Have you ever wondered about transforming your gaming hours into real money? A concept like that seemed to be too good to be true but not until the idea of play-to-earn gaming came into existence.
What is Play-to-Earn?
Play-to-Earn is a game model that allows players to monetize their time spent in the game and earn profits by collecting and selling cryptocurrency tokens and/or NFTs.The first legendary NFT game made on blockchain was CryptoKitties which paved the way for many P2E games released after it. Among those who followed the steps of CryptoKitties was Axie Infinity.
Axie Infinity followed the play-to-earn path and dominated the world. Until now, the game is still among the few ones that still continue to spearhead the P2E space even during tough economic times.
Due to the amount of play-to-earn games released, it is understandable to find it hard to know which games to look out for. Don’t worry! Here at P2E News, we curated the best of the best in their respective categories just for you!
Types of Play-to-Earn Games
Just like traditional games, play-to-earn games also have different categories or genres in which they aspire to be the best. The most anticipated genres are divided into different niches.
If you love some action-packed experiences, maybe you will like play-to-earn games that belong in the genres of action, arcade, battle royale, brawler, combat, and sports.
Meanwhile, if you are leaning more towards calculative and strategic gameplay then maybe you want to try out genres such as auto-battlers, base building, card games, mining, puzzle, and turn-based strategy games.
Besides various genres, play-to-earn games also have different game types. Some P2E games are free to play while others require players to acquire assets right away to start playing the game.
There are also P2E games that require players to have an NFT asset from a certain NFT collection to access the game. These games are called NFT-based games.
There are many more genres for you to explore in the play-to-earn space so feel free to browse through the list of genres in P2E News. For now, let us dive deep into the curated list of best of the best play-to-earn games of 2022!
Top 10 Best Play-to-Earn Games
Axie Infinity – Best Community and Social Engagement
Axie Infinity is the pillar of the play-to-earn movement. The game is a breeding card game that developed an interactive and heavily competitive community around it.
Players in the game collect, breed, and battle creatures called Axies against other players for rewards such as the cryptocurrency tokens AXS and SLP. The competitive scene of the game is highly challenging and is expected to grow exponentially in the following years.
All community events, future game updates, and even game leaks are well-communicated by the Axie Infinity game compared to other play-to-earn games out there.
Pros
- Good community engagement
- Community events
- Large Player Base
- Esports-friendly
- Free-to-play
Cons
- Axie assets lost all their value due to bad tokenomics
- Meta changes might make your NFT Axies lose their value
- Tough to compete with top players without investing
Splinterlands – Best Monster Battling Game
Splinterlands is among the most unique monster-battling games in the play-to-earn scene right now. The game approached battling monsters in a collective card game way which proved to be a good strategy due to its high reception.
Players in the game collect monster and hero cards to optimally deck out a collection that can withstand any opponent in the arena. Arena battles are done through a simulated battle phase based on various stats of chosen cards.
Pros
- Simple to understand
- Caters to collectors and competitors
- Guild-friendly
Free-to-play
Cons
- Repetitive gameplay
- No way to outplay your opponent after each match begins
- Tough to compete with top players without investing
Gods Unchained – Best Collectible Card Game
Gods Unchained is a play-to-earn trading and collectible card game which allows players to truly own their assets in a very much fully free-to-play environment. Think of the traditional game Hearthstone but you truly own your assets and can freely trade or sell them to other players.
In the game, players collect cards of different rarity, build deeply strategized decks with various archetypes and gameplay, and sell or trade cards to other players.
Pros
- True ownership of collectible card assets
- Fully tradable assets
- Addictive gameplay
- Deep strategies and meta development
- High skill ceiling
Free-to-play
Cons
- Intimidating to try due to the depth of card games
- Requires high knowledge and understanding of cards
- Tough to compete with top players without buying any NFT cards
Aurory – Best Turn-Based Tactical RPG
Aurory is a Play-and-Earn game that takes players on an exciting journey through the worlds of Antik and Tokané, where they will complete quests, discover lost relics, defeat enemies, and compete against other players.
The game features Nefties (NFTs), magical creatures that players can hatch, evolve, trade, and use in battles. These Nefties will accompany players on their adventure through various immersive game modes. Aurory is a compelling JRPG that offers a rich and diverse universe for players to explore while earning rewards for their achievements.
Pros
- Easy-to-understand interface
- Fun gameplay for both beginners and seasoned players
- No wallet is required to play, with sign-up options that are suitable for non-web3 users
- Free-to-play
Cons
- The matchmaking system may sometimes fail to match players with similarly ranked opponents
- Bugs can be experienced, with hotfixes happening once monthly on average
Spider Tanks – Best Brawler Game
Spider Tanks is a brawler MOBA game wherein players engage in PvP combat against other players’ tanks. The play-to-earn features of the game revolve around skill-based competition, resource collection, and a decision-based upgrade cycle.
