# TaleBlazer > Augmented reality game platform for creating and playing location-based mobile games. (iPhone/iPad app by MIT STEP Lab.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/taleblazer/id840197176 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [MIT STEP Lab](https://appshunter.io/developer/840197179) - Category: Games, Education, Role Playing - Price: Free - Rating: 2.60/5 from 7 App Store ratings · 6 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12.0 · 22 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2014-03-27 - Data updated: 2026-06-03 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/taleblazer/id840197176/reviews.md ## What is TaleBlazer? What is TaleBlazer? Developed by the MIT Scheller Teacher Education Program (STEP) lab, TaleBlazer is an augmented reality (AR) game platform which allows users to play and make their own location-based mobile games. Want to make your own TaleBlazer game? Visit us at taleblazer.org. TaleBlazer games take place in the real world. Players interact with virtual characters, objects, and data as they move around their real location. TaleBlazer games can be played on most smartphones. Once a game is downloaded to your smartphone, you don't need an internet connection to play your games. Organizations such as zoos, nature centers, historic locations, living history museums, schools, universities, and many others can use augmented reality games to engage visitors deeply with their real-world environment. TaleBlazer games usually take place outside using GPS for positioning. But TaleBlazer games can also take place inside using beacons or other game mechanics. Why use TaleBlazer? TaleBlazer games can be compelling tools to engage players in thoughtful role-playing, exploration or investigation activities. Users can play AR games designed around nearly any subject. In addition to playing games, users can make their own games. The process of making an AR game can also be educational and fun. The web-based TaleBlazer editor, which uses a blocks-based scripting language, makes it easy for anyone – including students - to make their own AR games. The ‘Support’ section of the website contains other resources and tutorials to get users started. Acknowledgements: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. AYS #0639638, ITEST #0833663 and AISL #1223407 awarded to the Missouri Botanical Garden and MIT. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. TaleBlazer is also funded in part through the generous support of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Special thanks to colleagues at Old Sturbridge Village, Drumlin Farm, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Red Butte Botanical Garden, and San Diego Zoo for helping us with development and testing. ## Key features - Create location-based AR games - Play AR games in real-world locations - Offline game play - Blocks-based scripting editor - Engage visitors with interactive experiences - Supports GPS and beacon positioning ## Recent user reviews (6 of 6) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/taleblazer/id840197176/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2023-06-20* If you have the newest phone, don’t even bother. My kids loved to do their math passport last summer, but this time it’s completely unusable. Sad! ### 1/5 — Completely unusable *2023-06-11* Went to try this for the LVJUSD Math Passport event for the summer. It took the code and downloaded the event, then displays a user screen with a score of zero and a blank white screen for the map. If I kill it, restart and resume then it will display the map, but the only thing on it is our position. The event doesn’t start, there’s no challenge to complete, it’s completely non-functional. Looking at it as a developer, it has many of the hallmarks of an app designed for a much, much older version of iOS that hasn’t been kept up to date. If anyone is reading this, either get this thing working or stop tricking schools who don’t know any better into using it, please! ### 1/5 — Sooooooo trash *2022-11-22* So bad so bad so bad ### 5/5 — Good intuitive design *2019-07-11* This app is really easy to use and although far from perfect it had competent GPS tracking! ### 5/5 — Great tutorials, good for designing games *2015-10-17* Website provides extensive tutorials on how to build location based games. ### 5/5 — Educator/parent *2014-04-22* Terrific platform for creating and sharing adventure games. The app is easy to download and to use - perfect for a family experience where the kids get to "drive." ## Frequently asked questions about TaleBlazer ### What is TaleBlazer? TaleBlazer is an augmented reality (AR) game platform developed by MIT. It allows users to create and play location-based mobile games that interact with the real world using GPS or beacons. The platform is free to use and was released on March 27, 2014. ### Can I play TaleBlazer games offline? Yes, once a TaleBlazer game is downloaded to your smartphone, you do not need an internet connection to play it. This makes it convenient for exploring locations with limited connectivity. ### How do I create a TaleBlazer game? You can create your own TaleBlazer games using the web-based editor, which features a blocks-based scripting language. This makes the game creation process accessible and fun, even for students. Resources and tutorials are available on the TaleBlazer website. ### What devices support TaleBlazer? TaleBlazer games can be played on most smartphones, including iPhones, iPads, and iPods. The app is designed to be accessible across a range of mobile devices. ### What is the age rating for TaleBlazer? TaleBlazer has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of players. The platform encourages exploration and thoughtful role-playing activities. ### How often is TaleBlazer updated? The latest version of TaleBlazer, 3.5.1, was released on January 10, 2024. The MIT STEP lab actively develops and updates the platform to enhance user experience and add new features. ### What is the user sentiment for TaleBlazer? TaleBlazer has an average rating of 2.6 stars from 7 ratings. User feedback should be reviewed for specific insights into what players like and dislike about the platform. ### Does TaleBlazer have ads? No, TaleBlazer does not contain advertisements. The platform is completely free to use and does not display any in-app ads. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 3.5.1 — 2024-01-10 Fixed issues with dynamic maps ### 3.3.4 — 2023-05-24 Updated function in displaying game code in-game Updated audio player to fix issues with silent crashes ### 3.3.3 — 2023-05-03 Titanium SDK Update Fixes for image detail crash Heads Up may not function in some cases ### 3.2.16 — 2020-06-10 TaleBlazer 3.2 includes • enhanced map features such as improved player icon, player-out-of-bounds warning and low GPS signal strength warning • support for expanded map icon set, customizable button icons, agent cloning, displaying help text on map, and timer events TaleBlazer 3.2.16 includes bug fixes • Fix bug that caused a crash at the start of a game when the player is far away from the location of a game ### 3.2.14 — 2020-03-03 TaleBlazer 3.2 includes • enhanced map features such as improved player icon, player-out-of-bounds warning and low GPS signal strength warning • support for expanded map icon set, customizable button icons, agent cloning, displaying help text on map, and timer events TaleBlazer 3.2.14 includes bug fixes • Fix to GPS bug that led to hanging and crashing ## Apps similar to TaleBlazer | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Frost (Choices Game)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frost-choices-game/id1480333971) | 4.6 (29) | Free | Games | | [Heroes of Steel RPG Elite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heroes-of-steel-rpg-elite/id840230884) | 4.5 (41) | $3.99 | Games | | [Ad-free Virtual Cat](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ad-free-virtual-cat/id6738385212) | 4.8 (18) | Free | Games | | [Dink Smallwood HD](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dink-smallwood-hd/id391690243) | 4.7 (57) | Free | Games | | [Polandball Go](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polandball-go/id6752876985) | 4.8 (25) | Free | Games | | [Factory - automation games inc](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/factory-automation-games-inc/id6739749216) | 3.9 (15) | Free | Games | ## More apps by MIT STEP Lab - [Gameblox](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gameblox/id1090807101) - [Virus Game MIT STEP](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virus-game-mit-step/id1490313292) All apps by MIT STEP Lab: https://appshunter.io/developer/840197179 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-03.*