10 GPS Games Like Pokemon Go, Ranked

Motera runs the same core loop as Pokemon Go, a map, Fog of War, and territory ownership, but every mechanic is calibrated for running rather than casual walking. Tile density, capture windows, and XP scaling assume you are covering ground at a running pace, and local leaderboards create ongoing rivalry over the same streets. It is free on iOS with no subscription tier gating the core game.

Zombies Run trades map-based territory for an audio drama that plays over your own music, with missions built around interval-style running (sprint away from zombie chases, then recover). After a period of decline under previous ownership, creator Naomi Alderman bought the app back in 2026 and relaunched it with new story content, an eight-part chapter called "Back from the Dead." It remains the strongest option for runners who want narrative immersion over map competition.

Run An Empire adds a city-building layer on top of hex-tile territory capture, with upgrades, resource collection, and a Global Competition end-game mode for top players. It is actively updated on Android, version 3.15 as of May 2026, but the iOS listing has not moved past version 3.12 since July 2023, a real gap worth knowing about if you are an iPhone user comparing options.

Stride uses the same general hex-capture concept, claim 60-meter tiles by passing through them more than any neighboring player, but explicitly rewards determination and frequency rather than speed, making it friendly to walkers and slower runners alike. The catch: detailed competitive leaderboards, the part that makes territory games compelling, sit behind an annual subscription of roughly $45, while the free tier covers basic tracking and casual play.

Pokemon Go remains the category-defining app: catch creatures, battle in gyms, and sync steps through Adventure Sync for eggs and candy. In May 2025, Scopely completed a $3.5 billion acquisition of Niantic's games division, bringing Pokemon Go under new corporate ownership for the first time since launch. Fitness-wise, it rewards any movement including slow walking, so it is a light activity nudge rather than a workout tool.

Pikmin Bloom is the gentlest game on this list: it counts your everyday steps, grows a trail of flowers behind you, and lets tiny Pikmin companions plant seeds as you walk. There is no competitive territory layer and no running requirement at all. It is a good fit for someone who wants a light, screen-free-friendly nudge to move more during an ordinary day, not a fitness training tool.

Ingress predates Pokemon Go and is arguably the blueprint for the entire genre: two factions fight over real-world "portals" by physically visiting them and linking them into territory-claiming fields. In late 2025 it was renamed from "Ingress Prime" back to simply "Ingress" to mark its latest technical iteration under Niantic Spatial. It remains playable and has a small but dedicated community, though reporting has noted a smaller active player base than in its earlier years.

Monster Hunter Now applies the Pokemon Go GPS formula to Capcom's Monster Hunter universe: walk to real-world locations to trigger monster encounters and hunts. It passed 15 million downloads by 2024 and, like Pokemon Go and Pikmin Bloom, moved to Scopely ownership in the 2025 acquisition. It remains actively updated with events as of 2026, and like its sibling apps, rewards walking pace rather than running effort.

Peridot let you hatch and raise a genetically unique AR pet that walked beside you as you moved through real locations, a gentler spin on the same core loop as Pokemon Go. Niantic Spatial announced in April 2026 that it is sunsetting the mobile app: in-app purchases were disabled April 23, 2026, the app was pulled from the App Store and Google Play on May 14, 2026, and the servers close entirely on August 31, 2026. It is not worth a new download in mid-2026, existing players can keep playing until the servers close, but the franchise is moving to AR headsets and smart glasses instead of phones.

WalkScape turns real steps into progress in a fantasy world called Arenum, leveling up 15-plus skills, running quests, and exploring a map through passive walking rather than active taps. It is a genuinely interesting concept, but as of mid-2026 it remains in closed beta, access requires an application and an invite, or a Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee pledge for guaranteed entry, with public release not expected before Q4 2026 at the earliest. Worth watching, not yet something you can simply download and play today.