Blockchain games promote a decentralized word of video game entertainment that gives players full control of their in-game assets together with crypto-based incentives that can even improve their financial standing as a reward for their gaming endeavors.
Although the industry has had its ups and downs, there are growing signs that indicate blockchain represents the future of video games, as more players come to learn of the incredible value it provides.
Improved tokenomics
When Axie Infinity first exploded onto the scene during the pandemic, some players were reportedly earning hundreds of dollars a month from playing the game, sparking a wave of enthusiasm over the prospect of playing games for a living. That dream didn’t quite materialize, as it soon became apparent that Axie’s tokenomics model left a lot to be desired, with growth dependent on a constant stream of new players coming into the game.
Early tokenomics models were unsustainable, but a new generation of blockchain games has emerged with more sustainable economics designed to create monetary incentives for the most committed and motivated players. One example of this is My Neighbor Alice, a metaverse-based game of exploration and building. The ALICE token has a total supply capped at 100,000,000, and with 92,083,333 already in circulation in the in-game economy, there’s little risk of token inflation.
ALICE has enormous utility, serving as the main currency for purchasing assets and specialist skill-sets. It’s also used to unlock access to special game content, such as quests and features like starting a business, so users can develop a revenue stream, and there are DeFi elements too. With transaction fees going back into the game’s rewards pool, there’s a constant supply of ALICE tokens available for players to earn as rewards for completing various quests and activities, creating a circular economy that ensures the long-term health of the game.
Better gameplay
Axie was often slated for its dull, uninspiring gameplay, but the latest blockchain games are a completely different beast. The popular AAA shooter game My Pet Hooligan, now available on Epic Games, illustrates the evolution of blockchain games, taking place in a wacky, colourful 3D world that’s chracterized by stunning graphics.
It’s a fast-paced, action-packed shooter game that incorporates elements from top-tier games like GTA, Fortnite and Ratchet and Clank, with adrenaline-fueled battles, expansive maps, dramatic action and varied game modes to keep players enthralled. Add to that the enormous arsenal of hellish weapons, spanning machine guns, cannons, bazookas, plunger-style sniper rifles and deadly water guns, and numerous character enhancements, and you have all the addictive elements needed to keep players coming back again and again.
Community Involvement
One of the best aspects of blockchain games is the community element, where the players themselves dictate the game’s future development. In the space exploration game Star Atlas, players can earn POLIS tokens which enable them to participate directly in in-game governance, proposing changes to the game and voting on critical decisions that impact on its evolution.
That’s quite unlike traditional games, where the developers have the final say on any new updates or changes to the gameplay, and only sometimes ask the community for input. The more POLIS tokens a player holds, the greater the ‘weight’ carried by their vote on all-important matters. It’s a clever system that ensures the most dedicated and committed players have the most influence on the game they love, helping to shape its future with the features and capabilities they desire most.
Passive Incomes
These days in play to earn games there are dozens of earnings opportunities that go far beyond simply taking on opponents and winning battles. For instance, the popular metaverse game Upland on the EOS blockchain has attracted millions of users, with a major part of the attraction being its passive income opportunities.
The game involves acquiring and developing property with UPX tokens, and these properties can then become the center of various in-game businesses, with players earning UPX for each visitor they attract. Players can build NFT art galleries and charge people to come and look, and even sell the art they display in them. They can also rent out SPARK, which is a second in-game token that’s required to construct buildings in the game, giving others a way to speed up their constructions. Finally, there’s a good, old-fashioned treasure hunting activity in the game, which consists of spending small amounts of UPX to explore Upland’s expansive world in the hope of striking a gold mine of UPX or SPARK.
Provable Fairness
One of the unique aspects of blockchain is its transparency, and it’s this that has transformed the online gambling industry. Crypto-based casino apps like Roobet utilize a decentralized, public ledger and verifiable random number generators to ensure absolute fairness.
Whereas traditional casinos are often questioned about fairness, Roobet's method of random number generation involves provably fair algorithms that can be fully verified by any user, making it possible for players to audit the fairness of each game. It brings increased trust to casino games, as players can ensure that they’ll never be cheated out of their winnings.
