Author: William M. Peaster, Bankless; Translated by: Baishui, Jinse Finance
The intersection of gaming, cryptocurrency, and NFTs has huge potential. The number of projects currently being built at this intersection is also huge.
More and more cryptocurrency novices and veterans are paying attention to this field and are eager to invest in it.
I have collected what I consider to be the best crypto games. These are my subjective choices, but they are great entry points.
Let’s review!
Best Games
Parallel, Axie Infinity, Nifty Island, Fren Pet
My top pick is Parallel. In my opinion, it has the best all-around gameplay and token economics of any crypto game currently. Anyone can join in and play with non-NFT “Apparitions” cards, while more hardcore players can go deeper and play with on-chain assets. While there is a learning curve, the game is really fun, and that’s the engine that makes this whole project go smoothly.
Next up is Axie Infinity. Since the arrival of Axie Infinity: Origins in 2022 and the introduction of new modes, equippable charms, and Axies to power up Axie XP, the gameplay has become much richer and more expansive. In my opinion, now is a good time to return.
One new game that impressed me was Nifty Island. Nifty Island is a virtual world platform designed for NFT holders that has launched a variety of multiplayer game modes, from capture the flag to racing, which is very interesting. Letting players use their NFTs as avatars to host competitions on their customized islands while earning rewards is a recipe for continued success.
My last favorite is Fren Pet. Fren Pet is a Tamagotchi-like adventure game that is very easy to play and pioneered an early blueprint for how to bring fun and casual crypto games to mobile players. While games like Parallel and Axie Infinity can make you sweat, Fren Pet’s gameplay is very casual and suitable for people of any skill level. I think its token economics are also compelling.
Amazing Game
Pirate Nation, Sorare, Influence
Pirate Nation is an on-chain, adventure-themed role-playing game in the style of Farmville, where you explore, fight, and build your way to loot. With its own custom on-chain game engine and blockchain infrastructure, Pirate Nation is one of those games where gameplay and technology come together in a really beautiful way. If you haven't accumulated BOOTY points, consider starting.
Although Sorare tends to get less attention in the fantasy sports space, it is one of the biggest success stories in the NFT space, with tens of millions of dollars currently circulating in its ecosystem. Think tradable football, MLB, and NBA cards that you can play fantasy games on a weekly basis. It has created a huge buzz among fans, and my guess is that it will continue to do well.
Something I also found really impressive was Influence. Influence is a massively multiplayer space strategy game on Starknet, with an in-game resource economy that has the potential for incredibly deep gameplay. The project just had its pre-launch trials, and the full launch is just around the corner. If you haven’t started preparing for launch yet, get ready.
Nice game
Pixels, Gods Unchained, Cambria, Tarochi
Pixels, the flagship non-Axie game on Ronin, is an open-ended farming game based around exploration and harvesting resources, where land is maintained as NFTs. With impressive daily active user (DAU) numbers and the recently released $PIXEL token, Pixels offers a casual gaming experience that is easy to dive into.
As for an older game in the NFT space, Gods Unchained is another TCG battle game that continues to grow and evolve. Powered by Immutable, Gods Unchained has over 1,800 cards to choose from, offering cheap trades and a range of different play styles to choose from. As the Immutable ecosystem continues to rise, I think this game will continue to age well.
Next up is Cambria, a Runescape-inspired dueling game on Blast where players stake ETH and then fight each other for Ethereum. The actual battle mechanics are pretty simple and addictive, so there’s a low learning curve to get started. Be sure to play a few low-stakes practice rounds before you start trying for bigger wins.
Another game that's worth digging into right now is Tarochi. If you like Pokémon, this one will be right up your alley. Based on the custom Paima engine, Tarochi tasks players with capturing, battling, and leveling up adorable monsters. Currently, the game is in the middle of its first season event, so it's still possible to get in on the ground floor, so to speak.
Games launched on the testnet
Sky Strife, Primodium
Sky Strife and Primodium are two games that have not yet been released on the mainnet but are currently playable on the testnet.
Built with the MUD on-chain engine and the new Redstone L2, Sky Strife is a real-time strategy game where 4 players face off in PVP matches with the goal of dominating their opponents' base. I really like the thought and passion that went into this game.
As for Primodium, it’s another multiplayer on-chain space strategy game that uses resource management mechanics across the board. If you like “base builder” type games, you’ll want to try it out as well.
Crypto games that you can follow up on
Parallel Colony, Treeverse, Capsule Heroes, Project Awakening
Finally, there are a few highly anticipated crypto games that aren’t playable yet, but you should track them once they go live.
These games include:
Parallel Colony - An upcoming AI game where players will provide goals to their avatars, which will then autonomously perform those tasks and evolve as their memories of their actions grow. May the best colony win!
Treeverse – A massively multiplayer role-playing game from Endless Clouds Studios, Treeverse has been gaining a lot of attention ahead of its release. Previews have already shown off gorgeous graphics and smooth gameplay, so don’t miss this one.
Capsule Heroes – Capsule Heroes is at the top of my personal list and is another Endless Clouds game, specifically a PVP fighting game. I think it’s like Overwatch but with cuter graphics and simpler gameplay, and I can’t wait to play it.
Project Awakening - Set in the EVE Online universe, Project Awakening is an upcoming game from CCP Games. If it can attract even a small fraction of the EVE player base, then this game is going to be huge!
