Top 10 Metaverse Games to Immerse Yourself Into 2024

Top Metaverse Games:

What Is the Metaverse and What Are Metaverse Games?

The metaverse is a collective virtual shared space created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical reality and physically persistent virtual reality. It includes augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and other digital environments that allow users to interact with each other and digital objects in real-time. Essentially, it is a vast, interconnected network of 3D virtual worlds where people can engage in various activities, from socializing and shopping to working and learning.

Key Pioneers and Movers in the Metaverse 

Even before Mark Zuckerberg renamed Facebook to Meta in 2021, other companies have been at the forefront of metaverse development. Here are some of the leading Metaverse pioneers and early movers:

Epic Games

Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, has been a major player in the development of the metaverse. Since its release in 2017, Fortnite has evolved beyond a multiplayer shooting game into a digital events platform, hosting virtual concerts and dance parties. 

Epic Games provides comprehensive solutions for developers and non-creatives to create, distribute, and operate games and other content across various platforms, including Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, PC, iOS, and Android.

Microsoft

Microsoft has been a significant player in the metaverse with its acquisition of Minecraft. This game allows players to create, explore, and interact in a blocky, 3D world, laying the foundation for metaverse-like experiences. Microsoft's advancements in mixed reality with HoloLens and its integration of virtual spaces into work environments through Microsoft Mesh further solidify its commitment to developing and expanding the metaverse.

Roblox 

Roblox has built an extensive virtual universe where millions of user-created games and experiences thrive. Some of the most popular ones include “Adopt Me,” a game that simulates caring for pet animals, and “Brookhaven,” a role-playing game where players can style their homes and vehicles. 

Source: Adopt Me

This platform exemplifies the metaverse concept by enabling players to create, share, and explore diverse virtual worlds. Roblox's economy, where users can buy, sell, and create virtual items, is a key feature that aligns with the metaverse's vision of interconnected, user-driven environments.

Nvidia

Nvidia is a crucial enabler of the metaverse, providing the graphical and computational power needed for immersive virtual experiences. The company's Omniverse™ platform facilitates real-time collaboration and simulation across various industries, allowing creators to build interconnected virtual worlds. Nvidia's technology supports the infrastructure necessary for the metaverse to function seamlessly and effectively.

Niantic

Niantic pioneers the integration of augmented reality (AR) with the real world, blending physical and digital experiences. Known for Pokémon Go, Niantic emphasizes enhancing real-world interactions through AR. Their Lightship AR developer kit and games like Fold, which integrates blockchain technology, showcase their vision of a metaverse that enhances real-life experiences, making them more interactive and engaging.

What Do You Need to Play Metaverse Games?

To play the most basic games, you'll need the following:

A Reliable Internet Connection

A fast internet connection is crucial. The better your internet speed, the smoother your gaming experience will be.

A Virtual Reality Headset 

Virtual reality (VR) headsets can range in price, with options to fit different budgets. Affordable choices include Google Cardboard, which uses your smartphone and a cardboard viewer.

For a more immersive experience, consider headsets that connect to a PC or console, such as those from Valve, Sony, HTC, and HP. Wireless options like the Oculus Quest are also available for a more flexible experience.

Source: Meta Quest 2

PC or Mobile Device

If you aren't using a stand-alone VR headset, you'll need a PC or smartphone to connect your headset. Ensure your device meets the necessary specifications for the games you want to play.

Blockchain Wallet

For metaverse games that incorporate cryptocurrencies or digital assets, you'll need a blockchain wallet. This will allow you to manage and use digital currencies within the game.

Best Metaverse Games

Here are 10 metaverse games to try now:

1. Axie Infinity

Vietnamese start-up Sky Mavis released Axie Infinity in 2018. Inspired by Pokemon, this game features fantasy creatures called Axies, which players can breed, raise, collect, and trade. Every creature has over 500 body parts you can customize. The offspring of Axies acquire new powers and characteristics, depending on their gene combination.

