The 6 Top Gaming Cryptos to Invest in 2024
The crypto gaming industry is growing fast as blockchain technology evolves to provide enough throughput and computational power to run more immersive experiences and virtual worlds. Coupled with GameFi mechanics, a crypto gaming coin is shaping up to be a very lucrative investment.
However, like the rest of the industry, crypto gaming is plagued with scams and downright terrible games. And because of GameFi, the trick goes beyond finding a good game, to finding one that runs a sustainable financial model.
This guide dives into the best crypto gaming tokens on the market. We touch on the games, what they are about, and what role their coins play in their respective ecosystems and in-game assets. By the end of this guide, you should be able to select the best crypto-gaming projects with the most sustainable financial models.
Top Gaming Crypto Coins in 2024
The Best Gaming Cryptocurrencies Reviewed
What are Crypto Gaming Coins?
Crypto gaming coins are tokens that power crypto gaming ecosystems. They are often used within games for various purposes that could range from general things like paying for tools and virtual assets, weapons, land, to specific tasks like completing quests.
Either way, their value is usually tied to the degree of acceptance and adoption of the blockchain games themselves. While it may be easy to overlook the games and focus on the coins, even the best gaming crypto coins do not grow sustainably if the game does not.
Gaming coins come in various types and serve various purposes. Some serve as an all-round token for transferring all forms of value within their gaming ecosystems while some are created strictly for GameFi purposes like staking coins to earn rewards that could be converted to cash.
Some others are used for DAO purposes, to vote on proposals affecting the entire ecosystem. At times, games could run a dual token system where a major token is used for governance and a minor token is used as an in-game currency.
When did Gaming Cryptos Become Popular?
The best gaming crypto coins became popular with the rise of Axie Infinity in 2021. It was the first time the concept of a functional play2earn model where players’ skills could be translated to real money was successfully implemented in the gaming industry.
As such, the game’s token became popular and also rose in value while other games that claimed to implement working play2earn mechanics also garnered attention.
Are Crypto Gaming Coins a Good Investment?
When looking to buy the best crypto, your focus should be more on the game itself. The rationale behind this is that the tokens are a part of the overall gaming experience that reflect the value of the game. If games perform well, so will their Gamefi tokens.
The factors that affect the acceptability of a blockchain based game are similar to those of traditional games. Some include.
Technology
The blockchain ecosystem that games decide to build on is important. For example, you’ll hardly see games building on Ethereum anymore because of high gas fees and scalability issues.
Granted, Ethereum has made strides in that regard, but good gameplay often requires more throughput than Ethereum can currently provide. Hence, most game developers move to faster networks like Polygon and Wax.
Gameplay
First generation crypto games were nothing more than a bundle of decentralized finance tasks with a fancy “gaming” theme. The tasks quickly became cumbersome and people lost interest.
Axie infinity was the first game to successfully combine engaging gameplay and GameFi, ushering in an age of play-to-earn gaming. Since then, several games have emerged that are nice to play, like Gala Games’ suite of games.
The more engaging crypto games are, the more likely people are to play them, and this helps to bring value into the ecosystem and earn money.
GameFi Mechanics
Crypto gaming is still in its early stages, so some of the best crypto games pale in comparison to their legacy counterparts. Hence, a significant reason people play crypto games are the financial incentives. Almost all of the top crypto games integrate gaming finance into their ecosystem in different ways.
For example, Town Star, the town building game by Gala Games, rewards players for completing tasks with Town Coin, which is a crypto with monetary value. Players can also buy NFTs that can increase the tokens they earn for completing the same set of tasks.
Tokenomics
Tokenomics underpins the other points explained in this section. If a game’s tokenomics are too inflationary or improperly designed, then its tokens may not capture value as they should. In this case, the game could tick all the boxes, but people still won’t buy its tokens.
While it is common to see game tokens reach maximum supplies of up to 1 billion units, irrationally high numbers like 1 trillion is a red flag. Also, token allocations matter. If a significant chunk of the token supply goes to the team, then that is another red flag.
Ultimately, there is no one size fits all with tokenomics. However, you can always look out for signs of foul play.
What is the Difference Between Gaming Cryptos and Gaming Tokens?
Technically speaking, there is no difference between the two. All cryptos that operate as (or as part of) dapps on a blockchain technology network are tokens, games included.
However, some may differentiate based on in-game utility as some games run a dual token system. An example is Axie Infinity which has the AXS and SLP tokens.
AXS is the game’s main token and is used for governance while SLP is a reward token for winning tournaments and for upgrading Axies. In this case, AXS would be the gaming crypto, while SLP the gaming token.
Gaming Crypto |
Gaming Tokens |
Usually limited supply | Usually unlimited supply |
Usually used for governance | Usually used as in-game currency |
Can You Earn Crypto Playing Games?
