Amsterdam Monster Factory is a mobile AR application that turns the city of Amsterdam into an interactive playground. Designed as a location-based storytelling experience, the app features a quirky monster family, each member representing a core value of the city. As users walk through town, 3D-animated monsters appear at key landmarks, sharing local stories through voiceovers, animation, and character-driven narratives.
Client’s wants & needsCreate an outdoor AR experience where users can walk through specific locations in Amsterdam and trigger animated storytelling encounters.
Build a fully functional application for both iOS and Android platforms, compatible with real-world navigation.
Implement 3D animated characters, voiceovers, background music, and seamless UX transitions for a compelling user journey.
Enable in-app purchases to unlock new locations or exclusive monster encounters within the app.
Collect user emails via in-app prompts and integrate with external platforms (Zapier) to build a newsletter and communication channel.
Real-world placement – Ensuring that AR monsters appeared naturally in busy urban environments like sidewalks, streets, and building facades.
Unpredictable surroundings – Accounting for constantly changing elements — pedestrians, cars, and other real-world distractions.
Visual consistency – Maintaining immersion and aesthetic quality despite variable lighting and cluttered cityscapes.
Technical precision – We used detailed calibration and smart positioning to make each AR interaction feel smooth, believable, and safe.
The result was a playful and immersive AR experience that gained strong local traction. It was covered by over 20 media outlets, promoted across schools, libraries, and cinemas, and received support from both the city administration and local businesses. The project is now well-positioned for future commercial scaling and broader audience engagement.
You can learn about this project here.
