Top 10 NFT Games to Check Out in H2 2024

What Are the Top 10 NFT Games to Play?

Some of the most popular NFT games to check out in 2024 are Heroes of Mavia, Shrapnel, Pixels, Guild of Guardians, Aurory: Seekers of Tokane, Gas Hero, Parallel, Hytopia, Legends of Elumia, and Axie Homeland.

Key Takeaways

• NFT games are developed with decentralized protocols to give gamers control over their in-game items. Decentralized technologies used in developing NFT games include NFTs, fungible tokens, and player accounts connected to personal wallets.

• In most cases, the game items have real value and can be sold on NFT marketplaces or crypto asset trading platforms.

• Some NFT games employ extra incentives to appeal to new gamers, retain existing ones, and grow a gaming community. These can include a game economy powered by fungible tokens that can be bought and sold on exchanges.  

• The NFT games category is growing with many interesting NFT gaming projects. In this article, we review some of the most popular projects in this sector including Heroes of Mavia, Guild of Guardians, Legends of Elumia, and Axie Homeland.

The decentralized gaming sector has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. Several projects are building interesting games on the blockchain and employing decentralized technologies in the most important aspects of their games. According to CoinGecko, the total market capitalization of the GameFi space is around $16 billion – a testament to the thriving GameFi ecosystem. 

NFT technology is one of the major technologies used by decentralized gaming projects. Using NFTs to represent unique game items, decentralized games allow gamers to retain full ownership of their in-game items, in contrast to mainstream games. Besides NFTs, many web3 games also feature a fungible token that acts as an in-game currency that can also be traded on supported exchanges.

As the GameFi sector expands, many interesting NFT games continue to emerge, attracting many gamers and building ecosystems and economies for gaming on the blockchain. In this article, we review some of the top NFT games in 2024. These games are listed in order based on the size of their X (Twitter) following, except for Axie Homeland. 

Note that this list is not intended to be exhaustive, and that there may be other popular games outside of this list.

Shrapnel: Competitive AAA Extraction FPS

Shrapnel is a AAA (Triple A) first-person shooter (FPS) game developed by Seattle-based Neon Machine. According to the developers, early access for Shrapnel will be available in 2024 with the game’s public release set for 2025. 

✦ STX3 Date Announcement ✦

➜ 11am PDT, May 23 - 11am PDT, May 26 (24H access, 72H event)
➜ Collect fragments and craft weapon skins
➜ Trade fragments and weapon skins on the marketplace
➜ Complete missions for SHRAP and weapon skin rewards (Operator holders will receive a… pic.twitter.com/USveA9Gg6n

— SHRAPNEL 🔺 🔜 ETH CC 🇧🇪 (@playSHRAPNEL) May 14, 2024

Shrapnel is set in a world where an asteroid has collided with the moon, causing lunar meteorites to bombard a 500-kilometer-wide band around the Earth, and this area is left uninhabitable and walled off from the rest of the world. Players play as a member of a Mercenary Extraction Force (MEF) Operator to enter the Zone. They have to find and extract valuable resources, while fighting against other operators to reach a contested extraction location and claim it as their own. 

Players can collect gear (as NFTs) from players killed in action, and can also acquire successfully extracted loot (NFTs) which players can use to build their loadouts in future sessions. They can also create other vanity items to be sold on the Shrapnel marketplace, while also buying and selling gear in the marketplace for SHRAP.

SHRAP is the official token of the Shrapnel game. It is an ERC-20 standard token minted on the Avalanche C-chain. SHRAP will be used for gamers’ incentivization and utilities, where players can publish their game content on the Avalanche blockchain as NFTs using SHRAP tokens, and also buy and sell on the Shrapnel marketplace with SHRAP. SHRAP is also the governance token of the project, where players can vote on player-created content using their SHRAP tokens to improve the content’s visibility. Shrap can be traded on Kucoin, HTX, Crypto.com, Trader Joe, and Uniswap exchanges. 

Heroes of Mavia: Mobile Base-Builder Strategy Game

Heroes of Mavia is a multi-player strategy game developed by Skrice Studios and built on Base. The base-builder strategy game packs lots of challenges for gamers: build your city, train your army, battle with neighboring kingdoms, and expand your territory in the quest for supremacy. 

Mavia Phase 2: Next Frontier begins rollout today! Ⓜ️♦️

Phase 2 introduces critical components to the Mavia ecosystem, including integration of the $MAVIA token into the Marketplace, an on/off-chain Ruby explorer, additional game modes and much more!

