A Look at the Recovery of GameFi and Web3 Social in 2026 — What’s Different About This Round of GameFi?

When it comes to GameFi (blockchain games), many people’s memories still linger on the Axie Infinity and StepN era of 2021–2022. Back then, blockchain games were mostly “make money and mine” Ponzi-style games. Their economic models were unhealthy, and they came quickly and left just as quickly. But in 2026, with infrastructure improving and game quality rising, the next round of GameFi and Web3 social is quietly rebounding—and this time, it may really be different.

The biggest change is the shift from “Play to Earn” to “Play and Earn.” Previously, players only wanted to recoup their investment and make money when they entered the game, with no regard for the actual gameplay experience. As soon as the token price fell, they would leave immediately. In this new wave, new projects—such as some AAA-class chain-converted major releases—place a much greater emphasis on playability and visual performance. They treat token incentives as “the icing on the cake,” not the only selling point. Players stay because the game is fun, and token rewards are just an extra pleasant surprise. This change in model has significantly improved user retention.

On the Web3 social side, decentralized social protocols (such as Farcaster and an upgraded version of Lens Protocol) achieved breakthroughs in 2026. These protocols allow users to truly own their social graph and content data. You can move your followers and fans from one App to another at any time, no longer being “held hostage” by traditional social platforms. Although the user base still can’t match that of traditional giants for now, the increase is very clear—especially among crypto-native communities, where daily active users (DAU) have already reached the million level.

So, are GameFi and Web3 social projects worth investing in right now?

My view is: pick leading players and stay away from random copycats. This sector has huge long-term potential, because games and social are the foundational “spiritual consumption” engine of humankind. Once a “chain-conversion” project succeeds, the market ceiling can be extremely high. But at present, there are still a large number of low-quality knockoffs in the market, and they will drag down the entire sector. When selecting projects, please focus on the following points:

1. Funding background: Are they backed by top game studios (such as Ubisoft, SEGA) or leading VCs (such as a16z)? This not only represents a certain level of endorsement, but also means the project team isn’t short on money, so they won’t be in a rush to cash out and “cut the weeds.”
2. Game visuals and hands-on play: Go to YouTube or the official website to watch real gameplay demos. If the graphics are stuck at the level of web games from 20 years ago, walk away immediately. Truly sincere projects have development cycles of at least 2 years.
3. Token release model: In GameFi, token inflation pressure is usually very high. You need to check whether there is a strong burning mechanism (for example, consumption inside the game). If it only produces and never consumes, it will eventually go to zero.

As for your operating strategy, because GameFi tokens are extremely volatile, it’s recommended to use only small-position allocations (no more than 10% of your total position). And once you achieve high-multiple gains in the short term, remember to withdraw your principal in time so that profits can keep running. Web3 social can follow the logic of early internet investing—where users are, value is there. Focus on the protocol’s number of ecosystem developers and daily active data.

In short, in 2026, GameFi is no longer just a pool of funds. It’s truly moving back toward “fun games.” If you’re also a gaming enthusiast, you can play and earn at the same time—but remember not to bet all your hopes of getting rich on a single game project. Make entertainment your priority and investment your supplement, and your mindset will be much better. #夏日创作营
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