Insights into the Blockchain Gaming Track: In-Depth Research Analysis of 62 Players

As of now, the development of the blockchain gaming track seems to have yet to see a truly successful case. Although some projects perform well, they often turn out to be fleeting. Nevertheless, capital remains enthusiastic about this, continuously pouring in large amounts of money, giving rise to multiple AAA-level blockchain games. Although these games are well-made and offer diverse gameplay, their token prices have not been satisfactory.

To gain a deeper understanding of the current state of the blockchain gaming sector, we conducted a 5-day research study and interviewed 62 players. Based on the findings, we reached 7 key conclusions. Before analyzing these results, let’s first discuss the most concerning issue in the blockchain gaming field: "gameplay," and how it differs from "gamification."

Game Quality vs Gamification: A One-Word Difference, A World Apart

In November 2019, the concept of GameFi was born, opening up a new track. Three years later, the success of Axie and StepN introduced the "X to Earn" model, sparking a fundraising boom in Web3 games, with total funding approaching 10 billion dollars. Subsequently, a large number of AAA-level game projects began development, and the industry's focus shifted from "Fi" to "gameplay."

So, what exactly is "gameplay"? How is it different from "gamification"?

We can use cake as a metaphor:

Gameplay is the main body of the cake, determining its basic flavor and shape. It includes the core mechanics, rules, challenges, and ways of interaction of the game, directly affecting the player's gaming experience and enjoyment.

Gamification is like the frosting on a cake, making the cake look more appealing. It refers to the application of game elements and mechanics in non-game contexts to enhance user engagement and motivation.

In short, "gamification" determines "appetite," making you "want to play," while "playability" determines "taste," judging whether it is "fun or not."

In Web3 blockchain games, gameplay serves as the foundation of the game and directly affects the player's gaming experience. Gamification, on the other hand, motivates players to participate in community building, market trading, and other Web3-related activities through game mechanics.

BigTime is a representative Web3 game that focuses on "gameplay." It features a rich variety of scene designs, and the randomly dropped rare equipment and NFTs increase the excitement of the game. Players challenge more difficult dungeons by continuously improving their skills, and this sense of progression greatly enhances the gameplay.

Cards Ahoy is also a blockchain game with good "gameplay". As a card game, it has simple mechanics but is rich in strategy. Players need to pre-configure their battle decks and take turns in PVP battles. Each card has a specific energy value and skill, and players deplete their opponent's card energy one by one using a round-robin method. The game expands deeply on simple rules, introducing daily stamina changes, new race genres, and skill types, among other features.

In contrast, Spacebar is a typical "gamified" project. Its core gameplay is very simple: players register a spaceship account to explore space and visit different planets (representing different projects). By long-pressing the spacebar to enter a planet, players can learn about the project introduction, community links, and TVL among other information.

Spacebar has also introduced daily check-ins, staking ETH, and other incentive mechanisms, collaborating with the Blast ecosystem to provide dual points rewards. These designs are not intended to enhance the enjoyment of the game itself, but rather to attract players to participate and retain them through various incentive methods.

Similar "gamified" blockchain games include Xpet, Xmetacene, Notcoin, and Catizen, all of which have put significant effort into the incentive mechanisms, gamifying the process of player participation in mining.

The Real Needs of Web3 Players

In order to better understand the real needs of Web3 players, we conducted a small-scale survey. Based on the survey results, we have drawn the following 7 conclusions:

1. The number of chain games experienced by most Web3 players does not exceed 5.

2. Twitter is the main channel for players to obtain information about blockchain games.

3. 90% of Web3 players spend no more than 2 hours a day playing blockchain games, with 57.5% of players spending less than 1 hour.

4. The popularity of the game is the main factor for players to decide whether to try a blockchain game.

5. 30.6% of players choose to play blockchain games due to "gamification" (such as earning factors), while 29% of players choose to play blockchain games due to "gameplay" (such as diverse gameplay), with both proportions being comparable.

6. 38.7% of players abandoned blockchain games due to "gamification disappearing" (losing the appeal of making money), and similarly, 38.7% of players abandoned blockchain games due to "gameplay disappearing" (no longer being fun).

7. The top 5 blockchain games players are most looking forward to include: Xterio Eco Chain Game, MATR1X, Space Nation, Pixels, and BAC Games.

These survey results are surprising and show that the needs of Web3 players are changing. About half of the players are starting to focus on the fun of the games themselves, rather than just the money-making opportunities. This indicates that the Web3 Gaming industry may be at a turning point, beginning to return to a healthier development path that emphasizes the essence of gaming.

For "gameplay" and "gamification", current Web3 players seem to value both and are seeking a balance between the two. Players' tastes are continuously improving, and they want to enjoy a gaming experience that is both engaging and substantive.

Conclusion

Whether it is innovation in "gameplay" or "gamification", as long as it meets the needs of players, it is worth affirming. However, we cannot ignore the constancy of basic human needs. The core need that games satisfy has always been the desire for mental freedom and emotional release, and this has not changed in the Web3 era.

Currently, there are very few Web3 games that can truly meet the spiritual needs of players. Many projects have to focus heavily on "gamification." But this does not mean that Web3 Gaming has no future. As long as there is a spiritual need for games among people, there will be room for development in Web3 Gaming.

As for when a future that meets the spiritual needs of players can be realized, it is currently difficult to predict. The market is waiting for an outbreak point to appear.

Whether it's creating gamified products that make people "want to play" or developing highly playable works that make people feel "fun", the ultimate goal is the same: to enlarge the market pie. Only in this way can game developers and players benefit together.