• Forums
  • Shop
  • iPhone 13
  • AirPods Deals
  • iPad Deals
  • Best Apple Watch

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. News
  4. /
  5. Apple
like reality, but better

Best ARKit apps and games

Looking to make good use of iOS 11's augmented reality capabilities? Look no further! Here are our favorite AR-enabled apps and games.
Tory Foulk
19 Sep 2017

ARKit at Apple Park

Note: Some of these apps aren't available in the App Store yet, but links will be added as soon possible. This article will also be updated continuously as more ARKit apps are released, so check back frequently!

Creativity

Orb

Orb is a super fun-looking kid-friendly art app that lets you create and then place whimsical, brightly colored geometric objects in the world around you, turning your environment into an "infinite canvas."

  • Free - Download now

Don't just view #AR, be a part of it. Orb is out this week, what will you build? https://t.co/fZcCfuG1y5 #madewithorb #ios11 #arkit #lowpoly pic.twitter.com/EHthnUlADJ

— Orb (@orbapp) September 17, 2017

World Brush

Have you ever wanted to do impromptu street art without the possible consequence of vandalism charges? World Brush is all over that. This AR painting app allows you to create virtual works of art in the real world and then leave them for others with the app to find.

  • Free - Download now

Introducing World Brush, an AR experience where users can paint on the world for others to discover. #threejs #arkit https://t.co/UMvWaPjgtf pic.twitter.com/SfLx1jwV9O

— Active Theory (@active_theory) September 12, 2017

GIPHY World

GIPHY World is an app that allows you to place moving stickers on anything you point your iPhone camera at and then capture it in a photo or video. As shown in this demo, it's a pretty fun way to leave notes around the house.

  • Free - Download now

Stik AR

Stik AR allows you to inundate the world around you with exceedingly cute stickers and then take a photo or a video to share with friends.

明天就可以更新 iOS 11 然后下载 Stik AR 了!#ARKit #iOS11 pic.twitter.com/SC2yHSmopS

— Stik AR (@Stik_AR) September 19, 2017

  • Free with IAP - Download now

Bemo

Bemo is marketed as "a different way to connect and create" and features hyper-bright and silly moving stickers accented with retro pixelated text. As with the other sticker apps listed here, you can go sticker crazy on your surroundings and then record a video or snap a photo to share.

  • Free - Download now

Ain't no bff like the one I got.😎💋 pic.twitter.com/VLOsWLaHLh

— Bemo (@bemotheapp) September 16, 2017

Education

Sky Guide

With Fifth Star Labs' Sky Guide, you can find out what exactly is in the sky in real time just by pointing your phone at it. The app shows the constellations, planets and stars that are currently visible in your area - even if you can't see them due to cloud cover or other obstacles. If you tap on a celestial body, Sky Guide opens a page that tells you all about it.

  • $2.99 - Download now

Complete Anatomy

Possibly the most practical ARKit app thusfar, 3D4Medical's Complete Anatomy allows you to view and study anatomical structures in physical space. This is an especially beneficial app for medical students and professors.

  • Free with IAP - Download now

We’re excited to bring AR to Complete Anatomy using #ARKit in #iOS11! Visit https://t.co/ZvKt1mJx0g to learn more! #appleevent #edtech #iPad pic.twitter.com/I7SCfodkIo

— 3D4Medical from Elsevier (@3D4Medical) September 12, 2017

My Very Hungry Caterpillar

This app is essentially an AR version of Eric Carle's treasured classic "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." Children (or adults, because everyone is allowed to enjoy books) can watch the story unfold in their environment in real time.

  • $2.99 - Download now

JigSpace

JigSpace is essentially a growing AR encyclopedia. Users can create and interact with different informational 3D graphics, called "jigs," in order to better learn or impart wisdom to their scholarly hearts' content.

  • Free - Download now

Games

Stack AR

I am completely obsessed with Stack, so the fact that Ketchapp has brought it into the AR universe brings me great joy. If you've never played the game before, the object is simple: stack the beautiful color gradient blocks as precisely as you can as high as you can.

  • Free - Download now

Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade

Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade is a sci-fi fighting game in which you play as a freelance Imperial Knight (hence "Freeblade") protecting your world from monstrous invaders with crazy tap-to-shoot weaponry. Though this title isn't new, it is getting an AR upgrade — it was showcased during the Apple event, and we saw a Freeblade taking on a foe on a basketball court. You can customize your Knight and play through the game's story arc without AR, or you can switch to photo mode and bring the battles into your environment.

