Blockchain Gaming: Best Blockchain Networks To Build Web3 Games
October 12, 2022
It's no secret that the gaming industry has a history of introducing innovative elements. Continuous innovation has resulted in the creation of incredibly powerful graphics cards, the emergence of VR, and the creation of interesting gameplay. Now, game developers are beginning to see the benefits of blockchain technology in the gaming industry.
Blockchain blends finance, NFTs, and gaming to provide users with the ability to earn passive income via its play-to-earn (P2E) framework as well as other users, such as investors and creators, via GameFi and NFTs.
The gaming industry's experience has shifted from a pay-to-play and free-to-play model to a play-to-earn model, and now a play-and-earn model with the introduction of blockchain technology
Read more: How To Market Play To Earn Crypto Games in 2022
While any blockchain network that supports smart contracts can be used to create crypto games, some blockchain networks are more efficient than others. In this article, we're going to look at five blockchain protocols for crypto games.
Use of blockchain technology in gaming
Blockchain gaming is now opening up a completely new, largely unexplored gaming economy with real-world implications.
- Interoperability among various games
Players play a wide range of games where they create their profiles, build their characters, and purchase in-game assets. They want their profiles and characters to be interoperable across games, and blockchain gaming can help with this.
- Putting the control of in-game assets back into the hands of gamers
In traditional games, the publisher or developer retains ownership of both the money and the game assets. Players invest real money in digital assets; if the game goes down for any reason, they lose access to those assets forever.
By leveraging blockchain technology, blockchain games change the rules of traditional gaming by emphasizing player value creation. Because of the immutability and dependability of blockchains, every blockchain-based digital in-game item acquired can truly belong to the players. Gamers of blockchain-based game do not have to rely on publishers' or creators' permissions or rules, and any NFTs they own can be freely sold on secondary NFT marketplaces both inside and outside of the blockchain game.
- The use of cryptocurrencies can simplify in-game purchases
By allowing the use of cryptocurrencies to make payments and purchase assets, game developers can simplify the process of purchasing an in-game item. Players will no longer have to wait for third-party payment services to process their fiat currency transactions; instead, they will be able to purchase game collectibles directly if they are available on a cryptocurrency trading platform.
- Secure transactions
Blockchain is a secure, transparent, and immutable technology that prevents double-spending and fraud in transactional data. It gives users more confidence when doing digital transactions. This makes it perfect for blockchain games where users own in-game tokens or digital assets, like a rare NFT-based weapon.
- Earning rewards
By completing tasks and missions, players can be rewarded in cryptocurrencies. In traditional games, players earn and rewards that have no real world value. However, players of a blockchain-based game can exchange the cryptocurrency they earn in-game for real-world goods sold by other players or purchased from online retailers.
- Using NFTs to create characters and in-game assets
NFTs are a method of artificially imposing scarcity on digital goods and creating online exclusivity. Proof-of-ownership has enabled proof-of-ownership to support many areas of commerce, and now they are transforming ownership of in-game items and incentives into assets. The future of in-game economies lies in the creation of NFTs based on in-game items like weapons and cosmetics. Most of these assets are not only useful in-game, but they can also be bought and sold on marketplaces outside of the game.
Read more: 7 Leading NFT Marketplaces
Best blockchain networks for web3 game development
1. Ethereum
Ethereum is a blockchain network run by the Ethereum community that powers the Ethereum cryptocurrency as well as thousands of decentralized applications (DApps). It is also the first blockchain network that enables the development of non-fungible tokens.
Ethereum has been the best choice for a long time for building any kind of DApp, including blockchain games, because it is flexible, secure, and can work with other apps. It also has a large and active community of developers and builders.
There are over a thousand daily users of Ethereum-based blockchain games, and daily transactions in these games total close to one million dollars. Also, after Bitcoin, Ethereum is the second-largest and most-used blockchain platform in the crypto industry.
Popular blockchain games developed using Ethereum: Gods Unchained, Decentraland, Iluvium, Sorare, etc
2. WAX
WAX is an abbreviation for Worldwide Asset eXchange, and it provides free transactions. The Proof-of-Stake network, which debuted in 2019, was initially intended to handle e-commerce payments. However, the Wax has evolved into a vibrant blockchain gaming platform. On Wax's network, gamers can find blockchain-based games that appeal to them. Even during the crypto bear market, several Wax games have seen substantial user growth. Wax's decentralized model can power a dynamic, user-driven gaming experience.
The WAX blockchain powers three of the most popular games on the play-to-earn market. The platform has been chosen as the preferred host by Alien Worlds, Splinterlands, and Farmers World.
Popular blockchain games developed using WAX: Alien Worlds, Splinterlands, Farmers World, etc.
3. BNB Chain
Binance created BNB Chain (previously known as Binance Smart Chain), which is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine and smart contracts with faster transaction speeds and lower gas fees. The BNB Chain has a wonderful ecosystem for DApp development, and the blockchain protocol already has a wide range of blockchain games.
The BNB Chain is becoming one of the most popular networks for the creation of blockchain games. As an established brand in the blockchain industry, BSC is attracting more developers and players.
Popular blockchain games developed using BNB Chain: CryptoBlades, My DeFi Pet, MOBOX: NFT Farmer, etc.
Read more: Ethereum Vs Binance Smart Chain: The Ultimate DApp Marketing Guide
4. Polygon
Polygon has emerged as the go-to platform for building out Ethereum's infrastructure and scalability. Polygon has always been popular amongst developers and users due to the success of their DeFi dapps, which operate on a Layer-2 blockchain in relation to Ethereum. The blockchain protocol began as a network focused on decentralized finance (DeFi) applications like decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
However, in July 2021, the Polygon network began to focus on blockchain gaming with the launch of Polygon Studios and introducing their own gaming ecosystem. Polygon Studios CEO Ryan Wyatt sees Polygon network as the future of blockchain gaming.
With many new players and projects, the Polygon ecosystem continues to grow significantly in the P2E market. Polygon has become a preferred blockchain by blockchain game developers due to its scalable infrastructure, lower gas fees, and faster transaction times. They also collaborated with big gaming studios like EA, Riot Games, and Activision, to name a few.
Popular blockchain games developed using Polygon: The Sandbox, Aavegotchi, ARC8, etc
5. EOS
EOS is a blockchain protocol that supports the development of smart contracts and is fueled by EOS, its native cryptocurrency. Unlike other blockchain networks, EOS is a decentralized operating system that aims to eliminate transaction fees and provide the ability to process millions of transactions per second. Several blockchain game designers have made the switch to the EOS platform because of its faster speeds compared to Ethereum.
The main benefit of incorporating EOS Blockchain into blockchain games is that the decentralized network eliminates transaction fees while increasing transaction speed. A player can purchase tokens on the EOS standard with fiat and store them safely in their wallet.
Popular blockchain games developed using EOS: Blankos Block Party, Upland, Prospectors, etc.
How to Promote Your Blockchain Games
Making a blockchain game is important, but so is promoting the game so that it receives the attention it deserves because it doesn't matter how good the game is if there aren't enough people playing it.
For many blockchain-based game publishers, attracting new players is most difficult when it comes to communicating the game's core concept in a way that is both interesting and informative.
Marketing your blockchain game, on the other hand, does not have to be difficult; with our guide 6 Ways to Market your Blockchain Game to Mainstream Gamers, you can get a step closer to getting the momentum that your game deserves.
If you're looking for a marketing team that knows how to generate the right kind of buzz for your next blockchain game, simply fill out the form below or send us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!
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