Most NFTs games have horrible, repetitive gameplay and in some games the gameplay is automated. And that's one of the main reasons why NFT games aren't mainstream.
These are usually games with a simple character design and graphics. I'm not aware that there is a next-gen NFT game on the market right now, although there are some promises.
What is a next-gen NFT game?
By next-gen I'm not referring to the upcoming PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S games that will be out from 2022, but NFT games similar to the mainstream. This is also true for mainstream gaming, in fact, there is still no truly next-gen mainstream gaming even considering PC and consoles.
Next-gen NFT games, in this case, are games with gameplay similar to conventional or traditional games and more sophisticated graphics that currently exist on the market.
Some NFT games can benefit from simplistic and automatic gameplay, many of these games are usually paid games, and players only play to earn money, however, being a simple game, automation helps to avoid boredom and repetitive gameplay. But in some other NFT games the gameplay is so tedious that players end up abandoning the game. This occurs mainly in games that the financial return is low or slow or have traps that deceive players, especially in the gameplay and rewards system.
Generally these games are made in 2D and 2.5D graphics with isometric perspective and based on web and mobile. Games based on Idle, Card and Turn gameplay generally lack fun and relaxed gameplay. Also including some with elements of RPG, Moba and strategy.
Another downside of NFT games is that they are very expensive to start playing. And free to play NFT games generally have simpler graphics and niche gameplay. And they are harder to earn money, and players don't want to keep playing boring games. These games are not attractive enough to keep wasting time.
NFT games as a source of income
If the player pays to join an NFT game, the goal will almost always be short-term financial payback. There are still no premium NFT games where the goal beyond financial gain is primarily fun. This always happens with NFTs games with simple features.
Many of these NFT games that promise a very fast ROI (return on investment), and often caused by the anxiety and speculation of players and investors looking for a quick profit, almost always end up in pyramid scheme and scam.
NFT games can be manipulated
NFT games primarily based on pools or creating new tokens can experience market manipulation, and can cause both token up and down. This can be planned by financial groups and individuals who have great power to influence, and who may be able to ruin the games as well as the players and investors.
Players who do hold, are very harmed by these groups that pump and dump. Scammers and market manipulators do this to trade, invest in other projects or buy back the currency at lower prices. Buying and selling game currency at the same time, in a planned and purposeful way of course, this is market manipulation is classified as fraud and financial crime.
Market manipulation by power of influence ends up causing a devaluation of the game and by consequences, doubts and insecurity in players.
This is due to artificial demand and unrealistic hype. These NFTs games are built based on speculation and quick monetary gains. Therefore, most of these NFTs games are just made to exploit players. Some NFT games are clearly pseudo collectible and artificially demanded and hyped. And, creating an unsustainable economy over time.
NFT games are a bubble
Any type of product that makes use of the Blockchain network can become a bubble, and this is true for games as well. Products that have no real utility are doomed to this type of scenario.
But, this bubble may not be a bad thing, in fact, bubbles are normal when new technologies emerge, and with them also come skeptics, scammers and speculators. However, the benefits of NFTs can make the harms overcome over time. Properties of digital assets, decentralization in some cases, credibility and real-world usefulness can make the dangers of a bubble burst less worrisome.
Bubbles can also often accelerate, improve and encourage investment in new technologies, concepts and ideas. But, with NFTs being a recent technology, Blockchain's applications in the future will be even more impressive.
Environmental problem involving the Blockchain network
Another problem in NFT games refers to the environmental impact. NFT games based on the Blockchain Proof of Work clearly harm the environment. Cryptocurrency mining wastes an enormous amount of electrical energy and resources, negatively impacting the environment.
Switching to other, more ecologically sustainable algorithms is still a challenge in progress. But, this is unavoidable for the future of NFT games and Blockchain networks in general.
One of the alternatives to the Proof of Work algorithm is the Proof of Stake. This is one of the most promising alternatives, as the validator does not need to burn, mine or create new coins. Instead, the validator earns new coins just for participating in the system with a certain amount of cryptocoins.
Another alternative is to use Blockchain to support sustainable initiatives and projects. This can also be applied to NFT games.
Design problems
This is largely the fault of developers who create an artificial scarcity and rarity in NFTs. These include design systems for unique items that are randomly generated like a loot box. The problem is that this kind of rarity doesn't make an NFT valuable. The factors that make an NFT valuable are often demand and utility. Factors such as rarity, uniqueness and scarcity are subjective and can be artificially created and speculated on.
When this type of speculative game becomes extremely expensive, to the point where it cannot attract more players, its speculative value also drops. This is especially true for games that have some sort of mining, where quick profits are the only promises that have been sold. Players play these games just for the sake of speculative monetary reward and not for fun, even because these games are not fun.
Many of these current efforts to create play-to-earn games seem to have predatory mechanics. They don't look like real games. And these predatory and exploratory mechanics are many of the same ones that are criticized by players in traditional games.
Many of these NFT games have a broken design system, in addition to horrible gameplay, tedious mechanics and an abuse of RPG elements.
Games are mainly created to entertain and amuse people, and when that's the goal, the real value of a game comes out.
The stability of NFT games will come from games similar to the mainstream. This is one of the secrets of the future of the NFT gaming industry. And when that happens most NFT games currently on the market will be wiped out.
That's why I'm committed to creating the next generation of NFT games based on mainstream gaming successes.
In addition to simple and controversial NFT games, I will be committed together with a qualified team that will lead the next level of emerging NFT games.
To become a leader it is essential to create games that players would continue to play even without an NFT system. When a game reaches this level, the next frontier of NFTs games will begin.
And the requirements for this are simple:
Fun, gameplay and quality.
