Many gamers love the idea of earning real money while enjoying their favourite titles, yet most are unsure which play-to-earn games are actually worth their time. With so many projects launching, separating genuine opportunities from short-term hype can feel challenging.
Play-to-earn games use blockchain to create in-game economies where assets and rewards hold real-world value. In 2025, developers are focusing more on sustainability, offering stronger gameplay, community engagement, and fair earning models compared to earlier hype-driven releases.
Whether you’re a gamer searching for exciting new adventures or an investor seeking profitable digital assets, this guide explores the 10 best play-to-earn games in 2025. Each one stands out for its entertainment value, earning potential, and ability to shape the future of crypto gaming.
10 Best Play-to-Earn Games in 2025: A Comparison
Play-to-earn (P2E) games are revolutionising the gaming industry by allowing players to earn real rewards through blockchain technology. Here’s a comparison of the 10 best P2E games in 2025, highlighting their blockchain networks, genres, NFT integration, earning potential, and whether they offer a free-to-play option.
Play-to-Earn Game | Blockchain Network | Genre | NFT Integration | Earning Potential | Free-to-Play Option |
Decentraland | Ethereum | Metaverse | Yes | High | Yes |
Sandbox | Ethereum | Metaverse | Yes | High | Yes |
Gods Unchained | Immutable X | Card Game | Yes | Medium | Yes |
Valhalla | Floki Ecosystem | RPG | Yes | Medium | No |
Aavegotchi | Polygon | Strategy/RPG | Yes | Medium-High | No |
My Neighbour Alice | BNB Chain | Farming/Building | Yes | Medium | Yes |
Alien Worlds | WAX, BNB Chain | Sci-Fi Strategy | Yes | High | Yes |
DeFi Kingdoms | Avalanche | RPG/Strategy | Yes | High | No |
Axie Infinity | Ronin, Ethereum | Battle/Strategy | Yes | High | No |
Splinterlands | Hive, WAX | Card Game | Yes | Medium-High | Yes |
10 Best Play-to-Earn Games in 2025: Detailed Analysis
Here’s a detailed review of 10 best Play-to-Earn games in 2025:
1. Decentraland
Decentraland is a decentralised virtual reality platform built on the Ethereum blockchain, allowing users to create, explore, and monetise content and applications. In this expansive metaverse, participants can purchase virtual land parcels, known as LAND, to develop various experiences such as interactive games, virtual shops, art galleries, and more. The platform’s native cryptocurrency, MANA, facilitates transactions within this digital universe, enabling the acquisition of LAND, virtual goods, and services.
How to Earn Money from Decentraland?
- Virtual Real Estate: You can buy, develop, and sell LAND parcels, potentially profiting from the appreciation of virtual property values.
- Content Creation and Services: You can design and sell digital wearables, host events, or offer services within the platform, earning MANA in return.
- Play-to-Earn Games and Activities: Engaging in various in-world games and activities can yield rewards in MANA or valuable NFTs, which can be traded or sold.
Read More: How To Buy Decentraland
2. Sandbox
The Sandbox is a decentralised virtual world that allows players to create, explore, and trade digital assets. It started as a game-builder simulation before Animoca Brands moved it to the Ethereum blockchain. The game offers a rich metaverse experience with customisable avatars, interactive gameplay, and land ownership. With its advanced features and strong economy, The Sandbox stands out as one of the best play-to-earn games.
How To Earn Money From Sandbox?
- Native Token (SAND): The ecosystem operates on SAND, an ERC-20 token used for transactions, governance, and rewards.
- Create & Sell Assets: You can design unique 3D assets using VoxEdit and sell them in the marketplace.
- Monetise Land: You can buy virtual land, develop experiences like casinos or galleries, and charge entry fees.
- Trade & Invest: SAND tokens, land, and digital items hold value, allowing players to profit through trading.
Read More: How To Buy Sandbox
3. Gods Unchained
Gods Unchained is a play-to-earn NFT-based trading card game that allows players to collect, trade, and battle using unique digital cards. The game was developed by a team led by the former director of Magic: The Gathering Arena, ensuring a competitive and engaging experience. You can start for free by creating an account, downloading the game, and receiving a starter deck of 85 cards. The game offers strategic gameplay where you build your decks and compete against others to earn rewards.
How To Earn Money From Gods Unchained?
- Trading NFT Cards: You can buy, sell, and trade in-game cards, with rarer cards fetching higher prices in the marketplace.
- Winning Matches: You earn GODS tokens, the game’s native currency, by playing and winning battles.
