Geolocation Games to Replace Hunting Eggs This Easter

Let’s start with the obvious one. Pokémon GO not only lets you hunt down fictional objects in the real world—like a treasure hunt—it also involves eggs. Sort of. The ultra-popular game, which uses augmented reality to make Pokémon appear in real life locations, also makes users get up and walk around to find the critters. Perfect to work off those chocolate Easter eggs. There are also Pokémon gyms in select locations that users can visit to get bonuses and goodies. There’s even expected to be an Easter event on the app, probably involving hatching eggs.

If the idea of someone rising from the dead after three days gets you in the mood for something a little spooky, it may be worth checking out SpecTrek this Easter. Players use their phone’s GPS and camera to find and catch virtual ghosts. The game starts out as a navigation game but as it reaches the higher levels becomes a genuine fitness challenge.

SpecTrek offers statistics, awards titles, and records for its users to achieve. Unfortunately for aspiring ghost hunters with iPhones, the app is only available on Android.

Geocaching has been around for longer than mobile games. The concept involves hidden containers, called geocaches, placed in various locations all around the world by other members. A huge number of people participate in geocaching globally, and the sheer number of geocaches mean if you download the app, there’s probably one or two nearby.

There’s both a free app and a paid app available to geocaching fans. The paid app offers access to more types of caches and search filters, while the free app is designed for beginners. You can download the apps on Google Play and the App Store.

Landlord is basically Monopoly mapped onto the real world. Gamers can virtually purchase property all over the world, by visiting the location. When people check in to the venues that you own, you earn rent.

You can then upgrade, and invest in, your properties to increase the rent you earn. There are over 50 million venues you can purchase across the globe, so plenty of places to get out and visit.

Players can also trade their buildings between each other.

Turf Wars is a mafia-based mobile game that requires players to go to places physically in order to claim them as their territories. It’s similar sounding to Landlord but with the added bonus of pretending to be a gangster. The game uses Google Maps and includes missions which earn cash that can be used to hire muscle and purchase weapons. What could be more perfect at Easter? It’s available on both Android and iOS.