A game in the form of a free smartphone app is bringing back childhood memories for gamers while getting them out of the house and on the move. It's called Pokemon Go.

The app first launched Thursday, June 7th .

Players, known as trainers, walk around searching for Pokemon and visiting Pokestops. The stops are points of interest like public art, churches and even some businesses that give players bonuses when they get near them.

It follows the basic premise of Pokémon, a Japanese videogame and anime series where adventurers travel the world seeking Pokémon (“pocket monsters” in Japanese) to train and battle with each other. The app allows users to wander their neighborhood in search of Pokémon beasts who pop-up as if in real life (i.e. on your phone).

After downloading the app and creating your own character, users see an anime-like version of Google Maps that hides street and area names, and replaces real-life landmarks with Pokémon-specific buildings. As users navigate the real world, their in-game character mirrors their movements and will randomly encounter Pokémon which, with luck, they’ll be able to capture and add to their team.

The interesting part is besides the appeal of collecting hundreds of varieties of rare Pokémon – which can be thought of as virtual pets which users must train and take care of – players also join one of three global teams and battle for territory. Beyond the digital appeal, users say they enjoy how the app encourages them to explore their towns and cities and interact with others.