- Staking Rewards: You can stake your GODS tokens to earn additional rewards over time, adding to your earnings.
Read More: Best Crypto Staking Platforms
4. Valhalla
Valhalla is a turn-based tactical combat game designed for players who enjoy strategic battles. It is one of the first major projects launched by the Floki Inu team. The game takes place in an open-world metaverse where players can battle monsters, explore new territories, and engage in strategic combat. Unlike action-packed games, Valhalla focuses on chess-like gameplay that requires careful planning. This unique approach attracts players looking for a skill-based gaming experience. Additionally, the game incorporates NFT mechanics, allowing players to own and trade in-game assets for real value.
How To Earn Money From Valhalla?
- Earn FLOKI Rewards: You can battle and defeat monsters to earn FLOKI, the game’s native token.
- NFT Trading: Players can buy, sell, and trade in-game NFTs in the marketplace for profit.
- Open-World Exploration: By exploring the metaverse, you can unlock valuable in-game assets that hold monetary value.
5. Aavegotchi
Aavegotchi is a play-to-earn game built on the Ethereum blockchain, where players collect and manage digital ghost avatars called Aavegotchis. Inspired by the classic Tamagotchi, these pixelated pets come with unique attributes and can be customised with wearables to increase their rarity score. To start, you need to buy an Aavegotchi from the marketplace or use a portal to summon one. Players interact with their Aavegotchis to increase experience, kinship, and value. Staking Aave’s interest-bearing tokens (aTokens) further boosts the rarity score, making the game a blend of decentralised finance (DeFi) and NFT gaming.
How To Earn Money From Aavegotchi?
- Staking GHST Tokens: The native currency, GHST, allows players to stake Aave aTokens, earning interest while improving their Aavegotchi’s rarity.
- Trading Aavegotchis & Portals: You can buy, sell, or trade Aavegotchis and portals in the marketplace for profit.
- Land Farming (Upcoming Feature): Future updates will introduce land farming, allowing you to earn tokens through in-game land ownership.
Read More: How to Buy Aavegotchi
6. My Neighbour Alice
If you enjoy games like Animal Crossing or Minecraft, My Neighbour Alice offers a similar yet blockchain-powered experience. This play-to-earn game lets you explore a charming metaverse where you can buy virtual land, build houses, and interact with in-game characters. Every in-game item, such as buildings, animals, and wearables, exists as an NFT. You can customise, trade, or sell these assets on the marketplace. The game fosters a strong community and provides multiple ways to earn rewards, making it an exciting addition to the crypto gaming space.
How To Earn Money From My Neighbour Alice?
- Play and Earn: Participate in daily tasks like fishing, farming, and beekeeping to earn rewards.
- NFT Marketplace: Buy, sell, or customise NFT-based in-game assets and trade them for profit.
- Staking & NFT Loaning: Earn passive income by staking ALICE tokens or lending NFTs to other players.
Read More: How To Buy NFTs
7. Alien Worlds
Alien Worlds is a popular play-to-earn game that runs on multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, WAX, and Binance Smart Chain (BNB). It immerses players in a metaverse where they can mine for valuable resources and collect NFTs. The game allows you to create an account, choose an avatar, and explore various planets to mine for rewards. While starting with basic tools, you can upgrade your gear by collecting different NFTs, which increases your chances of finding valuable assets.
How To Earn Money From Alien Worlds?
- Trilium (TLM) Token: The game’s economy revolves around Trilium (TLM), which is used for mining and staking.
- Mining & NFTs: You can mine NFTs and tokens, enhancing your in-game resources to earn TLM.
- Staking & Voting: Stake your TLM on different planets to boost mining rewards or use it to participate in governance decisions.
Read More: How To Buy Alen Worlds
8. DeFi Kingdoms
DeFi Kingdoms is a unique play-to-earn game combining decentralised finance (DeFi) with gaming. It operates as a decentralised exchange (DEX), liquidity pool (LP), and RPG all in one. The game allows players to trade, stake, and use NFTs while earning passive income through various activities. To get started, players connect their MetaMask wallet to the game, set up a profile, and enter Gaia, the in-game universe. As players progress, they can engage in various gameplay features, including hero-based battles, quests, and more.
How To Earn Money From DeFi Kingdoms?
- JEWEL Token: JEWEL is the primary token used in DeFi Kingdoms, essential for many in-game actions. You can purchase JEWEL to engage in gameplay, trade for other tokens, or stake it for passive income.
- Heroes and Quests: Buy Heroes as NFTs, summon new ones, and complete quests. You can sell or rent out Heroes for profit and earn DFKTEARS tokens for completing adventures.
