Video games have long been used as a form of relaxation for gamers after a particularly taxing day at work or school, but now comes play-to-earn games. The majority of people engage in the activity not only as a leisure pursuit but also as a medium for experiential art and narrative. It is not possible, however, to convert the time you spend playing a single game into real-world money unless your skills place you in the 99.9th percentile of all players.
But imagine if things had turned out differently. This is where a new category of games known as play-to-earn (P2E) games comes into play.
What exactly is meant by the term “play-to-earn NFT game”?
Players now have the chance to actually own their in-game assets, which P2E game developers create as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the blockchain in player-to-earn games that are NFT-driven and also referred to as “crypto games” in their entirety. The fact that in-game items can be minted as NFTs and in-game currency can be fully used as crypto opens up a whole new world of opportunities for the player, despite the fact that their functions are virtually the same as those of their more-traditional counterparts.
Virtual items such as skins, weapons, characters, and in-game currency, as well as virtual land on the metaverse, are all able to be traded or sold for a profit in the same manner as any other non-fungible token (NFT). Players can earn or purchase these items in-game. On the secondary market, just like with any other non-fungible token, some of these in-game assets can occasionally fetch an amount that will blow your mind.
How exactly does “play-to-earn” work?
The fact that player-to-earn games are decentralized is yet another significant feature that sets them apart from more conventional video games. To put it another way, the ongoing development of P2E games is carried out in a cooperative manner, and the feedback provided by players is frequently taken into consideration by the developers in order to improve the game. When it comes to fostering further community-building among a P2E game’s player base, it’s not uncommon for groups of dedicated players to even band together to form what’s known as a decentralized autonomous organization, or DAO.
The way in which players can participate in the ongoing progression and development of a P2E game, on the other hand, is significantly more straightforward. They can get started by simply participating in the game. When players take part in the in-game economy, they create value not only for themselves but also for the other players and the developer.
What is the typical price of play-to-earn games?
It varies, just like classic games. P2E games like Splinterlands and the Sandbox, for instance, are entirely free to play. However, some games, such as Axie Infinity, require you to buy the Axies you plan to use before you even start the game. Although, they now offer a free tier of play, a model that is becoming popular in the play to earn games space.
Several of the best play-to-earn games available
Although the P2E concept is fairly simple, game developers have found various ways to incorporate this mechanic into their games. Games focused on collection and games focused on creation have both shown great promise in successfully incorporating P2E mechanics in the nascent P2E gaming scene.
Check out Play to Earn Diary’s best picks below:
1. Splinterlands: the collectible trading card game and auto-battler
Splinterlands is a digital collectible card game. It can be played in a web browser and features a play-to-earn business model. As Steemmonsters, it was initially hosted on the Steem blockchain. However, it was subsequently migrated to the Hive blockchain. Because the Ethereum blockchain and Wax both support cross-chain capabilities, cards and tokens can be traded on both of these distributed ledgers. Splinterlands has recently implemented a governance token known as SPS.
The play-to-earn game Splinterlands in detail:
Splinterlands is a hybrid game that combines elements of deck-building with auto-battle mechanics. Players construct their battle lineups using their cards in accordance with the guidelines outlined for the game. When both camps have presented their teams, the cards engage in a fight to the finish until there is only one team left. When players win matches, they receive Dark Energy Crystals. Players also have the opportunity to gain extra cards and other rewards by completing Daily Quests and competing in a recurrent two-week leaderboard competition.
Players combine their cards in order to level them up, which grants them improved statistics as well as additional abilities. There are common paper variants of playing cards, as well as more uncommon ones made of gold foil. Splinterlands includes its own in-game market, which enables players to buy, trade, and even lease cards.
2. Axie Infinity: The Creature Battler
To this day, Axie Infinity stands out as the most significant blockchain-based video game ever created. The primary objective of the game is to navigate the world of Lunacia. You do so by utilizing a race of animals known as Axies, which players can develop, acquire, and engage in combat with. At its height, the marketplace was generating millions of dollars in sales each and every day, and the price of an Axi was upwards of a thousand dollars.
Axie Infinity in detail:
The developers of Axie Infinity, Sky Mavis, have gathered a community consisting of millions of players all around the world. Many of the players made enough money to support themselves in countries like Venezuela and the Philippines. Therefore these nations received a significant amount of attention. A significant portion of this achievement can be attributed to investors who purchased teams for these players and sponsored their competitions.
