6mo ago

Apps that encourage/gamify walking?

Recently got Walk Scape which is a rune scape inspired game, but you do things by walking and just reads from the google analytics on your walking distance, so no gps and doesn't care where you go, just that you walk. So like to mine something, you take 10 steps, and so on. Also really nice that if you complete your current task, your steps are stored. So you don't have to do things while on the walk, you pick stuff to do before you walk, and then check in after. Really enjoying it!

Also got an app called Macadam, which gives you prizes for walking. But the model is kinda annoying because you'll get 25 coins for walking 2,500 steps in a day, but then you'd get like 5k for doing surveys and 10k for "playing partner games". So it feels a bit just like a mist play clone with a pedometer.

I didn't like games like pokemon go because the best way to play was always just to drive to a good place and hang out there. Also it required you to stop while on your walk.

Curious if there are any other fun walking games!

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Some folks on Lemmy recently recommended StreetComplete, and I've been really enjoying it so far.
It's a "Pokémon Go" style thing, but you go around answering simple questions about your surroundings which are then used to update/improve the data on OpenStreetMap.
One concern I considered after using the app was that because your contributions are uploaded to OpenStreetMap, in theory I imagine someone could use that data to track where you are / where you've been / where you tend to be. So just be aware of that.
- Hmm I was looking for more passive stuff where I do my walking, then get home and get a cool prize/thing to do, but doing things that actively contribute to a FOSS project is pretty inspiring.
  
  I was looking for more passive stuff
  Maybe you’re asking the wrong question then.
  Apple Watch is an example of gamify healthy activity. Tracking workouts gets all the attention, but ….. activity tracker shows that because I took a long walk today, I completed 263% of my typical activity, burned 156% of my typical calories, and 125% of at least moving around a bit every hour. I see awards for streaks or how many times I met goal this week, encouragement to do more, etc.
  I only know my AppleWatch but I don’t imagine this is unique: maybe look for something more like an activity tracker?
  BTW, PokeMon Go has added features over time, plus you can do more as you advance. One new feature is “routes” where you define routes that may be interesting for other people to follow. Once you get to a higher level, you can also contribute to points of interest for Pokemon Stops. For example my town built out its section of a rail trail planned to eventually cross the entire state, so I was one of the people defining new Pokemon Stoos at points of interest where the trail meets streets or parks, and people have defined “routes” so you get game credit for walking them. That being said, I’m not sold on routes being a good feature and I do live where I can walk to good Pokemon territory
- Has anybody tried the web browser version?
  https://mapcomplete.org/index.html
  I’m on iOS, so I was thinking of trying it.

Have you tried Zombies, Run!? You walk and then run when zombies chase you.
- This is the kinda heat I was looking for!
  Looks like a full RPG powered by running.
  Gonna give it a try!
  
  There's also "The Walk" from the same makers, for us non-joggers. I tried it long ago and I think it was mostly an audio story that triggered a new chapter at some step counts.
  https://thewalkgame.com/

I'll add Geocaching to this list. Walk around, find hidden caches and solve puzzles.
It's not focused on the walking places but instead on the finding of caches. I personally need to get out and do some that involve going on hikes!
- Not a bad shout, I just want to spend a consistent amount of time each day for the most part. Which isn't really a thing if I'm going to something like that.

StreetComplete is quite fun: https://f-droid.org/packages/de.westnordost.streetcomplete/
It's a way to contribute to OpenStreetMap, so you're actually doing something helpful.
But it's also gamified, basically giving you a bunch of quests in your local area, where you visit that location and check certain information, like for example what the opening hours of a given shop are.

My wife and I have been playing Pikmin Bloom lately. It's from the same company as Pokemon Go, but focuses a lot more on the actual walking - there are battles kinda like gyms (mushrooms), but you don't need to hang around them at all (if you can see it on the map you can join) and you can even be invited to remote ones from friends. The other important points of interest - that are kinda like pokestops - are called "big flowers" and they require walking around them to activate them, standing there won't do much.
There are tasks to complete for events or leveling up which directly require certain numbers of steps or indirectly require certain distance traveled at walking speed
(it's a little more involved but that's the high level overview)
- Seconded for Pikmin Bloom. it really his am walking app as much as much as it is a game. I like Pokemon Go and Ingress too (from the same company), but this is the lightest weight, cutest, and most suited to being able to put it away during your walk if you want.

