The world of gaming is being revolutionized right before our eyes with the rise of metaverse experiences. I don‘t know about you, but as a long-time gamer and tech geek, I find metaverse gaming incredibly exciting!
Just imagine, instead of being limited to a small screen, you can immerse yourself in massive 3D virtual worlds. You can hang out with friends, play games, attend concerts, and do much more through your customized avatars. How cool is that!
Now before we get into the top metaverse games, let‘s first understand what this whole buzz around the metaverse is.
What is the Metaverse?
The term "metaverse" refers to immersive virtual worlds accessed through extended reality (XR) technologies like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR).
Metaverse platforms utilize blockchain, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and other decentralized technologies to offer users ownership of virtual assets and identities.
Gaming happens to be one of the major use cases of metaverse technology. And it‘s easy to see why.
Metaverse games can provide truly immersive gaming experiences using stunning 3D environments, customizable avatars, VR headsets, and controller accessories that make it all feel real.
According to Statista, the virtual reality gaming market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 21% from $7.9 billion in 2022 to $19.91 billion in 2027.
| Year | VR gaming market size |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $7.9 billion |
| 2023 | $9.84 billion |
| 2024 | $12.01 billion |
| 2025 | $14.74 billion |
| 2026 | $17.99 billion |
| 2027 | $19.91 billion |
With such tremendous growth expected, it‘s clear that metaverse gaming is here to stay and will become mainstream in the coming years.
Brands have also realized the massive potential of metaverse gaming. For instance, Epic Games raised a whopping $2 billion in funding from Sony and KIRKBI to expand its metaverse efforts.
For us gamers and tech enthusiasts, this rapid metaverse evolution opens up a whole new world of possibilities! From stunning virtual adventures to play-to-earn games, metaverse gaming is truly revolutionary.
Now, let me walk you through the top 10 metaverse games that I believe you should definitely explore in 2023. I have summarized the key details of each game along with my personal insights as a seasoned metaverse gamer. Let the fun begin!
Top 10 Metaverse Games to Explore
1. Axie Infinity
If you have heard of any metaverse game, it is most probably Axie Infinity. This hugely popular game introduced the revolutionary play-to-earn model to the gaming world.
In Axie Infinity, you can collect, breed, raise, and battle cute blob-like creatures called Axies. These Axies are available as NFTs (non-fungible tokens) with varying rarity and value.
To play the game, you need at least 3 Axies. The rarer your Axies‘ genes and abilities, the higher their value which runs into thousands of dollars. Top Axies can even sell for over $100k!
Once you have your Axies, you can make them stronger by gaining EXP and leveling up. Then enter them into 3v3 battles against other players to earn rewards.
My Take: I just love the cute graphics and smooth battling experience of Axie Infinity. The play-to-earn model is a gamechanger. I was able to recover the cost of my Axies within 2 months through battle rewards andbreeding rare Axies to sell.
However, the high price of entry by purchasing 3 Axies is a barrier for many. I feel the developers should make the game more accessible to attract a wider audience. But overall, it‘s a fresh gaming concept and a lot of fun.
Key Details:
- Launched in 2018
- Built on Ethereum blockchain
- 500k+ daily active users
- $3.5 billion+ total sales volume
- AXS is the governance token
2. The Sandbox
The Sandbox has been one of my favorite metaverse worlds since I first tried it in 2020. Think of it like Minecraft, but way cooler with blockchain rewards!
In this virtual world, you can buy land parcels, create digital assets, play games made by others, hang out with friends, and so much more. There‘s always something new to explore and create.
Let‘s take a quick look at some of the main activities you can do in The Sandbox metaverse:
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Buy LANDs: The Sandbox metaverse consists of 166,464 LANDs. You can buy these virtual land parcels using the SAND token and monetize them.
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Create Assets: Use the VoxEdit and Game Maker tools to create NFT assets like buildings, avatars, vehicles or even entire games!
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Play Games: A ton of user-created games are available across different LANDs. You can explore and play these games to earn rewards.
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Build Stuff: Take your LAND parcel and create something awesome on it like a mansion, amusement park, concert venue, etc.
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Hang Out: Meet up with friends, chat, participate in events together in this virtual space.
My Take: I own a small LAND and have made some pretty cool voxel assets like cars and buildings. The Game Maker looks very promising for creating actual games inside The Sandbox. This metaverse truly gives wings to your creativity.
Key Details:
- Launched in 2011
- 100+ partnerships including Snoop Dogg, Deadmau5
- 60 million+ downloads of Sandbox creations
- $144 million highest LAND sale
- SAND is the main token
3. Decentraland
Like The Sandbox, Decentraland is also a leading metaverse virtual world where you can buy land parcels as NFTs, explore the world, play games, and hang out with others.
