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The metaverse is an immersive technology that allows people to connect with digital worlds. Through the use of games and online applications, users can enter and engage with others in these virtual 3D environments using avatars. The activities within these virtual communities mirror those of the physical world, including creation, buying and selling, investing, and rewarding others.
The metaverse seamlessly integrates gaming, virtual reality, live streaming, digital currencies, and social media. For instance, players can purchase a piece of digital art in one game and use it in another game developed by a different company.
One popular metaverse game is Axie Infinity, developed by Vietnamese startup Sky Mavis in 2018. Drawing inspiration from Pokemon, Axie Infinity features fantastical creatures called Axies that players can breed, raise, collect, and trade. Each Axie has over 500 customizable body parts, and their offspring inherit new powers and traits based on genetic makeup. Axies can embark on treasure hunts and engage in battles to earn rewards. Players can also buy land and houses for their Axies to live in and construct them using available resources. The game utilizes non-fungible tokens (NFTs) or digital certificates of ownership controlled by blockchain technology to imbue virtual pets and items with value. Additionally, players can earn tokens by lending three of their Axies to scientists or other individuals. The main currency in Axie Infinity is Axie Infinity Shards (AXS).
Another metaverse game is Dicentraland, which was made accessible to everyone for free in 2020 by two Argentinians named Ari Meilich and Esteban. Using the digital currency MANA, players can create avatars, purchase clothing, and obtain real estate and land in this virtual space comprising more than 90,000 plots. Landowners have the opportunity to rent out their properties and earn money by organizing concerts, selling tickets, hosting digital art auctions, and more. MetaMask is a popular digital wallet used by players on this platform.
metaverse
Sandbox, initially launched as a mobile game by Pixelowl founders Arthur Madrid and Sébastien Borget in 2012, is another notable metaverse game. Users, represented by customizable avatars, can claim ownership of their creations through blockchain and smart contracts. Sandbox offers three primary products: VoxEdit, a 3D modeling tool for designing avatars, vehicles, plants, animals, tools, and other objects; the Marketplace, where users can sell their creations after exporting them from VoxEdit; and Game Maker, a platform for developing 3D games without coding. The game’s main currency is Sand, which can be used to buy, trade, and invest in land and real estate collections. Players also have the option to list their properties on opensea’s NFT market.
Illuvium is an upcoming game generating considerable excitement in the gaming world. Touting itself as a true 3D blockchain experience, Illuvium allows players to hunt and train creatures called Illuvials in an extraterrestrial realm. These Illuvials can aid players in battles against other players and monsters, with over a hundred participants. Illuvials are also tradable NFTs, and their value increases based on their strength and rarity. When a player possesses three Illuvials of the same type, they can be combined or merged to create a new creature of higher value. Players can remove their armor and weapons from the Illuvium environment and earn rewards in the form of the game’s digital currency, Illuvium (ILV), through competitions and missions. These ILV tokens can then be sold on the IlluviDEX platform.
Chain of Alliance, released in 2020, is another intriguing metaverse game. This fantasy role-playing game involves monsters with NFT value, where players assemble teams of up to eight characters for each round. To increase their chances of success, players must identify the most formidable players and equip them with top-tier weapons. By upgrading their monsters, players can enhance their value and earn money by selling them.
