Web3 has been most associated with the decentralised finance niche, but a new trend has recently revolutionised the gaming industry — play to earn games. These games help players earn real money by participating and achieving specific gameplay milestones.
With the emergence of blockchain technology and the growing popularity of cryptocurrencies in the early 20th century, Web3 developers have shifted their interest in developing play-to-earn games that can help players make money. Meanwhile, these gaming initiatives have seen great success in the crypto industry.
The Ultimate Growth of Play to Earn Crypto Games
Play-to-earn crypto games have transformed the gaming industry by allowing players to earn real-world assets during play. Diverging from conventional video games that only provide in-game benefits, these innovative games reward players with cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which hold actual monetary value and can be traded or sold. This gaming model emerged from the cryptocurrency sphere, particularly from decentralised finance (DeFi) systems that reward user engagement and contribution to the platform.
Working of the Play to Earn Games Explained
Play-to-earn games leverage blockchain technology to provide a transparent, secure, and permanent gaming environment. In these games, digital assets like characters, equipment, and virtual currencies are minted as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the blockchain, granting players genuine ownership and the freedom to trade or sell their assets across different platforms. The rewards in these games, typically cryptocurrencies, are earned by completing missions, reaching milestones, or winning competitions. Such rewards can be invested, exchanged, or sold. The amount players can earn is closely linked to their skill level, commitment, and active involvement in the game.
Top 20 Play-to-Earn Crypto Games
Various play-to-earn crypto games have emerged, each presenting distinct gameplay and earning potential. Here’s an overview of top-tier games that have caught the gaming community’s attention with their popularity.
1. Alien Worlds: A Metaverse Adventure
Set in the year 2055, Alien Worlds is an engaging play-to-earn (P2E) game that immerses you in a metaverse of exploration and strategy. As a space explorer, you’ll engage in activities like collecting, trading, and utilising unique NFTs, primarily minted on the WAX blockchain. These digital assets are crucial to mining Trilium (TLM), battling, and questing.
Gameplay Dynamics
In the competitive yet collaborative world of Alien Worlds, players strive to acquire TLM to boost their power. Beginners receive an avatar, a shovel, and a skill tree to kickstart their journey. The game’s core involves staking TLM to unlock various benefits, including enhanced reward pools, new tools, minions, and participation in planetary governance.
Blockchain Integration
Every action in Alien Worlds is recorded on the blockchain, ensuring transparency and the chance to earn rewards. This integration also allows for trading NFT game cards and the teleportation of TLM across blockchain platforms like BSC, WAX, and Ethereum.
Getting Started
To embark on your Alien Worlds adventure, set up a free WAX Cloud Wallet linkable to social accounts. TLM can be acquired through exchanges like Kraken and Binance. With your wallet ready, log into the Alien Worlds website, set up your account, and select a mining planet from the six available DAOs—each with unique governance and games.
Economic Opportunities
Owning Land in Alien Worlds can yield passive income through planetary taxes, making it a potential investment opportunity.
Community and Growth
Since its launch by Dacoco in December 2020, Alien Worlds has seen significant activity, with over 380 million transactions and 530,000 unique wallets in the past month. The community thrives across various platforms, including Medium, Telegram, Discord, and more, allowing players to connect and expand their experience.
2. Polywin: The Future of Crypto Gaming
Polywin is a groundbreaking platform that merges the thrill of crypto trading with gaming fun. Hosted on the Polygon blockchain, it offers fast-paced 45-second gaming rounds where players’ strategic wagers can lead to substantial gains.
Streamlined Experience
With Polywin, the traditional complexities of online gaming are eliminated. Players can jump straight into the action, placing bets in 30 seconds and witnessing the outcome in 15 seconds. The platform ensures immediate gratification with quick wins and rewards deposited directly into players’ wallets.
Fair Play and Transparency
What sets Polywin apart is its commitment to fairness. It operates on a player-vs-player basis, eliminating any house advantage and spotlighting the players’ strategic acumen. The combination of live crypto trading and gaming elements delivers an unmatched adrenaline rush.
Security and Trust
Polywin isn’t just about quick thrills; it’s a platform built on trust and transparency. Leveraging blockchain’s secure and immutable nature, every transaction is verifiable, promoting equitable play. A thorough audit by CertiK validates Polywin’s dedication to security, ranking it in the top echelon of blockchain initiatives.
About Polywin
As a premier play-to-earn platform on the Polygon network, Polywin stands out with its high success rate and CertiK certification. It revolutionises online entertainment by fusing cryptocurrency trading with gaming. Polywin’s transparent gameplay and swift rewards allow players to make strategic bets in exciting 45-second intervals for significant returns.
