The Outdoor Association of Finland has recognized the popular mobile phone game Pokemo Go as the best exercise idea of the year, reported Finnish national broadcaster Yle on Monday.

The association said Pokemo Go has achieved considerable success immediately after it was released in Finland in July.

In practice, the game has driven hundreds of thousands of Finns to go outdoors. In order to capture new virtual characters, people need to move as much as possible on foot.

The game has also brought different generations together, as not only children and adolescents, but also their parents and other adults have diligently enjoyed the open air, added the association.

The award was granted to the community of Pokemo Go Finland, which has collected more than 25,000 players to Facebook to follow the game related matters.

The Outdoor Association of Finland issues an award every year to an individual or organization which inspires Finns to more actively participate in physical exercises, said Yle.

Released globally in July 2016, Pokemon Go was developed by Niantic, an American software developing company, for iPhone and Android devices. The game allows players to capture, battle and train virtual creatures called Pokemon, who appear on device screens as though in the real world.

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