The rise of cryptocurrencies and the continuous expansion of the blockchain industry have paved the way for a new innovation — blockchain gaming. This is a sign that cryptocurrencies have become mainstream. In the last five years, blockchain games have become a genre of their own. 

In 2017, CryptoKitties was released for public consumption.  The game, developed by Axion Zen, introduced the concept of unhackable assets.  The goal is for players to breed, buy and sell virtual cats. 

CryptoKitties operated on the Ethereum blockchain and it was reported that the platform slowed down because of the game’s popularity.  A virtual kitten was also sold for over $100,000.  

Since blockchain highlights freedom and decentralization, gamers have the potential to harness the capabilities of games. Blockchain gaming would let players verify that the items they have are rare.  These items can also be sent to anyone without difficulty or selling an entire account to dispose of a few items. 

Blockchain gaming enables a player-driven economy where game developers don’t have to worry about new releases.  They can create new content for players to trade and hold their interest longer. If players can add more hours of gameplay while also spending their money in the same game, it will be a win-win situation.  

Blockchain technology keeps player assets safe and secure. Aside from Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum holds second place and is the backbone for current and upcoming blockchain games.  Check out some of the blockchain games that’s been generating a lot of buzz in the crypto space:

Axie Infinity

Think Pokemon and Hearthstone combined. Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based game where players can trade and battle with other players. They can collect “axies” or the token-based creatures or choose to breed, raise and use them in game battles. The axies will serve as the players’ own NFTs. 

To get started, new players should buy at least three axies while current players reap rewards for breeding new axies. Players of the game can trade their axies along with their AXS tokens.  They can also stake their coins to earn weekly rewards and participate in governance voting. 

AXS tokens have a supply cap of 270 million. These tokens can be bought, traded or earned by playing Axie Infinity.  AXS tokens can also be traded for other cryptocurrencies. 

The popularity of the game has soared so much that for players in the Philippines, it has become more than just a crypto game. Axie Infinity has a big following in the country that players have begun renting NFTs to other players so they have the chance to earn too. 

The Philippines has become the number one source of traffic for the game and for others, it has turned into a life-changing source of income. According to statistics provided by Sky Mavis, the game developer, over 29,000 people have downloaded the game in the country. Total downloads worldwide have reached 70,000. 

With the current pandemic, a lot of people have lost their jobs. The game has become an emerging “play-to-earn” income opportunity.  Success stories have spread like wildfire as players who have done well in the game were able to buy things they need, feed their families and pay for home renovations. 

The price to get into Axie Infinity has increased due to its rising popularity and expensive transaction fees on the Ethereum network. In 2020, a player would need only $5 to buy a team of three axies. These NFT pets are inspired by Pokemon whose owners use to pit against other axies to get a chance to win the SLP prize.  If a player would enter the game today, he would need to shell out $1,000 to get a decent team. 

The Axie community has created a profit-sharing model known as scholarships to augment the high costs. Axie owners can rent their NFT pets to new players so they can get started in earning SLP without the need to buy their own axies upfront. 

The earnings from the scholarships will be split among the player, the owner of the axies and the community manager who is in charge of recruiting and training the newbie player. The only thing required from the new player is time and eagerness to learn. 

My Neighbor Alice

Another popular blockchain-based game is My Neighbor Alice. It’s a multiplayer game where players can purchase and own virtual islands while collecting and building items. The game was inspired by the likes of Animal Crossing and players get to enjoy the best of both worlds: a fun gameplay experience and a platform for those who want to collect and trade NFTs. 

Antler Interactive is the team behind the game.  The developers are known for their innovations in gaming.  The game studio is one of the pioneers of virtual reality gaming.  My Neighbor is the team’s foray into augmented reality and blockchain gaming.

My Neighbor Alice is free-to-play but players are offered to buy in-game items for avatars and virtual plots. To play, gamers get their own avatars to interact with others.  They can modify their avatars by installing various assets.  Players can buy virtual plots of land in the game either from Alice or the marketplace. Land is scarce in the game universe and each piece of land is represented by NFT tokens. 

The game uses the Alice token as its main currency so players can exchange NFTs, purchase land and use DeFi products like staking and collateralization. Developers include these elements of gamified finance and blockchain for those who want to monetize their experience.  The full game is expected to be released in the spring of 2022.

Mist

Mist is a blockchain-based NFT Action RPG built on the Mist NFT framework. The game uses the Mist token as its currency for players to farm and stake tokens to earn rewards in and out of Mist. 

Rewards can be earned by staking the Mist native token. Players can invest in in-game businesses like general stores and taverns.  They can also farm by buying the land and livestock.  Once the farms are working, players will receive rewards. 

Players can choose from five characters to navigate through different environments, explore abilities and numerous spells. NFTs in Mist can be collected via rare monster drops and other events within the game. The NFTs are the usual “collectible cards” common in the crypto space. Mist has both usable and functional NFTs that can be added to the Mist framework to become special in-game items.  

NFTs can be swapped or traded within the game or on third-party platforms.  Mist has Kickpad, a new IDO launchpad on Binance Smart Chain, for a partner to help increase exposure and bring NFTs to a wider audience. 

Illuvium

Illuvium is a NFT collection and auto battler game built on the Ethereum network. Often referred to as the first high quality game on Ethereum, players can move around in a vast landscape, hunt wild beasts and capture them for battle. The game’s characters are designed by one of the world’s most talented artists.  Known as Illuvials, the NFTs can be traded within the platform.  

Players should watch out for ultra-rare illuvials designed with 4D holographic shading techniques. Earning rare items in the game is an opportunity for players to collect, battle and trade within the Illuvium community.  Fees earned during the game may be paid out to players with staked tokens in exchange for more liquidity. 

The game has been in development since 2020 with a team of more than 40 people building it.  Illuvium’s co-founders, Kieran Warwick and Aaron Warwick, are also brothers. Kieran is an early cryptocurrency adopter while Aaron is an experienced game designer.  

Unlike most blockchain-based games, Illuvium’s world is in full 3D.  Each Illuvial or creature is unique featuring custom artwork.  Illuvials are designed to be distinct with characteristics relating to their region. 

The game may bear resemblance to Axie Infinity but Illuvium is more targeted towards the traditional gamers who may have or may not have any experience in cryptocurrency and NFTs. 

Star Atlas

Star Atlas is a multi-player metaverse built on the Solana framework. Developed by the team behind Multichain Ventures, the game features real-time graphics and decentralized financial technologies.

Blockchain technology using the Solana protocol was the “obvious” choice for the team because of its processing capabilities of 50,000 or more transactions per second.  The team believes this type of performance will enable a future in which all game logic can be calculated using on-chain smart applications.  

The game is set in a distant future in space where three galactic factions struggle for resources, territory and dominance in politics. Players can choose a faction to join and directly influence events in the metaverse. 

Players immerse in a unique gaming experience with the Atlas native token as the in-game currency. Tokens can be used to buy ships, crew, equipment and land.  In the marketplace, players can buy and sell their assets.  

POLIS tokens will be the multifunctional governance tokens which can be used in the game and in influencing real-world economic policy.
Star Atlas is yet to be released but it is a promising blockchain game anticipated in the crypto space.  Updates about the game are available on the website.