Blockchain-based tower defense game Ragnarok: Monster World is now available for most people to play on mobile devices. This beta test will run for just one week with players being rewarded for their participation.

Ragnarok Online is an iconic massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that has amassed over 167 million downloads globally since its 2002 launch. This is the South Korean franchise’s first venture into the world of blockchain gaming with the game’s beta test launching on Ethereum sidechain gaming network, Ronin.

Despite being billed as a “closed” beta test, Ragnarok: Monster World is available for anyone to download—aside from a handful of countries due to regulatory restrictions. 

Riffing on the Clash Royale style of multiplayer tower defense gameplay, Ragnarok: Monster World mixes in trading card elements with NFT functionality. Players start with two golems (called guardians) defending their tower, with cards that will spawn fighters or cast spells in an attempt to take down the opponent’s tower.

During the beta test period, which ends on August 25, all players will receive small rewards for completing daily events and logging in on consecutive days. Most notably, players can win larger rewards for participating in specific events, sharing their gameplay, and reporting bugs.

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'Ragnarok Online' Franchise Coming to Ethereum Gaming Network Ronin

The classic Ragnarok Online gaming franchise is coming to Ethereum thanks to a partnership between developer Gravity and Ronin, a sidechain gaming network. Gravity will launch Ragnarok: Monster World, a strategy game based in the Ragnarok Online universe, on Ronin. Ragnarok Online, an iconic massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that has amassed over 167 million downloads globally since its 2002 launch in South Korea, is making its blockchain debut with Ragnarok: Monster World....

It’s important to note that many of these in-game rewards will be temporary as account history will be reset at the end of the test period. However, on-chain prizes, such as Chimera NFTs won by sharing gameplay, can’t be taken away since they’ll be minted on-chain and in your wallet.

How do you play the game? For Android users, it’s as simple as downloading the mobile app via the official Ronin blog post. As for Apple users, they’ll have to download the TestFlight app—Apple’s service for testing in-development mobile apps—and then accept an invitation to the beta, again via the Ronin blog post.

After that, you’re all set up to venture into the world of Ragnarok—if only for the week. A proper, ongoing public release will follow in the future.

Edited by Andrew Hayward