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June 21, 2024

What is a Web3 Crypto Game? A Guide for New Players

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What is a Web3 Crypto Game? A Guide for New Players
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Discover the world of crypto gaming: Learn how blockchain transforms gaming with true asset ownership, market dynamics, and player empowerment.

People enjoy games because of their addictive, social nature and because they are a fun way to pass the time. 

Given the right circumstances, a game can go viral overnight and onboard hundreds of millions of users. Players fondly remember games like Among Us and Flappy Bird.

With over 3 billion gamers worldwide, the gaming industry is a prime target for blockchain technology.

Crypto games, aka Web3 games or NFT games, integrate gaming with cryptocurrency and blockchain. Players can genuinely own digital assets such as skins and weapons.

This blog covers:

  • An introduction to crypto gaming
  • How crypto games work
  • Benefits and challenges of Web3 games
  • How to start playing crypto games

...and more!

An Intro to Crypto Gaming - What Does Web3 Mean?

Many popular games like CSGO2 feature a solid player-driven economy. Users collect and trade expensive cosmetic skins that can cost thousands of dollars. However, you can’t take these items out of the game.

You can't use or sell these items outside CSGO2 without accessing unofficial markets.

Crypto games differ by letting players own, sell, trade, or use their assets on various platforms. These crypto features foster a new gaming economy.

web3 gaming inventory

After buying an NFT item from one Web3 game, you can use it in another crypto game. Blockchain features like guaranteed NFT royalties facilitate this process by incentivizing game developers to collaborate.

What is a Web3 Crypto Game? A Guide for New Players
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How Crypto Gaming Works

Blockchain infrastructure enables game developers to issue NFTs in their games, securing player ownership of in-game assets. Players can then trade or sell these NFTs on transparent, open markets.

Let’s discuss some technology that brings crypto gaming to life:

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)

NFTs are unique digital tokens representing ownership of specific in-game items, ranging from limited edition outfits to rare weapons with distinctive attributes.

Some crypto games like Lost Relics mix virtual (non-NFT) items with NFT assets. NFT weapons and equipment do not disappear when your character dies and carry bonus effects.

nft game items from lost relics
NFT items from the Lost Relics crypto game.

Crypto NFT Wallets Explained

Crypto games prompt you to connect a crypto wallet when logging in to manage NFT storage and account creation. This new sign-up method replaces traditional email sign-ups with wallet links, integrating blockchain functionalities like voting and item crafting.

The Enjin Wallet app, a popular choice among Web3 users, securely stores gaming NFTs across various games in the Enjin Ecosystem. 

Interoperability

NFT interoperability refers to the ability for assets owned in one game to carry utility across one or more other games. Standard protocols on blockchain networks facilitate this connectivity. Assets maintain their properties and ownership details across various platforms.

NFT Gaming Benefits

Crypto gaming leverages blockchain technology, transforming the gaming landscape by offering unique advantages. Never before have players experienced more playing power and benefits.

Actual Ownership

Players have absolute, verifiable ownership of their digital assets. The blockchain securely stores these assets. Blockchain tech makes the assets transferable and tradable on various marketplaces outside their original games.

Platforms like NFT.io, Enjin's global NFT marketplace, allow players to trade assets. Such platforms create a liquid market for in-game items, enhancing the gaming economy.

nft.io nft marketplace
NFT marketplaces such as NFT.io provide liquidity for in-game items.

Decentralization

NFT gaming shifts control from centralized game developers to the players. Early users act as alpha testers and contribute to the game's evolution. Through mechanisms like governance, token holders can vote on major decisions affecting the game world.

Games like Etherscape implement a regular governance process where players can vote on upcoming content. Players vote based on the number of Etherscape governance tokens held in their wallets.

etherscape governance proposal
Etherscape is now on its 7th governance proposal. Earlier proposals include an heirloom system which gives additional benefits to the earliest Etherscape NFTs.

Challenges in Building Web3 Games

Despite its potential, crypto gaming faces challenges. Many traditional players need help grasping blockchain concepts like wallets and NFTs, and game publishers often hesitate to adopt cryptocurrencies.

Technical Complexity

Integrating blockchain into gaming requires substantial technical knowledge and resources. Not all developers have the time to learn Web3 coding or the budget to hire specialized developers. This technical complexity poses a barrier to traditional game creators entering the crypto space.

On the player acquisition front, NFT games have attempted to attract more conventional gamers. Web3 game developers have simplified the onboarding and playing experience.

With developments like managed wallets, game developers can give new users NFTs from a developer-owned wallet. When a player realizes the value of their digital assets and feels comfortable owning their crypto wallet, they can request a transfer. 

Scalability Issues

As blockchain platforms become popular, they frequently struggle to scale and manage increased transaction volumes. This inability to scale can result in slower processing times and higher operational costs, hindering smooth gameplay and player satisfaction.

Some networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, were designed for financial transactions. These blockchains cannot support more complex transactions such as NFTs or gaming. 

Game developers need to pair up with a blockchain built for purpose.

How to Get Started with Crypto Gaming

As mentioned earlier, most NFT games today appeal to the broader gaming community. You would likely not need blockchain knowledge until a couple of hours into the game. For this reason, rather than learn the crypto technicalities, it’s best that you research the game instead.

Beginners can explore various games within the Enjin ecosystem to find titles that appeal to their interests.

Enjin web3 game examples:

  • Lost Relics: A crypto gaming pioneer. The game features a solo-player mode action role-playing game.
  • Etherscape: Inspired by the classic Rogue. Fight through dungeons and battle permadeath mechanics.
  • Axiomech: An upcoming NFT game, now in Alpha testing phase. Drive trucks in this vehicular combat game across the multiverse.
  • ENJ Excavators: Available on Android. Tap to mine gems and optimize automated mining.
  • War of Ants: A real-time strategy PvP NFT game. Deploy troops and strategize to capture the battlefield’s chest.

…among many others.  

Once you’re into the game, participate in community forums and Discord servers to meet other players. Web3 gaming communities willingly provide resources and insights to get new players up to speed.

Crypto Gaming is the Future

Crypto gaming represents the next evolution in gaming. Players demonstrate unprecedented control over their digital assets and experience new economic dynamics. New possibilities open up for gamers worldwide.

While it’s still early, the future of crypto gaming looks promising. Blockchain technology continues to advance while more developers and players recognize its benefits. 

As awareness of the interactive benefits of crypto gaming increases, broader adoption is likely, heralding a new era in the digital entertainment landscape.

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