Top 10 Play-to-Earn NFT Games for Earning

NFT Gaming: New Business Opportunities

In traditional gaming, players purchased in-game items through microtransactions to enhance their experience. However, these items were only usable within the game and held no real-world value. Even fully priced games often included microtransactions for character and weapon customization, and these monetization models have generated significant revenue over the past several years.

Non–free-to-play games typically issue in-game currencies for monetization. A prime example is Roblox, which has tens of millions of daily users and features an economy where only Robux is used for all financial transactions in-game.

The advent of NFT games has dramatically reshaped game economies. Within NFT games, in-game items are issued as NFTs (non-fungible tokens), empowering players to own, trade, and exchange these assets. The NFT game economy is primarily comprised of two elements:

• NFTs:
  • In-game items issued as NFTs
  • Players can own, trade, and exchange NFTs
  • Rare NFTs can command high prices in secondary markets
• In-game tokens:
  • Used as the game's currency
  • For item purchases, earning rewards, etc.
  • Support mechanisms that contribute to game operations and development

Unlike legacy games, NFT games allow players to become true stakeholders, contributing to the in-game economy and potentially earning financial rewards. This new model is driving innovation across the gaming sector.

Play-to-Earn and Tap-to-Earn Models

“Play-to-Earn” and “Tap-to-Earn” are gaining attention as new earning models driven by blockchain and NFT technology. These have been incorporated into NFT and blockchain games, fueling new economic ecosystems within games.

What Is Play-to-Earn?

Play-to-Earn games enable users to earn cryptocurrency or NFTs through gameplay. With this model, assets like items and characters acquired in-game can be traded as NFTs and exchanged for real-world currency.

• Example: In games such as Axie Infinity, players earn crypto by raising monsters and battling, then sell their NFTs to other players for profit. This means gameplay itself becomes a direct income source.
• Features: Especially in developing countries, Play-to-Earn games serve as real income sources, with increasing numbers of people earning a living through gaming. Entertainment and financial value are closely linked, and Play-to-Earn is now recognized as a new way to work.

What Is Tap-to-Earn?

Tap-to-Earn employs a simpler mechanism—users earn rewards by tapping apps or performing basic actions. For example, Notcoin is a clicker-style game within Telegram, where users tap animated coins to earn cryptocurrency. Notcoin has attracted tens of millions of users in recent years.

• Example: Apps that reward users for completing tasks or performing specific actions to earn crypto are typical. These games are easy to start and require no complex operations.
• Features: The simple mechanics appeal to users with limited gaming time. Since rewards can be earned during commutes or breaks, Tap-to-Earn games attract a broad range of players.

These innovative models are building “earning” ecosystems that go beyond traditional games or apps. The ability to enjoy gaming while earning sets them apart from conventional titles, and continued growth is expected.

How to Earn in NFT Games

NFT games stand out for their potential to let players earn real financial rewards through gameplay. There are three main earning methods:

• NFT Trading: Players can sell NFTs earned in-game on marketplaces for cryptocurrency or fiat. Rare NFTs may fetch premium prices, with values fluctuating based on game popularity, demand, and rarity. Limited-edition characters and gear, for example, often trade at high prices among collectors.

• Gameplay Rewards: Players earn tokens and NFTs by clearing daily missions, joining events, or winning PvP (player vs. player) battles. Rewards can be sold on marketplaces, or used in-game to strengthen items or acquire new characters. Consistent play may yield stable income.

• Play-to-Earn (P2E): Some NFT games use a “Play to Earn” model, rewarding players with cryptocurrency for gameplay. Typically, players must purchase NFTs upfront, but earned tokens can be cashed out or used in other games, making play a direct income stream.

NFT games, which allow players to earn while enjoying gameplay, are attracting attention across both the gaming and blockchain industries. However, returns can fluctuate with market and game popularity, so understanding the risks is essential.

Top NFT Game #1: Axie Infinity

Axie Infinity is a Play-to-Earn (P2E) game inspired by digital pet franchises like Pokémon and Tamagotchi. The platform operates on Ethereum, using NFTs to represent specific characters, land, and other in-game assets.

Launched in March 2018, Axie Infinity pioneered NFT gaming. Led by Trung Nguyen, the Vietnam-based Sky Mavis team built an addictive NFT game and introduced an innovative model that many now use as a source of income.

Strategic, skill-based combat is central to Axie Infinity. Players command three Axies—fantastical, round creatures—battling with them. Axies are tradable NFTs, and winning battles earns Smooth Love Potion (SLP), an in-game resource. SLP is a tradable token used to breed and evolve Axies, similar to the mechanics of Pokémon.

