Key Takeaways
- The Ethereum network popularized Web3 gaming with NFTs, smart contracts, and the EVM.
- Many titles are built on Ethereum tech, but exist as, or on, Layer-2 and sidechains.
- The first popular game on Ethereum was CryptoKitties.
As Ethereum turns 10, it’s worth remembering that the world’s second-largest blockchain didn’t just popularize smart contracts, it laid the foundation for Web3 gaming as we know it.
From pioneering non-fungible token (NFT) standards to hosting some of the earliest and most enduring blockchain games, Ethereum helped redefine how players interact with virtual worlds, assets, and economies.
To celebrate a decade of innovation, we’re spotlighting some of the top Web3 games that owe their origins—or their success—to Ethereum.
Axie Infinity
Blending the nostalgic charm of collecting, battling, and breeding Pokémon-style NFT creatures, Axie Infinity stands tall as one of the most influential Web3 games.
Its roots are deeply tied to Ethereum’s early gaming evolution.
- More than 1.3 million monthly active addresses, 625,000 daily (2025).
- Over 1.2 billion transactions recorded (lifetime).
Founded in 2018 by Vietnamese studio Sky Mavis, Axie was inspired by CryptoKitties—one of Ethereum’s earliest hits—and officially launched in December 2019.
Originally built directly on Ethereum, Axie later transitioned to the Ronin sidechain, an EVM-compatible network tailored to support its growing player base and game complexity.
At its peak, Axie became the poster child for play-to-earn (P2E) gaming, especially in developing countries, where early players earned meaningful income just by playing.
Since then, it has expanded into an entire ecosystem of Axie-themed games—soon to include its MMORPG Atia’s Legacy—along with land ownership, token staking, and governance features.
The Sandbox
The Sandbox may have started in 2011 as a mobile 2D builder, but its transition to Ethereum changed everything.
After its acquisition by Animoca Brands, it transformed into a blockchain-powered metaverse at the heart of Ethereum’s gaming wave.
- Features over 1,000 user-generated experiences.
- Hosts IP content from brands like Snoop Dogg, Atari, and Jurassic Park.
Built on Ethereum, The Sandbox lets players build, explore, and monetize a vast voxel-based world. Its decentralized model includes a DAO for governance, and its powerful no-code building tools make game creation accessible to anyone.
Players own their assets as NFTs—from avatars and land plots to entire experiences—contributing to a vibrant, creator-driven metaverse that embodies Ethereum’s Web3 spirit.
Sorare
A fantasy sports game reimagined through Ethereum tech, Sorare gives sports fans true ownership over digital trading cards tied to real-world athletes.
Players can compete across football, NBA, and MLB tournaments.
- Has recorded approximately $1 billion in NFT sales.
- Over $250,000 in daily average sales for the past month.
Launched in 2019 and powered by Ethereum NFTs, Sorare merges fantasy leagues with digital collectibles.
Players build and manage teams using licensed athlete cards, competing in weekly tournaments with real rewards.
It has attracted tens of thousands of players and tallied absurd NFT sales volumes, generating over $174 million in profits so far.
Sorare’s success underscores Ethereum’s power in tokenizing fandom and turning collectibles into interactive gaming assets.
Pirate Nation
One of the newer stars in Ethereum’s gaming constellation, Pirate Nation launched in 2023 as a fully on-chain, gasless adventure that blends deck-building strategy with swashbuckling exploration.
Players can join a crew, or assemble their own, and set out to see to gather resources, gold, loot, and battle it out on the high seas.
- Fully on-chain with zero gas (transaction) fees.
- Averages over 10,000 daily active players.
It’s truly free to play in that players don’t need anything else but their email address to sign up and get started.
It’s fully on-chain, and it’s considered a trailblazer for its gassles (no transaction fee) gameplay.
This means that player characters, items, and in-game assets are all represented as NFT or crypto tokens.
It’s considered a pioneer amongst the Web3 games as players can trade, battle, explore, and earn crypto rewards using Pirate Nation’s gasless and signless in-game wallet.
Eddie is a gaming and crypto writer at CCN. Covering the often weird and wonderful world of Web3 with an adoring, but skeptical eye.
Prior to CCN, Eddie has spent the past seven years working his way through the crypto, finance, and technology industry. He began with PR and journalism with Bitcoin PR Buzz and BitcoinNews.com, eventually working his way to become a copywriter with a dozen firms, including the likes of Polkadot before returning to journalism in 2023.
Having studied Radio production and journalism at University in the UK, Eddie spent a few years making podcasts and presenting on a local London radio station as he built up his writing chops.
A lifelong skateboarder, Eddie can often be found at the skatepark or touring the streets looking for something new to try. That, or kicking back playing JRPGs on his original PSP.