Pros
- Highly-competitive
- Casual-friendly
Free-to-play - Multiplayer
- Esports-friendly
Cons
- NFT Tanks can be expensive
Undead Blocks – Best Zombie Shooter
Undead Blocks is the world’s first AAA crypto first-person zombie shooter game that rewards players for killing zombies. Weapon Loadout NFTs can increase earnings, and NFT holders have access to a VIP mode to earn Gold ZBUX. Gold ZBUX is the game’s main currency, pegged at $0.10, and can be exchanged for other cryptocurrencies.
The game recently launched its rental portal where players can rent NFTs and gain access to VIP mode, giving players a chance to win bigger rewards.
Pros
- Good gameplay
- Multiple tournaments with high rewards
- Has a stable in-game reward currency (Gold ZBUX)
- Free-to-play
- Rental system for non-NFT owners
- Multiple game modes to choose from
Cons
- Profit is unpredictable, sometimes you win big, and sometimes nothing
- So far, the game only has one map and the gameplay is still a bit repetitive
Sandbox – Best Metaverse Game
The Sandbox is a free-to-play virtual metaverse that allows players to play, build, own, and monetize their virtual experiences. This metaverse game operates on the Ethereum blockchain and was relaunched by Animoca Brands in 2018.
There are various ways to generate profits from playing The Sandbox games, including selling NFT assets through the marketplace, creating games with entry or gameplay fees, buying and selling LAND assets, renting LAND to other users, and staking SAND tokens using staking pairs.
Pros
- Enjoyable gameplay
- Free-to-play
- VoxEdit feature
- Game “experiences” are built by players so there’s a lot of diversity
- Social events
Cons
- Game “experiences” are sometimes not engaging since they were built by players and not by a studio
Town Star – Best Farming Game
Town Star is the first game on the Gala Games platform. It is a free-to-play competitive web3 town simulation game that has extensive mechanisms and interactions that appeal to players who love puzzle-solving and building complex systems with a competitive bent. Here, players complete Daily Challenges and use NFTs in-game to gather Town Points.
Pros
- Engaging gameplay
- Free-to-play
- Simple and clean art style
- Easy to understand
Cons
- Gameplay can be a bit repetitive
Big Time – Best Action RPG
Big Time is a free-to-play multiplayer action RPG wherein players may team up with others to venture across different timelines and spaces. This game is currently in the Pre-Alpha Early Access stage, and players are required to have a VIP Pass to enter.
Every dungeon is procedurally generated which means that players will have unique and non-repetitive experiences while exploring dungeons. Players can collect in-game items while hanging out and exploring with friends.
Pros
- Impressive graphics
- Challenging gameplay
- Tokens are entirely community-driven
- Stat-based gameplay
Cons
- Need to buy Space or Access Pass to play it
Phantom Galaxies – Best Space Sci-Fi Game
Phantom Galaxies is a play-and-earn, fast-paced, third-person experience that is reminiscent of traditional 3D action RPGs. In this open-world online space sim, players take on a pivotal role in the war for control of the sectors of Canis Major.
Players will fight on the front lines, explore deep space for valuable resources, and uncover powerful weapons of the Sha’Kari. Players will select a Starfighter from four different starting classes and upgrade their mechs, unlocking specializations to create the perfect setup for each combat scenario.
Pros
- AAA Gameplay and graphics
- Storyline with voice acting
- Huge map to explore
- A lot of content like side missions
Cons
- Players need to buy an NFT to access the alpha
- Players will require an NFT Starship and NFT Avatar to access the upcoming Beta
Upcoming Play-to-Earn Games
A lot of promising games are still in development and they are expected to be among the spearheads in onboarding the next generation of gamers in the play-to-earn space. Here are some of the promising games that you should be watching out for!
Thalon – Real-Time Strategy Game
Thalon is a free-to-play classic real-time strategy (RTS) game set in a science-fiction world. However, it should be noted that there are no RTS games in Web3.
In this game, players harvest resources, command armies, and battle for bounty rewards. The game has two modes: Battle Mode (PvE) where players compete against an AI opponent, and Multiplayer Mode (PvP) where players compete against similarly ranked opponents from around the world or set up a lobby and play between friends.
Thalon aims to launch globally in 2024, and a Mini Game Alpha Test is scheduled for Q3 of 2023.
Heros of Mavia – Massively Multiplayer Online Game
Heroes of Mavia is a free-to-play blockchain-based online multiplayer strategy game where players battle other players to earn real cryptocurrency in a play-to-earn design. Players can acquire and build a base by purchasing, renting, or partnering with landowners.
Players earn rewards as they battle increasingly difficult bases built by other players. Players must strategically build walls, deploy turrets, and place traps to protect their Gold, Oil, and Ruby loot. They can earn Ruby by winning offensive battles, successfully defending their base, and completing challenges.
The beta version is scheduled for landowners on June 30, 2023. Currently, there is no estimated date for the global launch.
Star Atlas – Role-Playing Game