Axies can hunt for treasure or battle against other Axies so you can earn rewards. You can buy land and homes for your Axies to live in, creating them according to the resources on the platform. 

The virtual pets and other items in this game have value in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) or digital certificates of ownership governed by blockchain technology. Players can also find scholars or people with whom they can lend three of their Axies so they can earn tokens.

The game’s main currency is called Axie Infinity Shards or AXS. Meanwhile, players earn smooth love potion or SLP tokens for beating opponents and completing in-game quests. AXS and SLP tokens are necessary for breeding Axies.

2. Decentraland

Argentinian duo Ari Meilich and Esteban Ordano opened Decentraland to the public in 2020. Using the MANA cryptocurrency, you can create avatars, buy wearables, and acquire real estate in this virtual space consisting of over 90,000 land parcels.

As a landowner, you can rent out lots—each measuring 16 virtual square meters—or whatever is on it: houses, hotels, parks, cinemas, casinos, and what have you. You can also earn income by organizing a concert and selling tickets, setting up an exhibit to auction off digital art, and so on. MetaMask is among the popular digital wallets that players use for this platform.

3. Sandbox

Sandbox was first launched in 2012 as a mobile game by Pixelowl co-founders Arthur Madrid and Sébastien Borget of France. It’s another user-generated platform where users, represented as block-like customizable avatars, become owners of what they create through blockchain and smart contracts.

Sandbox has three main products. VoxEdit is a 3D modeling tool where you can create avatars, vehicles, plants, animals, tools, and other objects. You can export your creations into Sandbox’s second product, the Marketplace, where you can sell your items. The final product is the Game Maker, where users can develop 3D games without using code.  

The main currency in the Sandbox is called Sand. You can acquire and trade land and estates (a collection of lands), which you can select from the Sandbox map. There’s also an option for you to offer these properties in the Open Sea NFT marketplace.

4. Illuvium

Illuvium is causing a lot of buzz in the gaming world, which describes it as a “true triple-A, 3D blockchain” game. In this game, you hunt for deity-like creatures called illuvials on this alien landscape, capture them using shards, or nurse them back to health. These creatures can then help you fight other players and monsters, which number over a hundred. Illuvials are also tradable NFTs—the stronger and rarer they are, the higher their value becomes.

Once you have three of the same illuvial, you can fuse or merge them into one new creature—and raise their value—if each of them has reached its highest level through combat. Players unearth their armor and weapons from the Illuvium environment. You earn rewards in the form of Illuvium crypto or ILV after tournaments and quests and exchange your ILV on the IlluviDEX.

5. Chain of Alliance

Chain of Alliance, first released in 2020, is another role-playing fantasy game involving customizable monsters with NFT value. You have to field up to eight characters in your team per round. To raise your winning opportunity, you should determine the best players and arm them with the best weapons.

6. My Neighbor Alice

In the multi-player builder game My Neighbor Alice, you can own and cultivate virtual farming plots or even islands stewarded by Alice. The game flow is similar to Farmville, where you can choose the crops to grow and the livestock to breed and interact with others. You also have other livelihood options like running an apiary or bee farm and later selling honey. My Neighbor Alice NFTs (which include plants, animals, houses, clothes, decor, and so on) are tradable on the Alice marketplace and other blockchains.

7. Krystopia

Puzzle and maze lovers will enjoy Krystopia, an adventure game where you step into the shoes of Captain Nova Dune, a space explorer who heads to planet Krystopia after spotting a mysterious distress signal from it. Nova and her alien pet Skrii would encounter its inhabitants and get into escape room-type challenges in the process.

Games by WAX (Worldwide Asset eXchange™)

At least three-quarters of all game-related NFT transactions reportedly happen on WAX games, with over 23 million transactions happening on the platform daily (more than Ethereum). Here are three of WAX’s most popular games: 

8. Alien Worlds

Launched in 2020, Alien Worlds tasks you to mine Trilium—the official in-game currency—from six planets as a space explorer. Each planet has its own elected government and your “voting rights” depend on how much TLM you stake on a planet.

