Best Play-to-Earn Blockchain Games from July 2021, Then and Now

Play-to-earn, usually shortened to P2E, described blockchain games where players could earn tokens or non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that had value outside the game. Rewards typically came from completing quests, battling, breeding or collecting digital items. Those items could be sold on marketplaces, and tokens could be traded on exchanges.

The model spread quickly in 2021. Many games paid players in tokens minted on public blockchains, which meant the rewards could be moved between wallets and sold. Coverage of the period often ranked games by daily active users or by how much players appeared to earn, and those rankings drove a lot of new sign-ups.

Two features defined most of these games. First, in-game assets were NFTs, so a player could in theory prove ownership of a character, land parcel or creature. Second, the economy often depended on new players buying in, which later became a central weakness.

This guide uses the July 2021 list of popular P2E titles as a starting point. It then explains what has changed since, which projects on this site are still active as far as current sources show, and how to judge any game before you spend money or time on it.

Most rankings from that period were snapshots. A mid-2021 roundup from a Medium writer noted that Gala Games operated several separate play-to-earn titles at the time, including Mirandus, Spider Tank and Town Star. Those lists captured a moment when new games were launching frequently and attention moved quickly.

Later charts tell a different story. A July 2022 weekly ranking measured top games by active users, with Splinterlands, Alien Worlds and Axie Infinity near the top. A 2023 list from a different tracker placed Alien Worlds first again, followed by Splinterlands and several smaller titles. These rankings measured activity, not how much players earned, and each site used its own method.

The practical lesson is to read the date on any list and ask what it measured. A ranking by active users says a game had players at a point in time. It does not show whether those players profited, whether the token held value, or whether the game will still run next year.

When you see a 'best of' page dated years earlier, use it as a historical reference. Confirm current activity on the game's own channels and on independent statistics sites before you commit.

Alien Worlds is a community-built play-to-earn metaverse on the WAX blockchain. Players mine and play to earn TLM tokens and NFTs, and the game is organized around planets and in-game land and resources. It was one of the most visible titles in the P2E wave and still appeared near the top of activity-based charts in 2022 and 2023.

Mining rewards depend on several moving parts: the game's resource rules, how many players are active, the token supply, and the market price for TLM. When more players join, rewards can be spread thinner. When the token price falls, a reward that looked strong in one month can be worth much less the next.

To check the game today, start with its official channels for announcements and patch notes. Then look at independent activity data and the WAX network statistics to see whether the player base is still growing or shrinking. Compare the value of your time and any equipment costs with what you have actually received in tokens, after fees.

If you already hold NFTs or tokens from the game, check the current resale market and the withdrawal options before making decisions. Do not assume that past rewards predict future earnings, because the game's economy can change through updates and player behavior.

The Sandbox is a blockchain-linked virtual gaming world that runs on Polygon and Ethereum. It uses its own token, SAND, and land is represented by NFTs. Players can visit, play and build experiences, and creators can use the editing tools to make games and sell items to other users.

In July 2021 the project was among the best-known metaverse titles, and its land sales drew wide attention. Land values and token prices have moved a great deal since then. The project has also announced an AI-assisted game engine in beta for creators, which the current sources describe as aimed at making building easier.

The Sandbox is a different kind of play-to-earn than mining. Earnings usually come from creating something people want to visit or buy, from renting or selling land, or from trading assets. These routes depend on user demand, which is hard to predict.

Before buying land or assets, check the current floor prices on marketplaces and the project's own documentation about creator tools and fees. Ask yourself whether you would still want the asset if the token or the market declined. Treat any expected return as uncertain.

Axie Infinity was one of the best-known play-to-earn games of 2021. Players breed, raise and battle creatures called Axies, and the game's economy involved NFTs and tokens traded on public markets. It appeared near the top of charts by active users in 2022 and remained a common reference point in later coverage.

Splinterlands is a digital trading card game with NFT cards and in-game rewards. Gods Unchained was described in a 2022 guide as one of the best NFT games and an early example of a blockchain game that drew wide attention. Decentraland, which is a virtual world with a token called MANA, appeared in several lists alongside these titles.

These games are useful reference points because they show different designs: pet battling, card trading, and virtual land. They also show a common pattern. Many players joined for the earning opportunity, and when token values fell, the economics became harder to sustain for many accounts.

