Pokémon GO got millions walking. So why haven’t AR games become the future of play?
Augmented reality (AR) games promised to revolutionize entertainment, turning city streets into playgrounds and layering digital worlds onto physical spaces. For a moment in 2016, Pokémon GO convinced us this was the future. But nearly a decade later, the AR gaming landscape is surprisingly sparse. Most AR games don’t last.
So, why do they fail? And how can we fix it?
Recent research studies, such as Alha et al. (2023 and my own PhD thesis on AR game design, shed light on the pitfalls and discuss how AR can move beyond gimmicks to become a powerful driver of meaningful play.
✨ The Hype vs. Reality Problem
Too many AR games use AR as decoration. As Alha and colleagues (2023) note, developers often overlay 3D creatures or items on a phone screen without altering the core gameplay. The result? Players quickly realize the AR is cosmetic—the same game could exist without it.
In my research, players lost interest when AR elements were irrelevant. But when mechanics like resizing, camouflage, or object swapping influenced real strategies—suddenly AR mattered.
👉 Fix: Treat AR as a mechanic, not a filter. Ask: How does AR change the way the game is played?
🌍 The Missing Link: Remote Play
Another flaw? Most AR games assume players are in the same place. In a hyperconnected world, that’s limiting.
Even Pokémon GO took years to add remote raids—features that could have been there from the start. In my studies, I designed games where one player placed virtual objects in the real world while a friend—kilometers away—hunted or guided them using AR cues.
Players reported stronger feelings of presence and collaboration, even across distance.
👉 Fix: Design AR games that connect people across spaces, not just within one.
🌀 Complexity Kills Fun
AR can be clunky. Jittery tracking, clumsy menus, long tutorials—players quit before they even start. Both my work and Alha et al. highlight the need for clarity and accessibility.
Simple interactions—like pointing your phone to hide or reveal objects—invite players in. Complexity only works if it’s layered on top of intuitive foundations.
👉 Fix: Keep AR seamless, quick to start, and effortless to learn.
We explored similar low-friction interaction design in Building Augmented Reality Applications with Hand Tracking.
🎮 Designing for Meaningful Play
Here’s the deeper insight: AR succeeds when it creates meaningful play. In my PhD, I define this as the fusion of system-driven mechanics and player-driven interpretations—emotional, social, and strategic.
In our AR hide-and-seek game:
- Resizing objects created dilemmas: hide small or distract big?
- Camouflage sparked laughter, frustration, storytelling.
- Remote frustum visualization made players feel like they were sharing space—even from afar.
These moments weren’t about flashy visuals—they were about experiences that mattered.
👉 Fix: Focus on how AR mechanics shape decisions, emotions, and connections.
✅ How to Fix AR Games (The Shortlist)
- Make AR matter – Tie it to gameplay, not cosmetics.
- Design beyond co-location – Support both remote and local play.
- Keep it intuitive – AR should feel natural and seamless.
- Foster meaningful play – Consider the social, spatial, and emotional dimensions.
- Test with players – Watch how real people engage, not just how you imagine.
🚀 Final Thought
Most AR games fail because they chase spectacle instead of substance. The future of AR gaming isn’t about sprinkling effects onto reality—it’s about designing mechanics that change how we play, connect, and experience the world together.
The next AR revolution won’t look like Pokémon GO 2.0. It will look like games that make us feel present, connected, and creative—whether we’re across the table or across the globe.
📖 References
- Alha, K., Kinnunen, J., Koskinen, E., Paavilainen, J., & Hamari, J. (2023). Augmented Play? An Analysis of Augmented Reality Features in Location-Based Games.
- Wickramasinghe, Y. S. (2025). Designing Multiplayer Location-Based Augmented Reality Games that Connect Remote Players and Places (Doctoral Thesis, University of Canterbury).
About the Author: I'm Yasas — a postdoctoral researcher, senior lecturer, and lead software engineer studying multiplayer location-based AR games. This piece draws directly from my PhD thesis and ongoing research into what actually makes augmented reality experiences work. You can read more of my research, projects, and writing at yasassri.me.