3. Axie Infinity: A Crypto-Collectible Platform
Axie Infinity is a highly acclaimed play-to-earn game that combines the charm of a Pokémon-inspired universe with the lucrative world of cryptocurrency. Players engage in breeding, raising, and battling Axies—adorable digital creatures—while also having the opportunity to acquire virtual land as NFTs. All transactions are securely processed on the Ronin sidechain, which Sky Mavis developed.
Earning Mechanics
The game’s economy allows players to monetise their gaming experience by selling Axies and other digital assets in the marketplace. Additionally, players can earn by collecting two types of tokens:
- Axie Infinity Shards (AXS): This is the primary token, which serves as both currency and governance token. Its supply is capped at 270 million.
- Small Love Potion (SLP): A reward token given for completing quests and winning battles.
Getting Started with Axie Infinity
To play Axie Infinity, players need an Ethereum-compatible crypto wallet and some ETH for transactions. A Ronin wallet, accessible on multiple platforms, is also necessary to connect with the game.
Axie Infinity’s Journey
Developed by Vietnamese studio Sky Mavis, Axie Infinity launched in March 2018 and witnessed a meteoric rise in popularity, especially in 2021 and 2022. It became a top crypto application on Ethereum, and despite a peak of nearly 3 million monthly players in 2022, it maintains a solid player base with approximately 390,000 active players monthly.
4. Decentraland: A User-Created Virtual Universe
Decentraland presents a digital realm where exploration, creativity, and commerce converge. In this Ethereum blockchain-powered world, players can traverse virtual lands, craft unique experiences, and trade digital assets like LAND and avatar accessories through the Decentraland Marketplace.
Decentralised Governance
The platform is distinguished by its decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO), which empowers players with decision-making authority over the virtual world’s operations. Two primary crypto tokens drive Decentral’s economy:
- LAND: An NFT signifying ownership of virtual real estate.
- MANA: A cryptocurrency for purchasing in-game items, including LAND and other virtual goods.
Ownership and Development
Decentraland is a community-owned metaverse that continually evolves through user contributions. Players can navigate this virtual space with their avatars, engage in digital art transactions, trade assets, and even partake in educational experiences at Decentraland University using digital tokens.
Economic Participation
As a blockchain-based game, Decentraland offers multiple avenues for earning, such as trading MANA or LAND tokens, creating avatar apparel for sale, or securing grants from the Decentraland DAO.
About Decentraland
Launched by the Decentraland Foundation in January 2020, this metaverse real estate game is accessible via desktop and offers a platform for users to build, govern, and monetise their virtual experiences.
5. Chainmonsters: A Blockchain MMORPG Adventure
Chainmonsters is an expansive MMORPG within the tamer genre, offering a play-to-earn experience. Players embark on a quest to capture, trade, and evolve various monsters—over 100 unique Chainmons—to enhance their combat prowess. The game extends beyond monster taming, allowing players to collect special items and stake a claim on their customisable island.
Play, Earn, and Own
The game’s blockchain foundation introduces a play-to-earn model where players can mint their Chainmons and unique items as NFTs for trading in the marketplace. It’s important to note that while many items and Chainmons can become NFTs, not all are blockchain-based.
Chainmonsters’ Origins and Accessibility
Developed by B-Side Games, Chainmonsters originated as a 2D pixel-style game in 2017, leveraging the Ethereum platform. One of its key features is the absence of a subscription model, making it accessible to a broad audience. Players can enjoy the game across various platforms, including PC, Mac, iOS, and Android, ensuring they can join forces with friends in this engaging virtual world.
6. Ember Sword: A New Era of MMORPG
Ember Sword is a cutting-edge fantasy MMORPG that stands out as one of the top play-to-earn games. It offers players a rich tapestry of adventures where they can claim ownership of in-game assets, engage in battles against monsters or fellow players, and share their journey within a vibrant community. The game is built on a player-driven model for PvP and PvE, ensuring players have full sovereignty over their digital possessions.
Choose Your Path
The game empowers you to carve your path, allowing you to roam, interact, and alter the virtual environment. Ember Sword’s unique classless combat system allows various abilities and skill development. An innovative AI-Game Master enhances the experience by introducing spontaneous, dynamic events.
NFT Marketplace Integration
In alignment with the play-to-earn ethos, Ember Sword has collaborated with OpenSea, enabling players to trade their game-specific NFTs on a reputable marketplace.