  • Free with IAP - Download now

ARise

Climax's ARise is a 3D puzzle game that allows users to project a scalable, tabletop-sized landscape into their environment and guide their character through it. You can walk 360° around the tiny world to navigate it, and there are no controls at all, meaning you really have to move around to complete each level. You can also take photos along the way.

  • $2.99 - Download now

Pokémon GO

I'm pretty sure we all know Pokémon GO, but just in case some of you out there have been living under a rock really far away from a PokéStop: Pokémon GO is a location-based AR addition to the beloved Nintendo franchise Pokémon. In the game, you walk around in your environment and catch and befriend creatures called Pokémon, then use them in battle against other players. Certain locations in your neighborhood or city are Gyms, where you go to battle, and others are PokéStops, where you go to replenish your items. Pokémon GO isn't a new game, but it will function even more effectively now than ever before thanks to the combo of iOS 11, the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X dual-camera system, and the new A11 processors in all the new iPhone models.

  • Free with IAP - Download now

Splitter Critters

Splitter Critters is another landscape puzzle platformer that's getting an AR update. You guide the little critters to their ships by splitting the environment to create new routes for them to traverse. In the AR version, the game appears in a little diorama box on whatever surface you point your camera toward, and the landforms have real depth. They also shift when you move around and change your camera angle.

  • $2.99 - Download now

magic.#ARKit #madewithunity #madewitharkit pic.twitter.com/226dlwZquE

— Jesse Ringrose (@jesseringrose) September 7, 2017

ARZombi

ARZombi is an 80s-tastic ARKit game in which you defend your home against an attacking hoard of zombies. The undead will try to squeeze their way in through whatever door or windows you point your phone toward, and your job is to board up all the openings and waste the shambling horrors that are able to make their way in. Also, you up your health by eating slices of pizza. If that isn't the dream, I don't know what is. Right now you can only play the game in survival mode, but according to developers there's also a multiplayer mode and story mode in the works.

  • $0.99 - Download now

Heath and Wellness

Standland

Standland is an activity tracker/pet collector hybrid that encourages you to stand up at least once an hour. Your device keeps track of the time you spend standing from inside your pocket, and the more you stand, the more adorable creatures you collect. If you take more than 80 steps per hour, that also equals one "stand." Thanks to ARKit, you can see your collected creatures frolic in meatspace.

  • Free with IAP - Download now

StandlandのAR試してみたいけど未対応だった。未だに5S。 pic.twitter.com/nCnhIMoA7J

— 🎵KENJI (@nmkenji) September 19, 2017

One Drop Diabetes Management

One Drop works in along with a special glucose tester to monitor all your diabetes related data. Now, you can visualize that data in 3D. One Drop's AR feature allows you to track and analyze glucose, medications, food intake and physical activity and then view it in an easy and accessible way.

  • Free - Download now

https://twitter.com/Ericbobmyers/status/910197633490317318

Fitness AR

Fitness AR works in tandem with the Strava fitness app to make your biking, running or walking routes into gorgeous 3D tabletop maps. To be honest, I love the doors this opens regarding exercise bragging: "I went on a super hardcore hike this weekend — hold on, we live in the future now. Let me just show you the terrain."

  • $2.99 - Download now

Social

Neon

If you have trouble finding your friends at crowded social events, this app is going to be super handy for you. With Neon, you can create and view location-based messages, signs and markers. At a bar and your friend can't find you? Display a virtual arrow above your location. Having a party? Create a sign that will appear in front of your residence if a friend aims their phone at it so they won't get confused about which house it is.

Urban Bird

If you've ever taken a trip somewhere and wondered about all of the cool, non-touristy stuff you were missing out on, Urban Bird may be helpful to you. It's an app that combines AR and Instagram-esque social sharing to generate a photo map of any given area, tipping you off to interesting places you may not have even known existed. You can also follow your friends and see where their local haunts are.

