DappRadar Games Report for October 2024, powered by the Blockchain Game Alliance
As the long-awaited bull run appears to be underway, a fresh wave of enthusiasm is sweeping through the blockchain industry. October 2024 has been marked by exciting developments that hint at a promising future for blockchain gaming. The highly anticipated early-access launch of Off the Grid, a game that quickly gained traction across the community, has added new energy to the space. Meanwhile, Ubisoft’s long-awaited entry into Web3 gaming has finally arrived, signaling a pivotal moment for the industry as a major traditional gaming company takes new steps into the blockchain space.
The industry is buzzing with new projects, groundbreaking titles, and creative initiatives that are capturing attention and drawing players from around the globe. So, what’s driving this momentum? Dive into our report to discover October’s most significant developments, top-performing games, investment trends, and insights into the evolving landscape of blockchain gaming.
Key Takeaways
- Gaming maintained a robust 24.5% market share. The sector had an average of 5.2 million active wallets per day, which is a 13% increase from September.
- In terms of user activity, opBNB emerged as October’s top blockchain for gaming, fueled by the popularity of Seraph: In the Darkness.
- October saw increased traction for emerging blockchains like Oasys, Xterio Chain, and Etherlink, fuelled by games such as NFTWars, Age of Dino, and Bit Hotel.
- Pixels captured the lead among gaming dapps by Unique Active Wallets (UAW) reaching 1.73 million dUAW.
- In the NFT gaming arena, Guild of Guardians made waves with the launch of its Frostmire expansion, introducing two new Legendary Guardians, which captivated players and cemented its status among top gaming NFT collections with over $20 million in monthly trading volume.
- Investment in blockchain gaming and metaverse projects surged to $89 million in October, a 147% increase over the previous month.
Table of Contents
- Blockchain gaming overview
- Explore October gaming leaders
- $89 million invested into Web3 gaming
- Closing words
1. Blockchain gaming overview
The October Dapp Industry Report continues to highlight a pivotal moment for the blockchain sector, with activity reaching a record 21.6 million daily unique active wallets (dUAW) interacting with various dapps. This unprecedented activity showcases the strong adoption of blockchain technology, aligning with Bitcoin’s recent all-time high and the momentum surrounding the U.S. elections.
This surge in engagement signals a bullish sentiment across blockchain verticals, yet for the third consecutive month, blockchain gaming has been overtaken as the leading product category. DeFi saw the most substantial growth, capturing 34.5% of the market share, while gaming followed with 24.5%, equating to 5.2 million dUAW—a 13% increase from the previous month.
In the blockchain gaming sector, opBNB emerged as the leading chain, largely due to the activity driven by the game Seraph in the Darkness. Following closely, Ronin secured the second position with Pixels as its top-performing game. Matchain, a newly integrated chain, rapidly climbed the rankings to third place, driven by the popularity of MatchQuest.
Several other blockchains also experienced notable growth in gaming dapps. Base reported significant user engagement, particularly from Eternal Legacy, while Stan drove activity on Aptos, and Tom Talk spurred growth on Core.
Beyond the major players, smaller chains demonstrated impressive gains in October. Oasys saw growth across two chains, with OasChoice driving activity on TGC and ChainArena – PentagonGames EXP on Chain Verse. Other chains, like Xterio Chain with Age of Dino, Kroma with KGeN, and Etherlink with Bit Hotel, showed early promise despite not yet reaching the top rankings.
2. Explore October gaming leaders
October was a vibrant month for blockchain gaming, with popular dapps capturing users’ attention through creative events, immersive experiences, and exclusive rewards. Here’s a look at the standout performers:
Pixels – Leading by UAW
In October, Pixels maintained its position as the top gaming dapp by Unique Active Wallets (UAW). From October 23 to October 31, 2024, Pixels captivated players with “Denis the Dentist’s Haunted Harvest,” a Halloween-themed event featuring spooky activities, unique rewards, and limited-edition collectibles. Players could participate in activities like “Maul-a-Skaul” to collect crafting supplies or smash Ump-O-Lanterns for rewards, enhancing engagement through seasonal events.
Gomble Games – Bridging Web2 and Web3 gaming
Securing the second spot, Gomble Games is a leading casual gaming studio focused on introducing Web3 experiences to a global audience of 2 billion casual gamers. In October 2024, Gomble Games launched “Launchpool #2,” a social and immersive gaming experience that combines individual gameplay with team-based strategies. This initiative included EggDrop, a popular hyper-casual game, and GOMBLE SQUAD, a social gaming hub designed to enhance team-based collaboration.
MatchQuest – Interactive tasks and rewards in the Matchain ecosystem
Newly listed on DappRadar, MatchQuest quickly rose to prominence by engaging users through interactive tasks and mini-games that reward Match Points (MPs). These points can be redeemed for rewards within the Matchain ecosystem, making MatchQuest an engaging option for players who enjoy progression-based rewards.
