Top NFT (Play-to-Earn) Games You Need to Know in 2022

Top 10 Crypto Games

In this section, we review the Top 10 crypto games based on their token’s market cap, starting with a classic.

Axie Infinity

Source: Axie Infinity

Axie Infinity put GameFi on the map during the last bull run. Axie’s meteoric rise took the world by storm. With a stunning artistic direction, each Axie works as a piece of art.

But even more so, the game boasts some impressive figures. These include $3.6 billion traded in the marketplace, with 2.8 million active daily players. Nothing to scoff at.

You can engage in three modes of gameplay:

1. You can go on adventures and engage in PvE battles against Chimera. Winning your battle against a Chimera grants you variable rewards in the form of in-game NFTs. You can use these NFTs to upgrade your Axies.

3. You can breed your Axies to birth even more Axies with exciting new traits. You can keep these Axies and grow your set of collectible items, or sell them on the open market.

Axie Infinity has also announced a land feature, which has yet to be released in full. But so far, this is what we know. You’ll be able to use your land to farm for resources and tokens. Staking for rewards is already live, and full land features are set to be released by end of year.

Sure, the team has faced incredible challenges with the tokenomics of its SLP and AXS tokens. Still, the game is backed by recognizable powerhouses like Samsung, Google, and Ubisoft. I, for one, am curious to see where Axie Infinity will go from here.

The Sandbox

Source: The Sandbox

The Sandbox is a metaverse experience like no other. It made waves during the 2021 bull run, with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry like Snoop purchasing plots of land in the game. Other celebrity investors include the likes of Orlando Bloom and Justin Timberlake. (No small 🥔.)

STEPN

STEPN has become a household brand in the crypto space. It’s been credited with introducing normies around the world to the GameFi scene. It’s also the first of several play-to-earn games to incorporate real-world utility via move-to-earn (M2E) gaming, and is available on Solana, Binance Smart Chain, and even Ethereum!

It works like this:

You buy a shoe as an NFT. Then, you go on walks. The more you walk, the more you earn. Owning multiple shoes also grants you a multiplier effect, so you can earn more tokens. The allotted amount of daily energy is capped per shoe, so to increase that cap, you need more shoes.

You can also specialize and upgrade each shoe for a specific purpose. Your shoes have sockets where you can lock in digital items like gems to increase traits like luck. This is the gist of it anyway, enough to give you an idea of the gamification features.

Will STEPN make a comeback? That remains to be seen. But let’s give credit where credit is due. The team continues building, boasts a healthy treasury as well as a runway, and only time will tell whether this project can deliver once the dust has settled.

Gala Games

Gala Games isn’t a game in itself, but a notable crypto game launcher. The platform actually has several functioning games. However, they launch NFT sales prior to a game’s release, which can justifiably raise a skeptical brow or two.

The two games you can play right now are Spider Tanks and Town Star, with many more still under development, like Mirandus, Battlestar Galactica, and The Walking Dead: Empires.

Spider Tanks is a PvP brawler where players can buy tank and weapon NFTs and duke it out in one of the many arena maps. The game is free to play, but owning the NFTs gives you a considerable advantage.

Town Star is like many mobile games, and reminds me of Farmville. You start out with a plot of land and buy NFTs that you use to build your community. A healthy community generates more GALA tokens over time. (GALA tokens are used throughout the ecosystem.) That’s the idea, anyway. Like Sims, but with money.

Several other games are under development by Gala Games. They include a much-anticipated game based on the platform’s partnership with the creators of The Walking Dead. You can check out the list of games under development here.

My Neighbor Alice

Source: My Neighbor Alice

My Neighbor Alice is an adorable game with a cute interface. The graphics and branding are reminiscent of certain Nintendo-style games à la Animal Crossing. When it comes to playability, the game plays like the Sandbox.

Illuvium

If you’re interested to try Illuvium, you can try to score one of CoinGecko x Illuvium’s exclusive private beta 2 access passes here.

The game is open world. You collect Illuvials, which you capture while exploring the world. You can also sell your Illuvials. There are two modes of gameplay:

1. You play the standard game. You explore, find stuff, battle AI, you know, all the stuff you get to do in any other open-world game. So what makes this game different? By playing and doing all that «normal game» stuff, you’re actually earning ILV tokens. You’re also eligible to win prizes.

Like many projects, Illuvium is backed by big names, like Delphi Capital, Immutable, and Quantstamp. But more than that, just watching the trailer should give you AAA game vibes. (You can check it out here.) Sure, the gameplay probably won’t be on that level. But it does go to show that the team has some amazing design experience under its belt.

And yes, like many other games, there are land purchases happening on Illuvium too. Oh, did we mention that the game is integrated with Immutable X?

