The 13 Best AR Apps and Games You Need to Download Right Now

Augmented reality – or AR, as it's more commonly known – is one of those things that lots of people talk about, but very few actually understand. Aside from being the phrase that was (loosely) used to denote the real-life component of Pokémon Go, or used to describe the 3D bitmoji that now live in Snapchat, it's the underlying technology that allows you to mash up real life and the imaginary by simply pointing your phone's camera lens at the world around you. And with the release of Apple's iOS 11, the ability to use it comes standard on every Apple device – and it's high time we all start using the rad new technology we've got at our fingertips more often.

To help you out a bit, we've tested a whole lot of the app offerings in the App Store in to come up with the very best in AR apps and games that are available to download right now. Ahead, click through 13 of these delightfully future-forward apps – all of which will help you get cracking on being the first of your friends to master the latest in ubercool tech.

CARROT Weather
Carrot Weather

CARROT Weather

The popular sassy weather app CARROT Weather goes high-tech with its latest iteration, announcing its "hilariously twisted" weather forecasts live in the world around you. Price: $4.99

Dubface
Dubface

Dubface

Once you've downloaded Dubface, all you need to do is take a single candid selfie in order to open an entire world of goofy characters that come to life in the world around you. Price: Free

Fitness AR
Fitness AR

Fitness AR

See your bike rides and run routes in a way you've only imagined in your wildest dreams with Fitness AR, and record those routes right in the app to share your discoveries with friends and family. Price: $2.99

Giphy World
Giphy World

Giphy World

Drag and drop all of your favorite GIFs right into your living room with Giphy World, the popular GIF search engine's newest entry to the AR universe. Price: Free

HoloGrid Monster Battle
HoloGrid Monster Battle

HoloGrid Monster Battle

Inspired by the legendary HoloChess scene in Star Wars HoloGrid Monster Battle is "a board game come to life" and is the best way to get a taste for exactly what it is that AR can do. Price: Free

IKEA Place
IKEA Place

IKEA Place

It goes without saying that everyone could use a little help when it comes to our favorite Swedish outlet – and with IKEA Place, it's never been so easy to figure out exactly what piece of furniture will fit perfectly in any room of your house. Price: Free

AR MeasureKit
AR MeasureKit

AR MeasureKit

Throw all those old, complicated tape measures away – with AR MeasureKit you can easily pinpoint the exact measurement of any room, item, or person right on your iPhone. Oh, and did we mention that it's not just a ruler but can also measure trajectory, distance, angle, height, and, size. Plus, it acts as a level. Price: Free

Paint Space AR
Paint Space AR

Paint Space AR

The world is your canvas in Paint Space AR, which lets you draw or paint or sketch anywhere in the world around you. Price: Free

Stack AR
Stack AR

Stack AR

Stack AR brings the delightful fun of an addictive stacking game directly into your home: pile the blocks in succession to see how many you can balance before they topple over and fall. Price: Free

The Machines
The Machines

The Machines

The Machines is one of the most incredible AR games available to date. It's a visually stunning battle game, where the battlefield is the world around you – and you can easily play against a friend or family member while sitting side by side. Price: $4.99

Thyng
Thyng

Thyng

For the more creative iPhone or iPad user, Thyng opens up an entire world for you to play with – easily enabling you to try each and every feature that comes along with augmented reality while enabling you to share what you've learned along the way with others. Price: Free

Vuforia Chalk
Vuforia Chalk

Vuforia Chalk

Finally, an easier way to help your parents solve their most complicated tech dilemmas! Vuforia Chalk enables you to share a live view of the world around you, and draw on the screen to provide tips, help, and advice to the loved one that needs it. Price: Free

World Brush
World Brush

World Brush

World Brush lets you change your surroundings into a Photoshop image, easily applying brushes to any scene you can possibly imagine. Price: Free