Let's dive into Phase 2! 🧵 pic.twitter.com/vkfybKd25S

— Heroes of Mavia (@MaviaGame) June 15, 2024

NFTs in Heroes of Mavia include Lands, decorations, statues, skins, weapons, building tools, and other game items. Gamers build their cities, securing their base with walls, turrets, and traps to ward off competing neighbors. Lands bear natural resources like gold, oil, and rubies. Other in-game facilities will include an NFT marketplace (still in development at the time of writing) where gamers can trade unique game possessions. Heroes of Mavia is available for mobile devices and can be downloaded from the Apple Store for iOS devices and Google Play store for Android devices.

Tokens in the Heroes of Mavia include the MAVIA token, Ruby, and Sapphire. Ruby and Sapphire are both in-game tokens. Ruby is earned via regular gameplay and can be used as an entry fee for game tournaments, and to craft and trade Legendary items. Saphire can be bought in-game with fiat and is used as a special token for boosts, completing constructions, and purchasing additional builders. MAVIA is the only tradable Heroes of Mavia game token and is also the governance token of the project, where holders can vote on improvement proposals using the tokens. MAVIA can be traded on Uniswap, Bybit, and Kucoin. See active MAVIA trading pairs.

Pixels: Idle Farming Game Powered by Ronin Network

Pixels blends farming, exploration, and community building in an open-world universe. It is built on the Ronin Network, and has since grown a large community of players.

🚨 Chapter 2 is now live 🚨

We can’t believe it’s time for Chapter 2! We’ve been building with you for more than two years and everything we have learned together along the way made this launch possible.

Chapter 2 is all about making Pixels more fun to play while introducing… pic.twitter.com/23L47vHtj6

— Pixels (@pixels_online) June 18, 2024

Players can develop their virtual avatars through 15 different skills, creating items that can be sold to NPCs in game, traded with other players, or decorating their plot of farm land. Every activity drains your avatar’s energy; however, players can use consumables to recharge their energy. 

Players can also buy Pixels LAND, which they can develop and decorate to their liking. There are only 5,000 plots, and these give owners extra inventory space, no trading and withdrawal limits, along with a PIXEL earning multiplier and more. Even if you don’t have Pixels LAND, you can still visit other players’ lands! 

Pixels is generally free-to-play, and utilizes an off-chain cryptocurrency called Coins and an on-chain currency called PIXEL. PIXEL is used to buy items, upgrades, and cosmetics that are outside of the main gameplay of Pixels. Players can also buy Coins with PIXEL for faster in-game progression, and will also need PIXEL to start and join guilds. Based on information from the project, PIXEL spent in-game will be sent to a community-owned treasury for 12 months, after which ownership will be assigned to a DAO.

That said, while the team’s intent is to eventually decentralize the game through a DAO, currently their focus is on the core product and game. 

Guild of Guardians: Fantasy Roguelite Squad RPG 

The kingdom of Elderym has fallen to ruin and is invaded by the Dread. All that’s left between the complete destruction of the kingdom and the Dread are the Guardians. Take up the role of a Guardian and save your dying kingdom in the immersive Guild of Guardians, developed by Mineloader and published by Immutable. The role-playing strategy game allows gamers to build a formidable team of Guardians and march to glory against the teeming Dread. You can choose from any of the available characters, develop unique combat strategies, and start battling the Dread.

🌐Commanders, RISE UP! @GuildofGuardian is now available globally. Banish the Dread and restore light to Elderym ⚡️

Play Now: https://t.co/bHcnLqNoMQpic.twitter.com/hmWX5d2eYr

— GuildOfGuardians (@GuildOfGuardian) May 15, 2024

In Guild of Guardians, players experience dungeon crawls and roguelite squad RPG combat, merge and recipe based progression, and web3 trading and ownership. Each game character is an NFT and has unique characteristics and abilities. In-game NFTs can be traded on the game’s marketplace or external marketplaces where they are supported. The character can be an assassin, a warrior, a redeemer, or a keeper, and stats include intelligence and strength. Guild of Guardians is playable on mobile and is available for iOS and Android devices.

GOG is an ERC-20 token and the native token of the Guild of Guardians. Players can use the token to mint gaming NFTs, stake tokens for a potential loyalty bonus, and buy and sell NFTs in the NFT marketplace. In the future, GOG holders will also hold governance rights and vote on game decisions. Gamers will be able to vote on improvement proposals using their GOG tokens. GOG can be traded on SushiSwap, OKX, and BingX. 

