Crypto Investing: 8 Blockchain Games you NEED to Check Out!

We all have that one big regret about the one that got away. No, I’m not talking about the love of our lives, I mean that one big investment that we missed out on back in the day and wish we would have gotten into it. For me, my biggest investment regret was that I turned down Bitcoin not just once, but again and again throughout the years… “D’oh!”

I first heard about Bitcoin from a friend of mine back in 2009 when Bitcoin was brand new, and I could have purchased a handful of them for mere dollars and been a multi-millionaire by now. I thought Bitcoin sounded dumb and that the concept was ridiculous.

Fast forward to 2014 when I was a Financial Advisor and Bitcoin was under 1k, it kept popping up on my radar and in my social circles and I still thought it sounded dumb and couldn’t understand why someone would spend nearly a grand on digital money with “no purpose.” I thought it was something that couldn’t possibly increase any higher in value, nor ever compete with banks who would inevitably crush Bitcoin if it ever became a threat.

How young and naïve I was, brainwashed by the banking system and thinking the 0.2% interest I was earning from my bank was a pretty good deal.

Fast forward another few years and here I am all-in, writing for The Coin Bureau, believing that Bitcoin and decentralization are the keys to a better future, and most likely being irresponsibly overexposed to crypto and DeFi, juggling more altcoins than I can count with my Bitcoin sats packed and ready for the moon and loving every minute of it.

Whether it is wishing we would have purchased Bitcoin, Apple or Amazon stock, or hoarding packs of Pokémon cards back when people were essentially passing them around for free, most of us not only have that regret but also want to keep an eye out for the next big thing and not make the same mistake again. Could blockchain games provide that next opportunity?

If you are new to crypto investing or feel like you could learn more, check out our guide to Investing in cryptocurrency for some advice from those of us who have been in the space for a while.

Trends in Crypto

First, it was Bitcoin that turned heads when it posted a 3,200% gain within 3 months back in 2011, leaving traditional investors stunned as they had gotten used to the 7-12% ROI per year they were receiving (and that’s considered a good year). Then in 2017, it was Ethereum’s time to shine, putting those Bitcoin gains to shame, increasing a whopping 10,000% for the year. And unless you’ve been living in a cave, you’ve no doubt noticed the massively explosive trend in 2021 as NFTs exploded onto the scene.

According to a Reuters report, the NFT market surged from pretty much nothing in late 2020 as nobody even knew what the heck NFTs were, then reached an astonishing $10.7 billion (yes billion with a “B”) by Q3.

NFTs have reached a level of mainstream adoption faster than any other asset class in history with famous celebrities and athletes such as Tom Brady, Jay-Z, Tony Hawk, Eminem, and Paris Hilton getting involved along with Snoop Dog who has not only had his own NFTs drop on Crypto.com but revealed that he himself is actually a massive NFT whale with his own collection reported to be worth over $17 million.

Blockchain Games Already Showing Us What They Can Do

We have already had a taste of the power and potential that blockchain gaming projects have. Look no further than the likes of Axie Infinity whose token AXS soared a mind-blowing 71,900% in one year. Axie Infinity has turned many first-time crypto dabblers into millionaires in less than a year as they were able to turn a few hundred dollars into an absolute fortune.

And those cute little loveable Axies weren’t the only game making huge returns. This isn’t just a fluke or a “one-off,” as we saw similar returns with the likes of Cryptoblades, another once popular blockchain game whose price action enjoyed a parabolic launch going from under $1 to $160 dollars in less than a month before price abruptly crashed back down, with fortunes being quickly made and quickly lost.

Blockchain gaming is still a young industry, yet is set to revolutionize the world with its play-to-earn gaming model. The majority of blockchain games that utilize the play-to-earn gaming model and NFTs were conceived in 2021 and were quite basic in nature with subpar gameplay and simple gaming mechanics, meaning that this industry has a lot of growing, maturing, and developing to do. Many analysts believe that blockchain gaming is a trend that is here to stay and will fundamentally change the future of the gaming and the metaverse industries.

What this means for gamers and investors alike is that there is still massive upside potential and a lot of opportunities to be found in this budding industry, as the gaming industry itself is showing no signs of slowing down and we expect a continued growth rate of blockchain adoption and NFTs.

Blockchain Gaming Projects with Potential 

With blockchain gaming just getting started, what are some projects that we feel are worth keeping an eye on? Of course, it should go without saying that this is not investment advice, and you should do your own research instead of listening to some stranger who writes articles on the internet, but in my opinion, these are some of the games and projects that I am keeping a close eye on to bolster up my portfolio. 