You get a shovel to start playing but to get more TLM and powerful mining tools, it’s best to buy your own land, or you can pay a landowner to start excavating. Battling other explorers and going on mining missions can also earn you tokens.

9. Farmers World

In Farmers World, released in 2021, you can buy land to mine gold, grow crops, breed livestock, catch fish, and build homes for your farm animals. You can buy tools on the AtomicHub market. 

Everything on your virtual property and the goods that come out of it, including milk and eggs, are NFTs. The produce you harvest can be sold or traded to other players.

You’ll have to protect your farm against other intruders (red and white tribes) as well as other players who can steal your resources, or fight off jungle monsters from your farm premises.

10. Prospectors

The creators of the Prospectors describe it as a multi-player economic strategy game that takes you to the 19th-century Wild West. The object of the game is to acquire gold that you can convert into the official game currency, Prospectors Gold.

At the start of the game, you get three workers whom you can deploy to work for you or others. For starters, your workers can build a mine for you and start mining. You can mine on free land, but you’ll have to rent land to build structures on it. Unpaid rent will result in land being blocked and your belongings on it being put up for auction.

Key Criteria for Identifying the Best Metaverse Games in 2024

When diving into the expansive and immersive world of Metaverse gaming, certain criteria distinguish the best experiences from the rest. Here's what to look for when identifying the top Metaverse games of 2024:

Player Engagement

At the heart of any successful Metaverse game is its ability to captivate and retain its players. High engagement is achieved through compelling gameplay mechanics that offer both challenge and reward. Games that provide a sense of accomplishment and continuous progression keep players coming back.

Immersive storytelling that makes players feel like integral parts of the game world is another crucial element. Meaningful player choices that impact the game’s direction or outcome also contribute significantly to maintaining engagement.

For Instance, Axie Infantry has an average monthly player count of 300,000+, according to Active Player.

Source: Active Player

Graphics and Gameplay Mechanics

Visual appeal is a significant factor in creating an immersive gaming experience. High-quality graphics, with detailed textures, lighting effects, and fluid animations, can draw players into the game world. However, stunning graphics alone are not enough.

Gameplay mechanics must be smooth, intuitive, and responsive. They should provide a seamless experience where players can easily interact with the game world, whether it's through virtual reality (VR) interfaces or traditional controls. The best Metaverse games combine both elements to create a visually appealing and mechanically sound experience.

Community Dynamics

A thriving and supportive community is essential for the long-term success of a Metaverse game. Games that foster a sense of community through features like in-game chat, forums, and social media integrations enhance the overall experience. Players benefit from sharing tips, strategies, and experiences with each other, which can lead to the formation of friendships and alliances.

A strong community also means that there are always events, activities, and new content being generated, keeping the game fresh and engaging.

For example, Decentraland hosts diverse daily events, ranging from parties and art exhibitions to fashion shows and music festivals. This vibrant community and continuous influx of new content keep players engaged and invested in the game. Here's an example of one of these events:

Source: Decentraland

Overall Experience

The holistic experience a game offers encompasses everything from the ease of navigation within the virtual world to the excitement of completing quests and achieving goals. The best Metaverse games provide a cohesive and enjoyable journey for players, where every element contributes to an unforgettable adventure.

This includes the quality of the game’s design, the richness of its world, the depth of its story, and the responsiveness of its support systems. Games that excel in these areas often receive high praise and strong recommendations from their player base.

Conclusion

About the Author

Geri Mileva

Writer

Geri Mileva, an experienced IP network engineer and distinguished writer at Influencer Marketing Hub, specializes in the realms of the Creator Economy, AI, blockchain, and the Metaverse. Her articles, featured in The Huffington Post, Ravishly, and various other respected newspapers and magazines, offer in-depth analysis and insights into these cutting-edge technology domains. Geri's technological background enriches her writing, providing a unique perspective that bridges complex technical concepts with accessible, engaging content for diverse audiences.