Aurory: Seekers of Tokane

Seekers of Tokane is a roguelike turn-based RPG by Aurory on the Solana network. Players take on the role of Seekers, exploring the Lands of Tokane filled with creatures known as Nefties, which players can acquire as companions on their journey. Seekers can enter portals that transport them to procedurally generated maps, where they can explore and battle wild ‘Nefties’ with their own Pokemon-like turn-based duels. Winning battles can earn players rewards such as loot, crystals, and Neftie Eggs, which can be hatched with an incubator. Seekers of Tokane is playable on desktop and mobile devices.

Embark on the ultimate rogue-lite adventure in Seekers of Tokane 🧭

Build your Neftie squad, level up, and venture deep into the Everlasting Lands, unlocking epic rewards along the way! pic.twitter.com/Q5FYPZ0r4A

— Aurory (@AuroryProject) May 21, 2024

NFTs in the game include Aurorians, Nefties, Neftie eggs, and other collectibles. Aurorians are a collection of 10,000 playable NFT characters that represent Legends of Tokane, and come with additional access to voting rights in the DAOry decision-making process, timed expeditions to earn AURY and other rewards, early access, and more. Nefties accompany players through their missions and act on their commands, and are DNA-based NFTs, where the real stats are derived from their DNA instead of being stored as distinct NFT metadata, allowing the team to change the stat range of Nefties without needing to modify emitted NFTs when ensuring game balance. 

Aurory operates a multi-token economy. The two in-game tokens TOKE and OKA are not tradable and are mainly used in regular gameplay. According to the project, both tokens are used to determine the reward distribution of AURY for gamers. OKA is used to reward players for ranked PVP wins as long as their Nefties have OKAnergy points, while TOKE is used to reward ranked PVP winners whose Nefties have run out of OKAnergy points. AURY is the native token of the game and is required for activities such as hatching Neftie eggs, entering into tournaments, and making purchases in the marketplace. On the marketplace, players can trade Nefties, eggs, collectibles, and cosmetics with AURY tokens. AURY can be traded on Bybit, HTX, Kucoin, and Raydium. 

Gas Hero: Mobile Social and Strategy Game on Solana

Gas Hero is a strategy game developed by Find Satoshi Labs, the team behind move-to-earn game STEPN. Set in a world where AI is destroying humanity, Gas Heroes are the last hope of mankind. These special beings are endowed with unique features and are available for selection as game characters. As a new player, you’ll have four free heroes to start; after which you can build up your base, assemble new Gas Heroes, and start your fight against the machines. 

Gas Hero Updates are LIVE! 🦸‍♀️

We’re thrilled to announce that our latest updates for #GasHero are now live, packed with enhancements and fixes to make your gameplay even better!

New Features 🌟

🏔️ Introduced the Hero Mountain scoring mechanism with upgrade and downgrade… pic.twitter.com/N448RcCS3q

— Gas Hero Official (@GasHeroOfficial) July 1, 2024

Successful missions earn you various item drops that can be sold on the marketplace, and you can also buy Gas Hero NFTs with different rarities and lifespans, where the heroes “die” after a certain amount of time. As a social game, players can elect leaders within their organizations, where elected leaders receive a portion of their organization’s tax revenue in GMT. 

GMT functions as the native token on the Gas Hero game. It is used for NFT purchases and in-game boosts. NFT items in the marketplace are priced in GMT. GMT can be traded on Binance, OKX, and Upbit.

Parallel: Trading Card Game on Ethereum

Parallel is a decentralized Trading Card Game (TCG) developed and managed by the Echelon Prime Foundation. It combines gameplay elements from traditional trading card games like Magic: The Gathering, video games, and play-to-earn. Parallel NFTs are tradable cards that let players use abilities, buffs, and debuffs in matches against other players. There are five factions, each of which has unique cards with different effects, and also universal cards that can be used regardless of faction. 

First time streaming @ParallelTCG on X lessgoo https://t.co/zUxQwGx9mn

— Alliestrasza (@Alliestrasza) July 1, 2024

Players build their hands, and take turns attacking and defending with cards, while managing their reserve of energy, which depletes as they play their cards. The goal is to ensure that your opponent runs out of energy before you do. Each stage starts with a refreshed energy level. The game cards are tradable NFTs, which can be traded on Sanctuary – the game’s NFT marketplace and purchased with PRIME.

Parallel TCG is powered by the PRIME token. It is used in the gameplay, reward economy, and project governance. Players earn PRIME for winning ranked games, although the amount varies based on factors like their ranking and item bonuses. As a governance token, PRIME holders decide on game improvements and other proposals concerning the Echelon project. PRIME can be traded on Coinbase, Uniswap, Pancakeswap, and Crypto.com exchanges. 

