Will Blockchain Ever Enjoy Complex Gaming?

Blockchain gaming introduces many exciting opportunities on paper, but the overall gaming experience remains lackluster. Simplicity is a benefit, but it will only carry the Web3 gaming initiative so far. More complex gaming projects are needed to take the concept to a new level. 

Simple Games Aren’t The Answer

It makes sense for game developers to explore the new blockchain paradigm in a rather apprehensive fashion. Experimenting with this technology and incorporating it into a game offers many exciting opportunities. Players can build their own experience and earn money from the assets they earn in the game. Additionally, developers can tap into new revenue streams and explore a global audience of gamers. 

All of that sounds good, yet it is very challenging to find a blockchain game capable of retaining players. More specifically, the first generation of gaming titles favors simplicity over trying bold ideas. That is unfortunate and explains why so many titles gain a following, remain successful for a few months, and ultimately start to fade into nothing.

Even popular titles like Axie Infinity struggle to retain users. As one of the biggest titles, the game’s in-game assets – including the tokens and monsters – continue to plummet. Moreover, the team shifted the majority of in-game rewards to player-vs-player – which is a smart move – but that experience results in very repetitive fights, which most players need to grind out to secure the necessary daily wins.  

That grinding and repetitiveness, combined with a lack of more advanced in-game features and options, ultimately leads to growing disinterest. It would explain why Axie Infinity saw player numbers dwindle over the past few months and struggles to maintain its position in the top 15 of games ranked by monthly players. Furthermore, overall revenue has plummeted and continues to go down. If the game had more complex features, things might look different.

Complex P2E Titles Exist 

While most blockchain games are very simplistic, there are always exceptions. Those exceptions offer a glimpse of hope for the future of blockchain and play-to-earn gaming. Complex gameplay, interesting features, and player decisions affecting the game world are some examples of creating more engaging environments capable of retaining players. If the experience is different for all players, the game has a better chance of establishing long-term success. 

A god-game, like Apeiron, shows the importance of how player decisions affect the game world. Players become Godlings who perform miracles and build their civilization. Moreover, players are in charge of planets with unique biomes, can engage in PvE and PvP content, etc. The “Armageddon” mechanic lets players wipe a planet to restore it to its undeveloped form, introducing permanent progression through the generation of Soul Gems to upgrade characters. The “good-vs-evil” decision-making process gives players various options to approach the game and its ecosystem.

Another more complex title is Plutonians, which rethinks the concept of player-generated content. The developers offer an initial game world and the necessary tools for players to build new worlds, assets, storylines, etc. As such, Plutonians players can create their own narrative and share – or sell – it with others as they see fit. The option of free expansion packs is very appealing – users burn in-game tokens to explore additional content – and real-time space travel requires a strategic approach.

Both titles tackle blockchain gaming from a very different angle. However, they also introduce some more complex gaming elements one will not find in most blockchain games today. It shows there is room for combining compelling gameplay with complex elements and empowering users. Moreover, it highlights the play-to-earn gaming industry has the necessary infrastructure and ideas to reach a new level, but it takes bright developers and teams to tap into these new opportunities.