Snapchat s creepy AR game is exactly what Snapchat Plus needs to make you want it TechRadar Skip to main content TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. Snapchat s creepy AR game is exactly what Snapchat Plus needs to make you want it By Hamish Hector published 28 July 2022 Snapchat has a knack for games (Image credit: Snap) Audio player loading… Snapchat's latest lens launches you into a ghost-filled mystery, and it's exactly what the social media platform needs for its paid tier. Titled Ghost Phone, this in-Snapchat game is the platform's first AR adventure, expanding its Snap Minis feature beyond simpler meditation and study apps. Like other hits in the found phone genre, Ghost Phone tasks you with unraveling the mysteries of a phone you've just found. By using its apps – in particular the camera which will launch you into AR ghost hunts – you'll steadily unlock previously hidden texts, photos, and videos that provide clues about what happened to the device's previous owner. We've tried the game out and based on our first impressions we'll definitely be playing more. While found phone games aren't to everyone's liking, the AR elements offer a unique level of immersion – helping to sell the illusion that there really is a ghost hanging over your shoulder. If you want to try Ghost Phone for yourself, it's super easy. Obviously, you'll need Snapchat installed and you'll need to be signed in. Next, you'll want to head to the Lens menu; just tap the camera icon at the bottom of the main screen, then the smiley face that'll appear on the right of the record button. Once in the Lens Menu, you can use the Explore icon in the bottom right corner to find a much wider range of lenses. Finally, use the search bar at the top to look for Ghost Phone and you should see the lens made by the official Snapchat account. Analysis Could games save Snapchat Plus Ghost Phone is free, and it's certainly a good thing that Snap isn't locking all of its apps best features behind a paywall – but if AR games came to Snapchat Plus we wouldn't be disappointed. Plus subscribers get access to a suite of early features and tools that aren't accessible to free members. So far, though, we've been pretty disappointed with Snap Plus. Its update to Snap Maps terrified our Software expert Daryl Baxter (causing him to leave the service) and Snapchat Web is currently just a disappointing Discord. But if Snap announced that inventive new AR games were coming to the service, we'd probably resubscribe to try them out. Snap's Ghost Phone has shown us that its team has a knack for using AR in exciting ways. Snapchat's paid tier would likely bring even more resources to cool (or creepy) AR game development, bringing paying customers even more impressive apps and new genres. We'll have to wait and see if Snapchat expands its AR gaming efforts at all – but whether its next title is another freebie or a paywall-locked game, we'll definitely be giving it a whirl. Hamish HectorHamish is a Staff Writer for TechRadar (@Hamish_Hector (opens in new tab) on Twitter) and has been writing about tech for almost five years. He now lends his experience to cover news and reviews across everything on TechRadar (from Computing to Audio to Gaming and the rest). In his free time, you'll likely find Hamish humming show tunes while building Lego or playing D&D with his mates. See more Software news TechRadar Newsletter Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals! Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. MOST POPULARMOST SHARED1Samsung's smaller micro-LED 4K TV might finally be on the way to battle OLED2PC gamers are shunning high-end GPUs – spelling trouble for the Nvidia RTX 40903A whole new breed of SSDs is about to break through4New Anker wireless earbuds offer a feature AirPods Pro can't – and for cheaper5Beg all you want - these beer game devs will not break the laws of physics for you 1Con le RTX 4000 ho capito che Nvidia ha perso la testa2Canon's next mirrorless camera could be too cheap for its own good3PC gamers are shunning high-end GPUs – spelling trouble for the Nvidia RTX 40904IT pros suffer from serious misconceptions about Microsoft 365 security5A whole new breed of SSDs is about to break through Technology Magazines (opens in new tab)● (opens in new tab)The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviewsFrom$12.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)