Disclaimer: I hold some of the tokens mentioned in this article as part of my personal portfolio.

For the decision criteria, we are looking for games that we feel have “staying power” that stand the best chance of not being another flash in the pan with price action that looks like CryptoBlades in the above chart. We are also looking at games that are actually fun and will attract players, not just those looking to get rich, as was the case with early Axie players, as let's be honest, nobody was playing early versions of Axie Infinity for fun, it was all about the money.

In no particular order, here are some blockchain games with potential.

Sandbox

The Sandbox, a leading player in the blockchain gaming and virtual world space, stands out as one of the pioneers in blockchain-based gaming. As a decentralized gaming virtual world and a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, The Sandbox has been making significant strides in the industry, particularly in empowering creators and enhancing user engagement.

By the end of 2023, The Sandbox had achieved remarkable growth in its ecosystem, boasting over 5 million user wallets, representing a 20% year-on-year increase. This growth is indicative of the platform's expanding reach and the growing interest in decentralized gaming and virtual experiences. Moreover, the platform has successfully attracted 800 brands and partners, showing a 10% year-on-year increase, which reflects its appeal to a diverse range of stakeholders and its ability to foster collaborative projects within the virtual space​.

The Sandbox's user engagement metrics are particularly impressive, with an average daily playtime of 62 minutes, highlighting the captivating nature of its content and the immersive experiences it offers. This level of engagement is crucial in the blockchain gaming sector, as it demonstrates the platform's ability to retain and entertain its user base effectively.

In terms of content creation and distribution, The Sandbox has opened up self-publishing to all creators, kickstarting a new phase where user-generated content (UGC) represents a greater proportion of the experiences available on the platform. Over 260 UGC experiences were available by the end of 2023, signalling a shift towards a more creator-centric model. This approach not only diversifies the content available on The Sandbox but also empowers creators by providing them with a platform to showcase their work and reach a wider audience.

Looking ahead to 2024, The Sandbox has ambitious plans to launch a mobile version, aiming to increase accessibility and boost mass adoption for the open metaverse. This move is expected to significantly expand the platform's user base and reinforce its position as a leading metaverse platform. Additionally, The Sandbox is planning to introduce new gameplay mechanics and more options for creators to monetize their content, further enhancing the platform's appeal to both players and creators alike.

Overall, The Sandbox's combination of a robust creator ecosystem, significant user engagement, and continuous innovation positions it as a vital player in the blockchain gaming sector for 2024 and beyond. We have an in-depth Sandbox review if you would like to know more. 

Star Atlas

Star Atlas is a blockchain game that makes me feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. The only problem is that Christmas is many years away as we may need to wait nearly a decade before this game is fully released. Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, I guess the entire Star Atlas Universe cannot be built in this decade which is fair as this is one seriously complex game containing its own society and economic system, complete with cinematic-like gameplay graphics.

Though the full game launch itself is years away, the game is launching in stages with mini-game releases already playable that allow players to get a taste of what to expect as they can set up their profiles, choose a faction, purchase and sell ships and equipment NFTs on the marketplace, and run around or fly spaceships.

What is impressive is the level of adoption this game has already experienced and on a consistent basis. In fact, Star Atlas alone has seen more daily transactions from players than the entire Polygon network, racking up 15% of all activity on Solana.

The Star Atlas ecosystem has two tokens, ATLAS and POLIS. One is the in-game currency and the other one acts as a governance token. Both tokens are available on OKX. The Star Atlas marketplace is where users can buy and sell in-game items such as ships and equipment as NFTs, enabling both players and investors to get involved, scooping up items that may be highly valuable to players upon the successful release of the full game. 

Many folks, myself included, feel that Star Atlas is the biggest and most ambitious gaming and metaverse project of all time. Whether they can deliver on those ambitions or if will live up to its expectations remains to be seen. Feel free to check out our in-depth Star Atlas review.

Illuvium

Illuvium, an Interoperable Blockchain Game (IBG) set in a rich sci-fi universe, has carved a unique niche in the crypto gaming landscape as of 2024. This Ethereum blockchain-based game is a multifaceted experience combining open-world exploration, city-building, and autobattler elements, catering to a diverse range of gaming preferences.