Valhalla (Floki Inu)

Have you heard of Floki Inu? If you haven’t, that’s quite all right. Because the FLOKI token is yet another meme coin featuring a dog, out of the hordes of other dog coins.

But don’t be so fast to cross this one off your list just yet.

So what makes Floki different? The project has the ambitious aim of becoming the people’s cryptocurrency of choice. This mission involves creating an ecosystem that provides holders with real utility.

And that’s where Valhalla comes in.

Valhalla is a simple turn-based combat game. It’s totally free to play since it’s currently running on the Kovan Testnet. The Testnet is on Optimism, by the way, an Ethereum Layer 2 solution.

Alien Worlds

Alien Worlds is a bit of a strange one. Only because it’s the only game on the list that’s really a gamified finance game cloaked in game design.

And you know what? That’s fine if it’s done well, and Alien Worlds has done just that. Even a cursory glance at the tokenomics snapshot below will have you nodding your head, going, «Oh yeah. They’ve definitely put a lot of thought into this.»

Source: Alien Worlds

I don’t know about you, but I love a good card game. You can use these cards to mine, fight, and go on missions. The game, as well as the cards, are actually incredibly elaborate and well thought out. The cards don’t have the standard rarity traits like most other NFT projects. Instead, the game combines rarity with something it calls «shininess» (an additional trait).

Like other games, you can purchase land (lol!). You also get to buy different tools, avatar cards, as well as weapon cards, minion cards, and others. You can win in-game «mission NFTs» by completing missions as well.

Alien Worlds has its own cross-chain bridge, so you can comfortably bridge your tokens across Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and WAX chain (a dedicated chain for gaming). It also boasts one of the most active gaming metaverses in the world. No meaningless feat.

Sweatcoin — Sweat Economy

Sure, staking introduces a substantial inflationary measure over time. But the team plans to buy and burn those tokens or redistribute their revenue as staking yields. (Pretty smart.)

Did I mention that it runs on NEAR protocol? 😏

Aavegotchi

Even on Solana, where NFTs are thriving, there’s limited playability when it comes to games. Sure, there’s a ton of fun experimentation going on, especially with gamified staking. But Aavegotchi was at the helm of this stuff before anyone else was even thinking about it.

And they got it right back then.

The game runs on Ethereum, and uses the Aave protocol. To start playing, you need to buy GHST tokens. Afterward, you can get yourself an Aavegotchi. You can pick one up from the bazaar, where you have two options. You can can either purchase one directly via secondary sales, or you can get yourself a portal.

Portals can be open or closed. Closed portals are randomized, so you don’t know what you’re going to get. With open portals, you get to see 10 Aavegotchis inside the portal. But when you choose to access the portal, the 10 are randomized, and you end up with one final Aavegotchi. (The remaining 9 are burned.)

Once you’ve got an Aavegotchi, you can treat them just like you would a Tamagotchi—but with a twist. The main aim of the game is to produce the rarest Aavegotchi you can. You can do so by upgrading its traits over time, something that’s come to be known as rarity farming.

There are several ways to increase rarity. You can increase your Aavegotchi’s rarity by petting them (thereby increasing kinship). You can also clothe them, feed them, and even rename them. In other words, you can make your Aavegotchi truly your own.

You can also stake your GHST tokens in exchange for FREN tokens. FREN are non-purchasable tokens that can be used for raffles and drops. Aavegotchi also offers two types of mini-games:

1. Community-run mini-games

2. Mini-games designed by the team (yet to be released)

The most anticipated release from the team is the Gotchiverse. It’s a pixelated metaverse where players will be able to roam freely, farming, fighting, and going on «Aadventures» with frens!

The Parallel

The Parallel features many games within a game, starting with The Rune Hunter Series. This three-part game series features three unique games to introduce the metaverse’s storyline and its play-to-earn mechanisms. Ascension is another game that’s inspired by Netflix’s Squid Game and features 10 players who have to undergo a deadly obstacle course, facing up against Huge the Giant and escaping hidden traps.

Dogami

A game featuring an entire “Petaverse,” Dogami lets players adopt a virtual pet or Dogami and nurture it into adulthood to unlock its full potential. Players can train their Dogami, customize it, and build unique traits. These Dogami NFTs come in over 300 different breeds, each with unique traits of their own–just like real-life dogs. They have four different levels of rarity–bronze, silver, gold, and diamond–which determine their value in the marketplace.

Players can compete in challenges and earn DOGA tokens, the local currency of the Petaverse. DOGA tokens can be used for buying clothes for your digital wardrobe, breeding your Dogami, purchasing consumables, and booking event tickets. The first generation of Dogami was released on February 22, 2022, and has since been sold out.

