In a previous post, I wrote about how blockchain technology is set to revolutionize the gaming industry. The biggest game changer (no pun intended), is that censorship-resistant blockchains will allow gamers to have true ownership of their in-game items in the form of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).

Secondly, blockchain provides the trust required to enable thriving in-game economies. As players earn rewards for performing work, leveling up, or solving puzzles, they need to know that it won't be inflated or manipulated by the developer, or stolen by some hacker. Because of its trustless nature, the currency manipulation that has occurred in traditional games is not possible in blockchain-based games.

Enjin, one of the leading gaming platforms on the Ethereum blockchain, is providing game developers with a framework to create items backed by the cryptocurrency EnjinCoin (ENJ). Those items can then be collected by players through gameplay, traded peer-to-peer, or sold on marketplaces such as EnjiX or OpenSea.

Players can easily purchase items by visiting the marketplace, scanning a QR code, and paying with ENJ. No credit card details required! At any point, the player can list the item for sale on the marketplace with a few taps in the app. The item can also be "melted" by the owner, meaning it is destroyed forever and the ENJ that backed it is returned to the developer and owner, each receiving 50%.

On a side note, this concept of true ownership is also disrupting the way games are funded, because developers can now raise capital directly from investors and early adopters by selling them rare in-game items in the form of NFTs.

There are already a number of games in development that leverage the Enjin platform, and the list continues to grow. This post covers eight of them.

Age of Rust

Quoting from their website, Age of Rust "is a dark sci-fi action-adventure game set in the vast expanse of the universe. You'll explore abandoned space stations, mysterious caverns, and ruins on far away worlds. On the way, you'll unlock puzzles and secrets to light the way forward."

The game is being developed by SpacePirate Games, founded by Chris Loverme, a former NASA network engineer. Players earn rewards in the form of cryptocurrency (ETH, ENJ, Rustbits, and BTC) and rare items as they solve in-game puzzles. The developers have also released a set of limited cards that award players special items or capabilities in the game.

The in-game currency are tokens called "Rustbits", which can be purchased on the EnjinX or OpenSea marketplaces.

Twitter followers: 5,040

Telegram users: 1575

9Lives Arena

In 9Lives Arena you can battle it out as a viking, barbarian, samurai, gladiator or ancient atlantean. Customize your character's appearance, skills, spells, weapon art and abilities. Your objective is to train your warrior, gather resources, and craft gear that suits your personal play style and game plan.

The game is raising capital through an online pre-sale, where you can invest in rare items such as weapons, armor, and shields, all of which are backed by ENJ.

9LivesArena introduces the concept of "blueprints", rare molds that allow the owner to create an unlimited number of unique skins and sell them on the marketplace.

Twitter followers: 1816

Telegram members: 1724

AlterVerse

The AlterVerse is not a game per se, but rather a world-building VR multiverse, where the players themselves can create and interact in an infinite number of interconnected games and settings. The idea is that players, builders, and creators will be able to create in-game businesses, and monetize their activities in a variety of ways.

The founder, Scot Kinney, has written a guest article for Yahoo Finance explaining how blockchain-based items and currencies will drastically improve the gaming experience. In an interview from last year, Kinney said they were working on getting seed funding and hoping to release a new game every two to three months. Currently in development, they are hoping to release their first game "Disruption" on Steam in the near future.

Twitter followers: 7097

Telegram members: 1760

Bitcoin Hodler

Bitcoin Hodler is a 2D mobile game designed for the crypto community - "A mixed endless runner and arcade style action-adventure taking you on an exciting journey through the gamified crypto world."

Create your own NFT Hodler character with a unique track record - storing data like levels, skills, cycles and challenges that have been accomplished. Choose from avatars such as "Greedy-beard Jones", "Sir Henry Hodlalot", and "Mr. Banks". Activate additional skills by applying artifacts like Crystal Balls, Cans of Hopium, and the Law Hammer.

Game mechanics are based on live market data. Reach All Time Highs and go to the Moon while discovering and collecting items backed by ENJ. As per the Telegram channel, the game is set for release in the coming weeks.

Twitter followers: 915

Telegram members: 2274

A Turret's Life

A Turret’s Life is "a single-player first person tower defense game for PC and VR, currently under development with fast-paced gameplay and deck-building inspired features, where the player takes control of an automated sentry turret to defend the facility against endless waves of attacking robots."

Your objective is to collect resources in order to add modules to your turret, while creating your very own unique bullet designs. All in-game items are backed by ENJ and can be traded peer-to-peer or sold on open marketplaces.

Twitter followers: 108

Telegram members: 824

Containment Corps

Containment Corps is multiplayer First Person Shooter tower defense game that requires resource management and skilled team coordination. The game features class-based defense strategies with the help of specialized units, and is currently playable on the Steam platform.

Eventually they plan to offer items crafting to the players, allowing them to create their own unique skins and freely trade them on the open marketplace.

Twitter followers: 442

Telegram members: 850

CryptoFights

CryptoFights is a Player vs. Player turn-based fighting game where players invest in their custom-made character and enter into cash tournaments.

According to the game's Telegram channel, the items, weapons and armor will use the ENJ platform, but in an interesting development, the game will also be utilizing the Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain for battles.

Twitter followers: 3878

Telegram members: 1099

Cats in Mechs

"Before their inauspicious disappearance, humans smugly believed they had domesticated cats." Now with humans fully immersed in cyberspace, the cats are well on their way to supplanting humans as the dominant race.

In Cats in Mechs, "cat fights" take on a whole new meaning as they enter 50-ton Mechs to wage battle and defend themselves from danger. Create epic customized Mechs with unique history and collect bonuses based on how they are used. Of course, all items are owned by the player and can be bought and sold on open markets.

The CEO of Megaworld Studios and mastermind behind the game, Kyle Garner, has 24 years of game development experience. He sees the "Game Economist" role taking on ever more significance as blockchain-based game economies continue to strengthen.

Twitter followers: 840

Telegram members: 1452

Summary

These development studios are all pioneers, leading the way towards a new paradigm in gaming. I believe it's only a matter of time before the billions of gamers in the world realize the benefits of participating in blockchain-based games: True ownership of in-game items, monetization of thriving economies, and direct rewards for participation.

In another unprecedented move, Age of Rust, 9Lives Arena, CryptoFights, and Bitcoin Hodler (along with others) have joined together to create the first "Multiverse", a multi-dimensional gaming environment where players can use their items across multiple worlds. This new concept could lead to a transformation in the way we think about developing and participating in multiplayer games.