Blockchain Games: What They Are, How They Work, and Which Ones Actually Pay

When you hear blockchain games, video games built on decentralized networks where players own in-game assets as NFTs or tokens. Also known as crypto gaming, they promise to turn playtime into paytime—but most deliver neither. Unlike traditional games where your character skins or weapons vanish when you quit, blockchain games let you hold, trade, or sell what you earn. That sounds great, until you realize 9 out of 10 of these games are just marketing fluff with no real gameplay, no players, and no value.

The real ones? They’re rare. play-to-earn, a model where players earn cryptocurrency or NFTs by completing tasks or winning matches isn’t new, but it’s often abused. Projects like Ancient Kingdom (DOM), a blockchain game that promised a full title but never launched, leaving its tokens worthless and Plant vs Undead, a game with a real player base but fake airdrop claims flooding social media show how easily hype replaces substance. Meanwhile, legitimate NFT games, games where in-game items are unique digital assets stored on the blockchain like Age of Tanks actually give out free NFTs through trusted partners like CoinMarketCap—not random Discord bots or Telegram groups.

What separates the winners from the trash? Real gameplay, active communities, and transparent tokenomics. If a game’s main feature is an airdrop you can claim without playing, it’s not a game—it’s a pump-and-dump scheme. The best blockchain games don’t just hand out tokens; they make you earn them through skill, time, or strategy. That’s why you’ll find posts here about real airdrops like the Age of Tanks NFT tank giveaway, and warnings about fake ones like SWAPP or PVU. You’ll also see why some tokens, like DOM, are now worth $0, and how projects like Corgidoge still exist with near-zero value despite active airdrops. This isn’t about chasing quick cash. It’s about understanding what’s real, what’s rigged, and where your time might actually pay off.