The game's ecosystem is segmented into three distinct areas: "Illuvium Overworld," "Illuvium Zero," and "Illuvium Arena." In the Overworld, players are immersed in a vivid, alien world where they can capture Illuvials – the core creatures of the game. Illuvium Zero offers a city-building experience that challenges players to develop their settlements strategically, both on mobile and desktop platforms. The Illuvium Arena adds the thrill of competition with its PvP autobattler format, appealing to players who enjoy strategic combat.

A defining feature of Illuvium is the real ownership it provides over in-game assets. Leveraging blockchain technology, players have complete control over their Illuvials, weapons, and suits, all verifiable and stored in their Ethereum wallets. This level of ownership is pivotal in the game’s economy, as it allows players to trade their assets on IlluviDEX, the game's marketplace. This economic model not only enriches the gaming experience but also provides a potential avenue for earnings through strategic gameplay and asset trading.

Recent advancements in Illuvium demonstrate the game's commitment to growth and innovation. With the early access release of new game components and Limited Promo D1SKs, the game has continued to expand its universe, ensuring a dynamic and evolving experience for players.

The game's design and blockchain integration suggest the potential for significant player engagement and earnings through its marketplace and trading activities. The use of blockchain technology in games like Illuvium often creates opportunities for players to potentially earn real-world value from their in-game activities and trades.

Big Time

Big Time, a multiplayer action RPG, offers an exhilarating journey through various epochs with its blend of high-speed combat and adventure. The game features the integration of its in-game cryptocurrency, the $BIGTIME Token, which is pivotal to the game's economy and involved in numerous in-game transactions. This token enhances the game by enabling crafting activities where players use $BIGTIME and other materials to create and improve their weapon collections, adding a strategic and customizable element to the gameplay experience.

The game has recently introduced new adventure modules, expanding the available content and presenting players with novel challenges. A notable feature is the ability for players to monetize their gameplay through renting out Workshops and SPACE, incorporating an economic strategy aspect into the game. Big Time has also innovated with the addition of Prestige Portals, providing unique adventure instances that come with their own set of challenges and rewards.

The game encourages social interaction and competition by allowing players to invite friends using an Open Loot access code, enabling them to ascend the $BIGTIME leaderboard and win rewards. Another engaging feature is the Mystery Boxes, which players can open to discover crafting items, further enriching the game's content. These updates and features demonstrate Big Time's dedication to enhancing its gameplay and economic framework, solidifying its position as a noteworthy game in the blockchain gaming arena.

SPACE is going to be limited, making it potentially highly valuable as players will be able to use this to expand their personal universes and there will also be in-game tokens that players can collect to purchase NFTs as well as recharge items and more.

We happen to have a deep dive Big Time review if you want to learn more.

AAVEGOTCHi

Aavegotchi is an innovative blockchain game that uniquely blends the nostalgia of Tamagotchi-style digital pets with the advanced features of DeFi (Decentralized Finance) and NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). Hosted on the Ethereum blockchain, this game offers a distinct and engaging experience where players can adopt and interact with virtual pet avatars known as Aavegotchis.

What is Aavegotchi About? 

In Aavegotchi, each Aavegotchi character is a digital collectible, represented as an NFT with its unique attributes and characteristics. Players can enhance their Aavegotchis by adding wearables and increasing their rarity scores through interactive activities like caring for and engaging with their pets. The game uniquely integrates DeFi elements by allowing players to stake Aave aTokens within their Aavegotchis, enhancing the pets' attributes and potentially their value.

How to Make Money in Aavegotchi:

1. Staking and Earning Interest: Players can stake cryptocurrency within their Aavegotchis. This staking not only boosts the pet's rarity score but also allows the player to earn interest on their staked assets.
2. Trading in the Marketplace: Aavegotchi’s marketplace is a significant aspect of its economy. Players can sell and trade their Aavegotchis, wearables, and other NFTs, potentially profiting from the rarity and desirability of their collectibles.
3. Participation in the Game Economy: The game also plans to introduce features where players can farm land for tokens, adding another dimension to the game’s economy and offering further opportunities for earning.

Aavegotchi stands out for its creative combination of gaming and DeFi, offering a unique way for players to engage with blockchain technology and NFTs. The game's community-driven approach and the continuous development of new features indicate its potential for growth and sustainability in the blockchain gaming market.

Phantom Galaxies

For fans of Transformers, MechAssault, and Gundam Wing, this one is for you. Phantom Galaxies is an open-world space sim with fast-paced mech shooter action and an enticing storyline. This game has everything: Giant robot battles, giant robot battles in space, creator based and collectable NFTs, space exploration, and guilds so you don’t need to nerd-out alone.

