The best Web3 games to play in 2025

What you can expect

• Play-to-own games that set the standard
• Play-to-earn games that are actually fun
• Immersive worldbuilding and metaverse experiences
• Other standout Web3 games worth playing
• A look at the future of blockchain-based games

Web3 gaming has grown up. After years of hype and half-baked experiments, a new wave of blockchain-based games is finally fun to play. Whether you're curious about metaverse games, hoping to earn and own while you play, or just looking for titles that are actually engaging, we've got you.

We rounded up the best Web3 games you can play right now, across a mix of genres and platforms. From NFT-powered racing and fantasy RPGs to immersive world builders and social games, we explore what’s working, what’s not, and where things are headed.

By the end, you’ll understand why more developers are choosing platforms like Polkadot to build sustainable game economies and unlock true digital ownership, laying the groundwork for the next era of play.

The best play-to-own games in 2025

The next wave of Web3 gaming is leaving behind the extractive mechanics of play-to-earn and embracing something more sustainable: play-to-own. These blockchain-based games reward players not with volatile tokens but with NFTs and digital assets that hold real value and utility in the game world. It’s about immersive experiences where players can build, race, and compete—while truly owning what they earn.

The Polkadot ecosystem is home to some of the most promising play-to-own games in 2025. Thanks to interoperability, fast transactions, and a developer-friendly stack, it’s becoming a go-to platform for studios looking to build sustainable game economies that put players first.

Here are two standout play-to-own Web3 games you can play right now:

FIFA Rivals (Polkadot/ Mythical Games)

FIFA Rivals brings Web3 mechanics to a sports game without making it feel like a blockchain game. Players collect digital player cards, enter live events, and build a roster that’s actually theirs, with athletes and in-game items minted as NFTs. Built on Mythos Chain, part of the Polkadot ecosystem. Mythical Games chose Polkadot for its fast transactions, real interoperability, and strong developer support.

The game doesn’t advertise its blockchain elements—and that’s the point. It’s designed to feel intuitive and accessible, with ownership baked into the backend. There’s no wallet setup or crypto knowledge required. But behind the scenes, it’s a clear example of play-to-own: player progress and assets are stored onchain, not tied to a central account.

FIFA Rivals is still in its early days, with many features like asset trading yet to roll out. Even so, it offers a promising look at player-centered economies and a more sustainable direction for Web3 gaming.

Exiled Racers (Polkadot)

Exiled Racers is a high-speed, browser-based racing game built for chaos, competition, and community. Its latest league, Ghost Riders, drops players into dynamic weekly tournaments where the rules, tracks, and challenges evolve in real time. No wallet, no downloads—just register and race.

Each week, players get a set of randomized racing items and five official attempts to climb the leaderboard. Rewards include prize draws and LightLink token payouts, with more points boosting your chances of winning. For those who connect a wallet, the experience goes deeper: you can race with your own NFT-based gear, store any prizes you earn, and retain ownership across seasons.

It’s fast, fun, and refreshingly Web3 without feeling like it’s trying too hard. A strong example of how play-to-own and play-to-earn can work together: offering real rewards without gatekeeping behind a steep learning curve.

Play-to-earn games that get it right

While play-to-own is emerging as the more sustainable model for blockchain-based games, offering true digital ownership and long-term engagement, a few play-to-earn titles are proving that earning rewards doesn’t have to come at the expense of fun. These games strike a better balance, offering players the chance to win crypto or assets through skill-based progression or competitive play. Here are two that are getting it right.

Gods Unchained (Immutable / Ethereum)

Gods Unchained is a competitive trading card game that rewards strategy and mastery, offering fast-paced PvP battles where each card is a tradable NFT. Its browser-based interface will feel familiar to fans of Hearthstone, but under the hood, it uses Immutable’s Ethereum-based infrastructure to enable true ownership. Players can earn $GODS tokens and valuable cards through ranked rewards, tournaments, and seasonal progression.

You’ll need a wallet to trade cards or earn ranked rewards, though the onboarding is well-supported with in-game prompts and tutorials. With layered mechanics and high replay value, it’s one of the few play-to-earn games that still feels like a game first.

Aurory (Solana)

Aurory is an expanding ecosystem of interoperable Web3 games, anchored by its flagship title, Seekers of Tokane. This free-to-play JRPG invites players to explore procedurally generated lands, collect and train magical creatures called Nefties, and engage in turn-based combat. Assets are NFTs that can be used across Aurory’s platform, supported by an in-house inventory system that blends onchain and offchain logic.

PvE and ranked PvP activities earn sub-tokens that can be converted into $AURY, the game’s utility token, making it a skill-based, earnable system with no upfront investment. While Aurory blends play-to-own elements, its structured rewards and token economy give it a strong foothold in the play-to-earn space.