Behind the Scenes of Ember Sword
Ember Sword is developed by Bright Star Studios, focusing on refining gameplay and establishing genuine asset ownership. The game’s release is highly anticipated on PC (Windows and Mac), with plans for browser and standalone client access. Efforts are underway to extend its reach to mobile platforms. For the latest updates, enthusiasts can follow Ember Sword across various social platforms, including Telegram, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Medium, Twitch, Discord, Twitter, YouTube, and Reddit.
7. Forest Knight: A Strategic NFT Adventure
Forest Knight is a turn-based strategy game that marries the excitement of mobile gaming with the innovation of blockchain technology. Players embark on epic quests, earning NFTs that can be transferred, traded, or even rented out to others. Unique to Forest Knight is the ability for players to mint and manage their NFTs directly within the game, free of charge.
Innovative Earning Mechanics
The game introduces a staking system where $KNIGHT tokens—Forest Knight’s utility tokens—accrue interest, unlocking in-game perks and granting players a voice in the game’s evolution.
Diverse Gameplay
With both PvE and PvP modes, Forest Knight challenges players to assemble the ultimate team, conquer enemies, gather loot, complete quests, and compete in the Arena.
Community Engagement and Marketing
Engaging the crypto gaming community and expanding reach can be achieved through targeted digital marketing strategies. For specialised assistance, NinjaPromo offers expert guidance to elevate your brand.
About Forest Knight
Developed by Chrono Games, Forest Knight is an NFT-centric MMORPG available on Android and desktop platforms. It offers a rich, strategy-focused gaming experience without requiring a subscription.
8. Galaxy Fight Club: The Cross-Platform Combat Arena
Galaxy Fight Club stands out in the play-to-earn (P2E) landscape as a cross-platform PvP game where players can earn rewards like ETH and NFTs. Its unique feature is the integration of various NFT collections, allowing players to use their existing NFTs to play and earn. Even without NFT ownership, players can still engage in the game by acquiring at least one Galaxy Fighter to participate in battles.
Economic Gameplay
The game’s economy revolves around $GCOIN, the in-game currency for unlocking loot boxes, training fighters, and acquiring new weapons. Galaxy Fight Club provides multiple earning avenues, including:
- Earning 5-15 $GCOIN by owning a Galaxy Fighter.
- Winning key fragments in deathmatches.
- Securing ETH or $GCOIN in weekly tournaments.
- Forging and selling weapons in the marketplace.
- Renting out Galaxy Fighters for the $GCOIN collection.
Galaxy Fight Club’s Development and Accessibility
Developed on the Unity engine and operating on the Polygon blockchain, Galaxy Fight Club is available for download on Google Play and the App Store. It also offers a seamless gaming experience on PC, ensuring accessibility across different platforms.
9. Gods Unchained: Where Ownership Meets Strategy
Gods Unchained, a free-to-play trading card game, empowers players with complete ownership of in-game assets, positioning it as a top play-to-earn (P2E) contender in 2023. As a participant, you collect cards, construct decks, and explore options to trade or sell your valuable cards.
Token Economy
The game revolves around the Gods Unchained Coin ($GODS), a governance and utility token. Players utilise $GODS for governance proposals, asset purchases, and expansion packs. With a limited supply of 500 million tokens, $GODS holds real-world value. Earning opportunities include staking rewards and card sales.
Accessibility and Crypto Integration
Gods Unchained accommodates players with or without a crypto wallet, even without extensive blockchain knowledge. However, connecting a crypto wallet is advisable to maximise NFT benefits and earn $GODS tokens.
Origins and Platforms
Founded by James and Robbie Ferguson, Gods Unchained was announced in 2018 and operates on the Ethereum platform. While accessible on Windows and Mac, Android development is ongoing, with iOS availability planned for the future.
10. Illuvium: A Blockchain Gaming Odyssey
Illuvium is a premier play-to-earn (P2E) game on the Ethereum blockchain. It offers an expansive, interoperable experience across an open-world, auto battler, and city builder. For newcomers, Illuvium is accessible without the native ILV token, providing a free-to-play entry point. Those seeking the full breadth of the game can opt for the paid journey, collecting NFTs and venturing through more diverse regions.
A Universe of Possibilities
The game invites players to traverse seven distinct landscapes within its interconnected realms, including the Illuvium Overworld and dual instances of the Illuvium Arena. Here, players can capture over 150 Illuvials, assemble their ideal team, and construct a digital industrial empire.
