Find a beacon
Beacons are ordinary-looking lamps in shop windows, cafés, museums and at events. The map in the app shows where they shine.
- Coming soon for iPhone
- 16+
- No in-app purchases
- No ads · No tracking
Catch the light.
Glowing beacons are hiding in shop windows, cafés and at events. They flicker a secret code, far too fast for your eyes — but not for your iPhone’s camera. Read it first, and a Funkl is yours: a little creature made of light, one of a kind, with your name on it.
How it works
Three steps. One Funkl.
No QR codes, no stickers, no radio. Just light — and a phone that’s faster than your eyes.
Point your iPhone
The lamp flickers a light code hundreds of times a second. Aim the camera at it and hold still for a few seconds — the app reads the code.
Catch your Funkl
Be the first to read a code and you catch the Funkl inside it. Common, rare or epic — that’s up to chance. Every one is unique.
Meet the Funkls
100 kinds of little light creatures.
Funkls are born wherever light does something beautiful: a spark, a storm, a lighthouse beam, a jellyfish in the deep sea. Here are a few you might meet.
SparkZündfunke
“The moment light comes out of nothing.”
SparkCommon
Ball LightningKugelblitz
“Rare, round and never quite explained.”
LightningCommon
Volt BeetleVoltkäfer
“Crawls along the wire, counting the volts.”
LightningCommon
Socket GoblinSteckdosenkobold
“Waits behind the wall until somebody plugs in.”
LightningCommon
Amp OwlAmpereule
“Never asks how bright — only how much flows.”
LightningCommon
Will-o’-the-WispIrrlicht
“Leads you off the path and swears it is the path.”
Night lightCommon
Battery GhostBatteriegeist
“Lives in the cell and gets quieter every time you call.”
LightningCommon
Glow JellyfishLeuchtqualle
“In the deep sea, glowing isn’t a trick — it’s a language.”
Night lightCommon
AuroraPolarlicht
“Solar wind brushing along the top of the sky.”
PrismRare
LighthouseLeuchtturm
“Has turned for a hundred years and means you every time.”
BeamEpic
Plasma BallPlasmaball
“Put your hand on it and every thread comes to you.”
LightningEpic
Primal FunklUrfunkl
“The legendary first light that wanted to mean something.”
SignalEpic
…and 88 more kinds to discover in eight families.
One of a kind
Your Funkl has a serial number. Nobody else’s does.
Every caught Funkl is minted with its own serial number — like FG12-001418 — in your player name. It’s signed and written into a public register, so anyone can check that it’s real and that it’s yours.
- Keep your finds in your Field Guide: 100 kinds, eight families, each with its own story.
- Chance decides rarity. A common Spark today, an epic Lighthouse tomorrow.
- Your player name is made up — you never need to use your real name.
The Field Guide
Eight families of light.
Sparks that are just beginning. Embers that burn slow and warm. Lightning, beams, prisms, night lights, shimmers — and the Signals, the family the Funkls themselves belong to. Can you fill all 100 pages?
SparkEmber
LightningBeam
PrismNight light
ShimmerSignal
Trading
Hold two iPhones together. Swap.
Found a second Volt Beetle but still missing a Will-o’-the-Wisp? Meet up with a friend, hold your phones back to front, and the two talk to each other with their flashlights. The Funkl — serial number and all — changes hands.
- No account linking, no friend codes: the light does the talking.
- Trading happens in person, face to face.
The map
See where the beacons shine.
The map in the app shows beacons near you — in the bakery window, at the museum café, at tonight’s street festival. Some are there for good, some only for an evening. Head out, look for the glow, and be first.
Your position stays on your phone for the map. When you catch a Funkl, only a rough location (rounded to about 1 km) is sent. Sharing your walking trail is off unless you switch it on.
Fair by design
Just the game. Nothing hidden.
No in-app purchasesYou can’t buy Funkls. You find them.
No ads in the appNo banners, no videos, no sponsored pop-ups.
No trackingNo advertising ID, no third-party SDKs, no analytics.
Delete anytimeExport or delete all your data right in the app. How
Play safe
- Flashing lights: beacons flicker and your flashlight flashes when trading. If you or your family have a history of epilepsy or seizures, talk to a doctor before playing. Stop if you feel unwell.
- Look up: watch the traffic and your surroundings — never hunt while driving or cycling.
- Respect places: don’t enter private property or closed areas. Beacons are meant to be seen from where everyone may go.
For shops, cafés & venues
Put a beacon in your window.
A Funkl-Go beacon is a small lamp that looks like warm, steady light to your customers — and like a treasure map to players. Put one in your window, on the counter or at your event, and people come by to find it.
We’re looking for the first places to host beacons. Interested? Say hello.
[email protected]FAQ
Good questions.
When does Funkl-Go come out?
Soon. We’re testing with the first beacons right now. Join the waitlist and we’ll email you on launch day.
Which phones does it work on?
Funkl-Go launches on iPhone. It uses the camera’s high-speed video mode to read the light code. We’ll list the supported models on launch day.
How much does it cost?
There are no in-app purchases and no ads — you can’t buy Funkls, only find them. We’ll share all the details at launch.
Why is it 16+?
You play outdoors, on your own, in public places and sometimes in the evening. We think that fits best from 16. You’ll confirm your age when you start the app and when you join the waitlist.
Can I see the light code with my eyes?
Barely. Beacons switch their light hundreds of times per second, so to most people they just look like a lamp. Some people may notice a slight flicker. If flashing light affects you, please read our Health & Safety notes first.
What data does the app collect?
As little as the game needs: a random player ID, the player name you choose, your catches, and a rough location (rounded to about 1 km) when you catch something. No advertising ID, no tracking, no third-party SDKs. Details are in the Privacy Policy.
What does the serial number mean?
Every Funkl that is caught gets its own number, like FG12-001418, and is signed into a public register. That way every Funkl exists exactly once, and trading hands it over for real.
How do I get a beacon for my shop or event?
Write to [email protected]. Tell us a little about your place and we’ll get back to you.
Be first when the lights go on.
Get one email when Funkl-Go launches, plus the occasional project update. That’s it.