If you want to create a blockchain game, now is a great time to do that.
According to Statista’s forecasts, global spending on blockchain solutions will continue to grow in the upcoming years and could reach nearly $19 billion by 2024. The US blockchain gaming market is also growing steadily. It is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 68.3% from 2023 to 2030.
Moreover, with the recent announcement from Google Play on allowing NFT and blockchain-based games in the store, the growth in the mobile game sector is likely to see a huge spike. As a mobile game development company with experience and interest in blockchain game development, we’re excited.
So if you want to gain some profit from these numbers, read further to uncover all the basics!
Why are blockchain games so popular?
Blockchain technology is basically a shared database that stores information in blocks linked together via cryptography. The technology can store various types of data but is most commonly used for transactions as a ledger.
Blockchain games incorporate elements of this technology. For instance, in-game items can be traded or sold to other players in the form of NFT. Or a game can allow players to earn cryptocurrency for completing levels. Furthermore, all the transactions within such games can be conducted securely, transparently, and without intermediates.
This unique gaming experience led to a growing interest among players, resulting in a significant increase in investments and funding. In 2022, blockchain gaming market size value reached $4.83 billion. In 2023, it is expected to reach $7.89 billion, almost doubling the previous year’s numbers.
So let’s focus a bit more on the benefits of such solutions to help you figure out if creating a blockchain game is worthy of your time and effort.
Benefits of blockchain game development
The benefits of blockchain-based games for players are quite obvious. Users like the possibility of gaining money while playing, the transparency and safety of transactions, and the ability to own the assets they earn.
Game owners, however, can also benefit from making a game with blockchain.
Data encryption and security
As blockchain technology operates on a decentralized system, it is very secure. This reduces the risks of fraud as well as hacking these games and players’ transactions. This also adds an extra layer of transparency to the transactions, helping players feel more comfortable and become loyal fans of your game.
Growth opportunities and new revenue stream
While the blockchain gaming market is currently rising and rapidly developing, at the same time it’s still relatively new. Therefore, it’s easy even for young companies to make a name for themselves in this market and earn a market share. Furthermore, the ability to sell in-game items and other game-related digital assets offers more innovative opportunities for game monetization.
Improved game balance and transaction fees
New blockchain networks allow reducing transaction fees and makes the creation of in-game economies more affordable. This, in turn, can potentially help attract a larger player base, generating more revenue as a result. Blockchain technology can also make the in-game economy more transparent and balanced, preventing inflation and making the player experience more pleasant.
Transparent asset distribution
As we’ve mentioned above, players enjoy having their own assets and being able to control them. By providing this opportunity, blockchain games can attract part of the players from the traditional gaming market, who want to have that level of control, ownership, and security over their game items.
4 steps to create a blockchain game
Creating a blockchain game app can seem a challenging process. Even if you already developed games before, the new technology requires a fresh approach and perspective. To make it easier for you, we’ve divided the process into 4 simple steps.
So, to develop a blockchain game, you have to:
1. Begin with a clear concept
Before you start building a blockchain game, you have to understand what exactly you want to create. At this stage, you need to come up with a clear vision and a detailed concept. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Which type of game do you want to build?
- Who is your target audience and what do they expect from the game?
- What can you add to the game that would help it stand out among competitors?
- How will blockchain be manifested in the game?
- What gameplay mechanics do you want to include?
- Which platforms do you want supported — desktop, browser, or mobile?
- Where do you plan to distribute the game?
This will help you understand what to focus on during the development and create a game that brings value to the target market.
2. Choose the right development tools, technology, and network
Once the concept is ready, it’s time to move to the tech stack. Now that you know what game you want to build and what mechanics to include, you can use this knowledge to select the appropriate technology and network for your needs and goals. You also have to take the following factors into account:
- scalability;
- transaction speed;
- developer tools;
- budget and gas cost.
The most popular networks for blockchain game development are:
- Ethereum. It is considered one of the most secure, reliable, and user-friendly options for blockchain game development and was used to build blockchain games such as CryptoKitties, Axie Infinity, and Decentraland;
- Polygon. This network is built to be compatible with Ethereum and to simultaneously address some of its issues, the biggest of which is scalability;
- Tron, which allows creating and deploying decentralized apps with ease and allows users to collect digital assets from content spreading;
- Corda, a simple and flexible platform that also is budget-friendly;
- and EIO, famous for its quick transactions and scalability.
Still, if you are new to the industry, it might be difficult to quickly choose the best platform. In this case, Mind Studios Games will gladly assist you in picking the right solution for your requirements.
3. Develop and deploy your blockchain game
When everything is set, it’s finally time to make a blockchain game. At this stage, developers create the game itself and its mechanics, implement blockchain features (for instance, NFTs and smart contracts), and test everything until they achieve the right gaming balance.
