A Sense of Belonging: Pokémon GO and Social Connectedness

TLDR

Pokémon GO’s real‑world mapping encourages public play, potentially increasing engagement with other players and local communities. The study aimed to determine the social outcomes of playing Pokémon GO and the mechanisms that facilitate social connectedness. It used 15 interviews and 880 online forum posts to investigate these outcomes. Thematic analysis found that playing Pokémon GO fosters a sense of belonging tied to place, encourages conversations with strangers, strengthens social ties, and builds social connectedness through real‑world engagement, driven by accessible technology, shared passion, and nostalgia.

Abstract

The free-to-play mobile game Pokémon GO’s (PGO) use of real-world mapping encourages play in public spaces, opening up the possibility of greater engagement with other players, local communities, and surrounds. This study conducted a series of interviews ( N = 15) and collected online social forum reports of gameplay ( N = 880), in order to determine what the social outcomes of play may be and what mechanisms might be facilitating the social connectedness. Thematic analysis revealed that playing PGO produced a sense of belonging, linked to a sense of place, as well as facilitating conversations with strangers and strengthening social ties. This was due to the use of accessible technology able to be integrated into daily routines, shared passion for the game, and mechanics that encouraged players out of their homes. “Shared passion” was tied to the nostalgic connection many players felt for the franchise. This study shows how gameplay can build social connectedness through real-world engagement.