DappRadar Games Report for August 2024, powered by the Blockchain Game Alliance
While August may have seemed like a relatively quiet month for blockchain gaming, it reached a new all-time high in activity, with daily unique active wallets (dUAW) setting records across multiple platforms. Despite the lack of major headlines, new games continue to launch and climb rapidly in the rankings, attracting significant user engagement. The steady growth in both user activity and game launches signals that the industry is far from stagnant.
In this report, we’ll break down the key metrics that define the current state of blockchain gaming—highlighting the latest trends, investment shifts, and the projects driving the sector forward. Let’s explore what happened across the board this month and set the stage for what’s to come.
Key Takeaways
- The dapp industry reached a new milestone with 17 million daily unique active wallets (dUAW) interacting with blockchain applications.
- For the second consecutive month, AI-based dapps, categorized under “Other,” claimed the top spot with a 29% market share. Despite falling to second place, blockchain gaming still saw growth with a 5% increase in dUAW, reaching a record of 4.2 million active wallets.
- Ronin remains the top blockchain for gaming, driven by popular dapps like Pixels and the newly welcomed Forgotten Runiverse.
- KGeN stood out as the leading gaming dapp by Unique Active Wallets (UAW).
- August saw a sharp rise in blockchain gaming investments, reaching $50 million, a 117% increase from the previous month.
- All investments this month were funneled into gaming studios, signaling a clear emphasis on building the foundational infrastructure needed for long-term growth in blockchain gaming.
Table of Contents
- Blockchain gaming overview
- August gaming leaders
- $50 million invested into gaming studios
- Closing words
1. Blockchain gaming overview
The August Dapp Industry Report marks a pivotal moment for the blockchain sector, with activity reaching a record high of 17 million daily unique active wallets (dUAW) interacting with various dapps. This increase highlights the growing adoption of decentralized applications across the blockchain ecosystem.
However, for the second consecutive month, blockchain gaming has been overtaken as the leading product category. The “Other” category, which includes AI-driven dapps such as DIN and Alaya AI, now commands the top spot with a 29% market share. Despite this, gaming remains a vital part of the dapp landscape, securing the second position with a 24% market share and 4.2 million dUAW—a 5% growth from the previous month.
The rise of AI dapps is unsurprising, reflecting the broader trend of increasing AI adoption and investment interest across industries. The influence of this emerging technology is reshaping the dynamics within the blockchain space, causing a shift in focus toward AI-driven innovation.
Leading gaming blockchains
In terms of blockchain gaming, Ronin continues to dominate with the highest number of UAWs. Popular dapps such as Pixels and the newly launched Forgotten Runiverse are key drivers of engagement on the network. Close on Ronin’s heels is opBNB, which is gaining traction with standout dapps like SERAPH: In The Darkness and Gomble Games.
SKALE has demonstrated remarkable growth this month, with its Nebula chain driving activity through games like motoDEX and World of Dypians. This highlights SKALE’s rising influence in the blockchain gaming scene.
Across other chains, Near remains a competitive player, with Sweat Economy and PlayEmber leading the way. Base has seen strong performances from KGen and Super Champs HQ, while TON hosts popular dapps such as Catizen and Yescoin. The Immutable zkEVM also continues to show robust engagement, particularly through Boomland. On BNB Chain StarryNift leads in activity, while WAX remains a stronghold for classic household games like Alien Worlds and Wombat Dungeon Master.
This diverse array of gaming blockchains and dapps underscores the sector’s resilience, even as new technological trends, like AI, take the spotlight.
2. August gaming leaders
In August, KGeN made a strong impression as the leading gaming dapp by Unique Active Wallets (UAW), marking a significant achievement for the platform. KGeN, a blockchain-powered gaming ecosystem, allows players to earn rewards, build profiles, and compete in quests and tournaments. The platform focuses on decentralizing gamer data and achievements, fostering a robust gaming community.
A notable new entry this month is Lumiterra, a blockchain-based MMORPG that launched its first closed beta (CBT#1) on the Ronin network. The launch included a $1 million prize pool, driving significant participation and interest. Lumiterra’s expansive world features survival-crafting mechanics, combining farming, combat, and exploration. With a player retention rate of over 80% by the seventh day, the beta test proved to be a success, indicating strong future potential for the game.