- Liquidity Pools: Stake JEWEL in the Gardens function to earn rewards and maximise returns.
9. Axie Infinity
Axie Infinity is one of the most popular play-to-earn crypto games, allowing players to engage in battles, breed, and trade digital creatures called Axies. The game uses NFTs to represent Axies, and players can also participate in various in-game activities like quests and player-versus-player (PVP) battles. The game gained immense popularity due to its innovative use of blockchain technology and the potential to earn rewards through gameplay. Despite challenges, including a hack in 2022, Axie Infinity remains a prominent player in the NFT gaming space.
How To Earn Money From Axie Infinity?
- Smooth Love Potions (SLP): You earn SLP tokens by battling monsters, completing quests, and participating in PVP. These tokens are used to breed new Axies and can be traded on exchanges.
- Axie Infinity Shards (AXS): AXS tokens are earned by breeding, competing, and selling rare Axies. You can stake these tokens for long-term rewards or sell them for a profit.
- NFTs and Land Investment: You can also earn by breeding and selling Axies as NFTs or by investing in Lunacia land.
Read More: How Can You Buy Axie Infinity
10. Splinterlands
Splinterlands is a tactical trading card game where each card is represented as an NFT token. It offers a play-to-earn model, combining strategy and blockchain technology. Although you can play for free, you’ll need to purchase a Summoner’s Book for $10 to access the play-to-earn mechanics, enter tournaments, and earn rewards. The game is engaging with a strong focus on earning digital assets through strategic card battles and trades. As you progress, you’ll compete in ranked battles, participate in events, and trade cards to build your collection.
How To Earn Money From Splinterlands?
- Earn DEC Tokens: You can earn DEC (Dark Energy Crystals) tokens by participating in ranked battles. The amount you earn depends on factors like your league, card selection, and win streaks.
- Trade NFTs: You can sell or trade rare cards as NFTs on platforms like OpenSea. Higher-value cards can fetch significant earnings.
- Receive SPS Tokens: Owning Splinterlands NFTs rewards you with SPS tokens, the governance token, which can be traded or staked for more rewards.
Read More: Best NFT Wallets For 2025
Conclusion
As the P2E gaming world continues to grow, choosing the best games to invest time in can make a huge difference. With 2025 offering exciting new opportunities, now is the perfect time to dive into the best play-to-earn games. Whether you’re in it for the fun or aiming to maximise your earnings, this list helps you navigate the ever-expanding P2E space.
However, as you rake in crypto rewards, don’t forget about the tax implications. Managing your earnings across multiple games can quickly become complex. KoinX simplifies the process by offering accurate tax calculations, ensuring compliance with your country’s tax regulations. Keep your gaming and investing stress-free by joining KoinX today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do Players Actually Earn Rewards in These Games?
In P2E games, participants typically gain rewards through completing tasks, winning battles, or achieving milestones. These rewards can come as native tokens or NFTs representing characters, weapons, or items. Because they exist on a blockchain, players can sell or exchange these rewards in external marketplaces, effectively transforming in-game performance into tangible economic gains.
Why Are These Play-To-Earn Games so Appealing to Gamers?
The main attraction of P2E games lies in their financial incentive. Gamers no longer solely play for enjoyment, they can earn real value from their time spent gaming. By owning and monetising digital assets, players become stakeholders in the game economy. This opportunity to combine entertainment with income appeals especially to communities seeking to earn through meaningful engagement.
What Role Does Blockchain Play in These Gaming Models?
Blockchain serves as the foundation of P2E models, offering decentralised storage for in-game assets and transparent record-keeping. It ensures that tokens and NFTs are verifiably owned by players rather than being controlled by developers. This decentralisation promotes trust, as every transaction and asset history is publicly traceable, reinforcing asset security and genuine ownership.
Are There Economic Risks Associated with Play-To-Earn Games?
Yes, there are significant economic risks inherent in P2E models. Asset values, whether tokens or NFTs, can fluctuate unpredictably, potentially leading players to experience losses. Game economies may become unsustainable if rewards outpace demand. Moreover, high upfront costs or speculative bubbles can make P2E ventures risky, especially without careful due diligence and understanding of market dynamics.
How Important Is Tokenomics in Play-To-Earn Platforms?
Tokenomics, the economic design of in-game tokens, is critical to long-term sustainability. It determines how tokens are created, distributed, and consumed within the game. Balanced tokenomics prevent inflation and ensure rewards retain value. Effective models often include mechanisms like token burns or staking, which reduce supply or incentivise locking in assets, promoting stability of the game’s economy.
