Crypto gaming has evolved and, as it has, the genre of play-to-earn games has expanded to include both play-to-earn and play-and-earn models. Both models are built on and benefit from the use of blockchain. Both reward players with cryptocurrency, for their gaming efforts. But, there are subtle differences between the two. Play-to-earn games concentrate on earning, with the gameplay primarily being concerned with earning crypto rewards. Play-and-earn games tend to have more traditional gameplay elements, with the rewards being incidental compared to the gameplay.
Crypto’s integration into gaming is definitely no longer an afterthought, with dedicated NFT trading games like Cryptokitties, blockchain games like Axie Infinity, and crypto casinos like Mega Dice Casino. Because they are developed on the blockchain, they offer anonymity and privacy while benefiting from transparency and rapid transactions. They also enable players to potentially win or earn cryptocurrency and crypto assets.
Play-To-Earn Games
Play-to-earn (P2E) games place the onus on earning. Players take part in the games to earn cryptocurrencies, NFTs, or other crypto assets. The gameplay is almost inconsequential and not the main point of the game. This is the most common type of play-to-earn game at the moment, but if crypto gaming is to become mainstream, there needs to be greater onus on gameplay and less on earning.
Pros
P2E games were some of the first crypto games developed, which means they have established communities and experienced developers involved.
- Earning Potential – They have been developed to enable players to earn from their gaming time. Generally, the point of these games is to earn NFTs which can then be traded on marketplaces. Some NFTs have been sold for considerable prices. While these big prices are rare, and it can take a lot of grinding to earn decent crypto rewards, there is potential for players to make some profit from their gaming.
- Availability – Crypto gaming has yet to hit mainstream gaming. Most developers in this area are crypto and blockchain developers. As such, there are more P2E games than there are play-and-earn games, which are relative newcomers to the scene. This may change over time, however.
Cons
P2E games were among the first crypto games. As new games and new genres of crypto games have been developed, this has seen P2E titles improved.
- Gameplay Takes A Backset – P2E game developers place an onus on the earning, rather than the playing. This means that the gameplay can be somewhat underdeveloped.
Many P2E games feel like a grind, rather than a game, which means players leave after relatively short playing careers, and it can also leave games feeling unpopulated. This will change if mainstream and major gaming companies develop titles in the future.
Examples
Because they were the first to market, and there was huge intrigue surrounding crypto games at the time, there are a lot of P2E games available. Some have stood the test of time and continue to enjoy some popularity,
- CryptoKitties – CryptoKitties was launched in 2017 and was the first crypto game to garner attention. It is a trading game in which players buy Kitties and then trade and breed them to create unique NFTs. The game is still running and still has something of a dedicated fanbase.
- Axie Infinity – Axie Infinity launched a year after CryptoKitties, in 2018. Players buy and trade Axies before battling them and breeding them, to try and get rarer Axies. It has come under fire with some reviewers describing it as a pyramid scheme. It is popular in some countries, especially the Philippines.
- Pegaxy – Pegaxy is a virtual horse-racing game in which players compete to place in the top three positions in races and win virtual rewards. There are variable factors in each race, ultimately determining the outcome and adding a little more playability to the title.
Play-And-Earn Games
Whereas earning is the main point of P2E games, earning is secondary in play-and-earn games. The main point of these titles is the game itself. Players do earn cryptocurrencies or other crypto assets, but the main point is the game itself. If crypto gaming is to hit gaming mainstream, which many believe it will, these are the titles that are more likely to drive mass adoption.
Pros
Play-and-earn games are arguably more advanced than P2E games, although they are newer to the industry. They have seen some, albeit still only minimal, involvement from major gaming studios.
- Gameplay Is More Important – Gamers will give up on games that don’t have decent gameplay. These titles put gaming at the forefront of their design, which means they offer immersive experiences that pull players in and keep them playing. This means that game makers can charge for the game and need to provide the kind of support we see from AAA gaming titles.
- Earn Crypto Assets While Gaming – Although gaming is the primary point of these titles, players can still earn crypto assets while enjoying that gameplay. There are different ways games can offer this. One common way is through the use of cryptocurrency tokens as in-game currency. Alternatively, trading card games can use NFTs, as long as the game itself is appealing.
- More Likely To Become Mainstream – P2E games have appeal to those who want to use them as side hustles. But, they take a lot of grinding to generate even a relatively modest sum. As such, most players get bored and stop playing. In turn, this means there is little appeal to major game studios to invest in the titles. Play-and-earn games have the potential to make game companies money, and because gameplay is at the fore of designs, play-and-earn games are more likely to see mainstream adoption.
Cons
Play-and-earn is still relatively new, even in the crypto gaming industry. As such, there is still room for development and improvement in the future.
- Tendency For Pay To Win – The use of NFTs, and their availability on marketplaces, means players can buy existing assets that give them a leg up in the game.
This can lead to claims of pay-to-win, putting a lot of gamers off. Game makers need to find a way to avoid this.
Examples
Play-and-earn games are relatively new, but there are already a few examples of titles in the genre, including one from Ubisoft. Other AAA game makers are likely watching to see how well that and other titles perform and to determine whether platforms integrate cryptocurrency and blockchain options.
- Champions Tactics – Champions Tactics is a big deal. It’s an NFT game developed by Ubisoft. It was released relatively quietly, and may not get a lot of attention, but it is a trailblazer. It has appealing and enjoyable gameplay. Tag a popular IP onto a title like this and it could see crypto gaming really hit the mainstream.
- Big Time – BigTime is an RPG title with a procedurally generated world. Players can create and forge their own in-game assets, which are minted as NFTs. Importantly, unless you really dig down into the homepage of the game, you wouldn’t really know it’s a crypto game. The onus is very much on gameplay, but players can earn crypto assets from their time and effort.