I guess this kinda counts: https://wandrer.earth
It gives you points for every unique mile you walk/run/cycle etc with the idea of getting you to go to new places and explore. You then get bonus points for doing 10/25/50% etc of an area.
Works off Strava data, so you would have to actually record the walking. But I found it was great at getting me to go to new places.

On Apple Store there is one called “the walk”. Supposed to be 500 miles of stuff.
- Oh nice! It's on Google Play as well and made by the Zombie run folks

This one probably doesn't really meet your requirements, but I'm using obsidentify as a kind of real life Pokemon go. Just go for a walk and upload any new plant or critter you can find. It's fun and the observations help biological research.

Ingress
- It wasn't my original intention, but ingress made me walk a whole lot!

Randonautica

Almost anything in VR if you have either the space to walk around or some kind of treadmill (doesn't have to be omni-directional, but it would be easier/more natural).
Actually, I am curious now if there is something like Beat Saber, but for your feet. 🤔 Beat Saber is a pretty good workout, but it mostly jusy involves your arms and sometimes you have to lean or crouch.
- It's not VR.. But there is always Dance Dance Revolution.
- I actually did do a lot of beat saber, but never got used to any games that had me move around a lot.

What about treadmill-based walking? It's too freaking hot out during the summer.
- Yeah treadmill based walking is good, which is part of why I like WalkScape, which isn't gps based and instead just using the google pedometer to check in on your walk.

Netwalker - An Open Source Cyberpunk GPS Exploration Game (GPLv3)
==//==
Just found this game, and thought of your post :-) .
I haven't played it yet. (Check your GPS sharing/privacy concerns first etc.)
Repo
https://github.com/toshydev/netRunner
Original post
https://slrpnk.net/post/1563212

just reads from the google analytics on your walking distance
Unless I'm confused - I think you mean Google Maps, as Analytics is to see user behavior on apps/websites!
- Android has built in pedometer that has nothing to do with google maps, as it's not gps based. It's called google fit.
  I thought people would realize it just meant it was a built in Google service.

This is a really great topic! I've been puzzling over ideas for years but havent committed for a walk based games.
I'm in the same boat. I get bored very easily and want more minor gamification in walking.
Right now, it's just me walking while listening to audio books, and marking those books down.
- Walk scape is super cool, but in closed beta. Might be a thing to keep an eye on.

SpekTrek is pretty old, but is a walking / exploration game.

Personally, setting a daily goal of 10k steps has gamified it for me. Keeping my streak going motivates me to get out there and walk, wherever I am.
- If I had the ability to self motivate I would not be asking this question I'm afraid.

Little app only for the Apple Watch called Nomi that I like. Doesn’t get updated anymore but still works. It’s a couple bucks, and I’ve enjoyed it for years

StepN Earn crypto for walking or jogging.
- Don't you have to buy an nft and equip it to earn money with that?

Pokemon Go
- Op pointed that out already in the description. Any other recommendations you can add?
  
  Sorry, didn't notice.
- I wouldn't mind generating some more discussion on Pokémon Go.
  The "drive somewhere" argument is valid (along with many other arguments that can be leveled against the game), and this is at its core a conversation about motivations, but I'm still using Pokemon Go to get out and walk places.
  I'm more likely to add onto existing walks if it means I can spin a couple more stops or put a mon in a gym.
  That said, it doesn't make me want to go for a walk if I'm not already out for a walk. So I guess it works as more of a "walk more" motivator for me personally.
  
  I imagine it depends where you live. I can see some areas will have very little Pokemon infrastructure , whereas as I live near enough to be entertaining. I thought the dog would be the walk motivator and the game something to do while walking, but it’s the other way around. The game is my motivator and the dog is the excuse, the cover for doing something other than play a kids game
- Ah yes, the branded simplified shovelware version of Ingress

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