Some major activities you can do in Decentraland:
- Buy land parcels at auction using MANA tokens
- Build anything on your land from AV nightclubs to 3D sculptures
- Take part in treasure hunts, no-rules racing, river rafting, etc.
- Attend live concerts, festivals, conferences in the metaverse
- Try games like poker, blackjack, and slot machines
- Shop for wearables, accessories for your avatar
Decentraland has a beautifulsci-fi vibe with towering skyscrapers, lush forests, and dazzlingcasinos. The graphics and avatar customizations truly bring this world to life.
You can also earn by renting out or reselling your unused land parcels when their value increases. The possibilities are endless in Decentraland!
Key Details:
- Launched in 2020
- 90,000+ active monthly users
- $914 million highest land sale
- MANA is the native token
- Partnered with JPMorgan, Binance, and more
4. Star Atlas
Star Atlas is a next-gen metaverse game that combines stunning 3D graphics with multiplayer strategy gameplay. The objective is to explore the mysterious Star Atlas universe and make your mark through trading, crafting, conquering territories, and space battles.
It provides an immersive sci-fi experience with three main roles you can play:
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Navigator: Mine resources, do crafting, trading, and build your fleet.
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Pilot: Drive ships and engage in real-time space battles.
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Commander: Lead raids and large battles to conquer territories.
I love the intergalactic spaceship battles in Star Atlas. The gameplay requires coordinating with other players to plan attacks and strategies. This social element takes the experience to the next level.
You can earn rewards and reputation points which determine your leaderboard rank. The visuals are just mind-blowing with insane attention to detail in spaceships, planets, and even aliens!
Key Details:
- Developed by Animoca Brands
- Launching on Unreal 5 Engine
- Fully immersive VR experience
- Three blockchain networks – Solana, Ethereum, and Binance Smart Chain
- ATLAS is the governance token
5. Illuvium
Illuvium offers an addictively fun RPG experience combined with auto battle mechanics. The goal is to capture cute fantasy creatures called Illuvials and use them to fight against other players.
With stunning 3D graphics built using the Unity engine, Illuvium provides a cinematic gaming experience. The open world is full of dangers and rewards for you to discover.
As you progress, you can collect over 100 unique Illuvials. These creatures are like Pokemon but way cooler with specialized stats, elemental bonuses, and unique attacks.
I especially enjoy competing in the Balanced Arena mode where your ranking improves by winning battles. The battles themselves are beautiful to watch with stunning animations and effects.
Overall, Illuvium checks all the boxes for graphics, gameplay, progression system, and replayability. Its unique creature capture system combined with strategic battles makes for super engaging gameplay.
Key Details:
- Launched in 2022
- $18.4 million raised through seed funding
- Building on ImmutableX blockchain
- Fully Ethereum-backed NFT game
- ILV token rewards players
6. Guild of Guardians
For fans of RPG adventure games, Guild of Guardians brings a thrilling blockchain-based mobile experience.
The game transports you to a fantasy world inhabited by Orcs, Elves, Dwarves, and other mobs trying to turn Guardians into stone. Your goal is to stop these mobs and save the Guardians.
As a player, you take on the role of a Guardian who goes on quests, slays enemies in real-time battles using dodging and spells, and collects resources.
The gameplay feels like a gorgeous mashup of World of Warcraft and Pokémon with the added play-to-earn mechanics.
You can collect heroes, spells, pets and other rare items as NFTs that help boost your team during adventuring. These assets can also be traded on the marketplace.
With stunning animations and effects, Guild of Guardians provides a console-quality immersive experience on mobile. This is definitely a game worth looking out for in 2023.
Key Details:
- Launched in 2022
- Developed by Immutable and Stepico
- Mobile RPG experience
- Over 10 million+ pre-registrations
- $5M funding with backers like Coinbase Ventures
7. Bomb Crypto
After intense action-packed games, I also like to kick back with more casual gaming sometimes. Bomb Crypto is my go-to metaverse game for relaxation.
The gameplay simply involves managing Bomb Crypto miners who mine BCOIN which is the native token of this game.
You buy elf NFT miner characters like Fighters, Magicians, Thieves, etc. who automatically do mining while you relax! Each miner type mines at a different speed.
I love just chilling and watching my elf miners hard at work. You can buy land plots to place your miners and boost earnings. Landowners also get a share of the earnings from miners on their land.
Every 14 days, you can harvest the BCOIN your miners have earned. The more miners you have, the higher your earnings. You can either sell BCOIN for cash or reinvest to buy more miners and progress faster.
It‘s a simple play to earn game that runs passively in the background. The lighthearted artwork and characters make Bomb Crypto super relaxing and fun.
