The 15 Best Metaverse Games

Epic Games' blockbuster battle-royale game has become a mainstream force on the tip of everyone's tongues whenever video games enter the conversation. To see how far Fortnite has come since its 2017 debut is fascinating - it started out as a tower defense-shooter and survival game, then it threw in a battle royale mode that pushed its popularity to mammoth proportions. The Fortnite we know today is the epitome of a metaverse game - players get to choose from a wide gamut of avatars that are lifted from other games, movies, TV shows, comic books, cartoons, and so much more. And besides all the running, gunning, and building these game entails, Fortnite has been known to throw in universe altring events and even put on concerts that feature some of the most prominent musical artists. Any game that lets you pit Goku against John Wick in an assault rifle battle defines just how wild the metaverse can be in its current state.

Minecraft is another genre-defining experience known far and wide by gamers and non-gamers alike. And as one of the best metaverse games, its primary focus is on allowing players to explore, fight, and create within a world spread across a nearly limitless array of 3D spaces. Minecraft is constantly changing in some manner thanks to the efforts of the players themselves - the jaw-dropping architectural marvels they construct are constant proof of that sentiment. And just like Fortnite, there's a wealth of customizable avatars that reflect the likeness of popular characters that are pop culture icons. Minecraft's explorable worlds are full of creativity and unique ways to interact with them all.

Roblox is more than just a game - it's an online game platform and game-creation tool that's attracted so much attention from young impressionable minds. What's so fascinating about it is the fact that kids who have no idea about what developing games truly entails are getting their first bit of training in that field just by creating simple games of their own through Roblox. We've chosen to place it on this list of the best metaverse games due to it offering a healthy online community with several methods of interacting with each other through immersive spaces. Roblox's world is regularly filled with millions of young players getting their first taste of everything that makes up the metaverse.

Axie Infinity is certainly the most recognizable and widely played online multiplayer game that employs the implementation of NFTs. The gameplay on offer here is similar to that of Nintendo/The Pokémon Company's blockbuster Pocket Monster collecting franchise. Players go out of their way to build up an army of digital pets known as "Axies," which double as the game's collectible NFTs that can be minted by whoever's earned them. The metaverse vibes are very strong here as players also have the ability to purchase plots of land and homes that their Axies can inhabit. Axie Infinity's NFT-fueled economy, play-to-earn gameplay focus, and an online community full of freshman players & experienced "scholars" point to its strong classification as a metaverse game.

Illuvium is a trendsetter within the metaverse gaming space - it holds the distinction of being known as the self-proclaimed "world's first IBG (Interoperable Blockchain Game)." In simple gaming terms that are easier to wrap your head around, it's an "open-world exploration, NFT creature collector and autobattler game" that caters to fans of RPGs. Players maneuver through Illuvium's huge explorable world while capturing "Illuvials," which can be used for battles within the game's PvP battle arena. The other actions this game entails are playing to earn crypto in ILV tokens, trading on a thriving virtual marketplace with other players, acquiring land, and more.

Back in 2020, Decentraland came to fruition as a virtual world where players have the ability to create, explore, and trade as much as they please. The MANA cryptocurrency is primarily relied upon to make everything move in this game's expansive 3D plane of existence - that digital currency can be put towards customizing one's avatar, purchasing a long line of wearable items, and even copping some land. You can get on your landowner vibes by renting out your space or whatever other locales that happen to lay upon it. It's pretty wild how players can use their land to put on all types of events, such as concerts and digital art auctions, and even earn some money in the process. If that part of the game excites you, be sure to set up a MetaMask ASAP! As the "first fully decentralized world," Decentraland is a treat for curious onlookers looking to get sucked into one of the best metaverse games.

Remember how we mentioned that some metaverse games immerse you even more into its digital expanses via VR headsets? Now we're set to speak on one of the best ones out there right now - Somnium Space. While there is a traditional play mode to hop into, it's best if you get the most out of this game via VR. Every part of this game's world is created by its thriving community, plus all those in-game assets are representative of players' true ownership of such goods via the Ethereum and Solana blockchains. Somnium Space will definitely trip you out - being able to dive into all types of movie theaters, parks, schools, and more from a first-person VR viewpoint is mindblowing.

