Have you ever considered the possibility of earning money simply by playing video games? The emergence of NFT games has made this a reality. The intersection of blockchain technology and gaming, often referred to as crypto or web3 gaming, has created opportunities for players to enjoy their favorite activities while generating income. The play-to-earn (P2E) model gained significant traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, exemplified by games like Axie Infinity, which enabled players, particularly in countries such as the Philippines, to earn real income through gameplay. Since then, the landscape has evolved, with numerous NFT gaming platforms now providing various avenues for monetization, including gameplay rewards, airdrops, tournaments, content creation, and engagements in metaverse economies.
An Introduction to NFT Gaming
If you are unfamiliar with NFT games, there’s no need for concern! This guide will introduce you to the leading gaming ecosystems where you can begin earning today. Platforms such as Immutable, Ronin, Gala Games, and The Sandbox offer a variety of income-generating opportunities.
Immutable: The Free to Play Web3 Gaming Hub
Among the various web3 gaming ecosystems, Immutable stands out as one of the largest, boasting over 300 free-to-play crypto games across a range of genres, including MMORPGs, card games, and sci-fi shooters. The most appealing aspect is that players can begin without any upfront investment.
Notable Games on Immutable
- Gods Unchained – A blockchain card game allowing players to earn and trade NFT cards for cryptocurrency.
- Guild of Guardians – A mobile action RPG where gamers collect NFT champions and earn $GOG tokens through seasonal leaderboards.
- Illuvium – A sci-fi adventure game where players can capture, trade, and sell NFT creatures known as Illuvials.
- Immortal Rising 2 & RavenQuest – Recent additions that feature play-to-airdrop campaigns, rewarding dedicated players with tokens.
How to Earn Money in Immutable Games
To get started, visit Immutable Play, a platform that enables you to monitor your crypto rewards across various games. Players can earn by engaging in gameplay and receiving rewards in the form of NFT items, in-game currencies, or tokens. Be on the lookout for play-to-airdrop initiatives, where new games provide free NFTs and tokens to early participants. Immutable Passport offers a convenient way to sign up using your Gmail or Apple ID, and to withdraw your earnings, you may require a crypto wallet such as MetaMask and an account on a centralized exchange (CEX) like Binance or Coinbase.
Ronin: Home of Axie Infinity & More
Next up is Ronin, the Ethereum-based network designed for Axie Infinity, which is recognized as one of the first blockchain games to achieve mainstream success. Over time, while Axie’s economic model has evolved, Ronin has developed into a significant web3 gaming ecosystem, currently hosting more than 15 NFT games.
Notable Games on Ronin
- Axie Infinity – The legendary NFT battle game that rewards players with $SLP and $AXS tokens.
- Pixels – A social farming game where players can earn $PIXELS tokens by completing various challenges.
- Fableborne – An action RPG that allows players to raid kingdoms and earn token vouchers for the upcoming $POWER token.
- Apeiron, The Machines Arena, Ragnarok: Monster World – Other exciting titles in the Ronin ecosystem that allow players to earn tokens through leaderboard placements and special events.
How to Earn Money in Ronin Games
Begin your journey by playing Axie Infinity, where you can win PvP battles and earn $SLP and $AXS tokens. Alternatively, engage in resource farming in Pixels and convert your earnings into in-game currencies that can be exchanged for cryptocurrency. This is generally simpler than grinding in Axie. Another option is Fableborne, where participation in seasonal events can yield token vouchers redeemable for future tokens. Unlike the initial phase of Axie Infinity, most games on Ronin are now free-to-play, so there’s no need to invest in expensive NFTs to get started. Just ensure you set up a Ronin Wallet to access these titles!
Gala Games: A Web3 Powerhouse
Gala Games is another prominent blockchain gaming platform that features a variety of NFT titles. Although there has been a slight slowdown in development recently, numerous free-to-play games are still available for players to earn cryptocurrency.
Notable Games on Gala
- Champions Arena – A turn-based RPG where players can rent NFT champions, engage in PvP matches, and earn Victory Points redeemable for $GALA tokens.
- Spider Tanks – A PvP battle game where players can achieve victories with NFT tanks and earn Victory Points that can be exchanged for $SILK rewards and $GALA tokens.
- Treasure Tapper – A casual clicker game on Telegram where players tap to earn virtual coins, functioning similarly to Notcoin and Hamster Kombat.
How to Earn Money in Gala Games
You can start earning $GALA tokens by playing Spider Tanks and succeeding in PvP matches. If you lack an NFT tank, you can borrow one from another player and still earn rewards. Champions Arena also allows you to rent NFT champions for battles to win tokens. For a more laid-back experience, keep an eye on Telegram games like Treasure Tapper, which often feature play-to-airdrop campaigns for earning free cryptocurrency.
The Sandbox: The Metaverse of Play to Earn
If virtual worlds and user-generated content (UGC) excite you, The Sandbox is one of the leading platforms in the web3 metaverse space. Unlike most NFT games, The Sandbox allows both players and creators to generate income.
How to Earn in The Sandbox
Engagement in open, seasonal events on The Sandbox can lead to earning $SAND tokens. Typically, these events require players to complete specific tasks to qualify for rewards. Creators can design and sell 3D assets in the marketplace as NFTs, purchase and develop virtual land, and rent or sell it for profit. Compared to Decentraland, The Sandbox provides more opportunities for players to earn while engaging in gameplay.
So, How to Make Money with NFT Games?
In summary, there are three primary methods to generate income from blockchain games:
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Gameplay: Play to Earn & Play to Airdrop – Participate in play-to-airdrop campaigns, particularly from new blockchain games that frequently offer airdrops, allowing players to earn free NFTs and tokens before the official launch. Look for Telegram-based web3 games like Notcoin, where players can earn rewards through tapping and completing challenges. Once you’re comfortable, explore other web3 titles with more complex mechanics like Illuvium and Axie Infinity.
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Tournaments & Seasonal Events – For those who enjoy competition, check out Off The Grid, a battle royale shooter that occasionally hosts cash prize tournaments. For example, their ongoing "Clash for Cash" event awards the top player $1,000 daily, with a total prize pool of $3,000 per day. Other esports titles, including Citizen Conflict and Farcana, also offer regular tournaments with substantial prizes.
- Creating Content in Metaverse Games – If content creation is your forte, consider platforms like The Sandbox, Decentraland, and Nifty Island to design and monetize your creations. In Nifty Island, every player receives a free island to personalize. You can build your dream space, demonstrate your creativity, and even create entertaining quests for friends. Players can earn $ISLAND tokens by completing daily missions, participating in mini-games, and hosting other players on their islands.
How to Get Started in Blockchain Games
Before you dive into the world of blockchain gaming, you’ll need a few essentials:
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A Crypto Wallet – Popular options include MetaMask, Ronin, and Coinbase Wallet. These wallets are used to store NFTs, cryptocurrencies, and in-game earnings. For high-value digital assets, consider using cold wallets like Ledger or Trezor for added security.
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A Crypto Exchange Account – This is necessary for cashing out your earnings, with Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken being popular choices.
- Game Accounts & Official Links – Always download games from official websites to avoid scams, and never share your wallet seed phrase or private keys.
Conclusion
NFT games are revolutionizing the gaming industry by providing tangible financial incentives. Whether you are battling it out in Immutable games, farming resources in Pixels, or constructing a virtual empire in The Sandbox, there are numerous opportunities to earn in the realm of web3 gaming. So why wait? Select a free-to-play NFT game, join an airdrop campaign, and start earning real-world rewards today!