Sky Mavis was able to secure financial backing and sponsorship from some of the world’s most recognizable brands, including Ubisoft and Samsung. They later constructed a sidechain known as Ronin. This was in order to circumvent the expensive gas prices that were associated with using the Ethereum Blockchain. Users on the network were able to buy, trade, and sell in-game assets without incurring any fees because of Ronin. This serves to make the market a more conducive environment for the circulation of value.
Axie Infinity has been setting the standard for others to follow. The developers have revealed brand new methods for acquiring in-game stuff by sacrificing Axies. In addition to this, they have established scholarships. These make it possible for individuals to participate in the game by having a manager pay the initial investment in exchange for a share of the wins.
3. Pegaxy: Horse Racing at its Finest
Pegaxy is a horse racing game featuring a straightforward gameplay paradigm that is ideal for first-time play-to-earn (P2E) players. Players have the option to purchase NFT horses for the purpose of racing, breeding, or renting them out to other players.
Pegaxy in detail:
In each race, there are a total of 12 horses, and the top three finishers in each race are awarded rewards in the form of VIS tokens. The RNG (Random Number Generator) now determines where players finish in their respective races; however, this will be altered in the game’s upcoming second version. At some point in the future, the positions in the race will be influenced by criteria such as the amount of food, gear, and clothing a player gives their horse.
4. The Sandbox: a widespread and immersive Metaverse
The Sandbox consists of a globally interconnected collection of one-of-a-kind gameplay experiences. Each landowner has access to a visual game builder, and they can use it to construct whatever they want on land plots of varied sizes. The Sandbox is now in the alpha testing phase. If you’re interested in games in which you may earn money by playing, you should keep this one in mind.
The Sandbox in detail:
The Sandbox is made up of tens of thousands of individual plots that range in size. The proprietor of each plot has left their mark on the world with their one-of-a-kind masterpiece. This may take the form of a game, a social center, or anything else that can be conceived of and constructed. The voxel-based gameplay of Sandbox gives the game an atmosphere reminiscent of Minecraft. The assets that are contained within each experience are separate voxel objects, and they are able to be imported from outside editors.
The Sandbox Game Maker, which is based on Unity and includes a scripting language that is always being improved, provides builders with a significant amount of leeway to design their own one-of-a-kind games. The owners of the plots have a complete say over what can and cannot be constructed on their property.
The games that have been developed thus far include role-playing games, side-scrolling games, dance games, business management simulations, and many more. Through the use of the Game Maker, players are able to join and participate in any public experience. Although some allow players to interact with one another, the vast majority of these games are played solely by themselves.
5. Gods Unchained: The Collectible Trading Card Game
The Ethereum network serves as the foundation for the collectible, fantasy, and trading card game known as Gods Unchained. It does not cost anything to play. Getting started is simple, and it immediately provides opportunities to earn money through play.
Gods Unchained in detail:
When playing Gods Unchained, two players compete against one another in a battle arena to see who is the superior god. The objective of the game is to bring your opponent’s God’s health down to zero. Plan ahead as damage depends on the element they chose (Nature, Light, Deception, Death, War, or Magic), so play accordingly.
Immutable was renamed as the parent business of Gods Unchained in 2019. Development on ImmutableX, a layer two solution for Ethereum that is focused on NFTs, got underway at the same time. ImmutableX’s marketplace went live in 2021, and it currently functions as a gas-free trade hub for Gods Unchained cards. It is also host to a number of other NFT initiatives.
6. Lucky Block: also known as the Jackpot Platform
Lucky Block is the clear winner when it comes to the competition for the title of greatest play-to-earn (P2E) cryptocurrency game in 2022. Lucky Block is an innovative cryptocurrency game platform that is housed on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC). It provides participants with the opportunity to win a jackpot on a daily basis. These jackpots are paid out in LBLOCK, the native token of Lucky Block. This allows for the distribution of prizes to take place more quickly.
Lucky Block in detail:
At the beginning of this year, LBLOCK began trading on decentralized exchanges, and a 12% tax was placed on all token sales. The proceeds went directly into Lucky Block’s reward pool. As a result, the total value of the prizes up for grabs now exceeds $2.2 million. The first prize draw was scheduled to take place in the middle of May 2022. The Chainlink VRF service will be used to conduct a random drawing to select each winner. This will ensure that Lucky Block complies with the applicable regulation.
Tickets for the daily prize draws held by Lucky Block can be purchased for $5 USD using LBLOCK. Users have the option of first purchasing BNB using their credit or debit card and then exchanging that BNB into LBLOCK in a matter of minutes. Everyone who owns LBLOCK and connects their cryptocurrency wallet to the Lucky Block platform will be eligible to earn a free entry into each daily prize draw.
