GameFi investment options are diverse. You can run a crypto trading bot to speculate on the prices of different Web 3.0 game tokens. It is possible to actively play games to earn them as rewards for consistent activity. Many games are offering NFTs that provide proof of ownership of in-game stuff and items. These can also be valuable in certain communities.
It is important to stay calm and not spread your attention across too many options. Focusing on games that you are actually interested in and investing in GameFi projects that make sense, in the long run, should be your top priorities.
What is GameFi?
The integration of blockchain technology into the gaming industry has been attempted multiple times. In some cases, the results are intriguing. In others, we observe a failure on such scales that the hope for a successful integration immediately dissipates. On paper, the idea of fusing gameplay elements with financial incentives sounds great despite the fact that not many people actually want to work when they play.
The approach from Axie Infinity was to create a balanced ecosystem where wealthy players could try to support the ecosystem. Unfortunately, the game’s economy quickly devolved into the exploitation of poor players which led to the formation of whole industries in South Eastern Asia where many decided to stop working to try and earn a living in the game.
Finding the right balance in the economy can be very hard even for experienced developers with extensive experience and in-depth consultations from economists. EVE Online is a great example of an virtual economy that succumbed to inflation, market manipulation, and exploitation despite the best efforts from the developers who tried to address economic issues multiple times.
How does GameFi work?
The main idea behind the concept is the marriage of the cryptocurrency industry with its decentralization, private ownership, anonymity, and security and the videogame industry currently monopolized by several large studios and publishers. Developers in the web 3 ecosystem try to implement the idea of decentralized governance and community-driven development into traditional practices of the gaming industry.
Top GameFi crypto projects have distinct features:
- A strong focus on play-to-earn crypto games. Axie Infinity is just the most prominent example of a P2E game that has been a massive success for a long while. The vast majority of fully contemporary games try to implement incentives and rewards into the core of gameplay design. Sometimes, this focus pays off well. For example, Axie Infinity generated over $1.3 billion just two years ago.
- The use of non-fungible tokens. You can find GameFi NFTs traded on different marketplaces that are minted mostly on ETH and BNB digital ledgers. Non-fungible assets are directly tied to things you earn while playing like items, weapons, potions, and even virtual real estate. The crash and burn of the NFT market which lost over 99% in just a couple of months does not take away the value from the things gamers own and enjoy in their favorite games.
- Independent marketplaces for items. The dream of many developers is to create a digital system where virtual things have real-world value. In theory, a weapon or a cosmetic that can be seamlessly moved from one game to another or traded across multiple networks will have the necessary value to attract people who are not into play2earn GameFi.
The effect of the industry on the community
One of the reasons why the concept of merged finances and videogames is a hotly debated topic in many communities is the passion of the global community. Some people are very happy about P2E games and NFTs while others are strictly against the inclusion of these ideas into modern games. You can be on any side of the debate, but the effect is undeniable.
Here are some of them:
- Income generation in modern P2E games. Many of them allow players to make money consistently which is a huge advantage if you, as a player, live in regions where finding gainful employment can be difficult. At the same time, whatever you earn has a potential for appreciation or can be traded for profit on the open market.
- The social impact on gamers should not be underestimated. Decentralized platforms focused on videogames can introduce strong incentives for collaboration by using DAOs to facilitate engagement on a level that has never been seen before. Some experts argue that the decentralization of gaming makes it possible for people from all regions and backgrounds to play in a fair environment that provides everyone with equal access to the marketplace.
- Innovative ideas in gamedev like new business models involving transaction fees and trading are recognized by many experienced developers as reasons to pursue high-risk development. Blockchain technology also has the potential to help developers create new gameplay mechanics and simulated economies that do not require any contemporary systems usually employed to code various engine systems.
Risks and challenges associated with Web 3 GameFi protocols in crypto
Despite many apparent advantages and less obvious benefits pointed out by supporters, the Web 3 gaming industry faces many challenges that are not easy to overcome. A retail investor interested in purchasing the best GameFi crypto coins in 2024 should be aware of many issues that must be resolved before the industry can take off and turn into a golden goose as promised by hopeful developers.
Here are some of the risks yoiu should never forget when considering them for purchasing:
- Market volatility makes it hard for developers to take some of the cryptocurrencies issued by gamedev teams seriously. With some of them losing up to 90% of value after quickly reaching their ATH, buying them feels like a huge gamble. It is important for the industry to produce at least one token that can withstand the test of time.