Game Economy

Three digital assets drive Axie Infinity’s multi-billion-dollar economy:

• Smooth Love Potion (SLP): The fundamental token for breeding Axies. Players earn SLP by completing battles and missions, then use it to breed new Axies.
• Axie NFTs: The core of economic activity. Axie prices range from tens to hundreds of dollars on the Axie Infinity marketplace, varying widely based on rarity and attributes.
• Axie Infinity (AXS) Token: The blockchain game’s native governance token, also known as Axie Infinity Shard Token.

Players can earn both AXS and SLP by playing, but AXS can also be staked for voting on development proposals and platform fees. Staking, much like depositing in a bank, locks tokens in a liquidity pool, and stakers receive additional AXS—an incentive for supporting the ecosystem.

AXS has a total supply of 270 million tokens, with 21% held by Sky Mavis for fundraising. For Play-to-Earn, 20% of AXS tokens are scheduled for distribution over 4.5 years.

Top NFT Game #2: The Sandbox

The Sandbox is a user-driven metaverse game platform built on blockchain technology. Players can purchase virtual land ("LAND"), develop games, create avatars, sell items, and interact within a vast metaverse of 166,464 LAND plots. LAND ownership enables game creation, avatar placement, asset deployment, and more.

A major feature is the ability to build 3D games with Game Maker tools, even without programming knowledge. The Sandbox is especially attractive for creators.

Key tools and platforms include:

• VoxEdit: A suite for creating voxel objects and minting them as NFTs. Even those without 3D modeling experience can intuitively create unique assets.
• Marketplace: A venue for trading voxelized and tokenized assets. Creators sell their work and earn revenue.
• GameMaker: Build custom games with The Sandbox’s rule set—no coding required, just drag-and-drop.

Metaverse land (LAND) can be purchased with SAND or ETH and traded on NFT marketplaces like OpenSea. Each LAND parcel is recorded on Ethereum as virtual real estate, limited in supply and highly valued. As metaverse demand grows, prices may rise.

Game Economy

"SAND" is The Sandbox’s native token. The Sandbox uses SAND as the foundation for all transactions in its metaverse.

SAND serves as the governance token and is used for:

• Purchasing in-game items and avatars: Used to buy items and avatars in the marketplace, including limited and rare avatars.
• Buying LAND: LAND is purchased with SAND. Prices depend on location and development status.
• Game creation: Premium Game Maker features require SAND. Advanced tools enable complex, engaging games.
• Governance: Participate in proposals and votes for platform operations. SAND holders influence future direction.
• Staking: Deposit SAND to earn rewards and support platform security and stability.

SAND is required for all types of transactions—gameplay, avatar changes, land purchases, asset trades—so users must own SAND to participate.

Top NFT Game #3: Gas Hero

Gas Hero is a social & strategy game developed by Find Satoshi Labs on the Polygon chain. Players control special characters called Gas Heroes, battling AI enemies in a post-apocalyptic world. The game features community-driven elements, allowing players to strategize, develop heroes, and compete against one another.

New players receive four free Gas Heroes to construct bases and join battles. Players can collect more heroes and fight AI or other players. Successful missions drop various items, which can be traded in the marketplace. Each hero has set rarity and lifespan, with a “death” system to maintain economic balance.

Game Economy

Uses of GMT Token

• Native in-game token: GMT is the main currency for all Gas Hero economic activity.
• Applications:
  • Purchasing in-game items: Weapons, armor, consumables, etc.
  • Boosting Gas Heroes: Temporarily or permanently enhance hero abilities.
• Exchange trading: GMT is tradable on major exchanges, holding value outside the game. Players can cash out GMT earned in-game.
• Leadership rewards: Players elected as leaders in organizations receive a share of tax revenue in GMT, incentivizing community leadership.

Players use Gas Hero NFTs for PvP and PvE battles, strategically strengthening heroes. In-game organizational leadership and reward systems further motivate players.

Top NFT Game #4: Decentraland

Decentraland is a web-based 3D virtual world platform running on Ethereum. The first of its kind, Decentraland was founded in 2015 by Ariel Meilich and Esteban Ordano. The initial ICO was held in 2017, with public launch in February 2020.

The platform has hosted notable events, including a Metamask party for tens of millions of active users and a Super Bowl celebration at Miller Lite’s "Dive Bar" in the Metaverse. Celebrities like Ariana Grande, Travis Scott, Marshmello, and Justin Bieber have held successful virtual events on Decentraland, highlighting its entertainment industry impact.

Game Economy

MANA Governance Token is central to all Decentraland economic activity. As the governance token, MANA is used for:

• Buying LAND: LAND is limited and valued as an investment.
• Purchasing items and avatars: Used for buying fashion items, accessories, avatars, and more.
• Governance: Participate in proposals and vote on platform rules and development. MANA holders shape the future of Decentraland.

MANA is used for LAND and item transactions and is widely listed on crypto exchanges, supporting the overall economy.

