Since the introduction of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), they have repeatedly shown that they have the potential to change the gaming world. The emergence of NFTs promises an exciting new order in which players take on even more important roles in the game economy and receive worthy rewards in the process.
Today, this gaming paradigm has started to take shape as game developers are increasingly embracing blockchain technology to give their games an even more immersive experience. In this guide, we'll give you a rundown of some of the best NFT games currently available. However, before diving into our list of the best NFT games, let's first discuss the basics of an NFT based game.
In this article, we will discuss:
What are NFT Play-to-Ear games?
An NFT game combines conventional game designs with unconventional game mechanics to allow users to have more control over game assets such as skins, characters, weapons, virtual lands, and more. This is possible by launching games on blockchains and anchoring them with economies powered by digital assets. These digital assets are usually NFTs so they are distinguishable and tamper-proof. Adopting NFT token standards also allows developers to preserve the rarity and exclusivity of some of these in-game items. This is why some gaming assets blockchain are considered more expensive than others.
With this system implemented, players can claim ownership of game assets through 3 main strategies. They could create or spawn new characters, buy digital items from native or third-party markets, or unlock and earn new items. Whichever way you choose to access these game assets, you will have exclusive ownership rights over them. In essence, you can distribute them or sell them and pocket all the money you make from these trades. That's why this game model is called play to win.
What are the best NFT games?
Like all established and emerging industries, certain platforms have positioned themselves as the main standout in the NFT gaming world. These games are at the forefront of the current NFT craze because they have successfully integrated NFTs into popular game themes. So players can play some of their favorite game genres and at the same time interact with a lucrative NFT market. Without further ado, here are some of the games that fall into this category.
Axie Infinity
Axie Infinity uses a lot of the Pokémon game series and adds its own blockchain twist to give the final product an even more exciting feel. In this Ethereum-based game, players create and collect NFT-based digital pets called Axies with the main objective of battling other players. Each individual Axies has its own genetic imprint. Therefore, the weaknesses and strengths of Axies are passed on to their descendants.
As expected, these digital pets are tradable on the Ethereum NFT markets, and the price of each one depends on its rarity and unique features. To start playing you must buy 3 Axies. For every mission, player-versus-player battle (PVP) and adventure mode you escalate, you receive Smooth Love Porion ( SLP ) – the platform's native ERC-20 utility token – as a reward.
For each attempt to create a new Axie, you must pay a specific amount of SLPs, which can also be purchased in purses. Another native Axie Infinity ERC20 token is the Axis Infinity Shard (AXS), which acts as the platform governance token. It will also anchor the game's staking service scheduled to go live sometime in 2021.
Gods Unchained
Gods Unchained is a free-to-play game designed to infuse NFT elements into a familiar card trading game genre. Players accumulate cards by buying them from other players or by winning PVP matches where the quality of the cards and the players' playing skill generally determines the winner. Notably, more emphasis is being placed on skills and strategy. This is because the game uses a ranked game mode, where players with the same ratings are matched.
You win matches when your gameplay causes your opponent's life to drop to zero before yours. For every win, you get experience points. Once the experience bar fills, you will move to the next rank or level and receive a new pack of cards to add to your collection.
Note that each card is supported by an ERC-721 token. Therefore, you can trade them on the platform's native market or on the open market. Those who choose to sell cards within the game ecosystem will receive the platform's native token, GODS , as payment. It is important to note that the GODS token was not officially released at the time this guide was written. Be sure to confirm that the development team has released GODS tokens to the encryption market before proceeding with purchase or receiving any tokens marketed as GODS tokens.
Splinterlands
Splinterlands is a tradable card game that allows users to win as they play, similar to Gods Unchained. You earn rewards by winning card combinations. To start playing Splinterlands, you first need to buy a starter pack of cards, register a Steem account and reveal the cards purchased in Splinterlands. In some cases, you might be lucky enough to find rare cards among your first set of drawn cards. Also, you can find multiples of the same card type. If that's the case, you can combine identical cards to increase their power or sell one of them in exchange for cryptocoins.
Once you become familiar with the cards, you can proceed to battle with other players or participate in quests. The result of these activities would determine whether you will win more cards or not.
