Getting Started with Paper Chase: A Beginner's Guide

Welcome! This guide walks you through everything you need to know to start collecting stamps and completing your collections in Paper Chase.

What is Paper Chase?

Any walk can turn into a small adventure – all you need is a reason to look around. That is exactly what Paper Chase is for: a free app that turns your neighbourhood into a map full of interesting places to discover. By visiting selected locations – parks, landmarks, hidden gems – you can register your visits and collect virtual stamps in the app. Joining Paper Chase could not be simpler, and we explain it all below.

Paper Chase is completely free and available on both iOS and Android:

iOS: Get Paper Chase on the App Store (iOS 16 or newer)
Android: Get Paper Chase on Google Play (Android 8 or newer)

Step 2: Create Your Account

You need an account to use Paper Chase – it keeps your progress safe and syncs it across your devices. Creating one takes less than a minute:

Enter your email address and you will get a one-time code to type in (you can also sign in with your Apple or Google account). No need to come up with a password.
Personalise your profile – pick your username (or keep the default one we generate for you) and an avatar. You can skip these steps and come back to them later in the app’s settings.
Allow location access – the app only asks for it while you are using it, so it can show you what is nearby and let you register a visit once you arrive.
Done!

At the bottom of the screen you will find five tabs: Home (a dashboard with shortcuts), Feed (what other people are discovering), Discover (the map – the heart of the app), Community and Settings.

Step 3: Find Your First Stamp

Open the map in the app and look for markers near your location. Each marker is a place you can visit to earn a stamp.

Have a look around the map – zoom in to see more markers.
Tap a marker, and then tap “Show details” to read about the place.
Head to the place – you can only register a scoring visit when you are actually there.
Tap “Register a visit”. The app will check your location and… that’s it!

Step 4: Collect and Compete

Once you reach a stamp’s location, you will be able to register the visit in the app. Every stamp goes into your collection and earns you points.

Leaderboards

Your points count towards the leaderboard. See how you compare with other explorers in your area, or compete directly with friends.

Collections

Collections are themed sets of places (a particular figurine trail, say, or a group of peaks). Collect them all and the collection completes automatically, adding bonus points. Each collection has its own leaderboard.

Achievements

Achievements are badges for milestones along the way: your first stamp, your first completed collection, and so on.

Tips to Get You Started

Here are a few things we wish we had known when we started:

Battery: the app only uses your location while it is open – it does not track you in the background, so it will not drain your phone in your pocket.
GPS: accuracy matters when you register a visit. If the signal is weak, move closer to the marker and wait a moment.
Offline: you can download individual places or a whole collection in advance (tap the three dots in the top right corner of the details screen, then “Download for offline use”), and the stamps you earn will sync once you are back in range.
Updates: check the app often – new places and challenges are added regularly.
Exploring together: head out with family or friends, because collecting stamps is more fun as a group!

What’s Next?

Paper Chase has a community, too – it is worth joining to share tips and discoveries, find ideas for a day out, or simply chat with other explorers:

You can find out more about Paper Chase on our social media. And if you take a liking to the app, you can support its development by buying us a virtual coffee. Even the smallest contribution is real help and motivation for us to keep going!

That is everything you need to get started. Download Paper Chase, head outside and see how many interesting places are within walking distance. See you out there!