The genre is older than you think

Ingress launched in 2012. It was the first mainstream location-based game built around territory, portals, and real-world movement. Niantic built Pokémon Go on the same foundation two years later and the genre went global overnight.

Since then, a generation of players has grown up with GPS games as a normal part of daily life. And since then, a lot of them have started looking for something new. Pokémon Go is still the biggest game in the category by a wide margin, but the players who want more depth, more competition, or a different reason to get outside are increasingly looking for alternatives.

The other big name in GPS territory specifically is Turf Wars (not to be confused with Turf Warz... with a z), the mafia-themed game that has been running since 2011. It was genuinely innovative for its time. But a decade of pay-to-win mechanics, a shrinking active player base, and a gameplay loop that does not require you to actually move have pushed a lot of long-term players out the door.

If you are one of them, or if you are just curious what else is out there, here is what is worth your time in 2025.

Five GPS territory games worth your time

1Ingress — Niantic

Ingress is the original, and it is still one of the deepest GPS games available. The premise is science fiction: two factions, the Enlightened and the Resistance, fight over energy portals anchored to real-world landmarks. You hack portals, link them to create control fields, and score based on the population inside those fields.

The learning curve is genuinely steep. Ingress rewards players who understand the strategy and put in the time to build relationships within their faction. If you want depth and a committed community, it holds up better than almost anything else in the category.

The player base is smaller than it was at peak, but the core community is dedicated and the gameplay has not been watered down to chase casual players. That is either a feature or a drawback depending on what you are looking for.

Best forStrategy-minded players who want depth and a serious community.

2Pikmin Bloom — Nintendo x Niantic

Pikmin Bloom sits at the casual end of the GPS game spectrum. You grow Pikmin by walking, plant flowers along your route, and participate in community challenges tied to real-world locations. There is no combat, no territory conflict, no rivals.

That sounds like a criticism but it is not. Pikmin Bloom is genuinely lovely to play. It rewards consistency and walking without any of the competitive pressure that can make other GPS games feel like a second job. The community events are well-designed and the connection to the Nintendo IP gives it warmth that most GPS games lack.

If you want something that rewards daily walks without demanding that you engage competitively, Pikmin Bloom is the best version of that experience available right now.

Best forCasual players, families, and anyone who wants GPS without competition.

3Zombies, Run! — Six to Start

Zombies, Run! is not a territory game in the traditional sense but it belongs in this conversation because it targets the same core audience: people who want a reason to get outside and move. Instead of claiming territory, you run missions. Audio storytelling plays through your headphones as you walk or run, building a narrative around your physical movement. The zombies are gaining on you. You need to keep moving.

It works exceptionally well for dog walkers. Your dog sets the pace, you follow the story, and thirty minutes passes without you noticing. The writing is legitimately good and the missions build over seasons in a way that rewards long-term play.

If you want the fitness motivation of a GPS game without the map-based competition, Zombies, Run! is the most polished option in its category.

Best forFitness-first players and dog walkers who want immersive audio over map mechanics.

4Turf Warz — Early access

Turf Warz is the newest entry on this list and the only one built specifically around dog walking. The concept is straightforward: when your dog marks a spot during a walk, you tap to claim that territory on a live shared neighborhood map.

The competitive layer comes from the fact that other players can flip your territory. Flip battles are resolved based on your dog's stats, which grow through real walking behavior. Longer walks build Endurance, faster pace builds Speed, daily streaks build Strength. The game is genuinely designed to reward physical activity rather than simulate it.

There are packs, leaderboards, rivalries, and a Hall of Fame for dogs who reach max level and prestige. It is currently in invite-only early access, which means the neighborhood map in most areas is completely unclaimed. That is either an obstacle or an opportunity depending on how you look at it.

If you own a dog and you have ever wondered why no one has built a GPS territory game around the thing your dog does every single walk, this is the answer. You can read the full game guide here or join the waitlist at turfwarz.com.

Best forDog owners who want GPS territory competition built around their daily walks.

5Geocaching — Groundspeak

Geocaching is the low-tech veteran of the location-based outdoor activity world and it deserves a mention here even though it is not a game in the traditional sense. The premise is simple: people hide small containers around the world, log the GPS coordinates, and other people find them. There are currently over three million active caches hidden globally.

There is no territory, no competition, and no leveling system. What there is is a reason to explore places you would never otherwise walk to and a community of people who take genuine pride in their hiding spots. Geocaching works brilliantly with dogs because dogs are excellent at sniffing out unusual ground disturbances and the walks tend to take you somewhere interesting.

It is free to start, has been running for over twenty years, and has a depth of hidden content that no game studio could replicate.

Best forExploration-focused players who want real-world discovery over digital competition.

How to choose

The GPS territory genre is not one thing. Ingress and Turf Warz are built around competition and territory. Pikmin Bloom and Geocaching are built around exploration and community. Zombies, Run! is built around fitness and narrative. They share the core mechanic of using real-world movement as input, but they produce very different experiences.

If you are coming from the GPS mafia game and want something with genuine territorial competition that actually requires you to move, Ingress is the most established option and Turf Warz is the most interesting new entry. If you own a dog, Turf Warz is the only one on this list that was designed with your specific situation in mind.

The best time to get into a GPS territory game is when the map around you is still unclaimed. That window does not stay open forever.