DappRadar Games Report for July 2024, powered by the Blockchain Game Alliance
The blockchain gaming and metaverse industries have been at the forefront of technological innovation, continually reshaping the landscape of digital entertainment. As we navigate through 2024, these sectors remain dynamic, marked by significant milestones, evolving trends, and emerging opportunities.
This report delves into the latest developments from July, offering insights into the current state of blockchain gaming, the metaverse, and the investment climate surrounding these areas.
Key Takeaways
- In July, the dapp industry had over 15 million daily unique active wallets (dUAW), with gaming dapps engaging with 4 million dUAW—a 79% increase from the previous month, and setting a new all-time high.
- Ronin remained the leading blockchain ecosystem for gaming activity with 1 million dUAW, driven by the popularity of Pixels and Lumiterra.
- Mocaverse remains the most popular NFT metaverse collection, achieving the highest trading volume of $4 million.
- This month we had $23 million invested in Web3 gaming which marks the lowest amount since Q3 2020.
Table of Contents
- Blockchain gaming overview
- July gaming leaders
- Mocaverse leads NFT metaverse rankings
- Lowest investment since Q3 2020
- Closing words
1. Blockchain gaming overview
The July Dapp Industry Report highlights a significant moment for the dapp industry, as it maintained its impressive milestone of over 15 million daily unique active wallets (dUAW) interacting with blockchain applications.
However, for the first time, gaming has been surpassed as the leading product category. The “Other” category, which includes AI-based dapps such as DIN and Alaya AI, now holds the top position with a 28% share. Gaming, while still strong, now sits in second place with a 26% share, representing 4 million dUAW—an impressive 79% increase from the previous month.
While gaming may no longer be the dominant category, its growth is undeniable. The rise of AI dapps is not surprising, given the current enthusiasm surrounding AI technology, which has clearly impacted industry dynamics.
In our examination of gaming blockchains, Ronin continues to lead in terms of UAW, with popular dapps like Pixels and Lumiterra driving engagement. Close behind is opBNB, featuring top dapps such as SERAPH: In The Darkness and MEET48. Meanwhile, Oasys has shown remarkable performance with Saakuru Verse, where PlayGround Publishing stands out as the leading gaming dapp.
On the Near blockchain, Sweat Economy and PlayEmber remain the top gaming dapps, while SKALE’s Nebula boasts motoDEX and World of Dypians. Immutable zkEVM also sees strong engagement with Boomland and motoDEX, and TON hosts popular dapps like Catizen and Yescoin. On BNB Chain, Treasure Ship Game and StarryNift lead the way, while WAX continues to be a stronghold for Alien Worlds and Wombat Dungeon Master.
The blockchain gaming landscape is evolving rapidly, with significant growth across various platforms, even as the industry adapts to new trends like AI.
2. July gaming leaders
This July, BoomLand emerged as the leading game by UAW, marking a significant milestone for the platform. Notably, BoomLand concluded its Season 1 play-to-airdrop event, hosted exclusively on the Immutable zkEVM version of the game. The event featured a massive prize pool of up to 250 million BOOM tokens, further solidifying BoomLand’s position in the blockchain gaming space.
A standout development this month was the launch of SERAPH: In the Darkness, an action RPG that debuted in mid-July. Despite its recent entry, it has quickly climbed the ranks, securing the fifth spot in our gaming rankings. This swift success highlights the growing interest in new and innovative gaming dapps. Another noteworthy performer is Catizen on the TON blockchain, which has rapidly become one of the top gaming dapps on this emerging platform.
For the remainder of the list, most projects have seen incremental improvements rather than major updates, leading to relatively stable rankings over the past few months. This consistency suggests that many games are focusing on fine-tuning their user experiences rather than launching new features.
In addition to these rankings, we took a closer look at the top gaming NFT collections by trading volume and by the number of traders:
It’s clear from the data that Gods Unchained remains a cornerstone in the gaming industry, maintaining strong trading volumes. Similarly, Guild of Guardians stands out with a high number of active traders, underscoring its popularity and active community engagement.
Other Key Developments in the Gaming Scene
- HyperPlay introduced HyperPlay Quests, a platform that expands its already extensive integration of over 100 top games and the entire libraries of the Epic Games Store and GOG. Now, players can earn tangible rewards through in-game achievements, adding a new layer of engagement.
- The Machines Arena (TMA), a competitive hero shooter for PC and Android by Directive Games, kicked off its Play 2 Airdrop event. Spanning eight weeks, this event offers players the opportunity to earn points and secure $TMA tokens, blending entertainment with earning potential.
