NFT gaming is booming. Although non-fungible tokens have been dominating the online conversation for a while, NFT gaming is helping this technology come closer to true mainstream adoption.
Let’s take a look at the concept of NFT gaming and explore some of the most promising games of 2022.
What Exactly Is NFT Gaming?
Simply put, NFT games are games built around NFTs. They incorporate NFTs in the game mechanisms, its rules, and the players’ interactions. So, for instance, NFTs can show up as items that players can pick up and store in their wallets. Players can then trade those NFTs in-game and open marketplaces or use them to enhance the gaming experience.
Also, play-to-earn NFT games are gaining a lot of traction. In P2E games, players get rewarded with tokens for playing and can earn more the longer they play.
Top NFT Games of 2022
- Axie Infinity
Axie Infinity is one of the pioneers in the play-to-earn space. Players can buy, collect, raise and breed digital NFT pets called Axies, each of which has unique traits that add to its rarity and value. The rarer the traits, the more valuable the token.
These creatures can be used in the game and traded on Ethereum NFT marketplaces. The platform also rewards players with AXS tokens that grant them governance rights over the platform.
- Big Time
Big Time is a multiplayer action role-playing game NFT where players team up with friends to journey across time and space. Although the game isn’t available yet, you can join the waitlist.
Players will be able to customize their avatars’ appearance with limited edition NFT items and trade them on Big Time’s built-in marketplace, which seeks to bring the power of crypto to everyone.
- The Sandbox
The Sandbox is a community-driven NFT platform where users can create and animate their own voxel assets, develop their own games and even buy virtual land to bring it all together in a seamless and entertaining experience. The assets created by players can be integrated into games and be uploaded to the platform’s marketplace so that other users can purchase them via the token SAND.
In essence, this metaverse-style game allows players to monetize the games they create and the assets they design on the platform. It also rewards them for playing the games created by users.
- DeFi Kingdoms
DeFi Kingdoms is a play-to-earn MMORPG that runs on the Harmony and DFK Chain blockchains and is set in an immersive pixel-art online world. It’s built on a solid DeFi protocol and features a decentralized exchange, liquidity pools, and a market where players can buy and sell utility NFTs.
The team behind DeFi Kingdoms seeks to provide an outstanding and memorable gaming experience while rewarding players with JEWEL and CRYSTAL tokens, which they can use to purchase NFTs or decide on the game’s governance matters.
- Gods Unchained
Gods Unchained is bringing trading cards back. In this play-to-earn and free-to-play game, players can collect NFT cards and sell, trade, or use them as they prefer. The game is based on PVP matches where players can win cards to build more powerful decks and beat their opponents. Players can also purchase cards.
Each card is categorized based on various criteria (rarity, tribe, mana, god, and set) and has different powers, like casting spells, curing other players, or even drawing more cards.
- Splinterlands
Splinterlands is another popular play-to-earn NFT card game. It’s built on the Hive blockchain and allows players to trade, buy or sell digital assets and gain in-game rewards by participating in tournaments.
Unlike Gods Unchained, which is free-to-play, users need to buy a card pack to start playing in Splinterlands. There are currently almost 300 cards with varying stats and features that players can combine to boost their abilities and level up. Players can trade their cards, rent them, and even convert cards to crypto in third-party marketplace platforms.
- CryptoKitties
CryptoKitties has become an NFT gaming classic. It brought attention to the world of NFTs and crypto and has played a huge part in fostering mainstream adoption.
It’s an NFT game running on the Ethereum blockchain where users can breed and collect adorable digital cats called —you guessed it— CryptoKitties. Of course, each cat is one-of-a-kind and cannot be replicated. Players can breed cats to unlock new and rare traits, create collections, and trade their NFT kitties. They can also crack puzzles and play games in the KittyVerse with their CryptoKitties.
- Decentraland
Decentraland is a virtual world on the Ethereum blockchain where players create a customizable avatar and purchase land in the form of an NFT —which they can then sell in the open marketplace.
On the platform, users can also earn and buy clothing and other in-game NFT items to personalize their gaming experience and create a self-sustaining economy powered by MANA, Decentraland’s native token. Players can also monetize their virtual land by placing ads, for instance.
- Sorare
Sorare brings together fantasy football and nostalgic collectible cards. In this free-to-play NFT game, players can collect cards from real-world footballers, enter competitions each week, and earn prizes.
The most exciting feature of this NFT game is that weekly tournaments are influenced by the real-world stats and events of the major football leagues worldwide. In fact, the game features more than 200 licensed clubs, including Real Madrid and Liverpool.
- Dogami
Dogami is an innovative play-to-earn NFT game where users are charged with raising, training, and nurturing a Dogami —that is, an NFT dog. The game leverages AR to bring Dogamis to real life, and it recently introduced the Petaverse, a virtual space where players can roam around, socialize and compete via their NFT pets in a truly immersive experience.
In the Petaverse, players can train and customize their Dogamis, develop their traits, and actively look after their four-legged friends to strengthen their bond and generate daily DOGA rewards.
So, there you have it! These are the top NFT games you can’t miss this year. Make sure you return to this article on a regular basis, as we will continue to update the list with new and exciting games. Stay tuned!