The Most Popular Location Based Games You Should Know in 2026

Location-based games turn the real world into your playground. Your streets become maps, parks turn into quest zones, and every walk suddenly has a purpose. The most iconic example? Pokémon GO. If you’ve ever caught Pokémon on your commute, you already get the appeal.

In this 2026 guide, we spotlight the most popular GPS games you should know, ranging from fresh releases to long-standing favorites. If you’re looking for the best location based mobile game, this list can help you out.

Location-based games blend GPS, maps, and your phone’s sensors to turn real-world movement into in-game progress. When you walk, travel, or visit specific places, the game tracks your location and unlocks content based on where you are.

That could mean finding hidden items, triggering battles, completing quests, or earning rewards tied to real landmarks.

Many GPS games that were once popular have shut down over the past five years, including Harry Potter: Wizards Unite and The Walking Dead: Our World, and the games listed below have endured.

Spoiler alert: The best geolocation game is Geocaching.

GPS-Based Game	Lifetime Downloads	Release Year	Score
Geocaching	Over 10 Million	2000
Orna RPG	Over 1 Million	2018
ZXR: Zombies Run	Over 10 Million	2012
Dragon Quest Walk	Over 15 Million	2019
Pokémon GO	Over 1 Billion	2016
Pikmin Bloom	Over 12 Million	2021
Jurassic World Alive	Over 10 Million	2018
Ingress Prime	Over 10 Million	2018
Draconius GO	Over 1 Million	2019
Turf Wars	Over 100,000	2010

1 Geocaching

Gameplay Hunt hidden treasures and log GPS-based finds worldwide.

Geocaching is the original geolocation game. Long before AR and virtual monsters took over, players were already hunting hidden physical containers in forests, city parks, and the most random corners imaginable. This physical interaction is what sets it apart from games like Pokémon GO and Ingress.

Yes, there are still diehards out there in 2026, stuffing Altoids tins into tree knots and logging finds like they’ve uncovered a national treasure.

Why it is still around

2 Orna RPG

Gameplay Explore a retro-style RPG map that follows your real-world location.

Orna RPG is often called the best mobile RPG you’ve never played. Built around retro visuals and deep mechanics, it uses location as a backdrop for combat, progression, and world-building.

However, Orna isn’t for everyone. The grind is real, and fans will tell you that proudly. But for players who want depth, fairness, and respect for their time and wallet, it’s an easy favorite.

Why it is still around

3 ZXR: Zombies Run

Gameplay Complete missions and run from zombies while exercising.

Zombies, Run! doesn’t feel like a game at first. It feels like a story unfolding in your ears while your legs do the work.

Built around immersive audio storytelling, this GPS AR games turns jogging, walking, or running into a survival mission, complete with characters, cliffhangers, and the occasional undead chase.

Why it is still around

Note

Some Android users report GPS sync issues with wearable devices

4 Dragon Quest Walk

Gameplay Complete quests and turn-based battles as you walk outdoors.

Dragon Quest Walk is often called the most polished AR game on the market. In Japan, it routinely outperforms Pokémon GO in user ratings, and for good reason.

It blends classic turn-based RPG combat with location-based exploration in a way that feels intentional, not gimmicky.

Why it is still around

Note

Dragon Quest Walk is Japan-only. Nothing spawns outside Japan, and there’s no official English version.

5 Pokémon GO

Gameplay Catch Pokémon and battle gyms by moving around the real world.

Pokémon GO is the giant of GPS location gaming. It has the largest player base by far, but also the most complicated relationship with its community.

While Community Days and live events still bring excitement, the overall sentiment remains mixed. Many players accuse it of heavy monetization and frequent ticketed events.

Why it is still around

6 Pikmin Bloom

Gameplay Grow and collect Pikmin while tracking your daily walks.

Unlike exciting games like Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom takes a gentler approach to location-based gaming. Instead of battles or competition, it focuses on walking, collecting, and watching tiny Pikmin grow alongside you.

