How to Make Money Playing NFT Games: A Beginner's Guide

Have you ever wondered how to make money just by playing games? What if I told you that NFT games offer just that? The world of blockchain/crypto/web3 gaming has allowed players to not only enjoy their favorite pastimes but also turn them into a source of income. The concept of play to earn (P2E) took off during the COVID-19 pandemic, with games like Axie Infinity allowing players, especially in regions like the Philippines, to earn real money by playing the game. Since then, the ecosystem has expanded with countless new NFT gaming platforms that offer multiple ways to make money - whether through gameplay, airdrops, tournaments, content creation, or metaverse economies.

If you're new to NFT games, don't worry! In this guide, we'll walk you through the top gaming ecosystems where you can start earning today. These include Immutable, Ronin, Gala Games, and The Sandbox, each offering different ways to generate income.

1. Immutable: The Free to Play Web3 Gaming Hub

When it comes to web3 gaming ecosystems, Immutable is one of the largest, hosting over 300 free to play crypto games across multiple genres, like MMORPGs, card games, and sci-fi shooters. The best part? You don't need to spend anything to start grinding.

Notable Games on Immutable

• Gods Unchained – A blockchain-based card game where players can earn and sell NFT cards for crypto.
• Guild of Guardians – A mobile action RPG where players collect NFT champions and play to earn $GOG tokens via seasonal leaderboards.
• Illuvium – A sci-fi adventure game where players can capture and sell NFT creatures (Illuvials), as well as trade in-game resources.
• Immortal Rising 2 & RavenQuest – The latest additions that feature play to airdrop campaigns, offering token rewards for the most dedicated players.

How to Earn Money in Immutable Games

For a start, head over to Immutable Play, a one-stop platform that lets you track your crypto rewards across different games. You can earn money by playing games and gaining rewards in the form of NFT items, in-game currencies, or tokens. Keep an eye out for play to airdrop campaigns, where new games will give away free NFTs and tokens to early adopters. The platform also offers seamless onboarding via Immutable Passport, which allows you to sign up using your Gmail or Apple ID. To cash out your earnings, you may need a crypto wallet like MetaMask and an account on a centralized exchange (CEX) like Binance or Coinbase.

2. Ronin: Home of Axie Infinity & More

Coming up next is Ronin, the Ethereum-based network built for Axie Infinity, one of the first OG blockchain games to go mainstream. While Axie's economy has evolved over time, Ronin has grown into a major web3 gaming ecosystem, now hosting over 15 NFT games.

Notable Games on Ronin

• Axie Infinity – The iconic NFT battle game that rewards players with $SLP and $AXS tokens.
• Pixels – A social farming game where players earn $PIXELS tokens by completing challenges.
• Fableborne – An action RPG where players raid kingdoms and earn token vouchers for the upcoming $POWER token.
• Apeiron, The Machines Arena, Ragnarok: Monster World – Other exciting Ronin games that let players earn tokens through leaderboards and exclusive events.

How to Earn Money in Ronin Games

You can start by playing Axie Infinity and win PvP battles to earn $SLP and $AXS tokens. Otherwise, you can farm resources in Pixels and sell them for in-game currencies that can be exchanged for crypto. This is much easier to do than grinding in Axie. Another game you can try is Fableborne, where you can join seasonal events to earn token vouchers that can be redeemed for future tokens. Unlike the early days of Axie Infinity, most Ronin games are now free to play, meaning you don't need to buy expensive NFTs to get started. Just make sure to set up a Ronin Wallet to access these games!

3. Gala Games: A Web3 Powerhouse

Gala Games is another major blockchain gaming platform, offering multiple NFT titles. While Gala has sort of slowed down in terms of development in recent months, there are still plenty of free to play games where you can grind for crypto. 

Notable Games on Gala

• Champions Arena – A turn-based RPG where players can rent NFT champions, take part in PvP matches, and earn Victory Points redeemable for $GALA tokens.
• Spider Tanks – A PvP battle game where players can win ranked matches with NFT tanks and earn Victory points that can be exchanged for $SILK rewards and $GALA tokens.
• Treasure Tapper – A casual Telegram clicker game where players tap to earn virtual coins. The game works similarly to Notcoin and Hamster Kombat.

How to Earn Money in Gala Games

To begin, you can start earning $GALA tokens by playing Spider Tanks and winning PvP matches. Don't have an NFT tank? No problem! You can "pilot" or borrow tanks from other players and still earn rewards. Another great option is Champions Arena, where you can rent NFT champions and use them in battles to win tokens. If you prefer something more casual, keep an eye out for Telegram-based games like Treasure Tapper, which often feature play to airdrop campaigns, giving you a chance to earn free crypto. 

4. The Sandbox: The Metaverse of Play to Earn

If you're interested in virtual worlds and User-Generated Content (UGC), The Sandbox is one of the biggest web3 metaverse platforms. Unlike most NFT games, The Sandbox allows both players and creators to earn money.

How to Earn in The Sandbox

You can start by taking part in open, seasonal events on The Sandbox and earn $SAND tokens in return. Usually, these events will require you to complete a certain number of tasks to qualify for prizes. Builders can also create and sell 3D assets in the marketplace as NFTs, buy and develop virtual land, then rent or sell it for profit. Compared to Decentraland, The Sandbox offers more ways to play and earn for gamers, while Decentraland focuses more on virtual events and commerce.

So, How to Make Money with NFT Games?

In short, there are 3 main ways to earn from blockchain games.

1. Gameplay: Play to Earn & Play to Airdrop

First is via play to airdrop campaigns, especially from new blockchain games which often run airdrops, where players can earn free NFTs and tokens before launch. You can also look for Telegram-based web3 games (like Notcoin), which let players earn crypto rewards just by tapping and completing challenges. Once you're familiar with these games, explore other web3 titles with deeper mechanics like Illuvium and Axie Infinity.

2. Tournaments & Seasonal Events

If you're feeling competitive, make sure to check out Off The Grid, a battle royale shooter that hosts cash prize tournaments from time to time. For instance, their ongoing "Clash for Cash" event rewards the top player $1,000 daily, with a total prize pool of $3,000 per day. There are also other esports games, such as Citizen Conflict and Farcana, which also host regular tournaments with juicy prize pools. 

3. Creating Content in Metaverse Games

If you have a knack for content creation, make sure to check out The Sandbox, Decentraland, and Nifty Island to design and monetize your work. In Nifty Island, everyone gets a free island to customize as they see fit. You can build your dream space, showcase your creativity, and even create fun quests for your friends to dive into. Players can also earn $ISLAND tokens in the game by completing daily missions, playing mini-games, and hosting players on their island. 

How to Get Started in Blockchain Games

Before you dive in, you'll need a few things:

1. A Crypto Wallet
   • Popular choices include MetaMask, Ronin, and Coinbase Wallet.
   • Used to store NFTs, crypto, and in-game earnings. If you're storing high-value digital assets, be sure to use cold wallets like Ledger and Trezor.
2. A Crypto Exchange Account
   • Required to cash out earnings (namely Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, etc.).
3. Game Accounts & Official Links
   • Always download games from official websites to avoid scams, and
   • Never share your wallet seed phrase or private keys.

All in All

NFT games are transforming the gaming industry by introducing real financial rewards. Whether you're battling in Immutable games, farming in Pixels, or building a virtual empire in The Sandbox, there are countless ways to make money in web3 gaming.

So what are you waiting for? Pick a free to play NFT game, join an airdrop campaign, and start earning real-world rewards today!