With the the global gaming market as a whole is growing like crazy, the gaming crypto narrative has been receiving a lot of attention.

The gaming industry is expected to be worth $321 billion by 2026.

Integrating blockchain technology with gaming makes for a compelling combination, as it means players get to truly own what they earn or buy in the game, thanks to NFTs.

So, with that in mind, let's discuss some crypto gaming plays worth looking at ahead of the next crypto bull-run.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a licensed financial advisor. Investing in cryptocurrency carries inherent risks. The content of this article reflects my analysis and opinions about the projects showcased and should not be considered financial advice. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.

Crypto Infrastructure Tokens vs Crypto Gaming Tokens

Firstly, let's clarify a key difference.

There are two types of Gaming tokens which represent two distinct categories.

Crypto gaming tokens and crypto gaming infrastructure tokens each serve a different purpose and function in the realm of blockchain gaming.

  1. Crypto gaming tokens are digital assets specifically designed for a particular game or gaming ecosystem. They can be used for a variety of in-game transactions, such as purchasing items, accessing unique content, or participating in special events.

    • These tokens often serve as the primary medium of exchange within the game's economy, allowing players to buy, sell, or trade virtual goods and services.
    • They might also provide players with certain advantages or enhancements in the game.
    • The value of these tokens is typically linked to the popularity and engagement level of the game itself.

  2. Crypto gaming infrastructure tokens are designed to support the underlying technology and platforms that enable blockchain gaming, in other words, these tokens are not limited to a single game but are used across a network or platform that hosts multiple games or gaming-related services.

    • They might be used to incentivize developers, reward community participation, or facilitate various operations necessary for the maintenance and development of the gaming infrastructure.
    • This can include server costs, network security, or the development of new features and tools.
    • Infrastructure tokens are essential for the health and expansion of the blockchain gaming ecosystem as a whole, as they support the technical and operational aspects rather than the in-game experience.

Crypto Infrastructure Plays

Immutable X ($IMX)

Overview

  • Immutable X is a layer-two scaling solution for NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain, using ZK-rollup technology

  • Immutable core offering is instant NFT trading with no gas fees for minting and trading NFTs, all the while ensuring that the security of users and assets remains intact.

  • Like all L2s, it aims to address Ethereum's challenges such as limited scalability, poor user experience, low liquidity, and a slow developer experience - which are especially unsuitable for NFT trading.

  • Aims to become the go-to NFT blockchain with a target transaction speed of over 9,000 transactions per second (tps).

  • Its investors include leading names in blockchain investment, such as Coinbase, Naspers, Nirvana Capital, Apex Capital Partners, Continue Capital, and Galaxy Digital.

  • Immutable X has formed partnerships with several game developers,: The platform actively promotes the development of a gaming ecosystem, offering tools and services tailored to game developers, such as SDKs and APIs for easy integration. Immutable X is built to facilitate the creation, trading, and management of NFTs without gas fees, which are crucial for in-game assets, collectibles, and characters.

Immutable X Pros

  • Developers/users still benefit from the security of the Ethereum blockchain.

  • As zk-rollups become increasingly crucial for scaling, Immutable X positions itself at the forefront of innovation within the Ethereum ecosystem. Given its potential to reach transaction speeds exceeding 9,000 transactions per second (tps), Immutable X stands a strong chance of becoming the go-to blockchain for NFTs in the future.

With its shared global order book facilitating protocol liquidity, NFT marketplaces can be built on Immutable X without a backend. In consequence, third-party marketplace solutions can co-exist with the protocol’s native marketplace. The protocol also expects to lower the barriers of entry for content creators and smaller developers with this solution.

  • A key factor in delivering on its potential is in its API abstraction layer. Immutable X simplifies NFT interactions such as minting, trading, and transferring into straightforward API calls, thanks to its use of RESTful APIs. This simplicity is expected to be a major draw for new participants, including well-established gaming and content companies, to join the platform and participate in NFT activities.

  • IMX has already attracted many high quality games such as God's Unchained and Guild of Guardians.

  • It will benefit from the Dencun upgrade to Ethereum.

  • IMX is spoken of highly by several significant investors/advisors for the project, such as Sandeep Nailwal of Polygon.

