3 blockchain games you should play

Learning on the job

Following up from the Blockchain Gaming 101 post, I thought I’d highlight three blockchain games you should consider playing.

1. Splinterlands

I call Splinterlands ‘My First Blockchain Game’ not because it’s simple - it is; here’s a video of by 7 yo playing it - but because it encapsulates the key elements of what makes a blockchain game.

It’s also a decent game; in this case a trading card game.

Most importantly, you can sign up with an email and password and it’s free-to-play. That makes it one of the simplest blockchain games in terms of onboarding.

In terms of accessing the blockchain elements, you do need to spend $10 to buy the Summoner’s Spellbook but - again - it’s simple. You can use PayPal.

Once you’ve paid this, you will win tiny amounts of the in-game crypto - called Dark Energy Crystals (DEC) - whenever you win a battle. You can also win blockchain-based cards through playing, although it’s much faster to buy them either directly from the marketplace or at a rate of $2 for a pack of 5 cards.

All the cards acquired can either be destroyed (or burned) for their underlying DEC, listed for sale on the marketplace, or used to level up your existing cards.

In this manner, Splinterlands provides an decent education in term of how NFTs and a cryptocurrency can be integrated into a game. It’s also nice in that most cards are very cheap (less than a dollar).

Note: if you’re interested and you buy the Summoner’s Spellbook using this referral link, we will both receive a free cards.

2. Blankos Block Party

A blockchain game that doesn’t mention the word ‘blockchain’, Blankos Block Party is the first game from Mythical Games, a US startup of experienced gaming execs from Activision, Blizzard, Zynga etc.

Currently available as a PC game in open beta, Blankos Block Party mixes user-generated content and simple mini-games, all held together with the appeal of the Blankos characters themselves.

They are the stars of the show, and in blockchain terms, each is an NFTs held on a customised version of the EOS blockchain.

During the open beta, characters are being sold off at $10 a pop and the all-important marketplace for NFT trading is about to go live in May, which is when we’ll learn how much the players actually value them.

As with Splinterlands, Blankos Block Party has frictionless onboarding - again it’s an email and password - and you buy in the in-game Bucks currency with your credit card. (You can use crypto if you like too).

Compared to Splinterlands, however, I think Blankos Block Party has more gaming appeal for a massmarket audience.

• The Blankos characters are super appealing and all created by well-known vinyl toy creators.

• It’s super easy to sign up.

• It uses a blockchain for the things that matter but doesn’t let blockchain make things complex.

• It’s also rumored it will be the first blockchain game to be launched on a game console.

Check it out now via the Blankos Block Party website. The only downside is you will need a PC to play the game.

3. Axie Infinity

Without sounding ridiculously pompous, all I’m going to say about Axie Infinity is that it’s the blockchain game for the blockchain community.

As a game it’s complex and has many issues; not least because it’s using the Ethereum blockchain, which is now much too expensive to use. It’s also not yet F2P.

Many of these issues will be solved as the game’s own Ronin sidechain is rolled out, but it remains a work-in-progress, as does the vision for the overall game, which eventually will become a MMORPGs with strong incentives for involvement.

That stated, Axie Infinity is the OG of blockchain game which over time will likely accrue the rewards -financial and respectful - for this role.

If you want to really dive deep into blockchain games -once you’ve played Splinterlands - Axie Infinity is well worth investigating further, but it is currently a frustrating experience and not one to attempt if you’re in a hurry or are easily discouraged.

Find out more at the Axie Infinity website.