Top 7 Most Popular NFT Games

What Are NFT Games?

NFT games are a new generation of games that use blockchain technology to issue in-game items and characters as NFTs (non-fungible tokens), enabling players to truly own and trade these assets. Unlike traditional online games, items obtained aren’t just stored on a company’s server—they’re recorded on the blockchain itself, making them authentic “digital assets.”

The core advantage of blockchain technology lies in its decentralized ledger system. Since all users can access and verify the same transaction history, data tampering and cheating become extremely difficult. This transparency allows players to enjoy games in a fair environment, free from the threat of cheating.

Additionally, items and characters earned in NFT games can potentially be used beyond the original game. Cross-game interoperability and free trading on NFT marketplaces are possible. As a result, players can enjoy a new “Play to Earn” experience, where gaming can generate real-world income.

Key features of NFT games include:

1. Resistance to Fraud and Tampering: Because the decentralized blockchain ledger is visible to all users, fraudulent activity is quickly uncovered. High transparency ensures a fair and trustworthy game environment.

2. True Ownership of Digital Assets: Players hold items and characters as NFTs in their own wallets, independent of the game operator. They can freely buy or sell these assets in other games or on marketplaces.

3. Economic Incentives: Players can sell in-game NFTs for real-world earnings. There are various monetization opportunities, including trading rare items and NFT rentals.

However, some risks exist. Popular games or rare NFTs may require significant upfront investment. You should also consider risks such as crypto price volatility and falling NFT values if a game loses popularity.

Despite these challenges, NFT games offer new opportunities that traditional gaming cannot. Players can build real assets through gameplay and enjoy a secure, cheat-resistant environment—a truly groundbreaking business model.

How NFT Games Differ from Social Games

While both NFT games and social games are played online, they differ fundamentally in their technical infrastructure and business models. Here’s a detailed look at the main differences:

Technical Foundations

NFT games are built on decentralized blockchain technology. In-game items and characters are issued as NFTs and recorded on-chain, giving players real ownership and the freedom to trade assets across platforms and marketplaces.

Social games rely on centralized servers, with all game data managed by the operator. Players only receive “usage rights” for items; actual ownership remains with the company.

Ownership and Trading Freedom

In NFT games, acquired items and characters are considered the player’s assets. They can be freely traded on NFT marketplaces, and even if the game shuts down, the NFTs retain value. Players can use them in other games or as collectibles.

In social games, the operator owns all in-game assets. Players only have usage rights, and if the service ends, items vanish. Trading outside the game is typically prohibited by the terms of service.

Fraud Prevention and Transparency

NFT games leverage blockchain’s public transaction history, making tampering nearly impossible. Fraud or cheating is quickly exposed, preserving a fair environment. Smart contracts ensure automated, transparent transactions.

In social games, data is centrally controlled, so cheating and unauthorized access can be issues. Security depends largely on the operator, and complete prevention is difficult.

Economic Incentives and Revenue Models

In NFT games, players can earn money by selling NFTs gained through gameplay. The “Play to Earn” model offers diverse monetization options, including NFT lending (scholarships) and staking.

Social games are monetized mainly via in-game purchases (like loot boxes and items), with players acting as consumers. In-game assets typically have no economic value or earning potential.

Communication and Cooperative Play

Both types of games offer communication and co-op elements, but social games emphasize social features like SNS integration and friend invites, fostering community and teamwork.

NFT games also provide co-op and guild systems, but economic incentives shift the balance between competition and collaboration.

In summary, NFT games provide new ways to earn and build assets, enabling true digital ownership. Social games, on the other hand, focus on accessibility and social interaction, appealing to a broad range of users.

NFT Game Popularity Rankings

The NFT game market has expanded rapidly in recent years, with many genres emerging. Below are the top 7 NFT games based on our proprietary research.

1. Gas Hero

Developed by Find Satoshi Labs, Gas Hero combines social and strategy elements on the Polygon chain. The story is set in a future where AI threatens humanity’s survival. Players control unique “Gas Heroes” in a battle for mankind’s fate.

New players receive four free heroes, allowing them to start without upfront investment. Players build a base, gather resources, and recruit new Gas Heroes, each with unique skills and abilities—making strategic team composition crucial for success.

Completing missions drops items like weapons, armor, and special gear. These are issued as NFTs and can be sold to other players. Rare items can fetch high prices and are a key income source.

Gas Hero NFTs come in several rarities—Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary. Each hero has a unique “lifespan” system, “dying” after a set period. This feature controls in-game inflation and preserves NFT scarcity.

Players can join organizations (guilds) and collaborate. Leadership elections award a share of the organization’s tax revenue in GMT tokens to the elected leader, making strategy and leadership important.