A wide variety of raffles for both digital and real products will be among the other P2E elements that Lucky Block will make available in addition to these prize draws for winners. The inclusion of a “Games Gallery” section featuring location-based P2E games will give users even more chances to win prizes.
Plus, owners of Lucky Block NFTs will be placed into a separate daily prize draw that will take place concurrently with the platform’s main draws. This means that each day, there will be two opportunities to win.
The 46,000 people in the official Telegram group is evidence that these aspects of the Lucky Block platform have contributed to the massive amount of hype that has been generated. Because it holds prize draws, Lucky Block is without a doubt our top choice among the several play-to-earn games that are now available.
7. Silks: A Bridge Between the Real World and the Metaverse
Silks is another one of the top plays to make in order to earn money with games in 2022. Silks is more than just a game that makes use of blockchain technology. The least of which is the fact that it is a whole metaverse on its own. The actual world and the virtual metaverse are brought together through the medium of this play-to-earn game.
In essence, Silks has built its very own virtual universe, in which the experience of horse racing is brought to life. The software generates one-of-a-kind digital horses by combining various data, including training history, race records, breeds, bloodlines, and other information.
Silks in detail:
This translates to the fact that you are able to acquire ownership of virtual horses in the form of NFTs. These NFTs are linked to actual thoroughbred racehorses in the real world. In the event that you are the owner of a real-life horse that wins a race, you will be rewarded with $STT, Silks’ native cryptocurrency token. You can compete with your horse against others at one of the many racetracks that are available.
Since NFTs are transferable, it will be possible to develop a secondary market for them. Within the Silks ecosystem, $STT tokens can be used for a variety of purchases, including real estate. Additional means by which players can profit from the game include betting Bitcoin, rearing horses, and selling them.
The Silks roadmap concludes with an explanation of the company’s plans to launch a public sale of avatars during the second quarter of 2022. The second quarter will begin with the first public auction of Silks horses, and the third quarter will begin with the sale of property and stables. Metaverse registration and on-ramping will allow Silks players to earn racing and breeding incentives beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022.
8. PirateXPirate: A Play-to-earn Game of Tactics on the High Seas
Welcome to the not-for-profit adventure game Pirate X Pirate. The game also features a turn-based strategy component. You can earn money in this digital environment by embarking on high-seas adventures.
PirateXPirate in detail:
You will need to assemble your crew, construct your fleet, and put your talents to the test. You do this by engaging in combat with other pirates in order to earn money. Together with your fleet, you will contribute to the creation of a pirate metaverse. This metaverse has its own independent economy. The prizes that can be won and the amount of time that must be invested in a mission are both determined by:
- the scope of the vessel
- and the complementary skills of the crew that has been tasked with completing it.
In general, smaller ships are utilized for jobs that require less time and effort to complete and can be completed in a shorter amount of time. The larger ships are built to take on more challenging journeys. These may take more time to accomplish but will reward their captains richly for their efforts.
Every mission calls for a vessel, its own captain, and a minimum of two other crew members. The skills of the two participants will determine the additional awards that are generated once the activity has been finished successfully. Characters obtained through the NFT can be upgraded, there is a mode for multiplayer PVP, there are incentives for solitary players, and there is a shop within the game. PXP is the name of the virtual currency used in the game.
9. Decentraland: Real-Estate Heaven
You have most likely become familiar with Decentraland if you have already done some investigation into the many P2E games that are now available. You can earn NFTs by participating in this blockchain-based virtual environment, which was constructed on the Ethereum blockchain. In addition, individual parcels of land can be purchased as NFTs, and a diverse range of businesses are establishing up shop inside the Decentraland universe.
This includes Samsung as well as other brands of clothing and accessories, such as DKNY and Sketchers. Even Selfridges is included in this category.
Decentraland in detail:
In Decentraland, you can purchase LAND, which is represented by NFT plots. Or buy MANA tokens in the hopes that their value will increase over time.
After that, you will have to cross your fingers and hope that the price of the plots you selected rises up so that you may make a profit. You can also make money at a casino by purchasing a piece of real estate there and developing it. The proprietors of casinos will invariably acquire at least one roulette, blackjack, and poker table at some point. You, as the owner of a casino NFT, are eligible to get a commission on any money that is won or lost.
Alternatively, if you want to connect with customers, you could work as a host at a casino. This role is quite similar to that of a dealer. The patrons of the casino in Decentraland are real people, but they take the shape of an avatar when they are there. Other ways that people make money include advertising their businesses, organizing events, and charging others for their services. You will be required to purchase MANA coins in order to take part in the ecosystem of Decentraland.
