, the answer is a loud no. It is no longer necessary to use an app to create or enjoy an augmented reality experience. Instead, the shiny new item that has marketers and customers chewing at the bit is web-based augmented reality.