World of Dypians – Expanding access and rewards
World of Dypians reached a new milestone in October with the completion of a funding round featuring IBC Group as a partner. In early November 2024, the team launched the WOD Mini App on Telegram, which offers exclusive rewards within the messaging platform. The mini-app includes daily sessions, mini-games, referral rewards, and interactive tasks, providing players with an accessible and rewarding experience.
Seraph in the Darkness – Preparing for season 1 launch
On October 17, 2024, Seraph in the Darkness opened its PTR (Public Test Realm) test server, allowing players to preview new features before the official Season 1 launch. This test version is available on both Android and PC, enabling players to explore the latest additions, including ActPass version 2.0.0. The update introduced a dedicated gaming section, an enhanced game asset display, Chaos Stash integration, and an upgraded UI.
The most popular gaming NFTs
In the NFT space, Guild of Guardians remained a standout in trading volume and user engagement. October saw the launch of the much-anticipated Frostmire expansion, which takes players into a frozen world filled with ancient secrets and formidable dungeons. This expansion introduced two new Legendary Guardians:
- Lisca, the Arctic Fox: A swift and cunning hunter from Frostmire, Lisca is a vital asset to the Keepers faction.
- Dolvir, Earth’s Fury: A powerful champion with unparalleled strength and wisdom, Dolvir supports teams in overcoming challenging enemies.
Meanwhile, InfiniGods – InfiniPass became increasingly popular within the gaming ecosystem. The InfiniPass NFT, issued by Infinigods, grants holders exclusive benefits, including:
- Early Access to new games or features
- Exclusive Content, such as unique in-game items or characters
- Community Events for members-only tournaments and collaborations
- Rewards and Airdrops for bonuses and token rewards within the Infinigods platform
Other key developments in the gaming scene
Off The Grid (OTG): Developed by Gunzilla Games, OTG is a free-to-play battle royale shooter that launched in early access on October 8, 2024. Built on the Avalanche blockchain’s GUNZ subnet, it allows players to mint NFTs representing in-game items like weapons and skins. The game quickly became the top free-to-play title on the Epic Games Store and garnered significant attention on Twitch, with over 150,000 viewers tuning in shortly after its release. Additionally, in the past 30 days they attracted over 1.48 million UAW, and over 47 million transactions.
Champion Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles: Ubisoft quietly released this tactical PvP RPG centered around purchasing NFTs. Despite the significant financial investment required for in-game characters, the game was launched with minimal marketing.
3. $89 million invested into Web3 gaming
October 2024 marked a significant upswing in investments within the blockchain gaming and metaverse sectors, reaching a total of $89 million—a remarkable 147% increase from the previous month. This surge reflects renewed optimism as gaming companies continue to explore Web3 opportunities, bringing fresh momentum and confidence to the industry.
One of the most notable investments this month came from Azra Games, which raised $42.7 million to advance the development of Project Legends, a mobile role-playing game set to reshape the RPG genre within blockchain gaming. This funding will enable Azra Games to accelerate its projects, with Project Legends at the forefront, driving innovation and captivating the market’s interest.
UK-based Dragonz Lab, a Web3 gaming studio, secured $9 million in equity investment to support the development of Dragonz Land, a utility-driven play-to-earn game that champions digital property rights within the Web3 ecosystem. This strategic investment emphasizes the increasing value of blockchain-based digital assets and property rights in gaming.
Party Icons, a mobile-first gaming platform, also raised $9 million to fund its expansion into social gaming and Web3-enabled features. The company plans to enhance its platform by offering diverse gaming and social experiences, aiming for substantial growth in key markets by 2025. This investment underscores the demand for interactive, mobile-first blockchain games with strong community engagement.
These investments are part of a broader trend, with October seeing a total of 10 notable investments across blockchain gaming and metaverse projects. The month’s capital influx signals a bullish outlook for Web3 gaming, with both established studios and newcomers showing strong potential for innovation and real-world adoption. As these projects develop, they hold the promise of elevating the Web3 gaming experience through quality gameplay and enhanced user experiences.
With substantial funding backing promising projects, the next wave of Web3 games may be set to drive mass adoption and bring blockchain gaming to mainstream audiences.
4. Closing words
October 2024 has proven to be an important month for blockchain gaming, marked by record user engagement, groundbreaking game launches, and a surge in investment. As both established players and emerging projects continue to innovate, the industry is moving closer to widespread adoption, with mainstream appeal steadily growing.
From Ubisoft’s new steps into Web3 to the rise of new gaming dapps, the sector is embracing its momentum with a mix of creative offerings and community-driven experiences. With fresh funding and enthusiasm bolstering the space, blockchain gaming is well-positioned for continued growth and transformation in the months ahead.
As we look forward, the stage is set for even more groundbreaking developments in the world of Web3 gaming.