What was originally a mobile-only experience eventually evolved into a PC game that's a blockchain-based 3D open-world game. The Sandbox's name should give you a clue about what it has to offer. Players create their own blocky avatars, who then go on to create a litany of things through the blockchain and smart contracts. The game's marketplace allows you to sell off your many creations, plus you can let your creative instincts run wild as The Sandbox lets you create your very own interactive experiences. Getting your hands on some digital estates and perusing through other players' wonderfully crafted locales is where most of the joy comes from within The Sandbox.

My Neighbor Alice is the perfect metaverse game for anyone that's poured countless hours into games such as Harvest Moon, Stardew Valley, and Farmville. You'll be thrown into a cheerful world that's home to your very own virtual farming plots and islands, plus you'll be tasked with selling off the goods produced by your healthy livestock. The presence of NFTs comes into play in the form of sellable houses, animals, house items, etc. that can be sold through the game's own marketplace and any other participating blockchains. My Neighbor Alice is the type of metaverse game suited towards gamers that enjoy a calm farming/building simulator.

Taking a deep dive into Bloktopia will introduce you to a world full of expanse and wonder. The cyberpunk vibes are very strong here as the game's central location is filled with neon colors and "made up of 21 levels to pay recognition to 21 million Bitcoin." Holding "Blok" tokens within Bloktopia's world gives you the right to be classified as a "Bloktopian." As for what your digital duties are, you'll get the chance to play all sorts of custom games, build networks, activate advertising campaigns via "Adblok," etc. in a bid to earn yourself real-world revenue. Bloktopia is known as "the home of crypto," which is certainly a lofty self-description. Based on everything it has in place, it looks as if that statement rings true.

The inhabitants of Earth have now found a way to explore deep space - by traveling through a wormhole that takes them to "exoPlanets." The mysterious planets on the other end of that form of interplanetary transport harbor "Trilium" (the official in-game currency), which can be mined, used to vote in Planetary elections, and put towards increasing a planet’s reward pool. The space-themed metaverse at the heart of this game is massive and features NFTs in the form of land, minions, weapons, etc., that match up well with Alien Worlds' traditional gameplay mechanics.

The metaverse at the core of Splinterlands revolves around a community of players fighting for glory during a highly addictive collectible card game. Over 500 collectible cards with 64+ abilities in tow can be obtained here, which also double as NFTs. You'll get to participate in some hard-fought battles with your deck of battle-hardened cards, trade them with the rest of the game's community, and earn cryptocurrency credits just for winning as much as possible.

Another one of the best metaverse games on this list also happens to take place in the stars above. Star Atlas is themed around extensive space exploration, fighting for territories, and making careful political moves that can either benefit you or hamper your progress. What's in place here is a hardcore strategy experience that gives its players true ownership over their assets, such as spaceships, various structures, vast resources, and more. Star Atlas's metaverse endears itself well to fans of Star Wars and Star Trek.

If Splinterlands caters to your collectible card game tendencies, then you might also want to take a deep dive into this next pick, Gods Unchained's gameplay should become a favorite of Magic The Gathering: Arena fanatics (which makes all the sense in the world since this game is led by the former game director of Magic, Chris Clay). The play-to-earn portion of this game comes in the form of sellable cards (which are NFTs) that can be bartered with other players over the Ethereum L2 blockchain.

The pixelated goodness of DeFi Kingdoms definitely takes us back to the 16-bit golden era of 16-bit RPGs. The crucial collectible that players can get their hands on while playing is the "Jewel" power token, which is used for gas on the DFK Chain. "Crystal" tokens can also be obtained and swapped with other players, which also plays into the game's healthy blockchain community. You'll also get a kick out of this game as you collect battle-ready Hero NFTs, go on epic quests, get friendly with pet NFTs, and fight hard during card game duels. Currently, DeFi Kingdoms is playable on Katyn, which is a metaverse-focused blockchain network.