Decentraland is user-driven, and as its economy matures, MANA’s value may increase. The growing metaverse market will further elevate Decentraland’s significance.

Top NFT Game #5: STEPN

STEPN, released in late 2021, is a “Move-to-Earn (M2E)” blockchain game. Users purchase NFT sneakers in the STEPN mobile app, and their daily walking, running, or jogging is tracked. Upon reaching step goals, users earn GMT or GST crypto tokens. This innovative system—rewarding exercise with tokens—has gained major attention.

STEPN combines gaming and fitness, benefiting from rising health awareness and blockchain adoption. By gamifying daily exercise, STEPN motivates users and has been recognized for its unique mechanics.

Game Economy

STEPN’s economy centers on two tokens: GST and GMT.

• GST: The in-game currency used for sneaker repair, leveling up, and renting. Consumed during regular gameplay.
• GMT: The governance token for staking, governance, and minting new NFT sneakers. Important for long-term investment and platform management.

By purchasing NFT sneakers and accumulating steps, users earn GST and GMT. These tokens can be traded or spent to upgrade sneakers in-game.

Players can also lend their NFT sneakers for GST rewards or trade sneakers in the marketplace for GST and GMT. Rare sneakers often sell for high prices, further supporting monetization.

Top NFT Game #6: Illuvium

Illuvium is a rapidly growing NFT game, combining blockchain with RPG gameplay and DeFi. Players explore a fantasy world, encountering, capturing, training, and battling creatures called Illuvials.

Players collect monsters through exploration, battling other players and NPCs. Captured monsters are managed as NFTs, enabling collection and trading. Illuvium is known for high-quality graphics and strategic gameplay, earning praise from RPG enthusiasts.

Game Economy

Illuvium’s economy centers on ILV and sILV tokens.

• ILV: The governance token for managing the game economy, staking, and purchasing NFTs. ILV holders vote on development and feature additions.
• sILV: The in-game currency for enhancing Illuvials and purchasing items—required for daily gameplay.

Illuvium (ILV) tokens drive the game economy, providing governance, yield farming, and staking—standard DeFi features.

sILV tokens are not locked and are used only for in-game purchases, while staked ILV tokens require a one-year lockup. The dynamic between the two tokens ensures economic stability and high liquidity, benefiting both short-term players and long-term investors.

Top NFT Game #7: Shrapnel

Shrapnel is a AAA first-person shooter developed by Neon Machine in Seattle. Early access launched in recent years, with full release planned. The game is set in a future where an asteroid hits the moon, scattering debris that creates a 500-kilometer-wide “Zone” on Earth. Players join the Mercenary Extraction Force, gathering resources and battling other operators.

Players fight, collect resources, and loot defeated enemies for NFT equipment. Collected resources and loot can be used in future sessions or traded on Shrapnel’s marketplace. Players continuously upgrade equipment for future battles. Beyond combat, users can create vanity items, mint them as NFTs, and trade with others.

Game Economy

About the SHRAP Token

• SHRAP is the game’s official token, issued as an ERC-20 token on the Avalanche C-chain.
• Main uses:
  • Purchasing items and boosts: Weapons, gear, consumables, and character upgrades
  • NFT minting and marketplace trading: Mint user-generated items as NFTs, sell them to others
  • Governance: Players vote on content visibility, enabling community-driven development
• Tradable platforms: SHRAP is listed on multiple crypto exchanges.

Shrapnel blends AAA game quality with Web3, letting players trade in-game items as NFTs. Its high-fidelity graphics and authentic shooter gameplay set new standards in the NFT gaming market.

Top NFT Game #8: Star Atlas

Star Atlas is a next-generation MMORPG featuring cinematic graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5. Players compete across a vast universe, expanding territories among various races and factions.

With third-person shooting, spaceship battles, and fleet warfare, Star Atlas offers diverse gameplay, requiring cooperation, competition, and strategic thinking. Exploration, alliance-building, and planetary development are core MMORPG features.

Star Atlas utilizes NFTs, enabling players to own and trade assets like spaceships and terrain. These digital assets are stored as NFTs, granting true ownership. Ship customization and planetary development foster creativity and engagement.

Game Economy

Star Atlas’s token economy centers on two tokens:

• ATLAS: The primary in-game currency for purchasing items, repairing ships, refueling, staking, and more.
• POLIS: The governance token for voting and proposal rights in the DAO. POLIS holders shape the game’s future direction.

ATLAS is the principal currency for transactions and economic activity, enabling players to trade ships, resources, and other assets.

Players earn tokens through space exploration, resource mining, shipbuilding, and trading. Controlling territory also yields recurring revenue.

Top NFT Game #9: SYMBIOGENESIS

SYMBIOGENESIS is Square Enix’s first NFT game, set on a floating continent inhabited by numerous NFT characters. It blends strategic gameplay with narrative exploration, offering a new entertainment experience.