The overall vibe is calm, cozy, and intentionally low-pressure, which is exactly why many players love it. However, core gameplay can feel repetitive over long periods.

If you want a location-based game that feels more like a daily wellness companion, Pikmin Bloom fits the role nicely.

Why it is still around

7 Jurassic World Alive

Gameplay Collect and battle dinosaurs using GPS-based locations.

Jurassic World Alive trades creature collecting for something more intense: dinosaurs and PvP combat. Instead of just catching, players build teams, battle others directly, and focus on strategy.

It may not reinvent the genre, but it delivers a focused experience for players who want competition over wandering.

Why it is still around

8 Ingress Prime

Gameplay

Ingress Prime is where modern location-based gaming began. It has a deeply loyal player base, a complex strategy layer, and a world map shaped by real player actions.

For veterans, this location-based game unmatched. For newcomers, it can feel overwhelming. There's a steep learning curve with minimal onboarding, the rerritory control has been dominated by long-time players, and the social gatekeeping can feel discouraging.

Why it is still around

9 Draconius GO

Gameplay

Draconius GO lives in Pokémon GO’s long shadow and does not try very hard to escape it. Dragons replace Pokémon, but the core loop feels familiar almost to a fault.

It has less polish and visual refinement, slower update cycle compared to major AR titles, and limited innovation in gameplay mechanics. It’s best suited for players who want a familiar AR formula without the noise of a massive live-service ecosystem.

That said, it still manages to keep a small, loyal crowd breathing fire.

Why it is still around

10 Turf Wars

Gameplay

Turf Wars is a relic from the early days of location-based gaming. This location-based AR game is still alive, which alone is impressive, but time has not been especially kind to it. The game revolves around claiming real-world territory, long before AR visuals became the norm.

Today, its interface feels outdated, the player base is smaller and scattered, and new players are leaving quickly. It is more of a historical artifact than a modern recommendation.

Why it is still around

Location-based games reward movement, variety, and access. More locations mean more PokéStops, more quests, more encounters, and faster progression. The catch? Real life does not always cooperate. Weather, distance, time, and geography quietly cap your grind.

That’s where a location changer can help, especially if you use it smartly and responsibly.

One tool that’s often mentioned in location-based gaming communities is iMyFone AnyTo. It works on both iOS and Android and focuses on one thing that matters most in these games: stable, believable GPS control.

AnyTo's Key Features

• Unlimited teleport distance. Lets you jump from a quiet rural area to a dense city hub instantly.
• Keeps your fake location locked in place, even during long play sessions
• One-click teleport for fast farming, paired with cooldown reminder to avoid unusual activity detection.
• Simulates walking routes instead of instant jumps with speed control.
• You can search exact locations or paste coordinates directly. Perfect for targeting known hotspots in Pokémon GO and other games.
• No technical knowledge to use it. No jailbreak and complex setup.

Try It Free

Trustpilot Rating 4.7

How iMyFone AnyTo Works

Step 1. Download AnyTo on your phone and complete the initial setup with a computer. This ensures the app runs smoothly from the start.

Step 2. Enter your destination or pick a spot on the map. Choose the "Teleport" mode, tap "Move," and your location will change instantly.

Step 3. To return to your real location, simply restart your phone on iPhone, or tap "Reset to Real Location" in the "Mine" tab.

Location-based games are built on one simple idea: the world is the map. But not everyone plays on equal terrain. Geography, time, weather, and mobility all shape what you can access and how fast you can grow.

Understanding how these games work, choosing the right title for your play style, and using smart tools like iMyFone AnyTo when needed can make the experience more balanced and far more enjoyable.

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Article by

Spencer Hill

Spencer Hill has over 5 years of experience specializing in mobile screen mirroring and virtual location modification. As a senior editor at iMyFone, he creates user-friendly tutorials that help mobile users maximize their device functionality.