Blockchain games and their biggest mistakes

After failed ideas, poor additions and little adaptation, blockchain games are facing their end.

After failed ideas, bad additions, and little adaptation, blockchain games are heading toward the end. Should the sector reinvent itself?

The disaster year 2022 also pushed the crypto market into a downward slide. While established cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum are barely holding on, NFT, Metaverse and Web3 projects are losing users' trust. The blockchain gaming industry also has an image problem: play-to-earn is not going over well with gamers. Many players prefer innovative, immersive experiences with added value and aren’t interested in earning in-game tokens.

Blockchain Games: This is the problem

Whether it’s Axie Infinity, The Sandbox, or Decentraland — blockchain games drew massive attention just a year ago, and the associated coins made big leaps. Theoretically, the concept offers several advantages. A blockchain combined with non-fungible tokens (NFTs) gives players maximum control over their characters, gear, and even virtual property. Beyond decentralized infrastructure and the ability to earn money, the idea of digital ownership in NFT form cannot be ignored.

An enticing proposition for some gamers. Sit at the computer, play games, keep the won attributes, and earn money at the same time? But if you dive into one of the countless blockchain games, you inevitably realize: they’re not fun. Endless loading times, laggy controls, and yawning boredom massively limit the experience: many games are simply programming trash. The takeaway: the sector must reinvent itself.

Games have to be fun

Huu Dat Nguyen works as a developer on the virtual world Choiverse and confirms this. He also critiques the design of current games and explains:

“If the core of the game is just about earning NFTs and money, they’ll fail like all other coins with no value. But if the game is fun, it will endure. The game must add value to users by rewarding them with more fun, skills, and gameplay. Blockchain connectivity should then serve as an extension.”

Huu Dat Nguyen

While the metaverses of The Sandbox and Decentraland are barely playable and their coins are slowly drifting down, the sports strategy game Sorare is focusing on a real-world connection. The strength of the virtual player cards depends on the performance of the actual athlete.