Sandbox 3D
The Sandbox is a metaverse voxel-based gaming platform and one of the most active NFT gaming platforms where players can build and trade virtual assets. In this game, players can manipulate and monetize voxel assets. Think of it as the blockchain iteration of popular game titles like Minecraft and Roblox. Platforms provide the tools to create and animate objects and later sell them in markets. Furthermore, users can create and play custom games on the platform.
Sandbox 3D introduced SAND, an ERC-20 token, as the metaverse's native token. With this, players can purchase in-game items from the platform's market. There is also LAND, which are NFT tokens and by far some of the most valuable and sought after assets in the Sandbox game. A record $8,5 million in LAND sales was completed in April alone.
Alien Worlds
Alien Worlds is an NFT Defi metaverse that simulates economic competition and collaboration between players in an attempt to explore other planets. This is achieved by encouraging players to compete for Trilium (TLM), which is needed to control competing autonomous decentralized organizations (Planet DAOs) and gain access to additional games.
In the Alien Worlds metaverse, players can acquire NFTs to mine TLM, engage in battles, and complete in-game missions. Depending on their strategy, players can buy and build NFTs that best suit their gameplay. In addition, players can get involved in governance by electing the Advisors of six DAOs Planets and thus influencing the direction of the game.
Battle Racers
As its name implies, Battle Racers is inspired by popular titles like Super Mario Kart and F-Zero. The idea is to combine different weapons and parts to create the most powerful cars. Players can mix different parts and weapons that will give them some kind of edge on arcade-sized tracks. You can register your winning or winning cars on the blockchain as NFTs and later sell them for encryption on OpenSea.
Each player seeks to create the ultimate car, favoring different skills and stats. You can choose handling over speed or defense over firepower, all in hopes of winning. This game can be played in currency on Decentraland, which itself is a blockchain-based virtual world.
Three Promising NFT Games to Watch
Guild of guardians
Guild of Guardians is a fantasy-themed RPG where the familiar model of building a team of heroes, completing dungeon quests and gaining resources is played. As with other games, collecting resources allows game items to be created, which can be turned into profit. However, Guild of Guardians, as the name suggests, focuses heavily on building communities – or guilds in this case. Guardians team up to compete against the game's challenges and in return earn Gem – the game's native currency.
Also, game developers want the game to be played to win – but not at the expense of other players. There is no PVP gameplay in Guild of Guardians; players compete against monsters in dungeons, so users don't need to spend money to beat other players.
The game is currently under development. The founder's NFTs are currently for sale and a soft launch is scheduled for the second quarter of 2022. With many big sponsors behind them, it would be interesting to watch.
gold fever
Gold Fever is a jungle-themed RPG game where players pick a character and try to outplay other players for a chance to mine gold in the form of the game's native token, NGL. Players will also collect limited NFT-based items such as clothing, weapons and other supplies. Similar to how most NFT games work, Gold Fever tries to enable blockchain-initiated scarcity for its in-game assets. You can choose any of the game's main characters and play your part in shaping a fiercely contested gold economy.
Please note that in-app game items can be traded in markets. Therefore, you can earn by earning NGL and exchanging it for fiat coins or cryptocurrencies on exchanges or trading collectibles in NFT markets.
Neon District
Neon District is an RPG (RPG) game that allows users to collect characters, gears and crafts. Like all the games featured in this guide, the game items and characters featured in the Neon District are NFTs. As such, the game items found in the Neon District are essentially blockchain-backed digital collectibles. You have the right to monetize your participation by selling assets acquired or acquired in-game to other players.
The objective is to form a team and compete against other players in missions or real-time combat. A competitive multiplayer game mode, called Neon Pizza, in particular, pits players against each other for the chance to earn the platform's native token – Neon, Gears, Pieces, and so on. All you have to do is send your characters on pizza delivery races to feed hungry citizens. You can also adopt a more villainous strategy, ambushing other players' pizza delivery team and stealing their winnings.
Gains, which are called Neon, can be used to buy characters, weapons, parts, armor, juice, and other in-game items needed to upgrade characters.
Conclusion
In our list, you'll notice that NFT games embrace popular game genres, albeit in combination with blockchain elements, particularly ideal for establishing rarity and exclusivity. As such, NFT games are not that difficult to play. They are also fun and highly rewarding, as in the case of Axie Infinity, where some players can earn a decent income.
Another popular implementation of NFTs is in sports. NFTs go beyond sports memorabilia to engage millions of fans around the world, giving them a say in their favorite sports teams.