The game setting, core loop, meta, and connection with Web3 will depend on the concept you selected.
If you build your game on Unity, you can use libraries and SDKs that allow you to faster integrate blockchain solutions. For example, in our projects we used the Nethereum library for that.
To make sure that the result meets your expectations, choose developers who are well-familiar with blockchain technologies. Mind Studios Games has been turning mobile game ideas into reality for years, and we’re not new to blockchain technology, we have the relevant experience to help your blockchain game succeed. So reach out to us if you are looking for expert developers familiar with the industry.
4. Focus on monetization
Knowing how to make a blockchain game is just part of the job. The other, no less important part is coming up with ways for its monetization.
The most common options for blockchain game monetization are the following:
- Fees for transactions. A player buys in-game currency to spend it in the game or to save. In blockchain games, the value of in-game currency often rises as more players purchase it. This could become a worthy investment for the players and generate profit for the game creators.
- Game assets for sale. We already have this monetization model in regular video games, where players purchase character skins, new characters, pets, and other assets. In blockchain games, such assets usually come in the form of NFTs that can be purchased by players and then traded or sold. When the new Google Play policies come into force next year, mobile games will also be able to do this.
Pick the option that you find the most appealing and implement it into the game.
Another significant part of monetization for a blockchain-based game is its ‘tokenomics’.
Tokenomics (a ‘token’ + ‘economics’ portmanteau) is the concept of utilizing cryptocurrency in apps and games. It covers everything from token creation to its burn, the whole lifecycle. It’s vital for blockchain game developers to properly research and build tokenomics for their projects to secure profitability. The tokens’ supply and demand, utility, and distribution will have a heavy impact on your game’s success.
Approximate costs of blockchain game development
How to create a blockchain game without spending a fortune? To do that, you have to understand the factors that affect the final cost of your project. These factors are:
- the supported platforms;
- the number of game’s features and their complexity;
- the complexity of front-end and back-end development;
- the time required to build a game;
- the location of the development team.
Usually, the price starts from around $25,000 and could reach $50,000 for a small casual game with a diverse number of features. For a medium and high-complexity game the cost starts from $50,000.
We’d also like to break down prices for every feature separately:
| Feature | Price |
|---|---|
| Core game play | $10,000 – $30,000 |
| Meta game | $5,000 – $20,000 |
| NFT minting, transferring, integration | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Smart contract, tokenomics | $5,000 – $25,000 |
| Web3 wallet and secure authentication | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Multiplayer functionality | $15,000+ |
Best practices for creating a successful blockchain game
Probably every company wants to create a solution that won’t be just a passing trend but will become highly successful. While the market could be a bit unpredictable, following these best practices can increase your chances of becoming a success story and minimize the pitfalls that could happen in your way.
Don’t neglect the business idea validation
Creating a detailed concept is essential not only for the development but also to ensure that your project will survive in today’s highly competitive market and will generate profit. The best way to achieve this is to research the industry, identify any similar products, and see how they perform in terms of revenue and audience. Don’t start building a blockchain game until you are sure that it will be in demand.
Make the game mechanics your priority
Although it’s the blockchain game you’re building, the blockchain part should be a nice addition to the fun and engaging gaming experience, not the center of the game itself. Make sure that your game is as interesting as possible with or without the blockchain component. This will ensure that it’ll succeed in holding the attention of players.
Choose the blockchain technology wisely
Although there are many technologies you can integrate into your blockchain game, each of them still has its own specifics. If you are unsure which options will truly help you meet your project goals, reach out to experts in the field to pick the right one.
Stick to simple solutions
If this is the first game you are building or you are on a budget, don’t try to impress the players with overly complex or overly expensive blockchain solutions. Instead, stick to simpler ones that would fit your budget and still help create the gaming experience you want.
Mind Studios as your blockchain game development partner
Mind Studios has been developing software and games for various industries, blockchain included. In 2022, we built a 2D arcade NFT game Flappy Whales in just a month, using the base characters already provided by the client.
We also helped develop a blockchain-based project XManna, which is basically a skill-gaming blockchain ecosystem that also allows sports teams to offer a new engaging experience for their fans, clubs, and sponsors.
Last but not least, we’re also the official development partners of the Japanese Born Ape Society project, for whom we create NFT designs and built Airdrop, an instrument to attract new users and keep existing ones interested.
Conclusion
The blockchain gaming market is on the rise and you can make use of this situation by starting your own project in this niche. If you don’t know how to build a crypto game, you can follow this basic guide or turn to professionals for help.
Mind Studios Games knows how blockchain games work and what is required for them to succeed. If you want to entrust your idea to an experienced developing partner, we are here to lend you a helping hand.
Don’t hesitate, reach out to us for a free consultation.