The project integrates 10,000 unique NFT artworks with gaming features. Characters are released and sold as NFT profile images (PFPs) over six chapters, with new characters and stories added in each chapter. Players experience the story in stages as they progress.

SYMBIOGENESIS goes beyond gaming, emphasizing community interaction and collaborative storytelling. Players cooperate to face powerful enemies and solve mysteries, unraveling the story collectively—a new way to experience games.

Game Economy

SYMBIOGENESIS does not issue its own token. The gameplay centers on unlocking the main story and character narratives, gradually revealing the world’s mysteries.

There are two main modes of play:

1. Progress through the main story and missions to clear all six chapters: Each chapter has multiple missions unlocking new stories upon completion.
2. Clear quests by discovering hidden items on the floating continent: Exploration rewards players for finding special items.

Tapping various locations on the floating continent yields items and clears quests.

Players can obtain items by tapping points of interest on the map, following clues, or purchasing from the NFT marketplace, adapting their play style as they choose.

Top NFT Game #10: Heroes of Mavia

Heroes of Mavia is a multiplayer strategy game developed by Skrice Studios on the Base chain. Players build cities, train armies, wage wars, and compete to create the strongest empire. The game features city-building challenges, requiring players to construct and defend bases to achieve victory.

NFTs in the game include land, decorations, statues, skins, weapons, and building tools. Players build cities, defend against attacks with walls, turrets, and traps, and utilize land resources like gold, oil, and rubies. An NFT marketplace will enable asset trading, and Heroes of Mavia is available on mobile via Apple Store and Google Play Store.

Game Economy

Heroes of Mavia features three core tokens: MAVIA Token, Rubies, and Sapphires.

• Rubies: Earned through gameplay, used for tournament fees and crafting/trading legendary items. Key for advanced players.
• Sapphires: Purchasable with cash, used for speeding up construction, buying additional builders, and boosts.
• MAVIA Token: The only tradable and governance token, giving holders voting power on game improvements. MAVIA is listed on major crypto exchanges.

Heroes of Mavia combines city-building, military competition, NFT asset trading, and governance for a deep and community-focused gaming experience.

NFT Gaming: Future Outlook

Key perspectives on NFT gaming’s future:

• The NFT gaming market is expected to see rapid growth. Market research forecasts it will reach tens of billions of dollars in the coming years.
• NFT games will represent a major share of industry revenue. New monetization models using NFTs are being established alongside traditional models.
• NFT games will become mainstream as new forms of entertainment and education. Learning and engagement with social issues through gameplay are expanding.

NFT gaming also provides new revenue channels for developers and creators. By selling and trading NFTs, developers earn ongoing revenue to sustain development, meaning players, creators, and developers all benefit.

As a new trend in gaming, NFT games will become increasingly accessible with technological advancement. Regulatory progress will lead to safer, more transparent markets, and the outlook for NFT gaming is bright. Blockchain innovation will further enhance the quality of game experiences, attracting more players.

FAQ

What are Play-to-Earn NFT games and how do you earn?

Play-to-Earn NFT games enable players to earn cryptocurrency or NFTs by playing. Players can earn tokens and NFTs through gameplay, then sell them for income. Rewards increase with progress and performance.

How much initial investment is needed to start earning with NFT games?

Most NFT games require a minimum initial investment of ¥5,000–¥20,000 for earning potential. Many games are free to start, but this amount is generally sufficient for serious play.

What are the risks and precautions when earning with NFT games?

Risks include cryptocurrency volatility, game shutdowns or rug pulls, smart contract vulnerabilities, and low market liquidity. Initial investments may be hard to recover, and declining game popularity can reduce rewards.

What are the differences between popular Play-to-Earn games like Axie Infinity, Decentraland, and The Sandbox?

Axie Infinity is focused on pet raising and battles, while Decentraland and The Sandbox revolve around virtual real estate and creator tools. Their gameplay, monetization, and NFT applications differ significantly.

How much can you earn with NFT games? What is the average income?

Earnings vary widely; monthly averages are typically ¥10,000–¥30,000. Actual income depends on investment, playtime, and skill. Higher earnings require more time and capital.

Are NFT game tokens stable in value? How do you convert them to cash?

NFT game tokens are highly volatile and offer limited price stability. Cashing out is usually done by selling NFTs on marketplaces or exchanging tokens via DEXs. Blockchain enables transparent transactions.

Which NFT game is easiest for beginners to earn from?

Project Xeno is beginner-friendly, with accessible earnings through PvP battles and easy onboarding.

What is the future outlook and market trend for NFT games?

The NFT gaming market is projected to reach $260 billion by 2027. Advances in blockchain and improved gameplay will drive rapid market expansion and attract new participants.