Top worldbuilding metaverse games right now

Some of the most recognizable names in Web3 gaming come from this category: open-ended worlds where players create, trade, explore, and sometimes just hang out. These blockchain-based games often prioritize community and creativity over winning or leveling up. When done well, they show what’s possible with digital ownership and interoperable, player-driven economies.

The Sandbox (Ethereum/Polygon)

A longtime leader in metaverse games, The Sandbox blends creative worldbuilding with blockchain-based ownership. Players can buy LAND, design interactive experiences, and monetize their work using NFTs and the native SAND token. Built on Ethereum and scaled via Polygon, it powers a growing ecosystem of artists, brands, and players. The creative tools are deep, though onboarding can be clunky for users new to wallets or Web3 UX.

What sets The Sandbox apart is its slate of high-profile brand collaborations. In 2025, it launched a Jurassic World island featuring 40+ mini-games and dinosaur preservation experiences. Past partners include Snoop Dogg, Gucci, Ubisoft, and hundreds more. With 400+ partnerships and an active creator community, it remains one of the most visible and widely used blockchain-based gaming platforms today.

Decentraland (Ethereum)

One of the earliest blockchain-based gaming platforms, Decentraland helped define what metaverse games could be. Built on Ethereum, it gives players full control over virtual land, avatars, and experiences, powered by NFTs and the MANA token. Users can buy LAND, create games or events, and explore a sprawling world built by its community. While the graphics and UX can feel dated, the platform’s decentralization and user governance model remain influential.

Decentraland continues to draw interest through pop culture and fashion crossovers. It hosted the annual Metaverse Fashion Week again in 2024, featuring brands like Tommy Hilfiger and DKNY. It’s also seen events from artists like Grimes and Deadmau5, plus a voter-run DAO that funds new development. Despite a quieter user base than its peak, it remains relevant for creators and brands exploring digital ownership in games and virtual event space.

Otherside (Ethereum/Yuga Labs)

Otherside is Yuga Labs’ in-development metaverse game focused on storytelling, exploration, and digital ownership. Designed for holders of Bored Apes and other Yuga NFTs, it’s currently gated but expected to open to the broader public. While it’s not fully live yet, Yuga has hosted live demos and continues building toward a wider release.

It’s a creative way to breathe life into pricey NFTs that might otherwise sit untouched in someone’s wallet. Even if you’re not a holder, it’s an interesting look at how static collectibles could evolve into playable, persistent identities within a larger world.

Other blockchain-based games to play this year

Not every game fits neatly into a single category, but these standouts show how diverse Web3 gaming has become. From card battlers and farming sims to social storytelling and Telegram clickers, the space is full of creative experiments that mix crypto-powered gameplay with fun mechanics and real ownership.

Pixels (Ronin)

Pixels is a cozy farming sim and social MMO where players complete quests, craft items, and explore a colorful online world. It runs on Ronin, an EVM-compatible blockchain developed by the creators of Axie Infinity. Getting started is easy, even for players with little Web3 experience. You can play without a wallet, but connecting one unlocks deeper functionality, like true ownership of avatars and in-game items as NFTs. As you participate in events and quests, you can earn in-game assets that may hold real-world value, though the focus here is more on social play than direct financial gain.

With daily events and a highly active player base, Pixels is one of the more accessible and engaging blockchain-based games available today, though some players may find the gameplay loop a bit repetitive over time.

Shrapnel (Avalanche)

A high-stakes extraction shooter built by veterans from Halo, Call of Duty, and other AAA franchises, Shrapnel delivers tactical gunplay with crypto-powered gameplay. Built on its own Avalanche subnet, it lets players loot, extract, and own in-game assets like skins and gear. You can jump in through Epic Games without a wallet, though blockchain features like cosmetic minting and trading unlock more depth for Web3-native players.

While still early in development, Shrapnel hints at future earning mechanics tied to player performance and asset rarity, part of its vision to blend deep gameplay with meaningful blockchain utility at scale.

From hype to playability: the future of Web3 games

Many Web3 games still fall into the trap of putting tokens before gameplay. When speculation takes center stage, the experience often becomes forgettable. The projects that stand out are the ones where the game comes first, where mechanics are engaging on their own, and crypto simply adds depth and persistence.

That’s why some of the best Web3 games today are being built on Polkadot. These live experiences offer genuine gameplay experiences, digital ownership, and meaningful rewards for playing. They let players opt into monetization and prioritize long-term sustainability over hype.

Ready to see what real Web3 gaming looks like? Explore the Polkadot gaming ecosystem.