The Walking Dead

When players own land in this game, they earn more rewards when there’s a lot of activity within their territory–whether it’s buying and selling or fighting and killing. This means players will have to build a strong base that will attract survivors, rivals, and walkers alike. You can invite other players to settle on your land, which you can develop together for survival.

Splinterlands

Like Gods Unchained, Splinterlands is an NFT card game that allows players to earn as they play and has similar gameplay. The main difference is that you have to buy your own card pack to start playing. Each card has a different stat, mana cost, level, experience, ability, and Splinter/rarity. You can find cards that allow you to restore health, do double damage, reduce speed, and more.

Players can trade their cards with anyone or rent them out to other players. They can also combine different cards to gain levels or even convert cards to crypto. Splinterlands cards are also compatible with third-party marketplace platforms such as Monster Market, PeakMonsters, and Open Sea so you can sell on multiple platforms.

On Splinterlands, you have the opportunity to win rewards by participating in tournaments and ranked play. Players can also go on quests to earn these rewards, which may be magic potions, card packs, collectible cards, and Dark Energy Crystals. Crystals serve as a digital currency that can be traded or used for making purchases in the shop.

Ember Sword

Genre: MMORPG
Ecosystem: Immutable X
Launch: 2022 (pre-alpha)
Token(s): Ember
Cost to start: Free
Play this if: You enjoy choose-your-own-adventure, isometric RPGs similar to Runescape or Ragnarok

Ember Sword is an upcoming free-to-play MMORPG that takes place in the eponymous digital world housing the four nations of Solarwood, Duskeron, Edison, and Sevrend. The gameplay is reminiscent of 90’s internet sensation, Runescape. Players will be able to roam freely around the world to hunt down monsters, bosses, and rival players to level up. For players who prefer to ply their trade as master craftsmen or merchants, you can opt to explore the world in search of goods and rares to create unique, tradable NFT items.

The game has an ERC-20 token called Ember, which can be used to acquire land, collectibles, subscription plans and more. Despite this, the team has emphasized the absence of pay-to-win elements in Ember Sword, and that any such purchases will not confer undue advantages to their buyers.

How do NFT Games Work?

Here’s how NFT games generally work. Many of them work just like traditional games do. But some of them require you to make in-game purchases of NFTs before playing. Others let you purchase in-game NFTs as digital assets during gameplay. You can also win NFTs, and these NFTs can also be in-game purchases or bought on a secondary market for NFTs.

You can use these digital assets in the game to earn tokens, which can be used later to exchange for fiat money. To take profits, you’ll want to use an NFT marketplace like Opensea or put your NFTs up for auction at an NFT auction house. This, in essence, is how NFT games work.

Advantages of Playing NFT Games

When compared to conventional gaming consoles, NFT games offer a full wealth of advantages and benefits.

We explore this in more detail in the sections below:

Suitable for All Budgets

First and foremost, NFT games are designed in such a way that people from all walks of life can gain access. At one end of the spectrum, players on a budget can often play their chosen NFT game without actually spending or risking any money.

On the contrary, there are many free play to earn crypto games for 2022 — and even more lined up for 2023. And, the more time dedicated to the game, the more rewards the player can earn.

In contrast, there will also be players that are happy to allocate money to their chosen play to earn game.

For example, the player might wish to give themselves the best chance possible of progressing through the game by purchasing a weapon upgrade, which is backed by an NFT.

In-Game Cryptocurrencies

NFT games feature cryptocurrencies native to the project. In-game cryptocurrencies are typically utilized to reward players. For example, when engaging with the Tamadoge game, players are rewarded with TAMA when winning battles.

However, non-gamers can also purchase these in-game cryptocurrencies and gain direct exposure to the popularity of the game.

This is one of the core reasons why digital tokens associated with play to earn games are attractive for both players and crypto investors.

Future Growth Potential is Huge

It goes without saying that the future growth potential of the NFT gaming space is significant. From an investment perspective, the underlying crypto asset that backs the NFT game will have real-world value. Its value will be determined by demand and supply.

As such, the value of the play to earn cryptocurrency could increase as the project becomes more popular. For example, those investing in MANA — which backs the Decentraland metaverse, have witnessed gains of over 20,000% since it was launched.

Axie Infinity has performed even better, with peak gains of over 100,000%. This is why new cryptocurrency projects in the NFT gaming space — such as Tamadoge and Battle Infinity, are increasingly becoming popular with value investors.

Immutability

When a conventional video game shuts down, players will typically lose any privileges associated with in-game purchases.

And there is even a chance that the absence of the game might make the NFT question more attractive in the secondary market — which could drive up demand.

What’s more, new games can also be designed that could integrate the existing NFTs. Ultimately, the possibilities of NFT gaming ecosystems are endless.