For the remainder of the leaderboard, most projects maintained stable rankings with incremental updates rather than major overhauls. This suggests that many top games are focusing on refining the user experience rather than introducing new features, a strategy that has kept their communities engaged without disrupting existing gameplay.
When analyzing top gaming NFT collections by trading volume and the number of traders, Gods Unchained continued to stand out as a major player. August saw the release of two new time-limited game formats, events with unique rulesets that challenge players to strategically adapt their decks within specific constraints. These dynamic formats keep gameplay fresh and have contributed to the game’s sustained trading volume.
Similarly, Guild of Guardians shone through with the highest number of active traders, reflecting its strong community engagement and active participation in trading activities.
Other key developments in the gaming scene
Several other key updates shaped the Web3 gaming landscape in August:
- Faraway Games, a US-based developer, is expanding its strategy of integrating ex-Yuga Labs intellectual property into Web2 games. Following its work on Shatterline, the company announced plans to integrate South Korean developer Birdletter’s mobile battle royale game, Villains, into Web3, with Legends of the Mara and HV-MTL assets taking a key role.
- Dapper Labs sparked interest with updates to its legacy game CryptoKitties, including a new egg collection. Additionally, the company launched a mysterious Telegram-based mini-game, All The Zen, adding to the anticipation surrounding its next moves.
- Mythical Games saw its NFL-licensed game NFL Rivals reach new heights by becoming the official mobile game of the Kansas City Chiefs for the upcoming season, a major win for the integration of Web3 into mainstream sports.
- Proof of Play, led by ex-Farmville co-creator Amitt Mahajan, announced a second blockchain called Boss Chain to support the scaling of its flagship game Pirate Nation. This chain aligns with the studio’s broader multichain vision, supporting both users and transactions. In June, the studio launched the PIRATE token, reinforcing its long-term staking system.
- Blocklords revealed further details about its points system as part of a staking campaign for its LRDS token, all in anticipation of the launch of the Lordchain mainnet on the Base network.
3. $50 million invested into gaming studios
August saw a significant resurgence in blockchain gaming investments, with the sector reaching $50 million, marking a 117% increase compared to the previous month. What stands out this month is that the entirety of these investments went toward gaming studios, indicating a strong focus on infrastructure development.
Despite this influx of capital, the broader gaming industry remains relatively quiet. The once-lively buzz around blockchain gaming seems to have diminished, with fewer major announcements and projects making headlines. Perhaps noteworthy, is that various Web3 gaming studios showcased their projects at Gamescom, one of Europe’s largest gaming conventions for mainstream gaming.
While funding is picking up, it remains at a lower level than expected, reflecting the subdued sentiment around the sector in recent months. Among the key investments this month, two notable deals stand out:
Gameplay Galaxy, a US-based blockchain game developer, secured an additional $11 million in its seed funding round, bringing its total to $24 million. The funds will be used to further develop Trial Xtreme Freedom, a mobile-based Web3 sports game. The game aims to introduce advanced Web3 features, including asset ownership, to enable players to host and manage their own tournaments, creating a more immersive and community-driven gaming experience.
Double Jump Tokyo, a Japanese blockchain developer, announced a $10 million Series D round, led by SBI Investment and with participation from Sony. The funds will be used to expand the company’s Web3 offerings, including gaming and infrastructure, as well as to further its collaboration with Sony on the recently unveiled Soneium blockchain. Additionally, Double Jump Tokyo is preparing to launch Battle of Three Kingdoms, a trading card game (TCG) based on Sega’s Sangokushi Taisen IP, on the Oasys blockchain in Q4 2024.
Currently, the relative quiet in major game releases and announcements points to a sector that is still navigating challenges and recalibrating for future growth.
4. Closing words
August has been a relatively quiet month for the blockchain gaming industry, a trend we’ve seen persist over the past few months. While we haven’t witnessed major headline-grabbing announcements, the industry continues to build and innovate in the background. Investments are flowing into infrastructure and studio development, and steady growth in active user engagement shows that the sector is far from stagnant.
The quieter months serve as a reminder that the industry is recalibrating and preparing for its next phase. September has already begun, and it holds the potential to bring about notable shifts, with new launches and developments that could very well reignite excitement in the gaming space. As we look ahead, it’s clear that while August may have been subdued, the groundwork is being laid for a more dynamic and headline-worthy future.
