How to Create an App Like Pokémon GO?

By Neha Singh | January 28, 2025 4:34 am

Gaming apps have often been criticized for encouraging a more sedentary lifestyle. This is because video games can be pretty engaging and may require the player to sit in one palace for hours. Here’s where Pokémon GO is completely different from the other popular games. Games like Pokémon GO require the players to move around while browsing the screen. And as expected, the game became a massive hit.

According to reports from 2024, there were approximately 1.03 billion mobile augmented reality (AR) user devices globally. Additionally, 88% of midsize companies utilize AR for various purposes.

This presents a great opportunity for entrepreneurs and small businesses. However, the costs and time limitations often discourage them from making their own app. Appy Pie presents itself as the perfect solution for small businesses looking for affordable no-code affordable solutions that need very little time to build an app from start to finish.

Make AR games app like Pokémon GO

What is Pokémon GO, and how does it work?

Pokémon GO is a location-based AR gaming app where the player or the app user is the main character and must search and capture the in-game characters.

The players have to gather them and coach or train them to fight. Mobile games like Pokémon GO went viral because of their unique ability to offer an AR gaming experience to the players without any heavy equipment and paraphernalia. Another way the players can engage with fellow players is by joining one of the three global teams to fight for territory.

After downloading the Pokémon GO app on a device, the players can create their own persona and access animated earth map data, but with the actual names of the streets and areas hidden. The locations also feature real-world objects associated with the specific Pokémon. As players walk around, the main characters in the game replicate their movement and the path in the virtual world. While walking around, the players may randomly encounter Pokémon, capture monsters, and add them to their collection.

In June 2022, Pokémon GO had almost 146 thousand daily active users through iPhone in the United States alone.

Top features you must add to make an app like Pokémon GO

The popularity of the technology is further demonstrated by the projection that 75% of the global population will become active AR users by 2025. Mobile games like Pokémon GO gained popularity because of the unique features added to the app.

Account & profile creation

Let users create an account and then build a profile. A user profile on an app like Pokémon GO includes a persona they create.

Add Friends

with each other and even strategize better when they go to battles.

Create clubs

While an app like Pokémon GO has gyms, your app should have at least some kind of a club that would give your app users a place to practice, train, or engage in any other activity.

Events

Let users create and celebrate special events where they can capture digital collectibles that hold special significance.

Participate in battles

Games like Pokémon GO thrive on user engagement, and community involvement further increases user engagement. Let users find a community they want to align with and participate in battles. The winnings or captures in these battles are also unique.

Geolocation tools

The concept of making an app like Pokémon GO heavily depends on the native geolocation tools on the device. Master this feature, and you may have an app that is even better than Pokémon GO.

Augmented

The augmented reality feature lets your app users experience the immersive quality that is essential if you want to make games similar to Pokémon GO.

Notifications

Push notifications can be sent to all the app users or a chosen segment of your app users with just a single tap or click. These notifications are great for sending out targeted deals, promos, or discounts while nudging inactive users back to your app.

How to create an app like Pokémon GO?

After a deep discussion about what AR games app like Pokémon GO do, how they work, and the features you must add to games similar to Pokémon GO, it is time to address the critical question - how to create an app like Pokémon GO.

For the longest time, small businesses and entrepreneurs have not thought it was possible to create an app for their business, primarily because of the money, time, and skill constraints. However, you can create AR games like Pokémon GO with a no-code app builder like Appy Pie.

Step 1- Name your AR app

After giving your app a name, it is time to choose an app category, design theme, and layout. Add your brand logo to make the app look more professional.

Step 2- Drag and drop the right features

Check the list of features above, and add them all to your app using the intuitive UI of the platform.

Step 3- Test and go live!

Edit your app to your satisfaction before testing your app on real devices. Once you have straightened out the bugs, your app is ready to go live on app stores of your choice.

Create an AR gaming app like Pokémon GO

Neha Singh