Upcoming New NFT Games — New NFT Games List

As noted above, there are many popular play to earn games already available in this market.

However, the NFT space is constantly evolving, and as such, developers are coming up with innovative ways to make play to earn games more entertaining and immersive than ever before.

Given this thesis, it could be smart to keep an eye out for upcoming NFT games.

The three new NFT games listed below could be of interest to those in the market for up-and-coming P2E projects:

To reduce the risks of investing in new NFT games, investors might consider diversifying.

Can You Play NFT Games on iPhone and Android?

Mobile gaming is now a huge, multi-billion dollar industry that is expected to grow year on year. As a result, many players will specifically seek mobile NFT games as well as the best NFT apps.

With that being said, many NFT games in this space currently only offer access to the platform online, via a standard web browser.

Nonetheless, some of the best new NFT games discussed on this page are building a mobile app for both iOS and Android, so expect more releases in the coming months.

Tamadoge, for example, is building an app that will not only enable players to access play to earn games, but immersive experiences through augmented reality.

How to Play NFT Games

The requirements for playing NFT games change from one project to another. While some games can be accessed for free, others require players to purchase either an NFT or its native crypto asset to get started.

Below, we take a closer look at how players can get started with RobotEra, one of the most anticipated NFT games of this year.

Create Crypto Wallet

After creating a crypto wallet, the next step is to buy either USDT or ETH. The RobotEra presale supports both assets, but it’s worth noting that ETH will be required for gas fees. Most regulated brokers like eToro offer both USDT and ETH.

Connect Wallet and Buy TARO

Lastly, head over to the RobotEra presale website and connect a crypto wallet. After that, press the ‘buy TARO’ button, decide how many tokens to buy (1000 minimum), and confirm the purchase. After the presale, tokens will began to unlock at a rate of 10% per month.

Defi Kingdoms

Genre: GameFi
Ecosystem: Harmony 
Launch: Aug 2021
Token(s): JEWEL
Cost to start: —
Play this if: You like DeFi, or have been itching to try it out in a simple manner
Guide: How to Play DeFi Kingdoms and Earn JEWEL Tokens

A little tongue in cheek up there but the essence of it is true — you can think of Defi Kingdoms as an ecosystem of DeFi protocols cloaked in the skin of a 16-bit adventure game. As with other Defi protocols, the cost to start is essentially the amount you are willing to invest, and thus can vary hugely from individual to individual.

But the real game begins when you land yourself a Hero from Agent Selina (i.e. secondary marketplace for Hero NFTs). These are characters that can work in multiple professions (i.e. miner, gardener, forager, fisher) for rewards, embark on Adventure and Profession quests, and eventually battle each other or other enemies in future updates. For instance, mining will earn your Hero Mining profession experience points, which should increase your loot as well as your stamina. There are also many other NPCs you can meet in-game, such as Merchant Matoya (ONE-JEWEL swap), Vendor Zaya (NFT item shop), Banker Ian (JEWEL staking), Druid Lisa (Hero minting) and more.

If you have not used any DeFi protocols due to the steep learning curve, Defi Kingdoms might just be the perfect entry point for you. Even for DeFi veterans, DeFi Kingdoms is a gorgeous game that offers a unique gamification of what is usually a dull, mercenarial affair.

Star Atlas

Star Atlas is a strategic space exploration game, where players fly their state-of-the-art spaceship across space and build their fortune by setting up mining facilities. You can explore mining towns, which are resource-rich areas that serve as a hub of economic activity, and buy or sell your resources in the marketplace. The goal is to earn POLIS, the Star Atlas governance token, which gives you a say in the rules and fate of the metaverse.

Which NFT Game Will You Play?

As you can see, there are tons of options when it comes to NFT games and there’s something for everyone–whether you enjoy building stuff like on Minecraft or you like to hunt and capture unusual monsters like in Pokemon. Additionally, while many of the games we’ve listed above are already well-established, others are due to be fully released within 2022. So check out all of the options you have and find the one that best suits your gaming preferences.

In this NFT Metaverse, players can go on missions and discover NFTs, which can then be used for mining Trilium or for fighting battles and going on missions. NFTs come in different levels of rarity and shininess, which determine their value in the game.

Closing Thoughts

The primary motivation for players to join a game isn’t to earn money. It’s to have fun, to immerse yourself in another world, to be a hero. A game must first be fun to play, and if it makes sense after, it can incorporate NFT elements to raise the stakes. Long gone should be the days where we launch half-baked games with the promise of future playability.

Can we really blame traditional gamers for being skeptical about NFTs? After all, the traditional video game industry has jaded them with blatant cash grabs. (Looking at you, EA.) Even smaller game developers loyal to their audiences have been sidelined.

