Gaming has become a bigger part of the blockchain world in recent years, with several platforms promising gamers the chance to enter a web3 experience, but which token and blockchains are best for gamers?
Buying and Playing Games with Crypto
Buying new games with crypto tokens seems like a sensible way to get started, but it’s not as simple as you might imagine as not every company accepts crypto tokens. Steam briefly allowed users to pay with BTC, but this was soon suspended due to fears over volatility and fraud. These days, you can use some cryptos to buy Steam gift cards or to buy game keys from certain third-party sellers but not to buy games directly from this platform. The Epic Store is another place where crypto isn’t yet welcome.
Currently, the Bitpay card for games is a bit like a prepaid credit card and might suit some players who want to use crypto to fund their gaming. However, the lack of ways of paying with BTC and other tokens is surprising. Of course, you could use a game built on the blockchain that uses its own token, and we’ll look at those options in a moment.
Things get easier when you enter online casinos, as these sites let you gamble with a variety of digital money. This site lets us play Bitcoin slot games such as 5 Times Vegas, Sushi Roll, and Willd Heart. Deposits and withdrawals can be made using BTC, so you’re putting crypto in and taking out your winnings in the same way. They also accept tokens like Litecoin, Tether, and Ethereum.
The Immutable X zkEVM Platform
Originally built as a standalone Layer-2 network on Ethereum, Immutable X moved to Polygon CDK to prove a cost-efficient and highly scalable gaming network. Some of the most popular blockchain games can be found here, with Gods Unchained, Ember Sword and Cross the Ages among the notable titles.
There are now more than 380 games on the Immutable platform and the company recently announced that it would be attending the Gamescom 2024 show together with partners Space Nation and Auto Legends. They’ll be showcasing their latest new demos and web3 gaming possibilities on titles like Badmad Robots and The Bornless. As for Auto Legends, this new game is described as the most authentic car enthusiast gaming experience ever made.
The Ronin Network
The Ronin Network is best known among gamers for being the home of the sometimes-controversial Axie Infinity game. This was one of the first blockchain play-to-earn games and remains hugely popular despite it suffering a massive hack and being described by some people as being an uninspiring grinding game. While the gameplay looks relatively simple compared to some newer games, this title was crucial in letting us see how a game could have a sustainable economy built around it.
Sky Mavis is behind this network, and they’ve not been standing still. Newer games like Wild Forest and Pixels are helping to push the Ronin Network forward and build up the vibrant community of gamers. Among the latest news, we can see that Ragnarok: Monster World has been released for mobile devices on a short beta test. It’s an MMORPG that has 167 million downloads and has now entered the blockchain world thanks to the launch on the Ronin Network, where players can earn rewards by playing.
The SKALE Network
This network is regarded as being versatile and multichain, as it’s compatible with the likes of Ethereum, Polygon, and the BNB Chain. With no gas fees for end users, it’s become a popular place for newcomers to explore web3 gaming.
This network reached the landmark of having 17 million users earlier this year and has five million active wallets. CEO Jack O’Holleran recently confirmed it will be getting a huge technical upgrade which will introduce the third version of the network.
Other Networks Worth Knowing About
Arbitrum has been in the news lately as they teamed up with Sequence and Ubisoft labs to create a new web3 game titled Captain Laserhawk: the G.A.M.E. Based on the Netflix series called Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix, this game is set to feature a variety of we–known characters from franchises including Rayman and Assassin’ Creed.
The Solana network is another name that has caused a big impression in the crypto gaming world. The Solana ecosystem offers far more than just gaming potential, but games such as Star Atlas and Genopets have helped to catapult it into the top category, with RPG Aurory among the names to look out for.
Summary
There are more ways to carry out crypto gaming than you might think. As this industry expands and gamers decide to try new technology and ways of playing, you can expect it to become a major part of the gaming world.