The gaming industry is experiencing a groundbreaking shift with the integration of blockchain technologies. Enter the era of Play-to-Earn (P2E), where players now have the opportunity to earn real money while gaming. This game-changing concept has created a new ecosystem of economic opportunities for both gamers and developers alike. In this article, we explore the fundamentals of P2E and showcase a rating of the most popular games among users.
What is Play-to-Earn (P2E)
Play-to-Earn (P2E) is a new paradigm in the gaming industry based on blockchain technology. In such games, participants can earn real profits by completing various tasks, participating in battles, advancing through levels, etc.
The rewards can be varied:
- in-game cryptocurrencies and tokens;
- digital assets in NFT format, including skins, cards, and characters;
- other popular cryptocurrencies (e.g., Ethereum and USDT).
For example, in the Decentraland game, players can rent out their virtual plots of land and receive passive income, and the Axie Infinity game allows participants to fight and earn AXS and SLP game tokens, which can be exchanged for other cryptocurrencies or real money. Thus, developers encourage players to invest time and effort in the game as a reward.
A Brief History of P2E Games
The concept of play-to-earn gaming traces its roots back to the early days of online gaming communities, where players would trade virtual goods and currency for real money. However, the true potential of P2E games was unlocked by the integration of blockchain technology, enabling transparent, secure, and decentralized in-game economies. This breakthrough paved the way for a new era of gaming, where players could not only enjoy immersive gameplay but also earn tangible rewards for their skills and dedication.
The Evolution of Trends in Play-to-Earn Gaming
As play-to-earn games have gained traction, developers have begun exploring innovative mechanics to enhance player engagement and reward systems. From decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) governing in-game economies to non-fungible tokens (NFTs) enabling unique in-game assets, the evolution of play-to-earn (P2E) gaming has been marked by creativity and experimentation. Players now have the opportunity to own, trade, and monetize their in-game assets like never before, blurring the lines between virtual and real-world economies.
The Hottest P2E Games in 2024
Meme Kombat
Meme Kombat ($MK) is a gaming platform based on the Ethereum blockchain. The game offers various rewards, ranging from active betting to passive stacking.
A special feature of the game is its ability to participate in battles between popular memes, which makes the process exciting and interesting. Players can bet their $MK tokens on the outcome of fights and win big prizes, particularly in grandiose and anticipated fights. Bets can be placed both on the outcome of individual battles and on the overall result of tournaments, which adds excitement and variety to the gameplay
Chimpzee
Chimpzee offers a unique combination of gaming activities and charitable activities. Users can purchase NFT-Passports to enter the game, where they earn CHMPZ tokens by fighting poachers and protecting the forests from destruction.
The collected tokens can be spent on goods in the Chimpzee online store or on the purchase of new NFTs. Part of the proceeds from sales are directed to support charities that cooperate with Chimpzee. Users can also invest in their tokens and receive up to 20% of their annual profit (APY).
This game is an excellent example of how entertainment and environmental care can be combined within a single platform.
Alien Worlds
The metaverse was deployed on the WAX blockchain. Alien Words are considered one of the fastest-growing projects. In July 2022, more than 3 million people were playing on the platform. The plot is simple: users travel around planets and extract minerals (TLM tokens). The Alien Worlds game mechanics includes the following options.
- Choosing a planet with a unique organization. Objects also differ in their mining rates. The higher the score is, the more one can earn.
- Purchase of land in the form of NFT. The plots are available in the AtomicHub marketplace at a fixed price or through an auction. The land can be leased or sold.
- Mining of native TLM coins. For effective mining, it is necessary to improve the shovel and buy additional amplifiers from the internal marketplace.
- Stacking gaming cryptocurrencies. Each planet has its own stake pull as determined by the user’s vote.
Earned coins can be spent on character development (buying clothes and weapons) or withdrawn from a wallet. In July 2022, TLM traded on the major CEX and DEX (Binance, PancakeSwap, Kraken) for $0.02. To make a stable profit, you will need to buy land and inventory worth $ 2-5 thousand.
Tamadoge
Tamadoge is a unique project that combines a meme coin, a P2E game, and a metaverse. The game is based on the concept of digital pets presented in the form of NFT-animated Shiba Inu characters with rare skills and characteristics.
Players can buy, grow, and fight with their NFT Tamadoge and obtain prizes for it. Tamadoge Arcade is a separate section where Tamadoge can participate in various arcade games and earn in-game Tamaverse (TAMA) currency.
Tamadoge is also developing an augmented reality app that will allow players to interact with their pets in the real world.
The Sandbox
The Sandbox is a virtual metaverse where users can create, explore, and monetize their gaming experience using two types of digital assets:
Games feature various tools:
- VoxEdit is a software that allows you to create and animate voxel models (NFT) that can be used in games or sold in the marketplace.
- Game Maker is a tool with which you can create your own games and applications using simple drag-and-drop logic and thousands of resources created by the community.
- A marketplace is a platform for buying and selling NFT and LAND.
Prospects for the Development of P2E games
The Play-to-Earn model allows one to trade in-game items for real money. Owing to the rapid development of NFT technology, gamers can generate new strategies and earn a high income.
Developers started creating in-game economies in 2021. After the launch of the first P2E, the tokens of the projects and NFT increased hundreds of times. Experts see a high potential in the model. According to forecasts, the number of P2E platforms is expected to increase.
In the bear market in 2022, the prices of many game items fell. Analysts claim that the cryptocurrency market is near the bottom. Statistically non-interchangeable tokens react more acutely to investor sentiment: they fall faster and bounce harder. Therefore, experienced gamers transfer part of their capital to the top NFTs.
Conclusion
Play-to-earn-style games present a new horizon of opportunity for players, developers, and investors. Not only are they transforming the way we interact with the game world but they also introduce economic incentives that can have long-term positive effects on the global economy. The prospects of blockchain games are fairly good. However, it is also important to be aware of their shortcomings and to prepare for possible risks.
Related Posts