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Valerio Puggioni

Genre: CCG
Ecosystem: Cards are on Ethereum, TBC on gameplay
Launch: TBC
Token(s): PRIME
Cost to start: A complete deck (40 cards)
Play this if: You are an avid card-collector with an intense passion for CCG like Magic The Gathering or Hearthstone

Parallel is a true sci-fi NFT card collection game (CCG), granting players ownership of their cards and all in-game assets. A natural parallel (forgive the pun) would be classic card games like Magic The Gathering, where players have the freedom to assemble based on preferred strategies.

As expected, there are Holo Charizard-equivalents in Parallel in the form of Legendary and Prime cards, as well as cards of lesser rarities (Common, Uncommon, Rare). On top of these, there are also Special Edition (SE), Perfect Loop (PL), and Masterpiece cards, each with its own unique perks and advantages. Masterpiece cards for instance are the Holy Grail of Parallel, where each holder of the card is entitled to receive 10% of the royalty income from every sale of the same card type.

It’s obvious that Parallel is one of the most ambitious games on the list. Although there isn’t an official release date yet, there are rumors brewing that they are slated for 2022. Let’s hope that it will only come sooner rather than later.

Frontier

Genre: PvP Strategy / MOBA
Ecosystem: NFTs are on Ethereum, gameplay TBC
Launch: 2022
Token(s): DATA
Cost to start: Free
Play this if: You enjoy outwitting and outplaying opponents in competitive games such as XCOM

What sets Frontier apart is its polished artwork which has produced some stunning aesthetics in its line of NFTs, especially the Watchers which are essentially character skins. If all these translate well into gameplay, we’ll be getting one sleek-looking, AAA standard play-to-earn game.

Oh and that gaming industry giant that decided to swing in as a key investor? Ubisoft.

With The Sandbox, players or creators can monetize the GAMES they create and market the ASSETS they design. They can also earn rewards by playing GAMES within the platform.

The platform’s utility token is called SAND, which can be used for buying in-game items on the marketplace. Players can also buy a piece of digital real estate in The Sandbox metaverse called LAND and populate it with games and ASSETS to build unique experiences. The metaverse is made up of 166,464 LANDS, which players can use for hosting games, building housing, or developing multiplayer experiences.

Genre: RPG + Auto-battler
Ecosystem: Immutable X
Launch: Q1 2022 (Beta)
Token(s): ILV
Cost to start: TBC
Play this if: Both Pokemon Arceus and Teamfight Tactics tickle your fancy, and you’re curious to see how a fusion of these will turn out

Also much like Pokemon, Illuvials can come in many different classes and affinities, each with its own strengths and weaknesses that players can strategize around in the Arena. In addition to the main game, there is also Illuvium:Zero, a building game that adds a land component to Illuvium, allowing players to farm resources on their land to build their own industrial complex.

What is an NFT Game?

Meaning, when engaging with NFT games, players can own accessories or tools, such as avatars, weapons, characters, and even virtual land in the metaverse. Due to the nature of non-fungible tokens, each asset will be distinguishable and tamper-proof.

Furthermore, NFT-backed gaming ownership means that players can buy, sell, and trade their earned items. This is in stark contrast to how traditional gaming titles work.

For instance, while the likes of Call of Duty and FIFA enable players to purchase in-game assets, nothing is actually owned by the player. Most importantly, NFT games allow players to earn real-world rewards, paid in the native digital currency of the project.

For example, playing the Tamadoge NFT game enables players to win TAMA tokens. Consider that TAMA trades on one of the world’s largest exchanges — OKX. As a result, players can sell their TAMA tokens for USDT, and then cash out from OKX with fiat money.

Buy Tamadoge on OKX CEX

Buy Tamadoge on OKX DEX

Nyan Heroes

Genre: Third Person Shooter
Ecosystem: Solana
Launch: 2022
Token(s): CTNP (utility), NYN (governance)
Cost to start: Free
Play this if: You like the idea of cosplaying as a cat piloting Gundam robots in Overwatch

Nyan Heroes is an ambitious NFT project that tackles a game genre that demands absolute precision and flawless feedback — shooter. Like Overwatch and Counter Strike, Nyan Heroes will be a skill-based game that rewards the most dextrous players, allowing them to directly monetize their superior skills in this upcoming play-to-earn game. In Nyan Heroes, free players will still be able to progress in the game and even have their chance of minting a Guardian NFT later on (i.e. Nyan Heroes Gundam), but their CTNP earnings will be less than those who bought and own Genesis Guardians.

Nyan Heroes is more of a shooter stylized with certain RPG elements, more similar to Overwatch rather than Counter Strike. Players will have access to a variety of Guardian classes that fit different playstyles, including Assassins, Medics, Brawlers and more. Land in Nekovia is also subdivided into different parcels — they essentially function like real estate in real life where players can own to set up a Nyan Heroes Guild. If you prefer to fly solo instead, there would still be chances for you to lend your skills as a mercenary to Guilds struggling with certain challenges or missions.

