As I explored the game from the perspective of a designer, I talked to many trainers about why they played, and what made it fun. Their responses fell into 3 general categories.
Augmented Reality
One trainer that I spoke with said
"I just really enjoy the idea of augmented reality. It's really cool to walk around in the real world but have added digital layers on top of it, and thus be riding a sort of connection between real and fictional worlds" -Trainer 0xGG
Augmented reality allows trainers to add a little bit of magic to their everyday. Even if it is just while they walk between classes or on their way to work. The app itself supports this experience by having a camera option while catching Pokémon, so that they can really be in the environment with the trainer (seen on left).
The Community
The Pokémon Go community has become a huge part of the game. One trainer I spoke to said
"I only play during the semester when I have people to play with. It's a very social game, and I get bored when I'm playing alone" -Trainer Lorenzocv
Many people have met through Pokémon Go, and meet up daily to do Raids together.
The image to the left shows people gathered at Boston Public Garden for Pokémon Go Community Day, a monthly 3 hour event. People from all over the greater Boston area gathered to take part in the event.
Love of Pokémon
For many trainers, there is a nastalgia factor to the game. A lot of the trainers played and even continue to play the Nintendo Pokémon games, and simply have a love for the characters and the concept.
Many of these people have dreamed of actually being Pokémon trainers, and Pokémon Go is the closest thing to that.