- Concerns about security. The integration of digital ledgers into various entertainment products is a design issue. Blockchain is a well-researched technology and can be easily incorporated into a game by a talented team of developers. However, finding ways to implement it can be difficult. At the same time, you need to ensure that games do not have glaring security issues and vulnerabilities. After looking at many technological and security failures in the cryptocurrency industry, worrying about the safety of NFTs, marketplaces, and money is more than valid.
- Regulatory uncertainty. The gaming industry has its own antagonists like EA. Their shady practices often cause scandals and outrages forcing official authorities to step in. Web 3 gaming is a fresh concept for many regulators. Legal frameworks for games that involve tradable assets and issuing securities are still unexplored and can be hard to navigate when more games start gaining traction among games across the globe.
- The cultural rift between many enthusiasts often blindfolded by their desire to see their assets “go to the moon” and regular gamers interested in excellent gameplay, immersive storytelling, and graphical fidelity is something that must be mended for the concept to work. Just like many supporters don’t understand why NFTs and ownership of virtual assets fail to attract players, the latter are confused about how these elements enhance their experience.
These challenges don’t even address juridical and economic concerns for the future of hypes up metaverse GameFi titles that may be quite hard to implement in a way that makes them universally accessible and culturally appropriate while ensuring that they comply with a variety of local regulations related to gambling and social media platforms.
How to invest in GameFi
The industry has produced many exciting ways to invest in different hi-tech startups in our industry. Top GameFi crypto projects are no different and allow investors to engage with them using a variety of methods including direct participation in development with a flexible incentives system and simply buying tokens to support the economy.
This versatility makes it easier for developers to secure funding and for investors to earn money. It also democratizes the gamedev industry making it accessible to millions of potential investors all across the globe.
Below are ways in which you can invest in play-to-earn crypto games:
- The variety of NFT assets. Buying and selling non-fungible tokens representing various player-owned assets is one of the oldest methods of participating in decentralized games. Many pioneering projects in the industry did not have any interesting gameplay mechanics and often relied on loud promises instead of actual game design to attract players and investors. Modern games are much better in this regard and use NFTs smartly to enhance gameplay.
- Native tokens. Many gamedev teams use utility tokens for many purposes including overall governance, staking, and supporting decentralized economies. Some successful examples of them include $AXS for AInfinitynity, $SAND from The Sandbox, and $MANA. In many cases, these are traded on centralized exchange giving them a speculative edge too.
- Investing in digitalized gaming platforms. You can become a stakeholder by purchasing during ICOs. It is also possible to simply buy coins and use them for staking if you want to see a share of revenue generated by these games. With millions of players engaging with content offered by modern all sorts of digital entertainment options, it is easy to see why there is so much hype around some titles.
- Participating in venture capital and direct funding. Many Web 3 developers seek capital from external sources or engage in crowdfunding. If you have capital to spare, it is a good idea to invest in venture companies that fund Web 3 developers or contact them directly and offer some support in exchange for meaningful stakes in the project.
- Yield farming. This method of investment is rarer in this sector simply because we don’t have many of them actively issuing tradable assets that require liquidity provision. However, you may find it interesting to work with decentralized platforms like Yield Guild Games to lend assets and provide liquidity to the economy.
- Indirect investments. Some DePIN networks are designed to support the software development infrastructure by offering different solutions like computational power, storage capacity, AI training, and development environments. You may find it more appealing to invest in such platforms instead of gaming titles that may never see the light of day or fail right after launching.
How to buy GameFi crypto
Various cryptocurrencies issued by developers are available on centralized platforms. For example, Binance has a separate marketplace for NFTs and cryptocurrencies. Popular coins like $SAND and $AXS are traded on multiple CEX platforms due to the interest from retail investors. Buying digital assets directly on the market is a great way of participating in the industry by supporting its economy.
Dedicated marketplaces often managed by developers are also viable places to look for crypto. However, liquidity might be low and there is a chance that these assets will never be listed on large exchanges.
You can also earn money by playing games and receiving rewards for various activities. So far, the only really successful launch has been Axie Infinity with its competitive scene and publicly traded tokens. However, other games that reward active players may soon come to the market and change it for the better.
The best crypto wallets for GameFI assets
Many software wallets work well for digital assets issued by games. You must remember that the vast majority of large decentralized gaming titles are launched in the Ethereum ecosystem and issue ERC-20 tokens. So using wallets specifically designed to work with them is a smart choice.
Here are some of the most popular wallets you can use for all sorts of purposes including interactions with what you own in games:
- MetaMask. This particular wallet is designed to effortlessly integrate into any platform using Ethereum’s digital ledger as its baseline. It supports all ERC-20 assets and can be used to log in on a variety of blockchain-based platforms without the need to create new accounts and set up movement routes for capital.