- Wanderers announced the upcoming Open Beta on the Epic Games Store, set to launch on Tuesday, July 30th. This sci-fi roguelite will be available on both Windows and Mac, featuring a Play to Airdrop campaign where players can earn the upcoming $WANDER token.
- Immutable launched a trio of games—Illuvium Overworld, Illuvium Arena, and Illuvium Zero—all of which are now live, free to play, and accessible on the Immutable zkEVM network, further expanding their gaming ecosystem.
- Cross the Ages introduced a new mint and staking system designed to enhance player engagement. This system allows players to stake $CTA tokens, which is the first step toward becoming eligible for weekly airdrops of Special Rare (SR) cards.
- Animoca Brands launched a new game titled Crazy Rush Heroes on Telegram. This game is part of the larger TOWER Ecosystem, blending traditional gaming elements with innovative blockchain technology, further demonstrating Animoca Brands’ commitment to pushing the boundaries of blockchain gaming.
These developments reflect the continuous innovation and expansion within the blockchain gaming industry, as platforms and games seek to engage users with new opportunities and experiences.
3. Mocaverse leads NFT metaverse rankings
The metaverse, a concept that surged in popularity about a year and a half ago, has seen a quieter period recently. However, this does not indicate a slowdown in development. Companies dedicated to building the metaverse have been working diligently behind the scenes, continuing to shape this digital frontier.
In our analysis of the top NFT metaverse collections by trading volume, one project that continues to stand out is Mocaverse. This collection remains a significant player in the metaverse space, demonstrating sustained interest and engagement.
Another noteworthy development comes from the Otherdeed ecosystem. On July 27th, the Otherside metaverse, powered by ApeChain, launched “Project Dragon,” a new NFT game that unfolds through a series of monthly gameplay events. Developed in collaboration with Improbable and utilizing the Otherside Developer Kit (ODK), Project Dragon offers an exhilarating shooter experience, promising to attract both metaverse enthusiasts and gamers alike.
These ongoing efforts reflect the resilience and innovation within the metaverse sector, as developers continue to push the boundaries of what these digital spaces can offer, even as the initial hype has subsided.
4. Lowest investment since Q3 2020
The second quarter of this year concluded on a high note, with $1.1 billion invested in the blockchain gaming and metaverse industry. However, July has not followed this positive trend, recording only $23 million in investments spread across just three deals. This marks the lowest investment level since Q3 2020, signaling a slowdown in funding activity.
The three notable investments in July are:
- NPC Labs, a Web3 infrastructure startup, secured $18 million in seed funding, bringing its total funding to $21 million. Co-founded by three former Coinbase members, NPC Labs is developing a gaming L3 blockchain called B3, built on Coinbase’s Base blockchain. This investment highlights continued interest in infrastructure projects that aim to enhance the Web3 gaming ecosystem.
- Soccerverse raised $3.1 million in a funding round led by Square Enix. Currently in open beta on the Polygon blockchain, Soccerverse is set for a full release in Q4 2024. This investment reflects ongoing interest in sports-themed blockchain games, particularly those leveraging established gaming and entertainment brands.
- Pixelverse, a Web3 game startup, announced a $2 million extension to its recent $5.5 million funding round, bringing its total to $7.5 million. Pixelverse, which currently operates the Telegram-based tap game PixelTap, is focused on expanding the game globally. This additional funding is likely to accelerate their efforts in reaching a wider audience.
Despite the dip in July, it’s important to consider the seasonal context. Summer months often see reduced investment activity across various sectors. Hopefully, this is just a temporary slowdown, and we may see a resurgence in the coming months as the market regains momentum.
5. Closing words
As we reflect on the developments of July in the blockchain gaming and metaverse sectors, it’s clear that the industry continues to evolve, even amidst fluctuations in market activity. While gaming briefly ceded its top position to AI-driven dapps, it remains a vibrant and growing category, showcasing innovation across multiple platforms. The metaverse, though quieter than its initial surge, is steadily being built out by dedicated teams pushing the boundaries of digital experiences.
Investment activity has seen a temporary lull, but the strategic funding of promising projects indicates that confidence in the long-term potential of blockchain gaming and the metaverse remains strong. The resilience of these sectors, coupled with ongoing advancements and new launches, suggests that we are only scratching the surface of what’s possible.
As we move forward, it will be essential to watch how these trends develop, especially as we head into the latter half of the year. The foundation laid by the projects and investments of today will undoubtedly shape the landscape of tomorrow. We remain optimistic about the future and look forward to witnessing the continued growth and innovation within this dynamic industry.
