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7 NFT Games we are watching this year - NFT.com

Alec Otto

Jul 20th, 2022

5 min read

With much of the NFT space looking to gaming as a major use case, let’s look at the NFT gaming space as it exists today, and check out what’s fun to play!

7 NFT Games we are watching this year

Before we get started, let's address an important question.

What are NFT games?

NFT Games utilize NFTs to represent in-game items, often as a core mechanic of the gameplay and game economy. There are a number of games taking advantage of the utility cryptocurrency has to offer, and as the web3 space matures, so will the games we see.

For this article we will be mainly focused on games that use NFTs to represent their in game items, and can be played right now. We’ll touch on Metaverse games and digital land ownership in another article.

1. Axie Infinity

A pioneer of the NFT gaming space.

Free to play: No
Multiplayer: Yes
Genre: Strategy Game
Blockchain: Ethereum (Ronin L2)

Axie Infinity is an original crypto game with a peak of 2.8 million daily active players in 2021. It is a unique online multiplayer game by Vietnamese developer Sky Mavis, centered around axolotl-inspired digital pets called Axies. Taking a page from the “Pokemon" series, in Axie Infinity, players can collect and battle these adorable creatures against one another.

Axie Infinity features a breeding mechanic similar to CryptoKitties (mentioned in our What is an NFT article), in which an Axies “genes” pass down various strengths, weaknesses, and other traits to the offspring.

However, Axie Infinity stands out as a fully multiplayer competitive online game where players can build teams of Axies, and battle other players for rewards and glory.

The game’s adorable style, fused with a rich level of complexity and depth made it a hit among those early to the NFT gaming space, and continues to draw interest today. Axie Infinity requires the purchase of Axies in order to play.

You can check out more about Axie Infinity here.

2. Gods Unchained

One of the top NFT trading card games around.

Free to play: Yes
Multiplayer: Yes
Genre: Trading Card Game
Blockchain: Ethereum

Gods Unchained will feel like familiar territory for trading card game fans. It is an online, multiplayer turn-based fantasy card game, focused on player vs player battles.

Gods Unchained is led by Chris Clay, game director for the wildly successful “Magic the Gathering Arena”. The goal of each match is to destroy an opponent's “God” before they are able to destroy yours.

Gods Unchained integrates the rarity and collectable aspect of traditional trading card games by utilizing blockchain technology to turn the cards into NFTs, which can then be traded on the open market.

This game is also completely free to play, and costs nothing to get started. Gods Unchained is a great start for those looking to get into NFT games, and boasts an active player base with over 100,000 discord members.

Learn more about Gods Unchained here.

3. Blankos

Most fun party style NFT game.

Free to play: Yes
Multiplayer: Yes
Genre: Party Game
Blockchain: Private EOSIO

Blankos is a well executed party game that’s so fun you won’t even notice you are playing an NFT game. Blankos takes the fun of traditional 3d platformers like Super Mario 64, and fuses it with the multiplayer shenanigans of Fall Guys.

It is self described as an “open-world multiplayer game styled like a giant block party”. Blankos delivers hours of silly creative fun thanks to custom level building and expansive multiplayer game worlds.

In Blankos, you play as a vinyl toy character, and can join massive worlds with all of your friends. Blankos is a free to play game, but you can purchase new Blankos character NFTs, or earn new ones through your in-game winnings.

The characters in Blankos are NFTs that you own, but they exist on a private blockchain and are transacted with FIAT currency. This isn’t really a downside, but it should be noted that you won’t get the same crypto interoperability of some other NFT games.

Blankos is a great game for those who enjoy 3d platformers and want to play with friends. Click here to learn more.

4. War Riders

Most unique gameplay style for an NFT game.

Free to play: Yes
Multiplayer: Yes
Genre: Raid Style - Offroad Battle Game
Blockchain: Ethereum

Fans of multiplayer FPS (first person shooter) games, may have noticed a trend towards “raid” style gameplay. In “raid” style games, players venture out into a world with other players to find resources, and have to fight their way through players and enemies to escape from the “raid” with those resources.

War Riders takes this unique gameplay style, and infuses it into a “Mad Max” inspired game world where players drive and battle in war torn off road vehicles with the hopes of finding “Benzene deposits” (BZN) to “mine”.

Players then have to fight off other players to extract from the barren desert with their cryptocurrency loot!

War Riders is a great Free to Play game for those looking for a unique, hardcore, adrenaline-pumping experience. You can learn more and get started playing War Riders here.

5. Forge Arena

Best first person shooter NFT game.

Free to Play: No, but moving to f2p model
Multiplayer: Yes
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Blockchain: WAX

Are you a champion of Battle Royale? A human aim-bot with the frostiest flicks in the metaverse? The teammate who clutches a 1v5 when the whole team is down?

Well look no further than Forge Arena. This is an intense counter-strike style shooter for those with surgical aim, lightning reflexes, and a competitive mindset. Forge Arena rivals the polish and gameplay of some triple-A game studios.

Forge Arena’s docs page states that it is “Aimed to be the world's first Esport on the Blockchain”, and lives up to the claim with intense first person shooter gameplay and a competitive player base.

Forge Arena utilizes the power of NFTs to track ownership of in-game items like weapons, skins, and item crates. All of which can be bought on Forge Arena’s marketplace, or earned through playing the game.

We would recommend Forge Arena as a captivating start for those with previous experience playing competitive First-Person Shooter games. Click here to learn more.

6. Splinterlands

Rapidly growing, up and coming NFT trading card game.

Free to Play: Yes
Multiplayer: Yes
Genre: Trading Card Game
Blockchain: Hive Blockchain

Splinterlands is another blockchain based Trading Card game that is picking up steam. It has a rapidly growing player base of over 1 million players, and is rapidly gaining the attention of online Trading Card game fans.

Players start out with a complimentary set of cards making the game fully free to play, with the option to purchase additional cards via the Splinterlands marketplace. Each card is an NFT with a limited supply, and players can buy rare cards to improve their decks, or sell cards in exchange for cryptocurrency.

We would put Splinterlands on par with Gods Unchained as a solid option for those looking for blockchain based Trading Card games. Check out Splinterlands in more detail here.

7. Spider Tanks

A unique multiplayer battle arena game for all player types. Free to Play: Yes Multiplayer: Yes Genre: Battle Arena Blockchain: Gala Games

Lastly, we have Spider Tanks. This is a massively overlooked free to play game featuring an extraordinarily fun, top-down, battle arena style experience. Players pilot a multi-legged robotic tank and battle other players in tight arenas for resources and rewards.

Spider Tanks has a little something or everyone, walking a fine balance between a casual and competitive gaming experience.

It is free to play, so new players can dive right in and get to blasting other players in the arena. Competitive players can rest easy knowing they can take their skills to an e-sports level with official championships to compete in.

Spider Tanks harnesses the power of NFTs for all of their in-game items such as tanks, skins, weapons, and even arena maps that you can design yourself!

We have to recommend Spider Tanks as a fun start in the NFT gaming space regardless of skill level or play style. It’s just plain fun! Click here to learn more about Spider Tanks.

Conclusion

NFT games will only become more popular and more polished as game developers integrate the power of blockchain technology into their development process. We’ll keep you posted as the gaming and crypto industries continue to collide.

Check out our other articles here to learn more about NFTs.