Ownership and Economy
Echoing the blockchain gaming ethos, Illuvium grants players genuine ownership of their in-game assets, enabling them to collect, exchange, and market their items. The game incorporates a staking mechanism for earning rewards and allows the acquisition of ILV tokens for governance, liquidity mining, and vault distributions. ILV tokens are available on decentralised platforms like Sushi and centralised exchanges such as Binance and KuCoin.
Illuvium’s Development Journey
Conceived by co-founders Kieran and Aaron Warwick in 2020, Illuvium is currently in Closed Beta, with plans to expand beyond PC to mobile adaptations and console versions for platforms like Xbox and PlayStation.
11. Silks: Where Fantasy Meets Reality in Horse Racing
Silks stands out as a top play-to-earn (P2E) game, offering a distinctive gaming experience centred around fantasy horse racing. Here’s what makes Silks unique.
Complex Ecosystem
Silks boasts a rich in-game ecosystem featuring avatars, racehorses, land, stables, and parcels in the Sky Falls region. Players can breed, purchase, and trade thoroughbreds using the native STT token.
Digital Clones of Real-World Racehorses
When players acquire a racehorse in Silks, they own a digital twin of a real-world racehorse. Each NFT Silks racehorse mirrors its tangible counterpart’s bloodline, training progress, and racing results. Real-world victories translate into rewards within the game.
Play-to-Earn Mechanism
Players can sell fractional interests in their horses, earning a percentage of real-world rewards when the corresponding racehorse wins competitions.
Origins
Silks is the brainchild of Troy Levy, CEO of Tropical Racing and owner of Circle 8, a racing and breeding company. Moreover, Silks bridges the gap between fantasy and reality, offering an immersive horse racing experience with tangible rewards.
12. SkyWeaver: A Player-Owned Card Game
SkyWeaver, a top crypto game, seamlessly blends strategic card gameplay with a player-owned marketplace. Here’s what sets it apart.
Cross-Platform Blockchain Card Game
SkyWeaver is accessible across browsers and platforms and offers a dynamic card-based experience. Players compete for tradeable NFT cards within the game.
Alternate Digital Dimension
The SkyWeaver universe unfolds in Sky, an alternate digital realm. Owning SkyWeaver cards makes players part owners of this unique dimension.
Ranking and Rewards
As players climb leaderboards, they earn new cards. These cards can be used or traded in battles against other gamers.
Upcoming SkyWeaver Shop
The in-game P2P decentralized exchange allows card acquisition and trading. Players can also trade cards on external platforms like OpenSea or Rarebits. Sharing cards with friends adds another layer of interaction.
Origins and Accessibility
Developed by Horizon Blockchain Games in 2018, SkyWeaver entered open beta in February 2022. Available on desktop and mobile devices, players need a cryptocurrency wallet to store their cards. Furthermore, SkyWeaver offers a captivating blend of strategy, ownership, and community interaction through its NFT-powered card game.
13. Spells of Genesis: Where Blockchain Meets Card Battles
Spells of Genesis pioneers blockchain-based mobile gaming, merging trading card mechanics with point-and-shoot gameplay. Here’s what makes it unique.
Card Collection and Combining
Players collect and combine cards to construct powerful decks. Orbs play a role in building formidable teams.
Blockchain Collectibles
Spells of Genesis integrates blockchain cards alongside in-game or off-chain cards. These digital assets hold real-world value.
In-Game Economy
Three in-game currencies—gold, crystals, and gems—drive the economy. Gamers use these currencies to purchase, upgrade, and fuse cards. Gems also boost stamina.
Ownership and Withdrawals
Players can convert in-game cards into blockchain-based digital assets. These NFTs can be withdrawn to their cryptocurrency wallets.
Origins and Accessibility
Developed by EverdreamSoft, Spells of Genesis distributed card-based NFTs in 2015. The game officially launched on mobile in 2017 and is available on Google Play and the App Store. Moreover, Spells of Genesis combines strategy, ownership, and blockchain innovation in a captivating card battle experience.
14. Spider Tanks: A Dynamic NFT Brawler Spider Tanks
It offers a player-versus-player brawling experience with a ‘play to earn’ model. Players can own, trade, and enhance items to customise their tanks. The game stands out due to its various modes, like team deathmatch and capture of the flag.
Game Economics
To engage, players manage tank parts and earn Victory Points, which are exchangeable for SILK tokens. The average cost for a Spider Tank NFT is around $268.
Spider Tanks Origin
Developed by GAMEDIA, Spider Tanks is available on desktop platforms and operates on the Ethereum blockchain. It offers free gameplay.
