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The 20+ Best Play-to-Earn Games for Crypto (updated for 2023)

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If you’re into crypto and gaming, you’ll love the play-to-earn (P2E) games that are out there. These games let you make real money just by playing and achieving certain goals. Some games reward you with unique tokens or non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and you can trade or sell these for cash or other tokens.

In today’s guide, let’s talk about some of the best P2E games you can try, both the well-known ones and newbies that give you an edge.

What Are Play-to-Earn Games and How Do They Work?

Play-to-earn games are a new wave of online games that actually pay you in digital currency for playing. This is a big shift from regular games where you usually spend money on in-game purchases.

So, how do these games manage to pay you?

Well, they use blockchain technology, which is the same tech that powers Bitcoin. This lets the game have its own mini-economy with cryptocurrencies and unique digital items known as NFTs, which you can trade for real money.

For example, in Axie Infinity, you can earn a digital currency called SLP while playing. You can use this currency within the game or even exchange it for another cryptocurrency like Ethereum. These games are part of a bigger trend called Web3, which aims to give internet users more control over their data and assets. Some experts even think that this whole space could be worth trillions of dollars in a few years!

Blockchain tech ensures that everything in the game is secure, transparent, and owned by you, the player. This means you can even sell your in-game items on various marketplaces for real money. Some games allow you to trade items across different games as long as they’re on the same blockchain. For instance, because Axie Infinity runs on the Ethereum network, you can easily swap its in-game items with Ethereum.



What Kind of Games Are There?

Now, the world of play-to-earn is pretty diverse, with something for everyone. Just like the games you play on your console or PC, you have different genres, from shooting games to card games. The big difference? You can actually make money while playing these.

For battle enthusiasts, there are games filled with combat and player-vs-player action. If you’re into trading cards, games like Gods Unchained let you collect cards that have real value. You can earn by either trading these cards or by winning against other players.

There are also real-estate games like Decentraland and The Sandbox, where you can buy and sell virtual land.

And let’s not forget the simpler collecting games like CryptoKitties, where the main goal is to collect and possibly trade digital cats. If you’re into gambling, there are even crypto casinos where you can play traditional casino games but with crypto coins.

So, whether you’re a fan of shooting games, love trading cards, or just enjoy collecting cute digital animals, there’s a play-to-earn game out there for you.

With that out of the way, let’s explore the many play to earn games where you can earn cryptocurrency.

Best Play-to-Earn Games for Crypto

NOTE:  I don’t have a favorite, per se, so I went ahead and listed all of the options in alphabetical order.

Age of Rust

If you’re into story-driven games, Age of Rust is a must-try. Set in a dystopian 44th-century world controlled by AI, the game challenges you to solve puzzles to earn tokens.

Developed on the ENJIN Protocol and based on the Ethereum blockchain, this game is about more than just play; it aims to get people interested in the world of blockchain.

Alien Worlds

In Alien Worlds, your mission is pretty straightforward: play the game, collect and upgrade aliens, and then use them to find or mine items.

These aliens are known as NFTs, and the more you level up, the better your chances are at winning cool stuff. To get started, you’ll need special tools, a plot of land, and some of the game’s own cryptocurrency, TLM.

As of late, a single TLM was worth about two cents, and there were nearly 6 billion of these coins in circulation.

Axie Infinity

Axie Infinity stands out for letting you collect and battle with virtual monsters, also known as Axies. These Axies are NFTs and the game runs on the Ethereum network. The game rewards skilled players with its native cryptocurrency, Axie Infinity Shards or Tokens (AXS), which you can also trade.

Apart from battling, the game offers a ‘land mode’ where you can construct a village, gather resources, and interact with others.

Battle of Guardians

In Battle of Guardians, you can fight as different characters like Guardians, Humans, or Demons, each with unique abilities. Your rewards, in the form of the game’s currency BGS, depend on how well you play.

You can also earn money by trading characters and other NFT items in the game’s marketplace or by renting out your characters to other players. Besides fighting, the game offers various modes and features like NFT Synthesis, which lets you combine characters to make a stronger one.

Blankos Block Party

Now, if you’re more into party games, check out Blankos Block Party.

