Want to strike it rich in blockchain games but have no idea where to start? Complete breakdown of investment logic and track framework

In recent months, the popularity of blockchain games has indeed been soaring. Many new coin issuance plans on exchanges show a significant increase in blockchain gaming projects, reflecting that the entire sector is beginning to attract broader attention. However, many people still have only a superficial understanding of investing in blockchain games and are unclear about how to participate. Today, we will systematically review the three main investment paths in blockchain gaming and the core framework of the entire sector.

Three Ways to Invest in Blockchain Games, with Very Different Risks and Returns

Before entering the blockchain gaming sector, it’s important to clarify your investment approach. Generally, there are three paths:

The Safest Choice: Buying Coins

This is the simplest and most straightforward way to enter blockchain gaming. When project teams list their tokens on exchanges, you can buy directly on the secondary market. The risk is moderate. But pay attention to a detail: in most blockchain gaming projects, over half of the tokens are generated within the game itself. This means that those who buy coins later are essentially taking over the chips of early players.

More Aggressive but Full of Traps: Buying NFTs

Many focus on game NFTs, believing that their prices will rise even more. In theory, as a first-level asset, NFTs have more exaggerated upside potential than tokens. But the problem is that liquidity is severely limited. If the project fails, NFTs can drop to zero with no room for recovery. Moreover, NFTs are limited in quantity, and there’s a cap on capital capacity, making the investment threshold much higher than buying coins. Overall, the risk is higher, and the returns may not justify it.

Highest Returns but Most Demanding Skills: Participating in Gold Farming

This is truly the way to make big money. The most valuable window for a blockchain game project is during its testing phase, when the number of participants is small. Early players can often earn dozens of times their investment through token mining, NFT drops, airdrops, and asset appreciation stacking.

But here’s a harsh truth: high returns always go to a few people. To get a piece of this cake, you need:

• Industry research skills: Ability to analyze which projects truly have potential and predict how much you can earn
• Gold farming strategies: Not just playing blindly, but planning how to maximize your gains efficiently
• Time and technical skills: You need to invest enough time to play well and play skillfully

That’s why some early participants in Layer 2 public chains can reach hundreds of thousands, while blockchain game participants are only in the thousands. Most investors lack industry research skills, don’t play games, and consider time a luxury.

Blockchain Gaming Sector Map: The Three Main Components

Now, let’s broaden the perspective and look at what segments make up the entire blockchain gaming ecosystem.

Infrastructure Layer: Gaming Public Chains

This is the technical foundation on which blockchain games run. Representative projects include IMX, Ronin, Gala, etc. Their role is to provide fast, low-cost transaction environments for blockchain games. The investment logic of these projects is similar to that of foundational public chains.

Organization Layer: Blockchain Gaming Guilds

The concept of guilds is quite interesting. Initially, they were community groups formed spontaneously by gamers sharing gameplay tips. But with the rise of Play-to-Earn models, guilds have gradually evolved into profit-making organizations: renting NFT assets, boosting gameplay for others, teaching players skills, and later developing into DAO structures issuing tokens. Some guilds even grew into investment firms. Examples include YGG, GF, Ancient8, etc.

Application Layer: Specific Games

This is the core of the entire ecosystem. Blockchain games have already moved most Web2 gameplay onto the chain.

Classification of Blockchain Games: Which Sectors Are More Likely to Produce Star Projects?

Based on game types, current blockchain games mainly fall into six categories:

RPGs and FPS are the Absolute Mainstream

Role-playing games with complete storylines and immersive experiences. Shooting games with strong competitiveness and excitement. These two genres are also the most profitable in Web2, comparable to games like Diablo and CS. Because of fierce competition, entering these sectors requires AAA-level production, a top-tier team, and huge funding, which is why hit projects are more likely to emerge. Examples include Seraph, Bigtime, Lumiterra, Shrapnel, Matr1x Fire, etc.

Strategy and Sandbox Games Are Next Tier

Strategy games require players to command and make decisions; sandbox games give players freedom to build and explore. These have a smaller audience and overall market size. Examples include Heroes of Mavia, Pixels, Sandbox, etc.

Simulation and Card Games Are the Least Popular

These two genres have low entry barriers but also the smallest player base and limited explosive potential. Examples include Xpet, Him, Parallel, etc.

Investment Advice: Focus on RPG and FPS

If you want to find the most promising projects in blockchain gaming, prioritize RPG and FPS genres, as they are the most likely to produce blockbuster hits.

Three Hard Metrics to Judge if a Project Is Worth Investing In

Once you identify a promising blockchain game, evaluate it based on these three dimensions:

First: Funding Scale

A funding amount exceeding $10 million generally indicates that the project team has sufficient capital to ensure game quality. This is the minimum threshold for a credible project.

Second: Founding Team Background

Since most blockchain games still replicate Web2 gameplay with limited innovation, the “story” becomes important. If the team comes from well-known game studios or has participated in Web2 blockbuster projects, that’s a big plus. Usually, a team should have at least 5 years of game development experience. A classic example is Seraph, a legitimate continuation of the Diablo series, developed by the same team, carrying its own prestige.

Third: Game Quality

Projects without a compelling backstory must have AAA-level game quality to be competitive. The high difficulty and substantial capital investment of AAA games can actually be an advantage—such projects are less likely to run away with investors’ money.

Quick Judgment Logic

If a project meets any two of these three criteria, it has the potential to become a hit. Of course, final decisions should also consider playability and community enthusiasm, which require some industry experience to assess.

Why Is the Blockchain Gaming Sector Worth Paying Attention To?

From a macro perspective, the continuous rise of blockchain gaming is not accidental. More and more mainstream capital and game studios are entering, indicating sector recognition. But opportunities and risks coexist: some can earn tenfold returns during the gold-farming phase, while others get trapped after buying coins at high prices.

The key is to grasp the rhythm—identify potential early, choose the participation method that suits you, whether simple coin buying or complex gold farming. Always be clear about your goals and risk tolerance.