15. Splinterlands: The Strategic Trading Card Game Splinterlands
It allows players to engage in a trading card game that rewards participation with prizes from tournaments, ranked play, and quests. Rewards include collectible cards and Dark Energy Crystals.
Splinterlands Rewards and In-Game Economy
With nearly $7 million awarded in tournament prizes, Splinterlands is a leading P2E game that enables card trading on various marketplaces and conversion into cryptocurrency.
Founders of Splinterlands
Co-founded by Matt Rosen and Dr. Jesse Reich, the game supports multiple blockchains and provides a Hive crypto wallet upon registration.
16. Star Atlas: An Expansive Space Strategy MMO
Set in the year 2620, Star Atlas is an MMO strategy game where players can explore a vast universe, embark on quests, and establish their presence in space.
Star Atlas In-Game Requirements
The game requires an NFT for access and features a marketplace for trading resources. It utilises two native tokens: ATLAS for in-game transactions and POLIS for governance.
Developers of Star Atlas
Developed by ATMTA Inc. and built on the Solana blockchain, Star Atlas is available as a demo on the Epic Games Store and uses Unreal Engine 5 for its creation.
17. Tamadoge: The Play-to-Earn Meme Coin Game
Game Overview
Tamadoge is a play-to-earn game where players use the native currency, $TAMA. They can acquire credits to access games in the Tamadoge Arcade, including Tama Blast, Rocket Doge, and Tamadoge Run.
NFTs
Tamadoge offers NFTs on OpenSea, which players can use to earn rewards or enhance their in-game abilities.
Launch
Launched in July 2022, Tamadoge has expanded beyond its meme coin origins. It is accessible as a web app, and a mobile companion app is planned.
18. The Fabled: Fantasy Action RPG
The Fabled Setting
The Fabled is a free-to-play action RPG set in a fantasy world with unique realms.
The Fabled Classes
Players can choose from three Fabled classes: warriors, gods, and demons.
In-Game Assets
Collect rare weapons and artefacts, mint them on the blockchain using $ABYS, and unlock the ability to trade, buy, or rent other assets.
Currencies
The game uses off-chain (Ashes) and on-chain ($ABYS) currencies for transactions.
Game Visuals
Built with Unreal Engine 5, The Fabled offers impressive HD graphics and an AI-driven NPC interaction system.
19. The Sandbox: Ethereum-Based Metaverse Exploration
Game Features
The Sandbox allows players to explore, customise, and purchase virtual land within its Ethereum-based metaverse.
Celebrities and Brands
Known for hosting virtual events, The Sandbox attracts celebrities like Snoop Dogg and global brands like Ubisoft and Gucci.
Product Suite
The Sandbox includes VoxEdit (for creating 3D objects), The Sandbox Marketplace (for publishing and selling assets), and The Sandbox Game Maker (for creating 3D games).
Token Usage
Players use SAND tokens to acquire ASSETS and LANDS, which can also be used for additional purchases.
20. Zed Run: The Virtual Horse Racing Game
Zed Run is a play-to-earn game in which players build virtual stables and compete for rewards. They can collect, borrow, or purchase racehorses to compete globally.
Zed Run Gameplay and Manual Setup
Participate in live events and aim for significant prizes from the game’s pool. Set up a Metamask wallet, transfer ETH, create a Zed Run account, and convert ETH to Wrapped ETH for purchasing virtual racehorses.
Zed Run Development and Rewards
Developed by Virtually Human Studio, Zed Run has hosted over 3.5 million races and awarded players more than $60 million in prizes.
Zed Run Notable Backers
Zed run web3 game is supported by major brands like Budweiser, Nascar, and Atari.
Conclusion
Play-to-earn games are blurring the lines between entertainment and income generation. These NFT and metaverse experiences allow players to own in-game assets and potentially earn cryptocurrency. Top titles like Alien Worlds, Illuvium, and Silks offer actual ownership of digital items, which can be stored in crypto wallets and even converted into real-world money.
However, it’s essential to consider both sides of the coin. While play-to-earn games can be engaging, the focus on earning can overshadow the pure enjoyment of traditional gaming. Additionally, many require upfront cryptocurrency investments and carry the risk of financial loss. To maximise your P2E experience, a basic understanding of blockchain technology and the specific game’s mechanics goes a long way.
Want to get started on P2E games? Our web3 gaming list will help you find the best play-to-earn games in 2024. Read informative content on our website – Latest Web3 News
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