IMX cons:

  • Probably won't 100x, but I think it's a good play for the bull market and I'm planning on holding for a while, but even then I think I'll hold on for the long haul.

SIDUS HEROES ($SIDUS)

Overview

  • Web3, space-based gaming metaverse offering interstellar exploration and conquests across several titles and genres

  • Powered by AI technology.

  • They've published a book series expanding on the lore.

  • A common economy spans across all titles.

  • Utilizes a cross-platform approach, enabling seamless progress transference between its different games

Two main coins: SIDUS and SENATE.

  • SIDUS: Primary currency within the ecosystem.

  • SENATE: Governance token:

    • Allows voting on game development decisions.
    • Enables players to create factions and engage in in-game politics.
    • Can be used to purchase land within the game.

Pros

  • Highly ambitious, planning to develop over 20 games and aiming to construct one of the largest Web3 metaverse gaming projects in the industry, all sharing the same in-game economy using SIDUS tokens.

  • Boasts over 400,000 followers on X, so lots of strong community interest and support.

  • The graphics and quality of games look great

  • They've demonstrated progress with several games already launched and accessible to players.

  • 150+ partners, including Mr Beast.

  • The SIDUS HEROES team conducts monthly token burns with tokens from in-game purchases, reducing supply and boosting token value.

Shrapnel ($SHRAP)

  • FPS with intense gameplay and strategy elements.

  • The SHRAP token is the game's currency, letting players customize their experience, from owning your avatar skin and name on the blockchain to unlocking unique game features.

Pros

  • What's cool is in its approach to accessibility. Shrapnel plans to be free-to-play, making it easy for anyone to jump in, with the blockchain elements like NFTs being totally optional.

  • Currently has an early access as a way to gather feedback, making sure the game hits all the right notes before the full launch.

Seedify ($SFUND)

Overview

  • The team behind Seedify is on a mission to bring blockchain gaming and the play-to-earn model to the masses. They're all about building relationships with VCs and folks in the industry to support gaming and metaverse startups.

  • Seedify is a gaming incubator and launchpad that helps great new projects get the spotlight they deserve.

  • They've released a NFT launchpad and marketplace, Seedify NFT Space, which is all about gaming and buying metaverse assets.

  • It's a big deal because it's the first of its kind focusing on gaming and metaverse stuff.

  • Those holding $SFUND tokens can stake and receive staking rewards. Plus, you get early access to some new blockchain gaming projects through private sales and initial game offerings (IGOs).

Pros

Levent Cem Aydan, the brain behind Seedify, is a seasoned entrepreneur with a vision for decentralized, fair fundraising in the blockchain space. Seedify kicked off on August 1st, 2021, as the first gaming-focused incubator and launchpad in the blockchain ecosystem.

What sets Seedify apart? It's their knack for picking and supporting the next big thing in blockchain gaming, thanks to their deep understanding of both blockchain and gaming. Plus, their platform is a community and partner-powered success machine for new projects.

network of partners like Polygon and Metis backing these ventures.

Games for a Living ($GFAL)

Overview

  • Games for a Living (GFAL) is a ideo game development and publishing studio. They're currently working on 4 games, Elemental Raiders, Diamon Dreams, Jump Pump and Soccer Legends, all at various stages of development.

  • The native currency of GFAL's platform, the $GFAL token, is central to its ecosystem, facilitating in-game transactions, asset minting, and access to exclusive content. It also plays a role in the platform's governance, allowing token holders to participate in decision-making processes.

  • I think that GFAL's main selling point are the industry titans behind the project. They're no rookies. One is Trip Hawkins, renowned for founding EA Sports, also held a position as marketing director at Apple, where he had personal interactions with Steve Jobs. Meanwhile, the CEO, Manel Sort, previously served as Vice President at Activision Blizzard King, the company behind the creation of Candy Crush, the OG game that was one of the most popular app games a few years ago. Combined, the team boast 140 years of experience making video games that people love.

  • They want to make sure Web 3 gaming is something everyone can get into. Frictionless access, games that are free to play across any platform, and experiences that feel local no matter where you're gaming from.

Pros

  • One of the games Elemental Raiders has in early access and is already having active tournaments.