The Most Anticipated Crypto and NFT Games
The next wave of NFT-infused games promises to be a dramatic step up from the simplistic, DeFi-driven experiences that defined the initial play-to-earn gaming wave.
Want proof? Just check out the games below. From Illuvium to Shrapnel and Otherside, these games look and feel just like the glossy AAA games that millions of “Web2” gamers love, but with ownable and tradable assets, tokenized economies, and new play mechanics.
We’ve picked 10 of the most exciting-looking games on the horizon, including some we’ve already played in early access, as well as upcoming NFT games from traditional gaming giants. And stay tuned, as we’ll be updating and expanding this list regularly with new entries.
Illuvium
Illuvium is a sci-fi fantasy franchise with four different games in development: Illuvium Arena, Illuvium Overworld, Illuvium Zero, and Illuvium Beyond. It’s shaping up to have a lot of potential across the RPG, autobattler, and card game genres—and the graphics in Overworld are already impressive. We came away impressed after playing Overworld’s open-world beta test.
Overworld’s latest beta took place in June, while Arena offered a private beta in early July. When it comes to crypto elements, Illuvium is building on Immutable X and sells game characters as NFTs, along with loot boxes, and uses the ILV token. Illuvium has its own crypto marketplace called IlluviDex for trading assets and is leaning into crypto integrations.
Deadrop
Deadrop is a sci-fi first-person shooter (FPS) game with battle royale (BR) and extraction elements. It’s in development at Midnight Society, a game studio helmed by YouTuber and game industry veteran Guy “Dr. Disrespect” Beahm and ex-Call of Duty lead Robert Bowling, among others. Deadrop has already made a splash in part due to Dr. Disrespect’s large YouTube following—and gamers appear to be enjoying the gunplay thus far.
In Deadrop, players must ascend to reach an extraction point while eliminating other players along the way. Deadrop has offered early-access “snapshots,” with access going to holders of its Founders Pass NFTs on Polygon as well as players who buy non-NFT tower keys. The next snapshot release is planned for July 2023.
Symbiogenesis
Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest maker Square Enix is bringing its historic role-playing prowess into the Web3 world with Symbiogenesis, a game that’s been described as a strategic narrative experience built around NFTs. It’ll launch on Polygon, an Ethereum scaling network.
Square Enix has spent months teasing out details of the experience, sharing concept art that recalls the vibe of Final Fantasy, as well as glimpses of the profile picture (PFP) NFTs that will be part of the experience. And the dystopian, post-environmental-disaster setting feels in line with the publisher’s strengths. At this point, however, we don’t have a clear sense of how the game itself will look and play—but the prospect of it is still exciting.