Hytopia: Sandbox Game Resembling Minecraft

Hytopia is reminiscent of Minecraft, and was built by a team of Minecraft modders and third party developers. The Hytopia game client is compatible with the Minecraft Server protocols, allowing creators on Minecraft to migrate easily to Hytopia. According to the project, over one million players have pre-registered for the game so far. 

The Hytopia game rollout is set for 2024, and will be deployed on Hychain – a Layer 2 network built for decentralized games. While Hytopia is free-to-play, there are NFTs available that players can purchase that come with additional benefits. For example, purchasing one of the 10,000 Hytopia Worlds available could grant rewards or perks based on the World’s rarity, such as up to 20% platform fee reduction for creator sales. Players can also buy Hytopia Avatars that have custom player models. Hytopia Worlds and Hytopia Avatars can be staked to earn TOPIA and occasional cosmetic and gift box drops. 

TOPIA is the native token of the Hytopia game, offering creators a way to monetize their work if they want to. Creators earn TOPIA for selling their content , and can also earn secondary royalties as their items are bought and resold on the marketplace. 

TOPIA can be traded on Uniswap and Bilaxy Exchange.

Legends of Elumia: Fantasy MMORPG on Solana

Legends of Elumia is a fantasy MMORPG built on Solana and backed by Animoca Brands. In Elumia, players interact with the world through character avatar NFTs, where every character is a unique NFT with its own appearance, stats, and abilities, spread across three classes: Champion, Battlemage, and Archer.

🏹Archer action at its finest! What’s your go-to class? 🧙‍♂️⚔️ pic.twitter.com/vLkAcOCmWD

— Legends of Elumia (@PlayElumia) June 27, 2024

Currently, Elumia has a PVE mode where players explore procedurally generated dungeons to gain experience and level up, while acquiring loot. Most of the loot collected from gameplay can be traded as NFTs, emphasizing the team’s commitment to giving players ownership of in-game access. There is also a PVP mode, where players can compete against each other in the arena, earning items and experiences and climbing the leaderboard. This game is now in early access; however, you need a character avatar NFT to play. 

Legends of Elumia operates a dual token economy. It features EKS (Elumia Crystals), the in-game currency token, and ELU (Elumia Crowns) the native token of the project. EKS is earned in the regular gameplay and can be used for item purchases within Elumia city. ELU can be used to mint game items and vote on improvement proposals via the Legends of Elumia DAO. Holding ELU also attracts benefits like access to exclusive character drops. ELU can be traded on HTX, Gate, and Raydium exchanges.

Axie Homeland: Idle Game Set In The Axie Infinity Universe

Put your Axies to work, and develop your homeland through agriculture and crafting in the latest installment of the Axie Infinity universe by Sky Mavis. Axie Homeland is an idle land-based strategy game set on the virtual planet of Lunacia, where you control Axies, to build a stronger homeland. The Axie villages are NFT Lands, and players need to own at least one land parcel to start playing. Lands and other gaming items can be purchased from the Mavis marketplace. 

The marketplace is also the venue for trading items collected during the regular gameplay. The goal is to build an enviable home with your Axie and collect special items while doing so. Axies will also have to battle monsters in their path, so arming them with effective equipment improves the chances of winning the battle with monsters. Most of these in-game items are NFTs that can be purchased from the marketplace. At time of writing, Axie Homeland is available on desktop devices.

AXS is the utility token of Axie Homeland and other decentralized games in the Axie Infinity ecosystem. AXS powers the gaming economy and is used in reward programs. AXS can also be used to purchase game items and boost individual gameplay. AXS is also the governance token of the Axie Infinity game, enabling players decide on game and project improvements by voting using their AXS tokens. AXS can be traded on Binance, OKX, Gate, and MEXC exchanges.

Final Thoughts

NFT games allow gamers to own the properties they create or earn while gaming, ranging from game characters to craftable items. Mainstream games are developing something similar, but building on the blockchain gives NFT games an advantage as the transaction architecture of the blockchain enables these projects to develop autonomous financial systems around their games. These commercial facilities include marketplaces and decentralized exchanges to trade their game NFTs and fungible tokens respectively. NFT games are growing in sophistication alongside blockchain and advances in the gaming graphics space. 

This article explores some of the notable NFT games in 2024 but isn’t exhaustive. Many interesting projects in this sector might not be on this list. However, while interacting with decentralized games, it is important to understand how they work and what it means for you as a player. Keep in mind that this is a developing sector and significant changes could occur. Also, note that this article only reviews popular NFT games and shouldn’t be taken as financial advice.