Quintessential to Nyan Heroes is of course cats! On top of building a competitive PVP, P2E NFT game, they are also aiming to save 1 billion of sheltered cats from euthanization in the United States. If all of these sound appealing to you, definitely give Nyan Heroes a try!

The Best NFT Games to Play Right Now

Our research found that the best NFT games available in the market today are those listed below:

Some of our readers might be completely new to the NFT space. If this is the case, we suggest starting off with our beginner’s guide to NFTs.

MixMob

Genre: Strategy Card Game
Ecosystem: Solana
Launch: Apr 2022
Token(s): MXM
Cost to start: 1 Mask (2.4 SOL)
Play this if: A Harajuku-style metaverse filled with various games including a Clash Royale x Mario Kart game appeals to you

MixMob is not just a game — it’s a dystopian metaverse inspired by urban Japanese fashion suffused with vibrant neon colors. It’s also home to multiple simulations and games to cater to its hosts of denizens. To play, players must acquire a MixMob mask, an important disguise needed to traverse The Surface, the dominion of Big Brother-like master A.I., codenamed A-1. The goal? To free the people enslaved and regain the culture that A-1 deleted.

Initially, MixMob will start small as a strategy card game, with various modes such as racing, mining, and looting in the pipeline, before blossoming into a full-blown Fortnite-style universe. MixMob: Uprising, which is a unique card battle game that can only be described as Mario Kart meets Clash Royale, is the first game scheduled to be released in April this year. MixMob boasts an impressive lineup of partners, with household crypto names such as Arthur Hayes, Alex Svanevik and the Lau brothers gracing the list. Time will tell if the game can meet its lofty ambitions but if the team is of any indication, it will be in good hands.

And that’s it for ANOTHER 10 NFT games to play in 2022. Most of these are still not live yet, but should progressively become available throughout 2022. If you haven’t already, check out Part 1 of this mini series which features 10 other games you can jump into this year.

Dillon Yap

Dillon is an Operations Associate at CoinGecko with a weakness for 3-digit APYs. As an ex-consultant, he now finds joy in laughing at consulting memes unironically.

Big Time

Genre: Multiplayer Action RPG
Ecosystem: TBC
Launch: 2022
Token(s): Big Time Token
Cost to start: Free
Play this if: Controlling a time-traveling Kratos with your friends sounds like a good way to spend your time

Although it’s free-to-play, Big Time does require players to hold SPACE, a virtual land NFT, in order to earn its token, aptly named Big Time Token for now. Perhaps one of the most compelling features of Big Time is its team, which is composed of all-star video game veterans hailing from Epic Games, Blizzard, EA, Riot Games and more. Needless to say, these are battle-proven heavyweights capable of delivering a high-quality game, which is one of the main reasons why Big Time is often touted as the game to watch within the play-to-earn section. If its name is of any indication, the release of the game should be quite the event to watch for.

Phantom Galaxies

Genre: Action RPG
Ecosystem: Polygon + Multichain
Launch: Dec 2021 (Early Alpha)
Token(s): TBC
Cost to start: Starfighter + Avatar NFTs
Play this if: Guns and cats are not your thing, but Transformers are

Another mechanized robot game! But this time, you’ll be piloting Starfighters that are capable of transforming into starship mode or classic mecha robot mode. Your moment-to-moment decision to use either mode will be a core component of Phantom Galaxies’ gameplay. To start out, each player will need to purchase a Starfighter and an Avatar NFT.

Decking out your ride, which in this case is a sleek mechanized humanoid robot, will also have large implications for your playstyle. Frame choice, weapon loadouts, crafting, and skill point assignment are all key decisions when strategizing for combat scenarios. If that’s not already badass enough, lands in Phantom Galaxies aren’t a meager plot of land tucked in the corner of an expansive world. No, these are planets in their entirety, which are incidentally the only way for you to acquire their unnamed governance token.

Unlike Nyan Heroes above, Phantom Galaxies is more of an ARPG instead of a shooter, introducing an open universe filled with a variety of planets for the player to explore and challenge. From what has been revealed, Phantom Galaxies looks poised to be a fast-paced, battle-focus sci-fi ARPG armed with gorgeous graphics and stunning effects.

Top NFT Games Reviewed

Although there are tons of NFT video games in the market, some platforms stand out from the crowd — with unique features, excellent experience, and thriving community support.

RobotEra (TARO) is an NFT game that allows players to build experiences within a Metaverse world using a vast array of specially designed tools. Within the RobotEra metaverse, players can interact with one another and play games, fostering a strong community. With RobotEra’s native TARO token recently released as a presale, it’s a great time to check out the project.