GMT is the game’s native token, used for NFT purchases and boosts. It trades on major exchanges and can be swapped for fiat or other crypto assets.

2. Heroes of Mavia: Mobile Base-Builder Strategy Game

Heroes of Mavia, by Skrice Studios, is a mobile multiplayer strategy game on the Base chain. In a medieval fantasy setting, players build kingdoms, raise armies, and battle neighboring realms.

The core gameplay blends city building and military tactics. Players construct resource facilities for gold, oil, and rubies, which are used for army training, building upgrades, and defense enhancements.

Players must strategically place walls, turrets, and traps for defense. Offensively, trained armies can raid other cities for resources.

Land, decorations, character skins, weapons, and construction tools are all issued as NFTs. Land NFTs provide special in-game benefits and can be freely traded.

Heroes of Mavia stands out for its mobile accessibility—downloadable from the Apple Store and Google Play Store for full-featured strategy gaming on the go.

The “MAVIA” token serves as the governance token, granting voting rights on the game’s direction. MAVIA is tradable on major crypto exchanges.

There are two in-game currencies: Ruby (earned via play for crafting and trading) and Sapphire (used for boosts and instant construction).

3. SYMBIOGENESIS

SYMBIOGENESIS is a collectible NFT art project and blockchain game from Square Enix. It brings the studio’s renowned artwork and storytelling into the NFT gaming arena.

The first chapter was released on December 23, 2023, with 10,000 character NFTs sold. Each features unique art, story, and abilities. Players use these NFTs to go on adventures and missions in a Polygon-based world.

The game takes place on a mysterious “Floating Continent” with a six-chapter main story. Players unlock characters’ stories through item collection and quest completion, gradually uncovering hidden truths.

Exploration, puzzle-solving, and character development combine in gameplay. Building relationships between characters opens up new stories, and cooperative play lets players share information and solve mysteries together.

Character and item NFTs are tradable on a dedicated marketplace using Polygon (MATIC). Rare or highly advanced characters can trade at premium prices.

Square Enix’s involvement has raised credibility and awareness for NFT games, attracting traditional gamers to the space.

4. Shrapnel: Competitive AAA Extraction FPS

Shrapnel, from Seattle-based Neon Machine, is a next-gen FPS launching in early access in 2024 with a full release set for 2025. It features AAA graphics and deep, competitive gameplay, expanding NFT gaming’s possibilities.

The story unfolds in a near future where an asteroid collision creates a massive “zone” on Earth, rich in resources and contested by mercenaries worldwide.

Players join the Mercenary Extraction Force (MEF), entering dangerous zones to collect resources and escape alive. Other players are competitors, creating intense battles for loot.

The “Extraction” system is a core mechanic: to keep collected gear, players must reach extraction points safely. If defeated en route, they lose their loot, making timing and strategy critical.

Gear, loot, and attachments are issued as NFTs and tradable in-game. The SHRAP token is used for transactions, and players can earn real-world rewards through gameplay.

SHRAP is the game’s native token on Avalanche, functioning as both an incentive and governance token. Holders can vote on development, supporting community-driven management.

Shrapnel bridges traditional and NFT gaming with high-end graphics and authentic FPS gameplay.

5. Phantom of the Kill -Alternative

The Web3 spin-off “Phantom of the Kill -Alternative Imitation-” launched on March 5, 2024, expanding the popular mobile title into the NFT space. This idle/auto-battler uses NFTs to create a novel experience.

The game’s setting features legendary weapons personified as “Kill Princesses.” Players collect, train, and build teams of Kill Princesses, each with unique skills and abilities—making strategic assembly essential.

The idle system is a major feature: battles proceed automatically, and rewards accumulate even offline. This makes it easy for busy players to progress by logging in periodically to claim rewards and level up their Princesses.

Growth systems are robust, with ways to level up, enhance skills, and upgrade equipment. Combining Princesses can create even stronger characters, supporting long-term progression.

Specific Princesses and gear are issued as NFTs and can be traded on marketplaces. Rare or highly developed Princesses can command high prices.

GameFi elements let players earn crypto according to in-game achievements, delivering genuine “Play to Earn.”

Available on iOS and Android, the game runs on Polygon for low transaction fees.

There are two in-game currencies: Oshi Token (OSHI) for activities, and Hime Token (HIME) for special development and NFT trading.

6. Hytopia

Hytopia is a Minecraft-inspired sandbox game built by the Minecraft modder and developer community. It combines classic Minecraft gameplay with blockchain and NFT features.

Technically, Hytopia is compatible with the Minecraft server protocol, making it easy for Minecraft creators and modders to migrate. Scheduled to launch on the Hychain Layer 2 network in 2024, it will support fast, low-cost transactions.