- Binance Wallet. This CEX platform holds a massive 18% market share and offers a wide range of services to millions of users internationally. It also has a dedicated exchange section for virtual items many of which are directly supported by the Binance Foundation. If you want to store your assets digitally in a wallet, picking the one from Binance is a great idea.
- PocketToken is another software wallet designed to work as a cross-chain solution for people interested in storing their money safely. The wallet has a functional Chrome web extension which is useful for over 80% of all internet users who have this browser as their main instrument for internet surfing.
- SafePal is a wallet supported by many household names like Binance Labs, Superscript, and Animoca Brands making it a software solution integrated with a variety of large CEX and Web 3 platforms directly. Since it is useful for working with a wide range of technoligical standards including ERC-20 and BEP-20, you may find it quite handy in different scenarios.
- Atomic Wallet is another good choice. It provides many interesting features to those who do not want their money to stay idle. It is also a great candidate for storing a range of currencies with different standards minted on ETH or Binance ledgers.
The benefits of playing GameFi games
Multiplayer Web 3 games can be entertaining and rewarding whether you have been playing since the conception of Atari or discovered games as a hobby recently. The issue is that many developers seem to be overly attached to certain ideas like making games either too focused on the money or on the gameplay. Both must be developed and meaningful in equal measure to ensure that the industry can survive in the long run.
Here are some benefits of engaging in these novel titles:
- Earning rewards in crypto. The vast majority of all DeFi platforms are trying to invite users by giving them different rewards for participation in the launch or engaging with their social media. Many of them are given away even if you didn’t play the game. Some platforms give away millions of dollars in rewards each month.
- Own items and real estate. The most compelling idea behind GameFi blockchain projects is that all transactions are recorded on a digital ledger and serve as proof of ownership for different artifacts, weapons, characters, cosmetics, and even real estate that you earned while enjoying your time growing crops or battling monsters.
- Play-to-earn crypto games. Some of the most popular mobile games allow users to receive rewards for exemplary demonstrations of skill or by grinding quests and earning achievements. Player activities are often rewarded generously allowing many to make a living by simply engaging with the content of a game. Over 80% of all players engaging with P2E are motivated by the potential to earn money.
- Strong social elements. Many games encourage cooperation and interactions between players to ensure a better user experience and improve the economy through higher rates of participation. If you want to participate in big communities and directly interact with them through economics, you should play various titles in this sector of thhe industry.
- Innovative development approaches. The introduction of NFTs is a great example of a neat integration of a technology that has a very apparent yet rarely applicable advantage of data immutability. On the other hand, using decentralization for a variety of other purposes can be groundbreaking for the gaming industry as a whole.
The best GameFi games for mobile
Different surveys of the entertainment industry indicate that the share of mobile gamers is in the range between 60% and 80%. The vast majority of contemporary players engage with games using mobile devices which are more powerful than many older generations of consoles. Many modern games are designed specifically to capture the attention of this growing audience.
We decided to put together the list of the best GameFi crypto tokens in 2024 issued by games available to mobile users:
- Axie Infinity. It is still the biggest game in terms of user count, NFT value, market cap, and many other metrics. The on-chain performance of AXS from this turn-based auto-battler focused around pokemon-like hunt for monsters that an be thrown into teams of three has been very convincing until the crash caused by inflation. It seems that finding the right balance between issuance of currencies and maintaining their value is hard even for successful games!
- Thetan Arena is a title that offers MOBA players a chance to earn money by displaying their skills. Intense matches involving teams of players can be memorable and fun. The issue is the low user count contributing to relatively weak performance of $THG that has just over $5 million in market cap and may never take off the ground. However, we still put the title on our list due to its graphical fidelity and engaging gameplay.
- League of Kingdoms is a typical MMO strategy. Here, users can create their own kingdoms, be warring warlords, engage in PVP battles in a cool fantasy world, and build unions with others. The title was launched two years ago and receives regular updates. The digital economy is its weak point, but developers want to improve it to make it more robust against market manipulation and rampant inflation. The digital infrastructure of ETH is used to record valuable valuable information to provide full ownership of real estate and items to players.
These games are available to people using mobile devices powered by Android and iOS. While their economies are still looking for firmer grounds to stand on, it is possible to trade their coins for profit using a variety of speculative techniques even if you don’t want to play games actively. For example, you can simply launch an AI crypto bot and arbitrage popular currencies like $AXS or $SAND.
We strongly believe that the industry has a bright future with a couple of “ifs”. We still need to sort out regulatory uncertainty and focus on solving issues related to the long-term performance of in-game economies that often succumb to rapid inflation and market manipulation.