The guilds will allow for the governing of the galaxy as well as the creation of organizations and corporations for those who are looking for a side of capitalist economic gameplay with their order of giant mech robot space battles.

Phantom Galaxies has made its entry into early access, presenting a version accessible on mainstream platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store for general audiences, and a web3 version for enthusiasts in the blockchain, cryptocurrency, and NFT space. The game is noted for its engaging features such as colossal robot combats, exploration of space, and guild-based governance and economic interactions. The success of the 2023 private planet sale underscores the growing interest in the game, and there is another planet sale on the roadmap for 2024. In Phantom Galaxies, the primary token for governance, utility, and in-game transactions is the Phantom Galaxies token. The project recently highlighted its achievements and hinted at future developments and expansions.

Another notable aspect of Phantom Galaxies are their star-studded partners including the likes of GameFi Ventures, AWS, Epic Games, Grease Monkey Games, Polygon and more.

Cradles: Origin of Species

We have had robots, aliens, Axies, mechs, space exploration, time travel, what next? How about dinosaurs? That’s right, I gotta tip my hat to the team who came up with this concept as so many games are based on duelling, shooting, looting, and resource pooling, that it is nice to see a team come up with an original concept, and this metaverse is going to be mind-blowing.

Cradles: Origin of Species is a game that begins in prehistoric times (hence the dinosaurs), and players assume the role of a geneticist tasked with creating the ultimate lifeforms. As time moves on and players begin to explore, they will interact with other players, defend their villages, battle, and see who has created the superior species.

As players progress, they will eventually come across or purchase crystals with the DRepublic Coin (DRPC) that they can use to make props or use TimeSpaceSand to travel through time and space, entering different worlds and visiting the past or future. 

The world offers a main city and adventure area, in which players can find creatures that have long been extinct, with players being able to gather resources, and create and trade items.

Now, one really interesting concept of this game is that it will be the first blockchain game to utilize life-like entropy, meaning that as time goes by, buildings will decay, landscapes will change, and creatures will die, players will need to update and perform maintenance to prevent the deteriorating world. To accomplish this, the team behind this blockchain metaverse needed to implement a new standard of NFT known as ERC-3664 which is the first NFT token type ever created that can change, evolve and decay over time to give this world the first gameplay features of this kind

This game has many different gameplay styles available. Players can create their own worlds, introducing different species, landscapes, cities and building constructs to see how long their ecosystem can last, with the longer the world existing, the more the players are able to earn, which is an interesting concept.

There will be survival and adventure-type modes for players who like to explore, adventure and fight dinosaurs or other players while finding hidden treasures and items. However, this game goes much deeper than that as Origins is also a true metaverse where players can essentially do anything, third parties can interact with the world, players can introduce new features and concepts in the world and vote on future development proposals.

According to the whitepaper, Cradles creates open worlds that lacks in mainline and background stories which sounds strange at first. It is up to the player to develop the mainline and background stories, with players choosing the origin of their civilization and their decisions will result in the evolution of their world with many scenarios that will lead to the end of their civilization. Playing God must be difficult after all.

In Cradles worlds, the player community or development team can also develop their own mods which can focus on gameplay features such as survival in the wilderness and adventure modes or even create revenue-generating gambling mods. Before a mod can be introduced into the game it must be recognized and accepted by the community.

What all that means is that this is an open-world game that is going to develop the way that players want it to develop, it is going to be the combined actions of the Cradles community that is going to dictate and conceptualize much of the gameplay.

As of 2024, Cradles: Origin of Species has made notable advancements in the blockchain gaming world. It continues to offer a unique gaming experience set in prehistoric times, now available for play on both PC and mobile platforms. The game has evolved with new features, including a public beta phase, indicating ongoing development and refinement. The innovative use of the ERC-3664 NFT standard, which allows for dynamic and evolving in-game assets, remains a key characteristic of the game. This implementation of time and entropy systems in blockchain gaming is a distinctive aspect that sets Cradles apart in the genre. 

Enjinstarter Launchpad

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the massive number of blockchain game releases out there and don’t know which ones to pick, I have got you covered. It is hard to know what projects to invest in, which are good, which are rug pulls and goodness knows you can’t research them all and I’ve barely scratched the surface here. Launchpads are a fantastic option for investors looking to get into projects early and Enjinstarter launchpad gives investors early access to the next big projects gaming and metaverse projects.

Enjinstarter is a blockchain gaming launchpad that focuses on the growth of the hugely successful and widely adopted Enjin Ecosystem. Built on Enjin’s JumpNet, Enjinstarter is a place where creators and game developers can run capital raising campaigns for their projects and connect with investors looking to invest in new and promising-looking projects.

