Pokémon Go, a free to play augmented reality game based on the Nintendo game series Pokémon exploded in popularity after its release on July 7, 2016.

Niantic Inc. developed the app. In the game’s short life span has taken over social and gaming apps. The number of people who downloaded the game reached numbers higher than the users of Twitter.

Businesses and places of worship have used the Pokémon Go trend. Businesses like restaurants, game stores, book stores or convenience stores have occasionally placed Pokéstops or gyms on or around their business. With the influx of Pokémon Go users, some businesses have contests or some other kind of gimmick to lure the players into the business. Players gather around Pokéstops and gyms for some time, making the players desirable customers for businesses. Many places of worship have hosted events to bring players there.

The game has no story like the main Pokémon games, but it includes some of its aspects: catching, evolving, and battling with many types of Pokémon. However, one can also earn badges or achievements such as distance walking, catching Pokémon and Pokémon eggs. In the beginning the professor, Willow, explains some of the main game mechanics when one starts to play. This tutorial character helping players understand and not confused about the game.

Currently one can only capture 151 Pokémon out of the 721 in existence until the new generation adds more in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Pokémon Sun and Moon comes out November 18, 2016. The 151 Pokémon, the first generation of Pokémon, exist across the world and sadly only 142 on the American continent, so players have to travel the world to catch the remaining Pokémon.

Pokémon Go has a customizable avatar that includes race, gender, hair color and clothes. This is a nice feature which allows one to put one in the game.

The game includes in-app purchases with in-game currency: Pokécoins. One uses Pokécoins to purchase items to help the player catch Pokémon.

One gains experience points by catching Pokémon, evolving, hatching eggs and stopping at Pokéstops. As one level up, Pokémon become stronger, and more items become available, items such as better poké balls.

When a Pokémon pops up on the map its sprite, its avatar, appears. If the player clicks on the sprite the Pokémon will then appear on the camera of the phone. The sprite of the Pokémon lies over the background.

To catch Pokémon one only has to swipe one’s finger on screen to launch a poké ball. The poké ball must make contact to catch it. However, the catching has challenges. The rings that appear over the Pokémon indicate difficulty. Green indicates an easier capture; yellow: a medium difficulty; and red for the most difficult. The Pokémon can also jump, attack and flee making the capture even more difficult. Thankfully the difficulty does not make the game too frustrating.

The game has a social part as well: teams. Players choose to join one of three teams: Team Valor (red), Team Mystic (blue) or Team Instinct (yellow). The fictional leaders are Candela (red), Blanche (Blue), and Spark (yellow). Each team has its own creed or philosophy of how it views Pokémon. They have legendary Pokémon as team mascots, Moltres, Articuno, and Zapdos respectively. This social aspect forms competition between people, making the game exciting and intense.

Pokémon Go uses Google Maps to track players’ movements. The app counts how many kilometers a player travels and shows Pokéstops and gyms. One can locate Pokéstops and gyms at either historical landmarks or at public buildings such as churches, police stations and malls. When one finds a Pokéstop, the player can get items and small amounts of experience points. Items can range from eggs, poké balls, berries, revives and potions. Once a player uses a Pokéstop it will refresh after five minutes. Teams battle over control of the gyms. Once one takes a gym over, the player’s team must defend it to earn Pokécoins. One can upgrade the gym’s level by fighting the Pokémon in the gym. The team that takes the gym can then place Pokémon in the gym to defend it. This mechanic gives incentive to players to go outside and socialize with others making the game adventurous and exciting.

To evolve Pokémon one must have Pokécandy. One can get Pokécandy by catching more Pokémon and or by transferring Pokémon back to the professor for a set amount.

Players can get eggs at Pokéstops. One must travel certain kilometers to hatch the egg into a Pokémon. The distance can vary from two kilometer to ten kilometers.

Since the egg hatching system and the spawning rates of Pokémon, players must go outside. This has gotten players to exercise, go outdoors and socialize with other players and people.

Sadly, Pokémon Go has several problems. The game does not include trading and battles between players, a major aspect of the original series. The game has a tendency to freeze glitch or shut down as well. Players living in rural areas have virtually no Pokéstops, gyms or rare Pokémon. The game drains one battery very fast. Your battery or phone charge drains very fast. This draining causes frustration to players if one is not near an outlet or if one does not have a charger handy. In twenty minutes the battery from full charge might have fallen to fifty percent. Pokéstops and gyms sometimes appear at sensitive areas such as memorials, emergency buildings and places of worship. Pokémon spawn on private property causing player to trespass. Accidents occur from players playing while driving and not paying attention to their surroundings.

The game has a lot of faults but makes up by its fun gameplay. If Niantic does not address these issues soon, then the game might lose users.