This depends on the game. Some games reward winners of battles, tournaments or guilds with crypto. A good example is Axie Infinity. Battle winners get Smooth Love Potion (SLP), the game’s in-game currency which can be used to upgrade Axies or be sold for money.
Gala Game’s TownStar is another example. Players who complete the daily tasks within the allotted time gain TOWN that can be sold.
However, keep in mind that some of these tokens, especially when a dual token system is used, like in the examples above, can be inflationary which means their value can decrease over time. At least until all tokens are unlocked.
How can You Find the Top Gaming Cryptos to Invest in?
To find the best gaming crypto coins, keep these points in mind.
- Look at the player community: The presence of a player community shows that the game is enjoyable and engaging, which is good for its crypto.
- Play the game: Possibly one of the most surefire ways to select gaming cryptos, playing a game gives you firsthand knowledge of how everything works. If you like it, others may as well.
Are Crypto Gaming Coins Safe to Invest in?
The safety of a gaming crypto depends on its platform’s security. Note that safety here means protection from loss due to hacks or common crypto scams, not the economic viability of the crypto. Before investing in any crypto gaming coin, ensure that you are aware of the following factors.
Smart Contract Security
The game’s smart contracts should be audited by a recognized audit firm like Certik. This does not eliminate all risks, but acts like a thumbs up to the project. It also hints at the honesty of the game developers.
Treasury Size
Games with large treasuries can afford to make investors whole in cases where funds are lost due to a technical error. Bootstrapped games less so.
How to Buy the Best Gaming Cryptos - Step-by-Step Tutorial
Most games have in-game exchanges that swap their tokens, however, an easy way is to use popular centralized exchanges. In this tutorial, we used eToro.
Step 1: Create an Account
If you already own an account with a centralised exchange, skip this step. If not, navigate to the eToro website and click on Start Investing. Alternatively, you can download the mobile application from the Play Store or iOS store.
Create an account by filling out the sign up form with your full name and email address.
Step 2. Verify Your Account
Next, verify your account by completing your profile and sending KYC documents like your National ID or driver’s licence and proof of residence (utility bill).
Step 3. Make a Deposit
Once your account has been verified, click on Deposit funds on the left pane of the page and choose a convenient method from the drop-down menu. Set the amount you’d like to deposit.
Step 4. Buy a Gaming Coin
Once your account is funded, search for any gaming coin in the Discover tab. An interface like the one below should load. You can then set your parameters and buy.
Where To Buy Crypto Gaming Coins
To get your hands on gaming cryptos like Chancer that are not yet listed on exchanges, you’ll have to purchase them directly on their websites using a crypto wallet. We created a guide to help you do that.
Step 1: Download a Wallet
We used the MetaMask wallet for this guide. Download the app on your phone or use the web platform via a browser extension on your laptop. Create a new wallet. Ensure you keep your seed phrase safe and offline.
Step 2: Buy Some Crypto
You’ll need BNB to buy new Chancer tokens. Buy some on an exchange like eToro and transfer to your wallet, or use a fiat onramp on the wallet app. You can use various methods on the wallet app or visit MetaMask’s portfolio site to buy using a suitable on-ramp.
Step 3: Connect Wallet
Navigate to Chancer’s website and connect your wallet to join the presale. You can do this from the in-built browser on the mobile app. Buy CHANCER tokens using BNB. Ensure you have enough to pay for gas fees.
Step 4: Wait to Claim
You’ll need to wait until the presale is over to claim your tokens.
Latest Gaming Crypto News
- Gala Games burns over $600 million worth of GALA tokens in a push to improve its tokenomics
- The Sandbox partners with MetaFight, an NFT-based MMA game, for unique MMA-themed virtual experience
- Illuvium Secures Additional $10M Funding From Framework Ventures to expand its open world and an upcoming AAA game on Immutable X
Final Thoughts on the Best Gaming Crypto Coins
We explored the top crypto gaming coins and chose MAGIC of the Treasure ecosystem as our overall best because it creates an infrastructure for interoperable games without the need for a metaverse. It is also the leading gaming infrastructure on one of the fastest growing networks in crypto, Arbitrum.
With Treasure, game builders can create multi-world player journeys that attract more players to their games than they normally would thanks to the possibility of collaborating with other games.
However, all the gaming tokens on our list are good options with growth potential. To begin buying gaming coins, visit eToro.
Methodology - How We Picked the Best Crypto Gaming Coins
The tokens covered in this guide were chosen through rigorous research and reviews. We paid attention to security, transparency, reputation, gameplay, tokenomics, and competitive edge.
The tokens listed are the best we found in the various categories we listed them. For example, we listed GALA as the most promising gaming studio because of its suite of enjoyable games.
Check out our why trust us and how we test pages for more information on our testing process.
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