Here, you can participate in mini-games and quests to earn an in-game currency called moola. With real money, you can also buy Blanko Bucks to get ahead. The unique twist? Artists design special characters called Blankos, which are NFTs you can trade for various in-game benefits.

As for its currency, the last update showed each moola coin was worth just one cent.



Chimpzee

Chimpzee allows you to make money while playing games and even helps the environment. Even though it’s new, it’s already making a difference by planting over 1,000 trees and pledging money to protect elephants. In Chimpzee’s main game, your custom-made NFT characters fight against people who are harming the forest.

To get into the game, you have to buy an “NFT passport,” which is like your ticket in. The cool thing is you can make your NFT look like you, thanks to their AI tools. You can also earn an annual return of up to 20% if you stake your NFT passport. The tokens you use to buy the NFT are destroyed, or “burnt,” adding value to the remaining ones.

By playing, you can earn Chimpzee tokens and buy stuff from their online shop. The more you spend, the more you earn back in tokens. Part of the shop’s earnings go to the environmental causes Chimpzee supports. They’re currently selling their own Chimpzee tokens for a very low price, and a portion of all the tokens they sell will go to environmental charities.

CryptoKitties

CryptoKitties became a sensation when it introduced the concept of owning and trading digital cats, making it one of the first games to use NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens).

Launched in 2017 by a Canadian company named Dapper Labs, the game lets you collect and breed virtual cats, each with unique characteristics. Some of these digital cats are extra special and therefore more expensive.

Initially, the popularity of the game clogged the Ethereum blockchain, but it has since moved to a more capable blockchain called Flow.

Decentraland

Decentraland provides a decentralized platform where you can explore, trade, and even own land in a virtual world. Yes, this land is actually an NFT, and you can do a range of activities on it, like hosting events or building structures.

In addition to land, you can create and customize your avatars to participate in events that can earn you in-game coins called MANA. These coins and the land can be traded to make a profit while enjoying the game.

DeFi Kingdoms

DeFi Kingdoms is a fantasy role-playing game with a decentralized finance (DeFi) angle. It’s an online game that features tokenized resources and heroes, all of which are NFTs. Currently playable on multiple blockchains like Klaytn and Avalanche, the game uses the JEWEL token to operate its ecosystem. JEWEL tokens have multiple uses, from boosting in-game elements to providing governance rights. The game aims to expand into multiple realms, offering heroes with unique skills and items, some of which are especially valuable.

Gala Games

Gala Games is a platform offering various crypto games where you can earn GALA coins by playing. These coins are not just for show; they’re utility tokens you can use within the game.

But the cool part is the Gala Games’ NFT marketplace. You can trade tokens and also sell or buy in-game items as NFTs. Thanks to blockchain technology, you have full ownership of these items.

Looking ahead, Gala Games plans to introduce more games and features, making it more versatile for players who want to transfer NFTs from one game to another.

Gods Unchained

Last but not least, in Gods Unchained, you collect cards that represent powerful beings known as “Gods.” You’ll use these cards to compete against other players. The more battles you win, the more of the game’s currency, GODS, you earn.

You can use this currency to buy new cards. A single GODS coin is valued at about 20~ cents as of the last update.

Illuvium

Illuvium is a big deal in the world of open-world adventure games that use NFTs. Created by Kieran and Aaron Warwick, the game lets you explore outer space and fight powerful creatures called Illuvials.

Your main job on the planet Illuvium is to find a list of these creatures, form a strong team with them, and go head-to-head in various missions and player-vs-player (PVP) challenges. Winning gets you points that you can change into the game’s token, ILV.

While the game is fun, don’t expect to become super rich from it. However, you can increase your earnings by staking ILV tokens for an estimated annual return of around 3%~.

My Neighbor Alice

My Neighbor Alice gives you a relaxing game environment where you can farm, fish, and interact with other players.

To buy the resources you need, you’ll use the game’s ALICE token. The game has an interesting economic system where you can make money, especially by trading land, which is the most valuable NFT in the game. However, it’s worth noting that the game can get a bit repetitive over time.

Each of these games offers its own unique experience and earning potential. So, whether you’re into space exploration, car racing, epic battles, or peaceful farming, there’s something in the play-to-earn universe for you.