RobotEra’s various in-game assets take the form of NFTs in order to ensure uniqueness and facilitate easy trading. Both virtual plots of land known as continents and customizable robot companions take the form of NFTs. As a result, players can customize build or customize a continent/companion before selling it to earn a profit.

In order to attain land, a player must acquire a robot NFT avatar. After doing so, they will either be airdropped land or be able to purchase it through the in-built NFT marketplace.

A player is able to explore land in the RobotEra metaverse to search for resources that can be mined to build the aforementioned robot companion using the robot companion workbench. Furthermore, players can utilize the in-game creator tools to build palaces, play-to-earn games, and everything in between.

Below, we’ve included a video created by prominent figure Jacob Crypto Bury that details more information about RobotEra.

The project’s native ERC-20 token, TARO was designed to act as a form of governance, allowing holders to vote on decisions regarding the future of RobotEra. On top of this, the TARO token can be staked in-game, allowing holders to earn passive crypto rewards while playing the best NFT game.

TARO is currently available in a multi-stage crypto presale with tokens selling for just $0.020. However, this price is expected to jump up to $0.025 during the second stage, before hitting $0.032 during the third.

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Tamadoge — Meme Coin NFT Game with P2E Elements

Tamadoge is an upcoming NFT game that takes inspiration from the Doge ecosystem. This crypto game is being created as part of the metaverse, where players can breed and train their Tamadoge pets.

Players can also battle their Tamadoge NFTs with the view of topping the game’s leaderboard each month — which will unlock additional rewards. Over time, the features of this game will expand to include augmented reality experiences, allowing players to interact with each other in the metaverse.

That being said, Tamadoge hasn’t launched its game yet. The project has, however, released its native digital token — TAMA, which happened to be one of the best crypto presales this year, raising over $19 million. TAMA tokens function as the transactional coin of the Tamadoge ecosystem.

In the next phase, Tamadoge will launch its first limited collection of NFTs. The collection will feature 21,100 NFTs, which will be split into three categories — ultra-rare, rare, and common. Each NFT will have its own unique traits and abilities that help players climb the leaderboard of the Tamadoge game.

Investors and players can get more information about Tamadoge NFTs and the incoming gaming network via the project’s Telegram channel. Nonetheless, Tamadoge has all of the required hallmarks to become the overall best NFT game in this space.

You can now buy Tamadoge Ultra Rare NFTs on Opensea.

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Silks — A P2E Game with One of the Most Innovative Ideas

Different people will have an idea of what the best NFT game is, but whatever those are, they always have unique ideas. One such NFT game is Silks, which is centered around the world of thoroughbred horse racing.

Right off the bat, the key feature to mention here is that Silks mirrors the real-world events of horse racing. If a horse wins in the real world, it reflects in the game and can earn players rewards.

The game itself offers many ways to earn — letting you buy, trade, breed, and race thoroughbred racehorses — and the rewards come in the form of NFTs. But to get involved in Silks, you’ll need a Silks Avatar, which is the digital equivalent of a jockey. They come in different traits and rarities, and there are a total of 10,000.

Silks Avatars are essential because the NFTs are currently selling, with over 65% sold. It might not last long as Silks has become very popular with the crypto community, even reaching the top 10 sports NFTs on OpenSea. It’s not surprising given the benefits of owning a Silks Avatar and the features in the game.

There are many more NFT collections — Horses, Stables, and Land. All of these have critical roles to play in the game’s mechanics. If you prefer a less time-intensive approach, consider staking in the Community Horse Farms. This gives you NFT rewards that you can earn passively.

The world of NFTs is getting much more interesting with Silks. It has the potential to show other projects and existing brands the potential of the metaverse. Regardless, the rewards and multiple NFT collections make it worth viewing.

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Battle Infinity — Play Fantasy Sports in the Metaverse

The platform’s major attraction is the IBAT Premier League, which allows gamers to create a ‘dream team’ of players from a particular sport. However, to gain access to the IBAT Premier League, players will need to buy an NFT pass.

Then, players will get a budget to build their own virtual team. As players win games, NFT passes can be whitelisted and subsequently traded on secondary marketplaces. Battle Infinity offers rewards in the form of IBAT — its native digital token.

Like Tamadoge, Battle Infinity also had a successful presale, achieving its 16,500 BNB hard cap target in just 24 days. In fact, the platform had scheduled the presale to last for 90 days.

Those who missed the presale can buy Battle Infinity via the decentralized crypto exchange PancakeSwap. Apart from the Premier League, Battle Infinity will also release other play-to-earn games that can be played using NFTs.

