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Move over, Pokemon Go.

Snapchat has released a new gaming experience directly in Snapchat powered by Augmented Reality (AR) that might make you think of the now-classic Pokemon fad—just a bit spookier.

To access the game, open your Snapchat app. You have a few options on how to begin:

• Use the Lens Explorer menu – Tap the 🙂 Smiley icon when the Lens Carousel is active, then find and add the Ghost Phone lens.

• Tap the 🚀 Rocket icon in Chat to open the Games and Minis Drawer and start playing with a friend

• Use this link: https://lens.snapchat.com/a98a643cf3da425cabac6a2b84129789?sender_web_id=f611ddfa-f26d-4fe8-993b-16242bdd4256&device_type=desktop&is_copy_url=true

The object of the game is to “discover the secrets of an abandoned phone and solve the supernatural mystery of what happened to the previous owner” named Lisa.

• The gameplay involves finding spirits that pop up around you. You’ll collect their “phantom energy,” find clues, unlock spooky camera modes, and eventually find out what happened to Lisa…

• Fear not: If you leave the game, your progress will be saved.

Why it Matters

While this game will likely only appeal to some users and probably won’t take the world by storm, it builds on some of the things Snapchat does best. Namely, making the most of AR technology and using it in a way that lets people enjoy it with their connections.

According to TechCrunch, this is Snap’s first AR gaming experience and builds on previous games like Bitmoji Tennis. More gaming a social dance game that’s in the works with game studio HiDef.

It also makes sense that Snap is investing in this style of social experience given CEO Evan Spiegel’s now famous dismissal of Facebook's metaverse ambitions as “ambiguous and hypothetical.” Snap’s goal is to focus on more tangible and current technology like AR glasses.