Not financial advice
This is an explainer, not financial advice, and we make no predictions about the price of any token. We hold no position in any project mentioned, and have no client relationship with one.
What a blockchain game is
A blockchain game is a game that uses a blockchain for part of its design. Usually that means item or currency ownership is recorded on a public ledger rather than only in the publisher's database. The game itself, meaning graphics, matches and servers, still runs like any other game.
Ethereum.org describes the broader idea as Web3, which it says uses blockchains, cryptocurrencies and NFTs to give power back to users in the form of ownership.
“You are responsible for keeping your keys safe and secure.”
The ownership claim, and its limits
The pitch is about items. Ethereum.org defines NFTs as tokens that are individually unique and provably scarce, and lists ownable items for games as a use case. It contrasts this with a traditional game, where a purchased in-game item is tied to your account and you lose it if the creators delete the account.
That is a real difference, but it has limits. Ownership of a token does not guarantee a game stays online, stays fun or keeps any demand for the item. Whether a token holds value is a market question we do not answer here.
What you need to play
Most blockchain games ask you to connect a wallet. Ethereum.org says a wallet lets you sign in to applications, read your balance, send transactions and verify your identity. Some games will let you start without one, but items on a chain need a wallet to hold them.
Wallets often give you a seed phrase that you must write down somewhere safe. Ethereum.org says it is the only way you will be able to recover the wallet, and advises not storing it on a computer.
The risks nobody puts in the trailer
Ethereum.org says security issues around NFTs are most often phishing scams, smart contract vulnerabilities or user errors such as exposing private keys. In practice, the danger is often a fake link or a rushed approval, not the game itself.
Before connecting a wallet, use a fresh wallet with little in it, check the official site address, and never share your seed phrase with anyone.
Our take
A blockchain game is a game with a ledger attached. The technology does solve one narrow problem, provable item ownership, and creates new ones, chiefly scams and lost keys. Judge the game first. If it is not fun without the token, the token will not save it.
Frequently asked
What is a blockchain game?
It is a game that uses a blockchain for part of its design, usually to record ownership of in-game items. The gameplay itself runs like any other game.
What is the difference between a blockchain game and a normal game?
In a normal game, ethereum.org notes, purchased items are tied to your account and lost if the account is deleted. In a blockchain game, items can be recorded as tokens you hold in your own wallet.
What is an NFT in a game?
Ethereum.org defines NFTs as tokens that are individually unique and provably scarce, and lists ownable items for games as a use case.
Do I need a crypto wallet to play a blockchain game?
Most connect to a wallet, which lets you sign in, read your balance and send transactions. Some let you start without one, but items held on a chain need a wallet.
What is a seed phrase and why does it matter?
It is the phrase a wallet gives you, and per ethereum.org it is the only way to recover the wallet. Write it down somewhere safe and do not store it on a computer.
What are the main risks of blockchain games?
Ethereum.org says NFT security issues are most often phishing scams, smart contract vulnerabilities or user errors such as exposing private keys.