5 Game Metaverses That Promote NFTs

October 27, 2022 by Mimi Phan

For the 90s kid, gaming has come a long way since the days of banging out a neat game of Pac-Man or trading Pokémon cards at school. From long-running escapist games like Minecraft to first-person shooters like Call of Duty, there’s something for everyone. But something interesting has happened in the past couple of years – something to do with NFTs and the metaverse.

A new play-to-earn model allows gamers to profit from the sale of tokens within game metaverses. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have made this possible. As a result, people can trade game tools, avatars, skins, and special characters.

Let’s learn a little more about some game metaverses that promote NFTs.

How Are NFTs Used In Gaming Metaverses?

Game metaverses transport their players to virtual environments where they can experience a more immersive gameplay. Instead of just getting a console like the regular PlayStation and playing the game, a metaverse allows you to enjoy a more engaging experience, using tools like virtual reality headsets. For example, games like Fortnite put players through immersive battles with other players.

NFTs fit right into the structure of a metaverse because they symbolize commerce, identity, and currency.  They are revolutionizing the way we view property ownership and transfer. And in the metaverse, their functionality is on full display.

They also improve gameplay. For example, Axies, the native avatars of the Axie Infinity game, come with different looks and skills, giving some variance to how many things a player can do.

So, how are NFTs used in gaming and what are their benefits? Here are just a few…

Property Ownership

In metaverse gaming, property can be represented by NFTs. This includes land, clothing items, digital pets, and trading cards, all of which can be bought and sold as non-fungible tokens.

Profitability

Game NFTs also allow players to earn money. Unlike traditional games where in-game assets don’t have much value, players can sell NFTs whenever they want for real money. Some games even allow you to export your NFTs to marketplaces like OpenSea, where you can sell easily.

Game Metaverses That Promote NFTs

Now that we understand why game NFTs are so valuable, it’s time to investigate which game companies are using NFTs. While several companies have already integrated NFTs into their gameplay, some of the most prominent ones include:

1. The Sandbox

The Sandbox is one of the most popular game metaverses in the market. Built on the Ethereum blockchain, the gaming software has been in development since 2012. However, it fully embraced blockchain and NFTs in 2018, and its growth has been astronomical since then.

In The Sandbox, players are taken into a standalone metaverse where they can acquire plots of land using the in-game cryptocurrency, SAND. Each plot is an NFT, and players are free to do whatever they want with their land.

Apart from buying land, players in The Sandbox can also explore their virtual environment and engage in different activities and games. Tech-savvy users can create their own games and enjoy those experiences. In this virtual world, you’re free to do just about anything. 

The Sandbox is currently one of the most popular game metaverses. Several brands, including HSBC, Atari, Adidas, and Gucci, have announced partnerships or associations with the game.

2. Decentraland

Decentraland and The Sandbox are quite similar. Both platforms run on the Ethereum blockchain and transport players into independent metaverses. Built in 2015, Decentraland also allows players to buy virtual land using its native coin, MANA. This virtual land comes in the form of game NFTs known as “LAND”. You can trade LAND using Decentraland’s in-app NFT marketplace, earning real money while you play games.

Like The Sandbox, Decentraland also allows players to enjoy different experiences. There are spaces within the game metaverses where you can enjoy concerts, play games, and even shop. Several brands have also bought land here, including JPMorgan and Samsung.

Fun fact: Decentraland even hosted the first-ever metaverse wedding on record!

3. Axie Infinity

Axie Infinity is probably the right answer to the million-dollar question: “What is the biggest metaverse game?” It has over a million users, with stats showing almost 600,000 active players.

Developed by Sky Mavis in 2017, Axie Infinity has also been operating on the Ethereum blockchain since 2018. The great thing about Axie Infinity is that there are “bridges” that connect the platform to several other blockchains like Polygon, so even if Ethereum isn’t your network of choice due to high gas fees, you have other options.

In Axie Infinity, each player starts the game with three Axies. These digital characters are NFTs. The goal is simple: breed and grow your pet, then use it to win battles with other players. When you win battles and level up, you get rewards such as other players’ Axies and payment in the platform’s cryptocurrency, AXS. Axie Infinity also has an in-app marketplace where NFTs and other in-game assets can be traded.

4. Alien Worlds

Another wild NFT game metaverse built on Ethereum, Alien Worlds takes you into a dystopian environment where you can explore the vast expanse of space. Pretty much everything in Alien Worlds is an NFT – avatars, land, weapons, tools, minions, and more.

Although it was initially built on Ethereum, Alien Worlds has expanded support to blockchains like the Binance Smart Chain and WAX. Like every other game here, Alien Worlds also incorporates an in-game cryptocurrency. The platform’s coin, called TLM, allows players to buy NFTs and other items seamlessly. TLM also allows players to participate in governance.

Unlike most other games, Alien Worlds is governed by a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) – basically, a collection of the game’s players who vote on product upgrades and any changes that the developers propose.

5. Gods Unchained

Finally, we have Gods Unchained, another game that was also built on the Ethereum blockchain, with its first version being released back in 2018.

Think of this game like Pokémon in the metaverse. Players can enter into a virtual world, where they buy NFT trading cards and use them to build decks. The goal is to build strong decks and beat your opponents.

Gods Unchained gives you full control of all your assets. Since they’re NFTs, you can buy and trade them as you please, earning real money in return. A win-win!

Featured image by Soumil Kumar on Pexels