Key Details:
- Launched in 2021
- Built on Binance Smart Chain
- 100,000+ daily active users
- $1.3 billion+ in player earnings
- BCOIN token earned through gameplay
8. Crypto Raiders
If you want your metaverse gaming to also be educational, then Crypto Raiders is perfect. It‘s one of the most innovative blockchain-based treasure hunting adventure games.
Crypto Raiders provide an Indiana Jones-style experience with ancient ruins, hidden treasures, and dangerous guardians protecting them like mummies and giant scorpions.
Players need to decipher clues, avoid traps, fight monsters, and strategically access treasures to earn NFT rewards. The cool part is you learn about real history and crypto concepts during this process!
Before a play session, you get a quick lesson explaining historical events tied to the chapter. The clues also teach about blockchain principles like cryptography, hashes, nonces, etc.
I love how they have blended education with addictive gameplay and NFT treasures. As you progress through chapters, the gameplay keeps getting more immersive and challenging.
Crypto Raiders offer a perfect metaverse experience for gamers who also want to skill up on history and crypto basics while playing.
Key Details:
- Launched in 2021
- Developed by Cellarius
- Chapters based on real ancient civilizations
- Educational gameplay mechanics
- RAID token can be earned and staked
9. MegaCryptoPolis
If building and managing a city sounds exciting, then try MegaCryptoPolis. It‘s a unique metaverse game based on city-building strategy.
You start by owning land plots. On the land, you can build resource structures like farms, factories, power plants or residential zones, commercial areas, etc. based on what you want to develop.
As your city expands, you have to manage resources efficiently, create municipal structures like hospitals and fire stations, upgrade buildings, and keep citizens happy.
The game nicely replicates real challenges faced in urban planning like dealing with pollution, traffic congestion, citizen protests if unhappy, etc.
I love that your city exists persistently on the blockchain. You have to log in daily to manage it, similar to the responsibilities of a real mayor.
Slowly building my own metropolis from scratch and managing all its needs is super engaging. The gameplay economics also ensures development is not too fast and realistic.
Key Details:
- Launched in 2018
- 200,000+ cities built
- City persistent even if you don‘t log in
- Real-time blockchain operations
- $210+ million worth of player assets
10. My Neighbor Alice
My Neighbor Alice is a super cute casual builder game that lets you buy and develop your own virtual islands.
The dreamy storybook art style and the ability to customize your character with cosmetic items gives me Animal Crossing vibes.
Gameplay is relaxed and involves collecting resources on islands, fishing, growing crops, crafting items, and building structures.
You can also buy cool NFT decor items like trees, furniture, bridges, swings, etc. to design your island and make it unique.
Every activity like foraging, mining, etc. earns you MEGA tokens which is the in-game currency. This can be used to buy lands and items.
Joining seasonal events, discovering hidden areas, and collecting rare island pieces keeps things exciting. You can also trade items with other players.
My Neighbor Alice provides the perfect relaxed metaverse experience when you want to just unwind on a weekend. The cute graphics and charming story makes it hard to stop playing.
Key Details:
- Launched in 2021
- Built on Polygon blockchain
- Partnered with Atari
- 85,000+ Discord community
- MEGA token used for purchases
Final Thoughts on the Future of Metaverse Gaming
Well, those were the top 10 metaverse games that I highly recommend checking out in 2023. I tried to provide a good overview of what each game offers along with my personal gaming experiences.
As you saw, metaverse games span a diverse range of genres and styles. There are casual world-building games like The Sandbox and My Neighbor Alice.
Then you have more hardcore action-based games like Illuvium and Guild of Guardians. And who can forget unique crypto-learning games like Crypto Raiders.
The common thread across these games is they provide true ownership of in-game assets, progress, and identity – something not possible in traditional gaming.
Plus, the play-to-earn model is enabling millions of gamers to make an income from their gaming skills through rewards.
The metaverse gaming industry is still in its early stages but growing at an insane pace. According to Grayscale Research, metaverse gaming is expected to become a $400 billion market by 2025.
As VR devices become more advanced and affordable, we will see incredibly immersive gaming environments in the coming years. Just imagine battling mythical monsters with your friends in a fantasy metaverse!
Major brands have also recognized the marketing potential of reaching consumers through virtual worlds. Nike launched Nikeland in Roblox to promote their products.
There is no doubt that gaming will progressively move towards more metaverse-style experiences in the future. It opens up a literal world of possibilities for recreation, hanging out, competing, earning money, and just having fun with friends regardless of location.
I hope you found this guide useful in understanding the diverse gaming possibilities in metaverse worlds. Let me know which metaverse games you want to try out first. I‘d be happy to give you more tips to get started.
Happy metaverse gaming!
