The gaming industry is on the brink of a new era with the advent of web3 technologies. This paradigm shift promises to offer unprecedented opportunities for developers, players, and investors alike. As a game developer wishing to broaden the possibilities of business, and dive deeper into the world of web3 game development, understanding the landscape is crucial. This blog post aims to be your compass in navigating the world of web3 game development.
In this article, we are going to provide you with basic knowledge about crypto game development, the importance of connection to RPC full nodes, and a list of the best blockchain networks that are designed and perfectly suitable for web3 game development. Please keep reading to get it as well as the understanding of what crypto games are.
What Are Web3 Games?
Actually, there are lots of terms in this crypto game sphere that might get you confused. Although, honestly speaking, Web3 Games, GameFi, Blockchain Games, Crypto Games, P2E (Play-to-Earn) Games – all these terms mean kind of the same thing. Let us explain this in the Web3 games example:
So, each of those terms covers a particular feature of this technological phenomenon – its decentralized nature, blockchain-based technology, incorporation of cryptocurrency and NFTs, and so on.
- GameFi: Gaming + Finance; play games with financial activities.
- Web3 Games: Built on a decentralized web, offering ownership and governance through blockchain.
- Blockchain Games: Use blockchain for game mechanics, ensuring transparency and security.
- Crypto Games: Games where cryptocurrencies are used for transactions and rewards.
- P2E Games: Play games to earn real rewards in cryptocurrencies or NFTs.
Web3 games represent the next evolution in gaming, leveraging blockchain technology to provide decentralized, transparent, and player-owned experiences. This new model changes how games are played and how they are developed and monetized.
What’s the Difference Between Web2 and Web3 Game Development?
The leap from web2 to web3 game development is significant. The traditional web2 model relies on centralized servers and databases, with the game developer owning all in-game assets and data. In contrast, web3 games operate on decentralized networks (blockchains), where players truly own their in-game assets. With that being said, it means that all the game data does not belong only to game developers, stakeholders, government, or anyone else, but to everybody and to gamers who own their in-game assets such as NFTs. Moreover, it makes the process of integration and swapping those assets between games possible and easy. Just imagine, you could defeat your opponents in Mortal Kombat playing with your Fortnite skin, isn’t that mind-blowing?!
The decentralization introduces new layers of complexity, including smart contract development, tokenomics, and integrating crypto transactions into the gaming experience.
Additionally, another feature that sets web2 and web3 games apart is community-driven development. It means that players can have the opportunity to be engaged in the decision-making related to game development, updates, and changes. Web3 games empower players by giving them a say in the game’s evolution and the chance to receive rewards for their input.
If you wish to become a blockchain game developer and are willing that your games could have all the advantages of Web3, providing players with brand new gaming experiences and bringing the future to reality.
Further, we are going to answer some of the questions that you might get starting your journey of lunching on the web3 games market, as well as share with you some extremely helpful tips and tools.
Why Should I Connect to a Blockchain Node to Build a Web3 Game?
Connecting to a blockchain node is crucial when building a Web3 game because it serves as your access point to the blockchain, allowing your dApp (decentralized application) game to interact with the distributed ledger, execute smart contracts, and perform transactions.
Keeping in mind that there are different types of nodes and networks designed for different development purposes, you’ll need to understand what they are and with which ones you’ll have to cooperate. Here are some basic networks that you would need while building a crypto game:
1. Testnet
- What They Are: Testnet RPC full nodes are part of a separate blockchain used for testing purposes, simulating the mainnet environment but without using real money. IOW – the network for developers.
- Why Use Them: Use testnet nodes during the development and testing phases. They allow you to test game mechanics, smart contracts, and blockchain interactions without the risk of losing real assets. It’s a safe environment to experiment and debug.
2. Mainnet
- What They Are: Mainnet RPC full nodes are connected to the main network of a blockchain where actual transactions take place using real cryptocurrency. IOW – the network for users.
- Why Use Them: Connect to mainnet nodes when your game is ready for launch or live operation. This allows your game to interact with the blockchain in a real environment, enabling players to trade, own, or
3. WebSocket (WSS)
- What They Are: WebSocket Secure (WSS) protocol provides real-time, two-way communication between clients and servers over a secure connection.
- Why Use Them: WSS connections are ideal for real-time applications within your game, such as updating player assets, in-game transactions, and events as they happen on the blockchain. It enhances the user experience by providing immediate feedback and updates.
Moreover, understanding which type of node to use at different stages of the blockchain game development process is crucial.