10. Sorare: the Fantasy Football App That Puts It All at Your Fingertips
Because of its concentration on fantasy football, Sorare stands out among the other leading P2E games that we’ve covered today. You are able to buy, collect, and trade digital cards, more particularly non-fictional characters (NFTs) that reflect real-world players. On Sorare, you can acquire ETH tokens by selling cards or doing well in the tournaments that occur every two weeks. Your total number of ETH tokens is determined by the total number of points you earn with your cards.
Sorare in detail:
Sorare has already won the confidence of more than 130 football teams. It is backed by world-class investors such as the gaming industry giant Ubisoft. To form a squad in Sorare, you will require a goalkeeper, an attacker, a defender, a midfielder, and one more player for each side of the field. In the US division, for example, there are clubs from Argentina, Mexico, and the United States competing against one another.
Despite this, the Global All-Star round is often considered to be the most exciting tournament. Each week, there are two rounds held at Sorare. You have a limited amount of time before the next round begins to put together a team. Use it wisely to give you the best chance of victory. Both Antoine Griezmann, forward for Atlético Madrid, and Gerard Pique, defense for FC Barcelona, are investors.
At the beginning of 2022, tennis superstar Serena Williams was invited to join the Sorare team as an official brand ambassador. By the second quarter of 2022, the volume of Sorare NFTs exchanged had reached 50 ETH, and they had entered the list of the top 100 NFT assets in terms of floor cap.
11. DeFi Kingdoms: 16-Bit Blockchain Play-to-earn Game
One of the first games to properly capitalize on the value of NFTs and combine it with throwback pixel visuals for a nostalgic feel was DeFi Kingdoms. This is a title that appears like a role-playing game from the 1990s for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System or a modern independent game like Harvest Moon.
DeFi Kingdoms in detail:
The game DeFi Kingdoms demonstrates how non-fungible tokens (NFTs) can be utilized in games. It combines the fundamental utility of NFTs with traditional game design. You can play DeFi Kingdoms much like you would a classic role-playing game (RPG). This includes going on quests to gain experience and items, managing your in-game resources, and leveling up your character. In DeFi Kingdoms, you will accumulate JEWEL tokens, which are a cryptocurrency that may be turned into Harmony One.
As a byproduct of the approach that DeFi Kingdoms takes, it is possible to communicate to people complicated ideas about NFTs and decentralized cryptocurrencies through the use of storytelling and lore. Unfortunately, because DeFi Kingdoms acts as a doorway to NFTs, there is no free method to enter or play the game (as yet).
The future of player-to-player gaming powered by NFTs
In addition to the names that have already been listed, Guild of Guardians, ZED RUN, and RaceFi all make important contributions to the economy of digital assets. They are all extremely well-liked among gamers and crypto aficionados. All of these products are evidence that the market for P2E gaming that is powered by NFTs is expanding at a breakneck speed. The revenue that was earned by NFT games in just the third quarter of 2021 was $2.32 billion.
Will Play to earn games continue to grow?
Also:
- Facebook’s switch to Meta,
- Microsoft’s recent purchase of Activision Blizzard,
- and gaming studio Ubisoft’s launch of the NFT marketplace Quartz
are all signs that the gaming industry is also serious about putting blockchain innovations into mainstream games. Even games that are as well-known and cherished as Final Fantasy VII have received a supplemental NFT projects.
The majority of members of the mainstream gaming community continue to have a negative attitude toward the idea that NFTs could one day become a part of the hobby they hold so dear. There has been no change in the core gaming consumers’ unfavorable attitude toward NFTs. Even as a result of the success of pay-to-earn (P2E) gaming.
What are play to earn game developers working on now?
Even the game developers themselves have expressed their concerns regarding the rising popularity of pay-to-earn video games. This can be interpreted in a positive light as an appeal to the developers of pay-to-play video games. They can place more emphasis on the “play” aspect to truly create value-adding experiences for the audiences they are targeting. And the blockchain gaming industry plans to expand in the next few years, particularly with major tentpole titles like the BAYC’s Otherside scheduled to hit the market soon. However, only time will tell which component of P2E blockchain game developers will choose to focus on moving forward.
Will P2E overtake conventional forms of gaming in the market?
Who is to say? Epic Games is willing to experiment with blockchain gaming. This demonstrates that it is possible for all sides of the gaming world to coexist in the future. The opportunity is still there for gamers who are interested in finding making a source of supplemental income. Furthermore, it is obvious that making a quick buck or two from P2E games will become much more feasible. Especially than becoming a professional gamer or a successful streamer. That’s especially true given the incredible games being developed on the BNB chain.
