Blockchain Games: 7 Findings After Surveying 62 Players

The Web3 gaming sector has always been a controversial topic. Although it has developed for many years, there still hasn't been a truly competitive project, yet capital continues to pour in, supporting the development of numerous AAA-level blockchain games. So, what do blockchain games really need more: "gameplay" or "gamification"? What are the differences between the two? What do Web3 players truly need?

To explore these issues, we conducted an in-depth survey of 62 players and arrived at 7 key conclusions. Before analyzing the survey results, let's first take a look at the industry-discussed issue of "gameplay" and its distinction from "gamification."

Game vs Gamification: A Word Apart, A World of Difference

"Gameplay" refers to the core mechanics and experience of a game, including rules, challenges, and interactions, which determine how players derive enjoyment from the game. It can be likened to the body of a cake, determining the basic flavor and shape of the cake.

"Gamification" is the application of game elements to non-game scenarios to enhance user engagement. It's like the decorations on a cake, making the cake more appealing, but not the cake itself.

In short, "gamification" determines "appetite", making you "want to eat", while "gameplay" determines "taste", judging "whether it's good or not."

In Web3 blockchain games, gameplay is the foundation of its nature as a game, while gamification incentivizes players to participate in community building, market trading, and other Web3-specific activities through game mechanics.

Games like Bigtime and Cards AHoy are representatives of "gamification" in Web3 games. They have innovated in aspects such as scene design, random drops, and skill growth, providing players with a good gaming experience.

When some projects find it difficult to enhance "gameplay", they turn to "gamification". For example, Spacebar from the Blast ecosystem, although designed with a space theme, essentially gamifies the process of users learning about Web3 projects, attracting user participation through methods such as sign-in points.

So, is Web3 more suitable for making a cake that makes people "want to eat" it, or a cake that makes people feel "delicious"? To answer this question, we need to listen to the true "diners"—the voices of Web3 players.

What Do Web3 Players Really Care About? 7 Key Insights

Through a survey of Web3 players, we have drawn the following 7 conclusions:

1. Most players have played no more than 5 blockchain games.

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

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

4. The popularity of the game is the primary factor for players when choosing blockchain games.

5. 30.6% of players play blockchain games due to the "gamification" ( profit factor ), and 29% play due to the "gameplay" ( richness of gameplay ).

6. 38.7% of players abandoned blockchain games due to "the disappearance of gamification" ( losing its appeal for making money ), while 38.7% gave up because "the gameplay disappeared" ( and it was no longer fun ).

7. The Top 5 Most Anticipated Blockchain Games: Xterio Ecosystem Game, MATR1X, Space Nation, Pixels, BAC Games.

These results are surprising, showing that half of the players have started to pay attention to the "fun" level of the game itself, rather than simply to make money. This indicates that Web3 Gaming may be at a turning point, beginning to return to healthy development.

Current Web3 players seem to value both "gameplay" and "gamification" at the same time, seeking a balance between the two. Players' tastes are improving, and they want games to not only look appealing but also have quality content.

Conclusion

Whether it's the innovation of "gameplay" or "gamification," as long as it meets the needs of players, it is good. The core needs of humanity have always been the same; what changes is only the form of satisfying those needs.

Web3 Gaming essentially meets people's needs for spiritual freedom and emotional release in new forms. Although there are currently very few Web3 games that truly have gaming qualities, as long as this demand exists, Web3 Gaming has a future.

The market is waiting for a breakthrough. Whether it's creating a gamified cake that makes people "want to eat" or a game-like cake that makes people feel "delicious", the ultimate goal is to make the "cake" bigger. In this way, both developers and players can benefit from it.