Choosing the Right Type at Different Stages:
- Early Development: Start with testnet nodes to safely experiment and test your game.
- Real-Time Interaction Needs: Implement WSS for parts of your game requiring real-time updates.
- General Blockchain Interactions: Use Mainnet RPC full nodes and API services like NOWNodes for executing transactions and querying blockchain data.
- Launch and Production: Transition to mainnet nodes to enable real transactions and interactions with the actual blockchain.
With that being said, you might also wonder how could you actually connect to the node. So, there’s a stage where NOWNodes are ready to come and offer our helping hand.
Accessing a Blockchain RPC Full node via NOWNodes
NOWNodes offers a convenient and reliable gateway to various blockchain nodes, simplifying the connection process for developers. By providing an easy-to-integrate API, NOWNodes allows game developers to focus on building their games without worrying about the complexities of running nodes on their own. This accessibility is crucial for iterative testing and development, enabling a smoother transition to the web3 paradigm.
NOWNodes guarantees stable and strong connection: our API response time is less than 1 second, and the uptime rate is 99.95%. We provide full maintenance for our nodes with 24/7 support, all you need to do is to get free access with the API key and start building.
With API keys and comprehensive documentation, developers can easily get access to any needed nodes available. Here’s a simple guide to get you started:
- Visit NOWNodes (https://nownodes.io/) and sign up for a free or paid account, depending on your needs. Notice that you can access 5 blockchains through one API key on a free plan. With a paid plan you can access all the available blockchains, Websocket connections, raised number of requests, etc.
- Once you’ve signed up, you’ll have to add a new API key to your dashboard page. Find the needed node and achieve all the available methods on the docs page.
Once we’ve introduced you to every basic detail to start creating a blockchain game, let’s now move on to the main topic of our article which is choosing the best blockchain out of our top for you to become the best web3 game developer.
Top 15 Blockchain Networks for Web3 Game Development
Choosing the right blockchain is pivotal for the success of your web3 game, as they have to have certain features to be suitable for this case.
Here are some requirements blockchain networks have to meet to be a perfect match for Web3 Game development:
- Fast Response Times: Quick transaction processing is critical to keep the game engaging and responsive. Delays can detract from the user experience, especially in games requiring real-time actions.
- Low Transaction Fees (Gas Fees): High transaction costs can be a barrier for players, making it essential to choose blockchains with low gas fees to facilitate frequent in-game transactions and interactions.
- High Throughput: The ability to process a large number of transactions per second (TPS) is essential for games with a high volume of player interactions and transactions.
- Robust Security: Strong security measures are vital to protect against hacks, fraud, and other vulnerabilities, ensuring the safety of in-game assets and transactions.
- Scalability: The blockchain should be able to scale with the game’s growth, supporting more users and transactions without significant increases in costs or decreases in performance.
- Smart Contract Support: For games utilizing complex game mechanics, NFTs, or decentralized finance (DeFi) elements, smart contract functionality is a must.
- Cross-Chain Interoperability: The ability to interact with multiple blockchains can enhance the game’s functionality, allowing for a broader range of assets and interactions.
- Vibrant Ecosystem and Developer Tools: A supportive community, comprehensive documentation, and developer tools can significantly ease the development process.
To our minds, the top 15 Blockchains & Networks that have all the described features and are able to become your best friends in creating a crypto game, could look something like this:
Top 15 Blockchain Networks for Web3 Game Development:
- Ethereum
- Binance Smart Chain
- Polygon (Matic)
- Solana
- Beam
- Avalanche
- Tezos
- WAX
- Arbitrum
- Flow
- Base
- SUI
- EOS
- Cardano
- Harmony
Now, let’s take a closer look at each network from the list.
Ethereum
Ethereum – one of the first things that comes to mind when you hear the word crypto. It is one of the largest blockchains and the father of many other networks (L1 and L2 solutions). However, Ethereum itself has higher gas fees. That’s why you could consider its Layer 2 solutions, like Polygon and Optimism, which offer faster response times and lower costs, with a robust developer ecosystem (some of them are also added to this list).
For those of you who want to try out an Ethereum ecosystem, start building, and become a part of the community, NOWNodes offers both Mainnet and Testnet full nodes, as well as WebSockets and Block Explorers.
Binance Smart Chain (BSC)
Known for its low transaction fees and high throughput, BSC is a preferred choice for developers looking to balance performance and cost. BSC stands out by offering enhanced functionality and utility for developers looking to build on top of it, through the integration of smart contract capabilities and complete compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).
