The Gamer’s Guide To Play-To-Earn – NFTS.WTF

As the Web3 marketplace grows, more and more communities are starting to adopt crypto and NFTs every day. The gaming community has been one of the first to adapt comfortably to the Web3 space, likely because many Web3 concepts aren’t complex for gamers to wrap their heads around because virtually earning, spending, and even purchasing a digital currency are features that have been implemented in video games for decades. The only difference between traditional and play-to-earn blockchain games is that the crypto used in blockchain-enabled games can be traded across multiple platforms. It thereby holds real-world value outside of the virtual world of the video game. 

For those who aren’t yet familiar with the world of play-to-earn games, similar to many metaverse solutions, they create web3 enabled videogame worlds. In today’s article, we’re going to break down eleven of the most currently popular, and hottest up-in-coming play-to-earn games of 2022- so that you can wrap your mind around the current state of play-to-earn:

11. Mirandus

Mirandus has yet to be released, but it is currently the most anticipated play-to-earn blockchain game to be released in 2022. Because of how ambitious this project is, Mirandus’ release may be delayed to late 2022 or even 2023. Mirandus is a massive multiplayer online role-playing game and is the flagship game of Gala Games. As many know, Gala Games is one of the leading platforms championing player ownership in the metaverse space. They’re making “the first-ever AAA play-to-earn game” and “the first-ever AAA game to have NFTs as items.” The game’s items will be minted as ERC-20 tokens, and the currency inside the game will be called Materium. 

10. Big Time

Many of you may already know that Big Time was created by one of the co-founders of Decentraland, one of the first fully decentralized metaverse solutions ever. What’s unique about BigTime is that you have the opportunity to play to earn real cryptocurrency and also have the chance to simultaneously win NFTs. The game is a multiplayer action RPG that will be available on PC and XBOX, where you team up with friends to adventure across time and space. Players can collect rare and legendary NFT items or bring in their existing collections of NFTs to decorate avatars and personal time machines where you can hang out with your friends. Explore ancient mysteries and futuristic civilizations as you battle your way through history. BigTime is an up-and-coming Metaverse to keep an eye on!

9. Champions: Ascension

Champions: Ascension is a blockchain game built by Jam City, an award-winning game company led by former MySpace co-founder and CEO Chris DeWolfe. Champions: Ascension is a true AAA blockchain game developed exclusively for Web3. The game takes place in Massina: A player-driven fantasy world where the rewards are as real as the risks. You can collect and create unique NFT Champions, battle other players and stake your path in a developing token economy. 

8. Guild of Guardians

Guild of Guardians is a free-to-play mobile game with the potential to blow up. The game is an RPG where players can turn their gaming passion into assets.  While the game is currently in beta, it will be a multiplayer, fantasy, action RPG where players build their dream team of ‘Guardians’ and compete in guilds to earn epic, tradeable rewards. Using blockchain technology, GoG allows you to genuinely own your in-game assets. The game is built on the Ethereum network, and in-game assets will be minted as unique ERC-721 tokens that are secure and decentralized. If mobile RPGs are your thing, then make sure to follow their Twitter for updates.

7. Ember Sword

Ember Sword is the ultimate sandbox MMORPG In Ember Sword, where being mechanically strong & knowledgeable will benefit you. All cosmetic items & land plots in Ember Sword are represented by non-fungible tokens, known as NFTs. That’s why you truly own your digital assets in Ember Sword. The game is not pay to win, meaning the unique NFT skins you equip to your sword won’t change gameplay or help you in the game. The developers believe in empowering players, by sharing the revenue generated on Thanabus with our community through true ownership of digital assets. The community land sale of Ember Sword takes place in “Solarwood” – one of the four nations of “Thanabus.” The sale features four types of land: Plots, Settlements, Towns, and Cities. As a landowner, you’ll receive a small percentage of the real-life revenue that is produced by the estate your plot belongs to. The total land supply of Thanabus is 160,000 plots. With varying tiers of land for sale, there’s a place for everyone in the game. 

6. The Walking Dead Empires

The Walking Dead: Empires is a multiplayer survival game set in the treacherous world of AMC’s The Walking Dead. Players survive in this harsh reality by doing whatever it takes. Scavenge for supplies and construct your new home. Team up with allies, compete against maniacal foes, and always beware of the dead. Develop your land and make it a safe place for others to seek refuge or a juicy target for your enemies. Either way, you benefit if your territory is a hub for action. You’ll earn rewards and improve your land when others buy, sell, fight, or kill upon it. This game is definitely worth watching out for. 

5. The Sandbox

The Sandbox is a decentralized, community-driven gaming ecosystem where creators can share and monetize voxel assets and gaming experiences on the Ethereum blockchain.

Using The Sandbox’s free software, such as VoxEdit and the Game Maker, players, artists, and game designers can create ASSETs and experiences, such as games, dioramas, and art galleries, for themselves and to share with others. These can be monetized to earn the creator passive income. If you don’t know about The Sandbox, check out their Twitter for the most up-to-date information. 

Fun fact: our DAO member Sebastian is the COO of The Sandbox*

4. Axie Infinity V2

Axie Infinity is a new type of game, partially owned and operated by its players. Participants can earn AXS tokens by playing and using their Axies to decide the game’s future! The game gained a lot of traction, as of late, now that they have dropped their release for Axie Infinity V2. Coming in 2022, players will be introduced to a whole new world and a whole new way to use your Axies inside of the world of “Lunacia” which will be big for the entire Axie Infinity ecosystem. Battles V2 promises to be a rework of the Axie Infinity card battle game which will give a fresh breath to the game as well. This release should definitely be on any gamer’s radar as Axie prices are currently relatively low upon writing this article. 

Fun fact: our DAO member @Jiho.eth is a Co-Founder of Axie Infinity

3. Cryptowalkers

Cryptowalkers is a new and unique collection of fully rigged 3D walking characters aimed to live in the Metaverse. All 6545 unique characters come with full bodies and custom 3D backgrounds to be used by their owners in various Metaverse environments. Their goal is to create a community where they build upon this and future collections and add-ons together. Cryptowalkers partnered with Netvrk, one of the most exciting Metaverse projects built on the blockchain. 

Fun fact: Outlier Ventures accepted Cryptowalkers into their accelerator.

2. Last Expedition

Last Expedition is alleged to be the world’s first AAA first-person shooter powered by the blockchain and player ownership. Created by the renowned development studio Certain Affinity led by Halo 2 veteran Max Hoberman, Last Expedition will bring world-class AAA gaming and play-to-earn empowerment together in a historic and explosive combination. Players will face off against a hostile alien world where everything wants to eradicate them. In addition to the intense focus and skill required for successful FPS gaming, blockchain ownership will allow for cutting-edge layers of strategy and resourcefulness, requiring players to build, grow, and survive in new ways. 

Last Expedition is definitely on our radar. 

1. Illuvium

Still yet to be released, Illuvium is an open-world RPG adventure game built on the Ethereum Blockchain. Journey across a vast and varied landscape on your quest to hunt and capture deity-like creatures called Illuvials. Discover the cause of the cataclysm that shattered the land. Team-centric, players build their perfect teams. Draft your starters. Challenge to be the best. Outsmart and counter your opponents strategically to place rank in the competition. Earn $ILV through play, and become part of our community-based governance

Though many of these play-to-earn blockchain games are yet to be released, there’s evidently a market waiting to get their crypto paws on them. And judging from the success of those currently out, the future of play-to-earn gaming is upon us, and it will be interesting to see how quickly this future unfolds.