The gaming industry has been changing and evolving since the inception of retro games. There was a time when playing video games meant adjusting blocks (Tetris) or helping a man rescue his princess just by using simple mechanics like jumps on a 2D plane (Super Mario). However, the paradigm shift in the landscape is so large that players now buy and sell real estate inside video games, and can become millionaires. Yes, you heard me right, the introduction of Web3 and blockchain technology helps you club your cryptocurrency wallet with your video game.
One of the game niches that has adapted to this trend very well is the hyper-casual Web3 games. The trend has allowed a seamless combination of hyper-casual games’ accessibility and blockchain technology’s monetization features. But let’s take a step back and understand what these hyper-casual Web3 games are and why developers and players should take a casual game seriously. Did you spot the irony?
Hyper-casual Web3 games are designed with accessibility kept in mind, meaning they can be played on almost every mobile phone (except the keypad phone that your granny uses). These games can be played over short durations to clear your mind or bust stress. Also, they do not require a steep learning curve, so that every player of different skill levels can have a similar experience.
These games benefit developers and players equally. Developers find room for new revenue streams and monetization models, that too for a broad audience. Likewise, players find room for earning digital assets like Non-fungible Tokens, that hold value in the real world.
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Hyper-casual Web3 games bring something unique to the table. They bridge the gap between entertainment and value creation. Below are some of the aspects of these games:
The in-game assets provided in the hyper-casual Web3 games like characters, skins, or items as NFTs can be truly owned by the players which they can trade on the internet. The Play-to-Earn model in these games helps players win rewards like cryptocurrencies and Non-Fungible tokens.
Web3 game lets players decide the future of the game in terms of content updates, governance, and economy most of the time. Decentralized Autonomous Organizations(DAOs) are leveraged to take the vote of players while deciding the future updates in the game. This method helps developers create a more community-driven gaming ecosystem.
Blockchain technology ensures secure, transparent, and tamper-proof transactions. This feature of blockchain helps build credibility, where users can buy and sell in-game assets without thinking twice.
The amalgamation of crypto rewards and NFTs in hyper-casual Web3 games helps grow retention numbers and player engagement. Moreover, once you are involved in trading of digital assets, it’s hard to let go of the games.
There is not just a single way through which the hyper-casual Web3 games have revolutionized the gaming industry, but multiple ones.
If we refer to traditional games, they mostly take the help of older monetization techniques like ad revenue, or in-app purchases. On the contrary, Web3 games follow new monetization techniques like adding cryptocurrency wallets, NFTs, and decentralized finance (DeFi). These techniques have set a new standard in the monetization models in gaming.
Blockchain integration in hyper-casual games makes sure users experience true ownership of their digital property and it neither can get lost or stolen from them. This technology is a decentralized structure, meaning nobody can access your account or data. However, in a centralized structure, developers and creators have full access to your digital assets and there is a possibility of fraudulent activities.
Web3 games do not exclude player’s opinions when rolling out newer updates or when adding new elements to the game, the community has a say in all these development scenarios of the game. This is the true meaning of player engagement, as we witness community-driven governance in decentralized organizations.
The P2E model, exclusive only to the Web3 games, helps users earn rewards by playing the games. These rewards can be in the form of digital assets like skins, characters, weapons, and vehicles which can be sold online. This is one of the best ways to have a source of income just by investing your time in the app.
Just like the perks a player gets, developers also enjoy multiple benefits of developing hyper-casual games by choosing Web3.
The Web3 community is expanding like the universe and is currently one of the biggest communities in the world. Because of its ability to attract players from all generations and age groups, hyper-casual Web3 games promise a bright future.
Web3 enables entrepreneurs to build a revenue stream that stands out from all other revenue streams. They can earn through cryptocurrency transactions, NFT sales, and staking mechanisms. These fresh income streams have proved to be more efficient than traditional methods.
When you involve players’ opinions in the development of the game through decentralized governance, creative liberties find their way. Since developers are not restricted to a centralized structure, they can experiment with new features and explore their creative sense.
Through blockchain technology, the in-game economy remains transparent. Players can see and understand the ways rewards are distributed and earned. This transparency is evidence that players can trust the ecosystem and engage in online trades.
The NFT market of Web3 supports sustainable in-game economies. Assets bought in the game can be swapped among players, and players can also sell them on other platforms due to the interoperability of hyper-casual Web3 games.
Monetization models in hyper-casual Web3 games benefit both developers and players alike. These models include:
Players earn rewards and cryptocurrencies simply by playing the game, this model is known as the Play-to Earn model. After you are equipped with enough assets, you can trade them online and strengthen your crypto wallets.