This site does not treat every older title as a current recommendation. If you want to explore one of these games, check its official site for current status, read recent patch notes, and compare its active players and token trends with independent data. Also check whether the game still supports the wallet and chain you plan to use.

Newer and smaller projects have replaced some of the 2021 names in conversations about web3 gaming. The four below are on this site. Each is a different kind of project, so compare them by what they are rather than by a single earnings figure.

• Big Time is a free-to-play multiplayer action RPG for Windows PCs. It includes NFT collectibles and a token called BIGTIME, and it is aimed at gamers who are curious about Web3 economies.
• Aavegotchi is an NFT collectibles game with a token called GHST. It started with DeFi staking powered by Aave. Current sources say it is moving to the Base network for players and builders.
• Warp is a GameFi project in which NFT starships earn daily WARP credits. Players can join battles, expeditions and minigames across several chains.
• Robots.Farm is an on-chain game for collectors. Players open crates, hatch robot eggs, reforge parts and stake robots. Its total value locked is very low and no audits are listed, so treat it with particular caution.

The table below summarizes what to check for each project. Current activity, audits, and token mechanics can change, so verify them directly.

Project	Type	What to check
Big Time	Free-to-play action RPG	Platform support, token role, NFT market
Aavegotchi	NFT collectibles with DeFi roots	Current network, token utility, documentation
Warp	Starship NFT game	Chains supported, reward rules, activity
Robots.Farm	On-chain collectible game	Audit status, low liquidity, staking terms

ImmutableX is a web3 gaming platform on Ethereum. Its IMX token covers fees, staking, governance and gas on Immutable zkEVM. The platform is aimed at game developers and players who want NFT trading and game transactions with lower costs and a clearer structure than many earlier projects offered.

Infrastructure matters because it decides how fees are paid and how assets move. A game built on a platform with a clear fee model can be easier to evaluate, but the platform does not guarantee that the game itself is fun, active or well run. A strong chain does not fix weak game design.

When you look at a game that uses ImmutableX or a similar platform, check which token pays for transactions, whether you need that token to play, and whether you can withdraw your assets to a wallet you control. Also check whether the game's developers have published their fee rules and any changes to them.

IMX itself is a token with its own price and market risk. Holding it, staking it or using it for fees is a separate decision from playing a specific game, so keep the two evaluations distinct.

Use the same checklist for every play-to-earn game, including the ones on this site. The goal is to find out where the rewards come from before you spend time or money.

1. Confirm the game is active. Look for recent updates, a working community and independent activity data.
2. Identify the reward source. Ask whether tokens come from real player spending, from new players buying in, or from a fixed emission schedule.
3. Check the token supply and unlock schedule. Large future releases can push prices down.
4. Read the audit and team information. Look for published audits, named teams and clear contact channels. The absence of audits is a warning sign, not proof of a scam.
5. Test the withdrawal path. Make sure you can move tokens and NFTs to your own wallet and sell them on a marketplace.
6. Estimate your real return. Subtract fees, equipment costs, and the value of your time. Compare the result with what you would earn from a simple, non-gaming activity.
7. Limit the amount at risk. Spend only what you can afford to lose, and avoid borrowing to play.

Rewards that look high in a chart may disappear when the token price falls or when player numbers drop. Keep notes on what you have spent and received so you can judge the game against real numbers.

The main risk in most play-to-earn games is the token. Many tokens fell sharply after 2021, and a reward earned in one month may be worth far less later. Assets such as NFTs can also lose value quickly, and a thin market may make them hard to sell at a fair price.

Security is the second major risk. Scammers often copy the names of popular games, send messages offering free assets, or ask for seed phrases. Never share your seed phrase or private keys with anyone, including people who say they are support staff. Store the phrase offline, and review every wallet approval before signing it.

Smart contract risk is another factor. Even well-known projects can have bugs, and smaller projects may have less review. Check audits and read the contract permissions a game requests. Revoke approvals you no longer need using a reputable wallet tool.

Tax rules for crypto rewards vary by country and can be complicated. Keep records of transactions, prices and fees. Check your local laws and tax guidance, and be of legal age in your jurisdiction. Blockchain games are not suitable for everyone, and no game should be treated as a guaranteed source of income.