The game is free-to-play. Players can explore, build, and interact in an open world, choosing between creative and survival modes to suit their style.

Special NFTs offer perks like exclusive items and in-game privileges.

Hytopia Avatars—NFTs with custom player models—allow users to express their individuality and are actively traded on the marketplace.

A staking system rewards holders of Hytopia Worlds and Avatars with TOPIA tokens, cosmetics, and gift boxes. Long-term holding yields greater rewards.

TOPIA is the native token, letting creators monetize their builds, skins, and mods. The platform supports a vibrant creator economy for talented builders and designers.

Hytopia merges the fun of Minecraft with blockchain innovation, offering fresh value to both creators and players.

7. Champions Tactics

Champions Tactics is a competitive, turn-based PC RPG in development by Ubisoft. It is Ubisoft’s first NFT game, marking a major traditional publisher’s entry into the space.

The game uses the Oasys blockchain, a Japan-based, gaming-optimized chain that offers fast, low-cost transactions for seamless gameplay.

The core loop involves assembling a team of three Champions and battling other players in tactical, turn-based combat. Each Champion features distinct looks, skills, and stats, making team-building and tactical choices crucial.

The system emphasizes deep strategy—placement, skill timing, and anticipating opponents’ actions are key. Success relies as much on player skill as on stats.

Champions have unique classes (warrior, mage, healer, etc.) and rarities, supporting limitless combinations and counter-strategies.

Set to launch in 2024, the game’s first NFT collection, “Warlords” (9,999 total), is currently on sale. Warlord holders receive:

1. Early access to the game
2. Free minting rights for up to five Champions
3. Access to exclusive items and skins
4. Special community status

Warlord NFTs are available on marketplaces like Opensea, and require ETH (Ethereum) for purchase, which must be acquired in advance.

Ubisoft’s involvement is raising the bar for NFT game quality, helping to bring traditional gamers into the space.

Summary

This article presented the latest NFT game popularity rankings based on proprietary research. NFT games use blockchain technology to issue in-game items and characters as NFTs, allowing players true ownership and trading rights.

Decentralized ledgers make cheating and data tampering difficult, ensuring a transparent and fair environment. In-game items become tradable digital assets that can be used beyond a single game.

The leading games span genres from tactical and strategy titles to casual idle RPGs. Whether facing off against AI in a futuristic setting, building cities and armies, or exploring high-quality RPGs from top publishers, each game has unique appeal.

They share a “Play to Earn” model: selling NFTs earned through gameplay or staking can generate real-world income, blurring the line between gaming and business.

With major publishers like Square Enix and Ubisoft on board, NFT games are seeing higher quality and credibility. Even traditional gamers who were once skeptical are showing interest thanks to improved experiences.

However, some NFT games require upfront investment and are subject to crypto market volatility. Before playing, gather sufficient information and make well-informed, responsible decisions.

NFT gaming is evolving rapidly, with new titles and systems emerging constantly. True digital ownership, transparent environments, and economic rewards make NFT games uniquely attractive compared to traditional titles.

Now is the perfect time to start your adventure in NFT gaming—enjoy new experiences and build digital assets as you play.

FAQ

What are NFT games? How are they different from traditional games?

NFT games use blockchain technology to make in-game items player-owned assets. Unlike traditional games, cheating is impossible, tampering is difficult, transparency is high, and your hard-earned items won’t disappear.

What is the most popular NFT game in 2024?

The most popular NFT game in 2024 is “Axie Infinity.” It is known for letting players earn income in-game, and it maintains high transaction volumes and an active community.

Can you earn money with NFT games? How does it work?

Yes, players can earn income. The Play-to-Earn (P2E) model lets you sell tokens or NFTs earned through gameplay. However, you should pay attention to project reliability and market volatility.

How do you start playing NFT games? What do you need to get started?

Open an account at a crypto exchange and set up a wallet like MetaMask. Then pick an NFT game from the official site and start playing. Beginners should look for games with free entry options.

What are the main risks and precautions for NFT games?

Main risks include hacking due to smart contract vulnerabilities, fraudulent transactions, and rapid changes in NFT or in-game currency prices. Be mindful of regulatory shifts and potential project shutdowns as well.

What are the features of popular NFT games like Axie Infinity, Decentraland, and The Sandbox?

Axie Infinity is a Play to Earn game where you earn by playing. Decentraland is a metaverse where you can buy and sell land and items. The Sandbox tokenizes game assets as NFTs, creating a unique virtual economy. All focus on player asset ownership, and use blockchain for transparency and asset value protection.

What is the outlook or growth potential for NFT games?

The NFT game market is growing rapidly. As blockchain technology advances and the Play-to-Earn model spreads, continued market growth is expected through 2026 and beyond.