  • Free - Download now

We're excited to launch UrbanBird 3. Experience #AugmentedReality 😎 today. Get the new App https://t.co/Q5gIncLKzg 📱🤖✈️🌎 #ARKit #App #iOS11 pic.twitter.com/a43CUA679e

— UrbanBird (@UrbanBirdApp) September 19, 2017

Utility

IKEA Place

IKEA's Place feature allows you to digitally place any IKEA furniture in your space to see how it would look. The app automatically scales furniture based on room dimensions with 98% accuracy, and even shows you the product's texture and displays realistically how light would fall across it. After virtually placing the item, you can capture images to send to friends or post to social media for opinions. Then finally, if you like what you see, you can purchase the item directly from IKEA's website.

  • Free - Download now

MeasureKit

MeasureKit is an incredibly advanced virtual measuring app that features seven different measuring tools to choose from (and is promising more to come in future updates). You can measure with a virtual ruler, by drawing in space, or with marker pins. Doesn't have to be a straight line, either — MeasureKit measures angles, curvy paths, and even three-dimensional shapes like cubes.

  • $2.99 - Download now

CARROT Weather

Everyone's favorite resentful weather robot CARROT is now able to sass you twice as hard with full AR capabilities. Not only is it fun to listen to and watch scoot around, but it actually gives you detailed weather forecasts for your coordinates, too.

Warning: the video below prominently features profanity.

  • $3.99 with IAP - Download now

Miscellaneous

Food Network's In The Kitchen AR

With this new addition to In The Kitchen, you can build and decorate virtual full-custom desserts like cupcakes and cookies, and then get the recipe to make them in reality. The AR portion of this app looks incredibly fun, but it seems to be more for play than it is for learning a multitude of recipes or practicing any cooking skills - it's the non-AR section of the app that has all the real info.

  • Free - Download now

MLB's At Bat

Major League Baseball's official app is another preexisting interface that's getting an AR makeover. Now instead of taking your eyes off the game to view stats and player info, you can point your camera at the live action and see stats on the screen above the actual players.

  • Free with IAP - Download now

¡La app de realidad aumentada para la @MLB se ve impresionante ! #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/jTkRA0Mwuk

— El Monitor MX (@SomosElMonitor) September 12, 2017

Thoughts?

What incredible new AR experiences have you discovered since the release of iOS 11? Let us know in the comments!

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Editor's Desk: Getting ready for the new MacBook, public betas, and more
July is here

Editor's Desk: Getting ready for the new MacBook, public betas, and more

It's finally July, which means the new iPhones are just a few weeks away from being revealed. There are many things to get excited about right now, however, including the new MacBook Air.

Nintendo recap: Metroid Prime rumors, shareholder talks F-Zero, and more
From the Editor's desk

Nintendo recap: Metroid Prime rumors, shareholder talks F-Zero, and more

There was lots of exciting news this week following the Nintendo Direct Mini on Tuesday. Several games are slated for this fall and there are even rumors that some older games could be seeing remakes and remasters on Switch soon.

20 million U.K. iPhone, iPad users could get compensation in £1.5B lawsuit
tribunal

20 million U.K. iPhone, iPad users could get compensation in £1.5B lawsuit

A lawsuit in the U.K. against Apple is going to trial over claims the company has overcharged App Store users because of its dominant position in the iOS app market.

Deck your dorm with the coolest stuff
Make it your own

Deck your dorm with the coolest stuff

Dorm rooms can be plain, so you're going to want to deck it out with as much cool stuff as you possibly can - here are our picks for the essentials!

Keep in Touch

Sign up now to get the latest news, deals & more from iMore!

I would like to receive news and offers from other Future brands.

I would like to receive mail from Future partners.

No spam, we promise. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details without your permission.

  • News
  • ARKit
Tory Foulk

Tory Foulk

Tory Foulk is a writer at Mobile Nations. She lives at the intersection of technology and sorcery and enjoys radio, bees, and houses in small towns. When she isn't working on articles, you'll likely find her listening to her favorite podcasts in a carefully curated blanket nest. You can follow her on Twitter at @tsfoulk.

  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • Apple Watch
  • Mac
  • Apple TV
  • Reviews
  • How To
  • HomeKit
  • Forums

Other Categories

  • About Us
  • Newsletter
  • Fitness
  • Apps
  • Gaming
  • Deals
  • Advertising Inquiries
  • Licensing and Reprints
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Android Central
  • Windows Central
  • Thrifter
  • TechnoBuffalo
  • MrMobile
Log in or Sign up
  • t
  • f
  • y
  • i
  • r

Brightness

  • © Future US, Inc.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Licensing
  • External Links Disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • © Future US, Inc.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Licensing
  • External Links Disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement