Top 9 Popular Metaverse Games To Explore Right Now

There is significant buzz around metaverse games, and it is showing no signs of slowing down. One of the key reasons behind its growing popularity is metaverse games. While it is in a very nascent stage at the moment, a report by McKinsey has stated that the metaverse industry could grow to $5 trillion by 2030. JPMorgan has also put its weight behind the industry, stating that it could potentially represent a $1 trillion opportunity in a statement released shortly after it became the first major bank in the metaverse. Small wonder, then, that several metaverse games and projects are fast emerging. 

People who follow sci-fi may have come across the term “metaverse” for the first time in Neal Stephenson’s iconic 1992 novel, Snow Crash. In the book, Stephenson described the metaverse as an imaginary realm that could be accessed through a global network of fiber optics. There is no doubt that the metaverse is the next step in the evolution of the internet, and its surging popularity is fueled, in part, by metaverse games. These range from play-to-earn titles to vast open worlds. 

This article will look at the burgeoning world of metaverse games, some of the most popular ones, and the gaming studios creating them. 

Top Metaverse Games To Immerse yourself Into

Key Players In The Metaverse 

Game studios have been dabbling in the metaverse much before Facebook stole all the limelight with its much-publicized rebranding to Meta, highlighting its commitment to the metaverse. However, as you must have gauged by now, Meta is one of many players in the operation. Let’s look at some of the other players involved in developing the metaverse and metaverse games. 

Epic Games 

Epic Games can be called the original metaverse player. The studio is the creator of the hugely popular Fortnite, one of the leading game-based metaverses that existed before the term began gaining popularity. Unlike the relatively barren blockchain-based metaverses, Fortnite has a thriving ecosystem and features massive virtual events attended by players. Now, the studio is scaling its metaverse ecosystem further and has made a series of metaverse-focused investments in line with its vision. 

Microsoft 

Microsoft saw the potential in the Metaverse as far back as 2014 when it acquired Minecraft. Minecraft allows users to move in an open, lego-like environment, building their own world and defending it against other players. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has already outlined the company’s intentions around the metaverse, with the company also acquiring Activision Blizzard. 

Roblox 

Alongside Minecraft and Fortnite, Roblox is one of the original metaverses, released in 2006 as a platform that allows users to play games created by other users and developers. The platform has become one of the most popular metaverses today. The platform’s popularity can be gauged by its number of users, a staggering 47 million participating daily, with a further 9.5 million developers working on user-generated games. 

Top Metaverse Games 

Now that we have gone through some of the key players in the metaverse, let’s look at the top metaverse games. 

Axie Infinity 

Axie Infinity has established itself as one of the most popular metaverse projects. The platform is well known for its vibrant community and has endeared itself to users thanks to its highly playable characters, Axies. Another draw of the platform is that it enables players to earn money while playing the game. The gameplay in this play-to-earn title is similar to that of Pokemon and requires users to breed, collect, raise, and trade their Axies, which are adorable creatures that also serve as NFTs. 

Each Axie is unique and could grow to have a significantly high value, becoming a successful investment. The platform has two native tokens, the AXS (Axie Infinity Shards) and SLP (Smooth Love Potion), which act as the driving force behind the game. The AXS is one of the top crypto assets in the metaverse, while players can earn the SLP token as a reward for playing the game. The SLP token plays a very specific role in the Axie ecosystem. The game does not provide liquidity for the token, nor can players buy the SLP token. On the other hand, the AXS token is an ERC-20 token that allows users to participate in governance, stake, and earn rewards. 

The Sandbox 

The Sandbox has a long and interesting history. It was first launched in 2010 as a mobile game featuring highly interactive gameplay, allowing players to create their own worlds and then populate them with objects and characters. In 2018, the Sandbox was acquired by Animoca Brands, and the platform was released in a new blockchain-powered, play-to-earn avatar. The platform also managed to get significant investment from a host of big names such as HSBC, Gucci, Snoop Dogg, and others.

The Sandbox allows players to hold events, purchase real estate, and trade NFTs and other in-game assets. Users can also create their own games on the platform using the Sandbox Maker, create their own content, and sell it in an open marketplace. The SAND token is at the heart of the Sandbox ecosystem and facilitates user transactions. It also doubles up as a governance token, allowing holders to participate in the platform’s governance. 

All in-game transactions, including modifying avatars, trading ASSETS, and buying LAND, depend on SAND. For more context, LAND refers to the token that gives holders rights over virtual plots measuring 96×96 meters. ASSETS refers to NFTs created by users in the Sandbox ecosystem. 

Decentraland 

There is no doubt that Decentraland is one of the most popular metaverse projects out there at the moment. Users on Decentraland can do several things, such as create projects, play games, meet, hang out, and even attend concerts, and these is just some of the activities. The Decentraland metaverse allows users to purchase virtual plots of LAND using the platform’s native MANA token. Created by Ari Meilich and Estaban Ordano, Decentraland saw its official launch in 2020 and has since reached staggering heights, catching the attention of several celebrities, brands, and institutions that have purchased properties on Decentraland. 

Some of the institutions that have purchased LAND on Decentraland include Atari, Samsung, Adidas, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, among others. Decentraland also held a highly successful fashion week, with participation from several major fashion labels such as Dolce & Gabbana, Perry Elie, Elie Saab, and others. The first-ever metaverse auction was also held on Decentraland by auction house Sotheby’s. 

My Neighbor Alice 

My Neighbor Alice is the perfect game for new users. What sets it apart is that even non-crypto users can play the game, creating and building assets. The platform requires users to have a minimal background in crypto and NFTs. My Neighbor, Alice’s metaverse is located on a fantasy island in the Lummelunda Archipelago. Humans and animals share the island, and anyone can join the community by purchasing a piece of virtual land. Users must also contribute to their community by completing a host of activities, such as beekeeping, and fishing, to name a few. 

The ALICE token is the primary cryptocurrency in this metaverse. It is an ERC-20 token, allowing users to purchase in-game items, earn rewards through staking, and participate in the platform’s governance. 

Alien Worlds

Alien World is a free-to-play metaverse game that has a growing fan following. The free-to-play game requires users to purchase small purchases using the platform’s native TLM token to complete missions and acquire NFTs. Participants must travel to distant worlds, and mine TLM tokens or NFTs discovered along the way. The Alien Worlds metaverse has 300 unique NFTs that users can collect. The primary objectives of the games are 

• Participate in nebula events
• Mine or acquire NFTs
• Lease crafts to travel to different worlds
• Compete against other players
• Stake and earn rewards
• Participate in governance mechanisms. 

Illuvium 

Illuvium has created significant buzz in the gaming and crypto communities even before its official release. Players must hunt deity-like creatures called Illuvials and capture them using shards. Users can also nurse Illuvials back to health and use them to fight against other players or monsters. The Illuvials can also be traded as NFTs, with their value depending on their strength. Users can combine three Illuvials of the same type and create a new creature. 

Farmers World 

Farmers World was released in 2021 and allowed players to purchase gold, land, breed livestock, grow crops, and catch fish, among other things. Every asset on your virtual farm is an NFT that can be sold or traded with other players on the platform. Players must also protect their farm against intruders and other players looking to steal resources.

Krystopia 

Krystopia can be described as an escape room game that challenges users through a series of puzzles and hidden objects. Users take on the character of Captain Nova Dune, guiding her in her quest for clues. Players must head to the planet Krystopia after receiving a distress signal. Once there, players must help Nova and her pet Skrii get past a series of escape room-type challenges. 

Prospectors 

The creators of this game describe it as a multi-player, economic strategy game based in the Wild West of the 19th century. The objective behind the game is for players to acquire gold, which can then be converted into the game’s official token, Prospectors Gold. Players are provided with three workers at the start of the game, which can be deployed to work for the player or other players. Workers can build mines on free land. However, to build structures, players must rent land. If the player fails to pay rent, the land is blocked, and all of the player’s belongings are auctioned.

In Closing: More Games And More Growth 

As mentioned earlier, the metaverse is in a very nascent stage. However, it has generated significant interest, with companies seeing unimaginable potential in it, as demonstrated by Facebook’s reinvention into Meta. The metaverse truly has the potential to revolutionize how users interact with one another. Some of the biggest studios and companies are working on the metaverse, so we can, no doubt, expect even more immersive metaverse games to emerge in the near future.