Developers have the liberty to create NFTs in the form of skins, characters, or other items that hold importance and are considered rare in the game. Sometimes these NFTs play a big role in the gameplay, making it more valuable. Hence, these items’ value keeps appreciating, making the game’s economy more lucrative day by day.
ERC-20 or BEP-20 tokens are some of the tokens that are exclusive to games. You can create your game tokens that players will earn through in-game activities like completing missions and participating in events. These tokens can be exchanged on decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
Players can also earn additional rewards by staking their in-game tokens or NFTs, an example of DeFi in the Gaming Blockchain. This model includes several other models, which we will discuss in the DeFi in Gaming Blog. This helps foster a balanced economic ecosystem around the game.
Apart from the above fresh monetization techniques, you can also intertwine traditional methods like ad integration with the game.
Developing a hyper-casual Web3 game is not rocket science, and you can understand the steps with the help of the table given below.
| Conceptualize the Game | Define the game’s mechanics, features, and aesthetics. Decide how blockchain will be integrated and how players can earn or use digital assets. |
| Choose the Right Blockchain Platform | Select a blockchain platform like Ethereum, Polygon, or Binance Smart Chain based on your game’s needs |
| Develop the Game | Start with a simple, addictive game that is easy to learn but hard to master. Focus on a minimalistic design and smooth gameplay. |
| Integrate Blockchain | Add functionality for wallet integration (e.g., MetaMask), in-game cryptocurrency or NFTs, and secure transactions using smart contracts. |
| Test and Launch | Test the game on various devices and platforms. Ensure the blockchain integration works seamlessly, and then launch the game to a broader audience. |
| Monetize the Game | Introduce revenue-generating features such as P2E mechanics, in-game purchases, tokenomics, and staking. |
| Market the Game | Use social media, influencer marketing, and blockchain communities to promote your game and engage players. |
Although developing hyper-casual Web3 games seems like a win-win situation, they come with a few challenges as well.
Blockchain transactions can sometimes become slow and expensive. To deal with this challenge, developers use Layer-2 scaling or sidechains (e.g., Polygon) which can help in increasing speed and can reduce costs, respectively.
Since it’s the latest technology, blockchain is sometimes considered complex by the users and the unfamiliarity factor works against the technology. NFTs and cryptocurrency is still a fresh topic and might take a few more years to settle.
The legal landscape surrounding blockchain gaming is still struggling in some parts of the world. Developers must learn about the regulatory norms before launching the game around the world.
The hyper-casual Web3 games promise a bright future because of the perks of blockchain technology. Since blockchain is still in its evolution phase, we can expect the below-mentioned features once it gets mainstream:
The expected P2E models of the future are expected to be more intuitive and user-friendly. The next big thing in the gaming industry shall be ease of interoperability, players will be able to buy and sell on any platform. Also, the VR and AR technology in Web3 games is in the pipeline and shall elevate the gaming landscape.
The opportunities Web3 technology has brought in the gaming industry benefit both developers and players alike. Players can earn digital assets seamlessly and address them as a part of their investment. Developers benefit from these games because of their easy development process, which requires minimal effort from the gaming studios.
This makes the perfect time for entrepreneurs to get involved in the blockchain gaming business. Web3 game development promises to be one of the most lucrative businesses in this current gaming landscape.
If you are interested in developing a hyper-casual Web3 game platform, you can contact BR Softech. The agency excels at developing games on the Web3 platform and has multiple years of experience working with blockchain technology.
Ans. Hyper-casual Web3 games are one of the newest genres in the gaming industry. The game invites players who are into simple mechanics and want to earn something using the P2E models.
Ans. The only difference between hyper-casual and hyper-casual Web3 games is in the way users interact with them. In terms of playability, both are the same, but they differ in terms of earning models, hyper-casual Web3 games come with blockchain technology.
Ans. Developers should consider developing hyper-casual Web3 games because of the lucrative potential it holds. It is a market that is growing at a fast pace and is expected to bring the biggest change in the gaming landscape.
Ans. Players having a sense of ownership, increased monetization strategies, decentralized structure, and increased engagement are the key benefits of Web3 games.
Ans. Play-to-earn model of the hyper-casual Web3 game allows players to earn money through these games. Players can earn rewards through completing missions, and challenges or by simply playing the game. Moreover, players can buy and sell their in-game assets and make money from the trades.
Ans. Developing the mechanics of the hyper-casual Web3 game is not difficult. However, amalgamating blockchain technology becomes a bit challenging for the developers. The blockchain development process includes a solid understanding of smart contracts, tokenomics, and blockchain networks.
