Have you ever wished you could step inside a historical monument that’s normally off-limits? Thanks to Niantic Studio, Gaussian splats, and Niantic VPS, you can now explore these spaces anytime, anywhere—no special access required. Developer Stijn Spanhove created an innovative WebAR experience that brings historical sites to life by allowing users to peer inside landmarks using 3D scans.

We sat down with Stijn to dive into his process and explore how he combined Niantic Scaniverse, SuperSplat, and Niantic Studio to create a seamless, location-anchored experience.

What happens when you become the last pin standing? The Last Pin, created by Sam Guilmard of Playbound Studio, is a WebAR game that challenges players to survive an onslaught of bowling balls using only head movements. By tilting left and right, players maneuver the lone pin to dodge incoming strikes. The longer they survive, the faster and more frequent the bowling balls become. This high-energy experience showcases how intuitive, physical input mechanics can be used to create engaging, browser-based gameplay.

We had the chance to chat with Sam about his creative process, the challenges he faced, and how Niantic Studio helped bring The Last Pin to life.

We're always adding new tools to Niantic Studio to help you build more engaging and complex WebXR experiences and 3D web games. Today, we're rolling out Niantic Maps for Web and Spaces, two features that make creating location-based experiences and multi-level gameplay easier than ever.

Tyler White’s UFO Rodeo is a fast-paced WebAR game where players must defend their cattle from incoming UFOs using a high-powered cattle prod. Set on a New Mexico ranch, this arcade-style experience immerses players in a sci-fi western showdown, blending physics-based interactions, real-time score tracking, and dynamic spawning systems. Built in Niantic Studio, UFO Rodeo leverages WebAR to create an engaging and interactive mobile game. 

We spoke with Tyler about the development process and lessons learned while bringing UFO Rodeo to life.

The Niantic Studio: Real-World Impact Challenge is here! Running from February 10th to March 31st, this challenge invites developers to create meaningful WebAR experiences that drive social impact, celebrate culture, and explore storytelling through immersive technology. 

Wall Bop is an audiovisual WebAR experience that transforms a mural by Kel Brown in Austin, Texas into an interactive musical memory game. Developed by Lauren Schroeder, the game invites players to tap on different sections of the mural, triggering animations and sounds, and challenging them to repeat a musical sequence correctly. Using Niantic Studio and Niantic VPS, Lauren mapped the game precisely to the mural’s location, blending the real and digital worlds in an engaging new way.

We spoke with Lauren about the creative process behind Wall Bop, the challenges of integrating WebAR with physical art, and how Niantic Studio helped bring the project to life.

Developers Taj Rauch and Matt Ballas crafted Western Memory, an immersive WebXR experience built using Niantic Studio. In this unique two-device game, players collaborate with a friend or stranger to navigate 3D-scanned environments, solve puzzles, and uncover the lore of a haunting digital world. With the use of QR code mechanics and Gaussian splats, Western Memory challenges players to think outside the screen while delving into a narrative-rich journey. We had the opportunity to talk with Taj and Matt about their creative process and how they brought this one-of-a-kind experience to life.

Developers Sarai Cibrian and Stephanie Meza from eenieweenie interactive created Lost in the Woods: Balloon Search, an engaging 3D puzzle game that invites players to navigate a whimsical forest alongside the curious Purple Guy. With intuitive controls, dynamic elements, and charming visuals, the game is a perfect example of how Niantic Studio empowers creators to build unique and engaging 3D web games. We had the opportunity to learn about their creative journey and how they brought Lost in the Woods to life.

Developer Camilo Medina created Doty Run, an endless runner game with dynamic gameplay, procedural generation, and innovative mechanics. Guided by the adventurous Doty, players navigate an icy trail filled with coins, obstacles, and sharp turns—all while chasing high scores. Camilo’s project highlights the power of Niantic Studio to build complex, interactive web games. We had the chance to delve into Camilo’s creative journey and learn how he brought Doty Run to life.

Developer Jessica Sheng challenges players to combine 3D objects and transform a simple park gazebo into a magical, plant-filled sanctuary in her latest creation, Splatchemy! Using a Gaussian splat captured with Niantic Scaniverse and imported into Niantic Studio, Jessica crafted a WebXR experience that blends innovation with play. In Splatchemy!, players combine objects to unlock new creations, transforming a plain park picnic area into a magical, plant-filled environment. Jessica’s project highlights the versatility of Niantic Studio, showcasing how its features can be used to create captivating and interactive experiences grounded in the real world.

We had the chance to dive into Jessica's development process and learn more about her inspiration, challenges, and the steps she took to bring Splatchemy! to life.