This launchpad platform gives investors a chance to get into brand new ICO, IDO and IGO token offerings from new projects, allowing for early access before the tokens are available to the general public. Often the biggest gains in crypto are had by investors who were able to get into projects early and enjoy the parabolic growth of the token’s price once it launches to the public, and Enjinstarter provides a place that allows for just that.

Instead of taking gruelling hours out of your day to research and sift through articles and whitepapers trying to find the next big project, why not let the Enjinstarter team do it for you as they already research the projects and only bring on board the ones that they feel have potential and are legitimate.

The EnjinStarter (EJS) token serves as the backbone for accessing all products and services on the platform. EJS token holders have the opportunity to stake their tokens for additional rewards. The token also facilitates the purchase of NFTs on its marketplace. Its distribution is strategically designed for long-term community and ecosystem growth, contributing to the platform's efficiency and attractiveness to high-quality projects. EJS is multifunctional, being utilized for staking, acquiring NFTs, and engaging in Initial DEX Offerings (IDOs) on the EnjinStarter Launchpad. The platform itself is a gateway for blockchain gaming and metaverse projects, offering various capital-raising methods, including the sale of digital assets as NFTs.

Notable Mentions (Bonus Content)

Narrowing down all the amazing blockchain gaming projects launching in one article was a really difficult task as there are so many that caught my eye. At the risk of this article becoming the length of a textbook, I want to make some short but notable mentions here that you may also want to check out.

If the idea of Axie Infinity home world of Lunacia interests you, you might want to check out Ember Sword. Land is already sold out from the initial offering but can be purchased on secondary NFT markets.

You will also notice an appalling lack of first-person adventure shooting games in the blockchain industry. If those are more your thing, you may want to check out the dark sci-fi action-adventure game where you can explore abandoned space stations, caverns and ruins and of course, shoot things in the face while collecting blockchain assets in Age of Rust. For fans of Call of Duty: Zombies, believe it or not, you can get paid to shoot zombies in Undead Blocks.

For fans of 2D games and hand-drawn artwork, Aurory is a beautifully designed adventure game with a play-to-earn model where players are plunged into a rich and diverse universe where they will discover several non-playable characters (NPCs) and mystical creatures who they can eventually own and battle with, looking similar to Axie Infinity but nicer artwork and a more immersive adventure-style gameplay.

Top Crypto Games 2024: Conclusion

We are at a very interesting point in time where advancements in technology that can radically change our future are increasing and being adopted at an astonishing rate. We are also at the crux of where three massively accelerating, disruptive technologies that exist in separate ecosystems for different reasons with separate original use cases are all merging together and creating innovations and shaping the world in ways that we could not even imagine just 15 years ago.

Gaming, blockchain technology and NFTs are all technological innovations that are accelerating on their own separate trajectories with many different purposes but are now coming together at a crossroads where these three titans are being integrated to create some of the most ambitious metaverses and gaming projects which are going to shape our lives and the future in ways we can’t even fully conceive yet.

If you think that is an exaggeration, I am not the only one who thinks that metaverse and blockchain advancements will shape the future as Facebook (Meta), Microsoft, Sony, and Amazon are all pouring billions of dollars into metaverse development in the race to metaverse supremacy.

Another fascinating result of blockchain gaming is how the play-to-earn gaming model is revolutionizing economies as we have already seen thousands of people who struggled in poverty now being able to earn a living wage by playing games, and people quitting their full-time jobs to earn higher salaries in virtual worlds that pay them in cryptocurrencies that can be sold for real-world monetary value. If I had to choose between earning money zipping around the galaxy and fighting space robots or being a slave to a 9-5 job that I hated, I know which one I would choose.

This is all a part of a bigger picture and what many are referring to as the fourth revolution and the next stage in technological evolution. With this new revolution being widely available to anyone in the world with internet access, levelling the playing field more than at any other stage in history, fortunes are being made and lost quicker than ever before.

Many analysts and crypto enthusiasts are referring to this revolution as the largest transfer of wealth in human history. Opportunities for investment and wealth generation of this scale are something that comes along once a century or less. Whether it was the tulip mania phenomenon in 1636, the gold rush in the 1800s, or the dot com boom in the 1990s, the question is: Are you going to be one of the fortunate ones who is going to make life-transforming wealth during this once in a lifetime opportunity, or be on the side-lines kicking yourself as it passes by?