Many have theorized that the convergence of NFTs and gaming would create an incomparably robust sector of blockchain interoperability. However, while a wide range of Web3 gaming efforts exist and have achieved varying degrees of success, it appears that none so far has reached a high enough level to achieve NFT administrators’ ultimate goal: mainstream adoption.
But is mainstream adoption really what the blockchain gaming industry should be looking for? Sure, taking NFTs from niche to mainstream is an admirable goal that, more often than not, seems to be universally accepted on Web3. But who are the true beneficiaries of this achievement? Aren’t games created for the express purpose of bringing entertainment and fun to their consumers?
Some seem to think so, as has become apparent with a recent push in NFT minigames. A much less complex sibling to traditional game companies, minigames are designed to be brief and serve to spread fun through simplicity. And while Yuga Labs’ popular Dookey Dash might be at the forefront of this burgeoning sector, he’s far from the only player aiming to make minigames stick.
What is a minigame?
Whether you’re a gamer or a true RPG aficionado, chances are you’ve come across a few mini-games throughout your gaming escapades. Characterized by their short execution times and simple mechanics, minigames are often content within another video game or offered as a standalone game, similar to the game cabinets of yesteryear you might find in an arcade.
It’s important to note that NFT minigames (or arcade games as they’re also often called) don’t always adhere to strict parameters. While minigames have anecdotally existed as a subsection of a larger game (such as in-game puzzles that users must complete in Final Fantasy), NFT mini-games are presented as unique games hosted on the blockchain or powered through NFTs.
Who is creating NFT minigames?
Aside from Dookey Dash, an endless runner-style game that, after its release in mid-January, amassed a significant market share as the new hot topic of the Bored Ape Yacht Club, there are a few other notable NFT minigame efforts that have increased. to prominence. One such project is levels.art.
levels.art
A new effort of Jordan Lyall’s web3 innovation studio risk punk and founder of Animetas cyberh49, levels.art is an interactive on-chain art platform where top artists release exclusive collections of playable NFTs. For the platform’s first release on February 16, Levels collaborated with prominent Web3 creator Bryan Brinkman in Cloud Poppers, a mini-game created in his style of clouds and bright colors.
Cloud Poppers presents 100 editions of a uniquely designed, art-focused pixel art game, released through a Dutch auction. Although Brinkman’s collection of minigames is a feat of chain innovation, it’s much more in keeping with the aforementioned ethos of providing entertainment as a primary utility rather than trying to turn NFT tourists into purists. As Lyall says, Levels is essentially about fun.
“I always try to have fun with what I’m doing. Like, if it’s not fun, why even do it? Lyall said in an interview with nft now. A seasoned builder in the DeFi space, Lyall changed direction when NFTs began to emerge and found that memes and creativity were a perfect avenue to create innovation and fun.
With Venture Punk, he says his goal is to take risks with his projects, with Levels being one of the first to leave the studio. “The vision is of a decentralized arcade. I’m hesitant to use this example because I don’t want to sound competitive, but [Levels] It’s supposed to be like Art Blocks and Chuck E. Cheese having a baby,” he said.
While Levels is undoubtedly top of mind for fans of fine artists like Brinkman and those watching the slow rise of minigames in the NFT space, it thrives in a niche sector that has carved itself out in recent years by similar efforts. Because before Levels existed, ArcadeNFT and Pl4y.art were two of the only owners of simplistic NFT gaming experiences.
ArcadeNFT
ArcadeNFT, released on August 13, 2021, combines the appeal of retro arcade games with the tradability of NFTs. A collection of interactive NFTs, ArcadeNFT focuses on novel token mechanics and user experience. Each of the project’s playable arcade games has the appearance of retro arcade cabinets while existing as code on the Ethereum blockchain. At first, the project started with the single release of a simple, playable NFT pinball, but has since grown into a larger assortment of over 12,000 NFTs and features seven unique games.
pl4y.art
pl4y.art released on April 17, 2021, via the now-defunct NFT marketplace Hic et Nunc. Created by an enigmatic artist and developer who goes by the name playthe series is made up of dozens of NFTs that border the line between interactive art and the mini-game experience.
While playing themselves might be inclined to identify their releases as interactive NFTs (perhaps similar to other collections like The types), it makes sense to label many of your Pl4y efforts as true minigames, like your full NFT game. unknown.exe it goes one step beyond ArcadeNFT and Levels. Existing on the Tezos blockchain alongside a range of influential generative pieces created by the anonymous creator, Pl4y is apparently the most unique and robust entrant in the NFT mini-game sector, which continues to grow.
What’s next for NFT minigames?
Of course, other NFT minigame projects are populating the blockchain besides the ones listed here. Inevitably, more mini-game efforts will emerge as the NFT space continues to mature, each adding a bit more merit to the slow-growing market sector and gaining a greater degree of exposure through the game charts featured on the NFTs. prominent NFT markets. like open sea. But to reiterate, while AAA NFT games may still be taking the cake in Web3 games, hoping to cross the blockchain/mainstream barrier, projects in the sphere of minigames and arcades games seem to have set different priorities.
As Lyall pointed out, while the holy grail of NFT games is often communicated as interoperability—that is, being able to buy assets in one game and continue to use them in a variety of other games—there’s a long way to go before this reality arrives. fruition. “There are many things we need to do beforehand, and maybe even things that would be more convincing than [AAA interoperability]Lyall said. “Imagine if you could have a level of your favorite game or if you could have a screen.”
For Lyall and Levels, this theoretical and detail-oriented iteration, which some might consider a lower level of development for a AAA game, deserves more attention and is where minigames thrive. “With constant experimentation and evolution, I think we are going to create some things that are only possible with blockchain technology and nothing any of us could have dreamed of,” he said. “At the end of the day, we just want to have fun and show what is possible with this technology.”