Plant vs Undead

Plant vs Undead is a unique farming game where you can earn Light Energy (LE) by taking care of your farm. This game uses non-fungible tokens (NFTs), making it part of the play-to-earn game genre. What this means is, as you farm, you’ll earn LE, which you can then turn into the game’s own cryptocurrency called Plant vs Undead Token (PVU). This token is then tradeable on decentralized exchanges.

To gather LE, you’ll need to do daily quests like watering other players’ plants.  You can also sell your plants as NFTs on the game’s marketplace, earning anywhere from 10 to over 100 PVU tokens depending on how rare your plant is.

Pikamoon

Pikamoon is an RPG that offers a new kind of virtual world where you can earn rewards by participating in adventures and tournaments.

In this universe, called the Pikaverse, you can use the game’s native $PIKA tokens to buy land or various NFTs. These NFTs can be used for exploration and in-game battles.

Pikamoon offers different regions where you can explore and collect avatars, a bit like Pokemon. Their presale is currently active, and they’ve already raised more than $1.5 million.



Revv Racing

Revv Racing is all about car racing and offers a similar experience to other popular PC racing games.

What sets it apart is the NFT cars that you can sell. The game allows you to trade these NFT cars on OpenSea, with prices ranging from $2 to a whopping $100,000+.

Though it’s a relatively new game and might have a few glitches, it offers great potential for growth and is even compatible with gaming consoles like the PlayStation and Xbox.

Sandbox

The Sandbox is a 3D virtual world where you can create, explore, and even make money from your gaming experiences. Similar to Decentraland, it also offers virtual land as NFTs. What sets it apart is its set of creative tools like VoxEdit and Game Maker, which allow you to design your own voxel models and games. These creations can be sold in the game’s marketplace, providing another avenue for earning. Overall, it’s a complete package for creative minds looking to blend gaming with digital ownership.

So, whether you’re into meme-inspired games like Tamadoge or the virtual real-estate business as seen in Decentraland and The Sandbox, there’s a play-to-earn game for you. Interested? Check out their presales and whitepapers to learn more.

Splinterlands

Inspired by traditional trading card games like Magic the Gathering, Splinterlands has created a unique play-to-earn model.

In this game, you collect, buy, and sell cards, each of which is an NFT with real value. By mastering the game’s strategy, you can earn in-game currency called Dark Energy Crystal (DEC), which can also be traded for other cryptocurrencies.

Tamadoge

Tamadoge ranks on our list of top play-to-earn games for its inventive blend of crypto gaming, decentralized finance (DeFi), and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The game centers around animated Shiba Inu NFTs that players can buy, grow, and fight with to earn tokens and rewards.

With a gameplay style inspired by the 90s Tamagotchi craze, Tamadoge is expected to gain significant attention upon its release. It also includes an arcade feature where you can play multiple mini-games, each featuring different retro-styled challenges.

Notably, this game has had one of the most successful crypto presales, raising a whopping $19 million.

Zed Run

Switching gears to Zed Run, this game revolves around horse racing. You can buy, sell, and trade horses with other players, and even breed new ones to enhance their capabilities.

To succeed in races, you’ll want to learn the strengths and weaknesses of your horses and maybe bet on other players to earn even more.

The game recently launched its own zed token, which you’ll use to buy things in the game.

Final Thoughts

Right now, play-to-earn games that use crypto and NFTs are the talk of the town. They let you earn real-world value by playing and offer a level of ownership over in-game assets that’s a game-changer.

Whether you’re farming plants in Plant vs Undead, racing in Gala Games, or exploring a post-apocalyptic world in Age of Rust, you can actually earn while having fun. These are games that not only entertain you but also offer a potential return on the time you invest.

While you won’t get rich playing these games, it is at least something to check out if you’re a fan of cryptocurrency.

That’s going to do it for now.

As always, if you want to add to the list or comment on one mentioned, feel free to add your thoughts below.

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Tom Nathaniel

Hi! My name is Tom Nathaniel, and I created LushDollar to help share my honest thoughts on everything money. You won't find gimmicks here. It's the Internet's most honest money site after all. I graduated from Arizona State University, and I have worked in the finance industry since 2006, consulting with multiple Fortune 5000 companies.

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