Solana Sunday: How the Eth-Killer is doing GameFi Correctly

GameFi, unfortunately, has become one of the most hated aspects of NFT among the web2 community. It has been the subject of constant ridicule for a variety of reasons which boils down to gamers not wanting their games to become a platform for financial gain instead of entertainment, and it’s a fair argument. 

However, there are still many NFTs out there that are working to establish games that are fun and not motivated by gambling mechanisms that have the potential to become addictive or destructive. One shining example of this is a blockchain game called Mini Royale: Nations which operates on the Solana network and uses familiar free-to-play features. 

What is Mini-Royale: Nations?

Mini Royale: Nations is an in-browser first-person shooter akin to Fortnite and Counter-Strike. It utilizes similar gameplay mechanics, with a variety of standard gameplay modes such as battle royale, team deathmatch, and capture the flag. 

While these gameplay modes are not unique in the wider world of gaming, it is one of the most well-constructed blockchain-based games which has a much smaller pool of talented developers to draw from compared to the larger video game industry as a whole. 

Season 1 and 2 NFTs

The game features a variety of different cosmetic NFTs that are used as skins for weapons, character models, and accessories. This is a standout feature of the game because it proves that NFTs can be incorporated into a game without ruining the overall playability. 

The current trend of microtransactions in gaming has jaded many gamers because of the pay-to-win model that they encourage. Games such as Diablo: Immortal and FIFA Ultimate Team are two notable examples of this issue and many gamers only see NFTs as more of the same. However, with Mini Royale: Nations, we are being given a game which is free to play and only uses NFTs in a manner which keeps the integrity of the gameplay intact.

GameFi Tokenomics

Another aspect of the game is how it plans to incorporate tokens into the game's economy. We’ve already seen in-game currencies for nearly every mobile game in existence where players are given the option to purchase “Gems” or “Diamonds” to access exclusive content which is otherwise unobtainable through regular gameplay. 

However, because of the blockchain, games like Mini Royale: Nations are able to attach real value to these currencies (not in an effort to cash out) but to keep the in-game economy active enough for the development team to continue building out the game’s features. 

Unlike current Freemium games, players will be able to earn a currency which has the monetary value necessary to purchase exclusive content. This can allow players to ignore the option to buy more in-game currency, instead earning it through the gameplay itself. 

Clans & Leaderboards

The game also boasts community involvement with its clan support which allows players to group up together and large groups of players to compete against other clans. Orbs, the in-game and off-chain currency, are earned through gameplay and can be converted into Enchanted Orbs which are then stored in a clan treasury to boast their successes. 

These clans then earn $Cheddar, which is the on-chain currency, through clans and special events. This on-chain currency can then be used to purchase battle passes and upgrade items according to their whitepaper. 

What’s the bigger picture?

The key takeaway from all of this is that some game development teams are not blinded by the sheer profits that blockchains can deliver. They are developing a product which keeps the fun of the gameplay at its core and merely uses the blockchain to distribute and record cosmetic items. 

While these ideal qualities of Mini-Royale: Nations are subject to change in the future, what we have now is a genuine approach to GameFi which doesn’t succumb to the criticisms that web2 gamers have been pushing onto the space for the past year. Instead, we’re being given a game which is easy to access and fun to play with the added benefits of blockchain technology all while on the Solana network.