Furthermore, the platform plans to launch an in-built decentralized exchange and an NFT marketplace. Investors can also purchase IBAT tokens and earn rewards by staking their tokens — which offers passive income.

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Lucky Block — NFT-Based Competitions and Prize Draws

The prizes vary from one competition to another, but players can expect substantial rewards such as holiday packages, a $1 million house, or even a Lamborghini.

Axie Infinity — Pokemon-Inspired NFT Game

With Axie Infinity, players breed and collect NFT-based pets called Axies. The main purpose is to battle Axies against digital pets owned by other players. Upon winning games, players can earn Smooth Love Potion (SLP), the game’s native token that doubles as a functional cryptocurrency.

Each Axie NFT has its own genetic imprint — with strengths and weaknesses that are passed down to their offspring.  And, of course, Axies can be traded on NFT marketplaces, and the price will depend on their rarity and core traits.

However, to start playing Axie Infinity, gamers will have to purchase three Axies. The NFT game also has a governance token, Axis Infinity Shards (AXS), which can be staked to earn rewards.

In fact, investors not interested in Axie Infinity’s play to earn games can simply buy AXS tokens instead — to gain exposure to this project. The AXS token can be purchased from popular cryptocurrency exchanges such as eToro using a debit/credit card with low fees.

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Decentraland — Buy and Sell Virtual Land

Decentraland is a virtual reality platform that allows players to build a 3D world in the metaverse. Land in Decentraland are available to purchase via an NFT. Once players buy a plot of land, they can develop it by building real estate, adding vegetation, farming on it, and more.

To get started with Decentraland, players need to buy MANA tokens. This digital token is available to buy at eToro from just $10. MANA tokens can be used to purchase Land NFTs and other in-world digital goods and services.

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PirateXPirate — Earn PXP Tokens in a Pirate Metaverse

Next up on our list of the best NFT games is PirateXPirate. This is a brand new play-to-earn game that was founded in mid-2022. The PirateXPirate team is behind one of the most successful board games in South East Asia, which illustrates that the project knows how to bring a product to the mass market.

The PirateXPirate ecosystem is based on a pirate-themed game that enables players to earn real-world rewards in the form of PXP tokens. The project — which operates on top of the Binance Smart Chain, offers immersive gaming experiences within a metaverse setting. Although the game is still in its early stages of development, it is already live.

In its current form, PirateXPirate offers a PVP (Player vs Player) system. This means that players will need to enter battles on a peer-to-peer basis, with their chosen ship and crew. NFTs can also be earned within the PirateXPirate ecosystem, which enables players to build bigger and more powerful ships.

As a completely new play to earn games venture, PirateXPirate could be one of the best future cryptocurrency projects to keep an eye on. In fact, this is one of the best low-cap cryptocurrencies in the play to earn gaming space, with a valuation of under $1 million. As a result, the upside potential of this project could interest those in the market for the fastest-growing crypto.

The Sandbox — Invest in the Future of P2E and Metaverse Gaming

With that being said, the Sandbox has already attracted some significant interest from public figures. At the forefront of this is Snoop Dogg, who has purchased virtual land within the Sandbox and proceeded to build a mansion. Snoop Dogg is planning to offer immersive virtual music experiences from his virtual mansion, which is in conjunction with an NFT collection.

The Sandbox will not only offer some of the best NFT games in this space, but it also allows third-party developers to create and launch their own titles. Those looking to invest in the future of the Sandbox have two core options. The easiest way is to buy SAND tokens, which back the Sandbox ecosystem.

As per the crypto bear market, SAND is now trading at a huge discount from its prior all-time high. The second option is to buy a virtual plot of land within the Sandbox. Prices will vary considerably, so research is important. For example, land situated close to Snoop Dogg’s mansion trades at a huge premium. This concept is not too dissimilar to conventional real estate markets.

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STEPN — Win Gaming Rewards for Walking and Running

STEPN is one of the top NFT games for those that wish to combine real-world crypto rewards with exercise. In a nutshell, the STEPN ecosystem rewards its players simply for running, jogging, or walking. STEPN is able to track player movements via its app for iOS and Android, in conjunction with GPS.

To get started with this game, players will first need to purchase an NFT. — of which there are four to choose from. This includes a walker, jogger, runner, and trainer. The chosen NFT should align with the type of exercise that will be carried out. Next, players can enhance their earning potential by purchasing a sneaker NFT. The better the sneaker, the higher the multiplier.

Then it’s just a case of opening the app and earning crypto tokens by moving. This play-to-move concept is likely to become a lot more popular in the coming years. With that said, as of writing, STEPN carries a market capitalization of just $375 million as per CoinMarketCap. As such, STEPN could be one of the best long-term cryptocurrencies to buy for the future.