The crypto gaming space is ever expanding, and with prominent games releasing, token airdrops piling up, and the constant shifting of the markets around them all, it's a lot to take in.
Luckily, we're all over it here at Decrypt's GG. And if you're looking to keep tabs on the latest happenings around crypto video games, this weekly roundup gives you a quick overview of the biggest stories we covered over the past week, along with a smattering of other interesting tidbits from around the space.
Top stories
Solana Game Pass: A free Solana Game Pass NFT mint launched on Magic Eden last week, designed to help boost the Solana gaming ecosystem via rewards, collaborations, and early access to upcoming games. The program's initial "Season 0" spans four weeks with 30 partnered games, including Star Atlas, Nyan Heroes, Stepn, and BR1: Infinite.
As more and more games launch on the chain, the Solana gaming ecosystem aims to get a boost from Thursday's launch of the Solana Game Pass—a free NFT that will provide early access to games and potential crypto rewards to players.
Available to mint via NFT marketplace Magic Eden, the Solana Game Pass launches with four weeks' worth of promotions across 30 partnered games, comprising "Season 0" of what's planned to be a multi-season program.
Players who hold the free NFT will gain early access to...
Pass holders can complete quests on GAM3S.GG to win raffle tickets toward a $10,000+ prize pool of SOL, NFTs, and other assets. Over 33,000 passes have been minted as of this writing, with the mint remaining open throughout the four-week campaign. Future seasons promise enhanced features including in-game quests and an improved progression system.
"Ponzi" games pop: Crypto game Bigcoin recently surged in popularity before its token crashed 83%, creating a surprising reaction: players embraced its purported "Ponzinomics" and actively sought similar experiences. Bigcoin's simple mining simulation lets players earn BIG tokens on Ethereum's Abstract network, with transparent reward calculations that many found refreshing compared to vague and oft-disappointing play-to-airdrop models.
It's nothing new for crypto games to be derided as "Ponzi schemes"—but some players are using the tag as a positive after a new crypto-earning game quickly surged and then cooled just as rapidly. And they're looking for the next promising "Ponzi game" to jump into.
Abstract-based crypto mining simulation game Bigcoin caught the attention of traders last week, with the token price rising as more and more players bought in and started earning crypto rewards.
But after its token crashed 83% on Satu...
The phenomenon appeared to attract crypto traders beyond typical gamers, with some seeing these self-described "Ponzi games" as more transparent alternatives to insider-dominated projects. Since BIG crashed, similar games like Minereum and Dungeons of Fortune have briefly gained attention... with similar results.
I’m no longer generating $2400 per hour playing a Crypto Game
SEC drops CyberKongz case: The SEC has concluded its investigation into Ethereum NFT and gaming project CyberKongz without findings or enforcement, the project's team said last week, adding to the list of numerous recent closed crypto investigations under the Trump administration. CyberKongz had received a Wells notice in December after two years of SEC scrutiny regarding its BANANA token, game elements, and Genesis Kongz contract migration.
Ethereum NFT and gaming project CyberKongz said Tuesday that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ended its investigation into the project, adding to the growing list of concluded investigations from the regulator since the shift to a more crypto-friendly administration under President Donald Trump.
The project, which said that it had been in contact with the Commission for at least two years, announced the receipt of a Wells notice from the regulator in December. A Wells notic...
Project leaders celebrated the decision as a victory after facing "unjust allegations" and "crippling legal fees," noting that they "elected to fight this battle for the betterment of Web3." CyberKongz joins other NFT-related companies like Bored Ape Yacht Club creator Yuga Labs and marketplace OpenSea that recently saw their SEC investigations closed.
ICYMI
Ethereum's Wolf Game expanded to Solana last week, but the creators quickly halted the game and pulled token liquidity after backlash. They're currently weighing next steps.
Minecraft clone Chunked launched on the Somnia network testnet, putting every single in-game action on-chain as an experimental test of the network's capabilities.
A Minecraft clone on the Somnia blockchain testnet called Chunked puts every in-game action on the blockchain—from a player’s movement to every block placed, mined, and crafted.
Creator MSquared, a division of metaverse tech builder Improbable, says this is the first of a number of blockchain experiments as the firm looks to see how far it can push the boundaries of crypto gaming.
Playing the game is a smooth experience, even with all the on-chain hooks, as there isn’t noticeable lag when placin...
Start playing CryptoKitties: ALL THE ZEN! and hatch Page’s Gang Kitties in the next few days, earn Meowcoins—and get a head start for next season! 🤝 Link to play below ⤵️
We’ve breached containment on a hazardous new Battle Pass packed with experimental drip. The ChemTech is unleashing pure, undiluted mayhem on Teardrop!
After finding success with Bitcoin Miner, a vibrant mobile game in which players can earn real Bitcoin rewards for fake-mining an array of cryptocurrencies, Fumb Games has pivoted into a very different kind of mining game.
Idle Mine on iOS and Android is cut from the same cloth as Bitcoin Miner, as both are “idle” experiences that require minimal input, typically in the form of pressing buttons and deciding when and how to spend in-game funds on upgrades. In this case, however, your little miner...
The Switch is Nintendo’s best-selling home console of all time, and widely beloved for its rich library of games—a dramatic turn from the middling Wii U before it. But it’s been eight years since the Switch launched, and fans are getting antsy for Nintendo’s next big thing.
Luckily, it's coming. Following years of leaks and rumors, and even a couple official acknowledgments that the next-gen model was coming, Nintendo formally revealed the Switch 2 console in January 2025—and now we know when we...
GG Newsletter
Get the latest web3 gaming news, hear directly from gaming studios and influencers covering the space, and receive power-ups from our partners.
The crypto gaming space is ever expanding, and with prominent games releasing, token airdrops piling up, and the constant shifting of the markets around them all, it's a lot to take in.
Luckily, we're all over it here at Decrypt's GG. And if you're looking to keep tabs on the latest happenings around crypto video games, this weekly roundup gives you a quick overview of the biggest stories we covered over the past week, along with a smattering of other interesting tidbits from around the space.
T...
This month's release calendar isn't quite as explosive as recent months, which had titles like Kingdom Come Deliverance II, Civilization VII, Assassin's Creed Shadows, among others.
And some of those are big enough that you might still be playing them.
But that doesn't mean May doesn't have some interesting releases. There are a few high-profile ones in here, along with some smaller games that shouldn't be missed.
The biggest game this month is Doom: The Dark Ages, which bridges the gap between...
Telegram game Notcoin kick-started last year's tap-to-earn revolution that amassed hundreds of millions of players on the messaging app, but enthusiasm for the model has since dwindled following underwhelming token launches tied to increasingly overcomplicated schemes.
Now, a year after Notcoin’s NOT token launch sparked the frenzy, the game’s founders believe that reinventing classic video games via its recently launched Not Games platform will prompt the next Telegram gaming boom.
Sasha Plotvi...