BSC community already has almost 300K weekly active users playing games built on it. Don’t miss your chance to become one of the BSC web3 game developers and have those people playing your game as well!
You can connect to the Binance Smart Chain Mainnet Full Node, WebSocket, and Block Explorer easily via NOWNodes.
Polygon (Matic)
Polygon stands out for its scalability solutions for Ethereum, providing faster transactions and lower fees, ideal for games requiring high transaction throughput. It also provides different scaling solutions like ZK rollups (Polygon zkEVM, Polygon Miden)
NOWNodes enables anyone to connect to Polygon nodes. We also provide a robust connection, which takes less than 1 second to connect, and an uptime of 99.95%.
Solana
Solana is celebrated for its lightning-fast transaction speeds and low costs, making it suitable for high-performance, real-time games. Solana’s average cost per transaction is extremely low and equals = $0.00025.
It is now easier than ever before for you to connect to a Solana node through the usage of the blockchain-as-a-service provider NOWNodes.
Beam
Beam is a sovereign network focused on gaming brought to you by Merit Circle. For developers starting a Web3 game building journey, Beam is a great solution. Beam is not just a gaming blockchain, it’s a collaborative ecosystem and chain driven by its community, where gamers and developers unite to forge the future of the gaming world.
Avalanche
Avalanche is a tailor-made open-source platform designed to streamline the creation and deployment of decentralized applications (dApps) and enterprise blockchain solutions within an ecosystem that is both interoperable and scalable. It offers a unique three-chain architecture, providing a flexible and scalable environment for game developers seeking rapid transactions and customizability.
Explore the possibilities of Avalanche by connecting to the full AVAX node with the NOWNodes.
Tezos
Tezos is known for its on-chain governance and formal verification of smart contracts, offering a robust and secure foundation for complex game mechanics. It is a great platform for you to start building a blockchain game as it is designed to help game developers transition into the world of Web3 gaming as easily as possible.
If you want to easily connect to a Tezos (XTZ) node, signing up on NOWNodes is a perfect way to do it!
WAX
WAX focuses on NFT-based games and virtual goods, providing a user-friendly platform with a strong emphasis on community and eco-friendliness. Join the best blockchain game developers building on WAX.
Arbitrum
Arbitrum offers several advantages for Web3 game developers, focusing on enhancing performance, reducing costs, and providing a more seamless gaming experience on the blockchain. It has a great ecosystem of Arbitrum One and Arbitrum Nova projects. Arbitrum One fully embraces the decentralized nature typical of Rollup chains, whereas Arbitrum Nova offers a tailored solution for applications that can operate efficiently even with a reduced level of decentralization.
Using NOWNodes is a great opportunity to join the Arbitrum blockchain. An Arbitrum node will enable you to browse the blockchain similarly as you would utilize a search engine to browse websites through an internet browser.
Flow
Created by the team behind CryptoKitties, Flow is designed specifically for NFTs and crypto-games, offering high throughput without sharding. Flow is mobile-ready to bring web3 to your community everywhere, allowing seamless user experiences across iOS and Android platforms. So, if you’re planning to make your crypto game available on mobile devices, flow is the perfect platform to make it happen.
Base
Base is a secure, low-cost, builder-friendly Ethereum L2 built to bring the next billion users on-chain. The Base mission is to make Ethereum more accessible to everyone by making the transactions cheaper and faster as well as the environment more developer-friendly for Web3 builders.
Discover how you obtain instant access to Base mainnet and continue building the future of Web3 games with NOWNodes.
SUI
Sui is a layer 1 blockchain that operates without permissions, boasting a design that prioritizes both developer and user ease of use. It guarantees delivering the benefits of Web3 with the ease of Web2.
Sui is designed to meet all of your needs as a Web3 game developer: Web3 abstraction, unlimited scalability, near-instant transactions, and predictably low costs. All this with dynamic game assets where developers fully control transfer policies.
By choosing NOWNodes for your Sui Full Node needs, you will receive unparalleled reliability, guaranteed uptime, and 24/7 professional support, allowing you to focus on what matters most: building innovative blockchain solutions.
EOS
The EOS Network, an open-source blockchain platform, focuses on delivering high performance, flexibility, security, and a great developer experience. As a third-generation blockchain driven by the EOS virtual machine, it features a scalable WebAssembly engine that ensures deterministic execution of transactions with negligible fees.
The appeal of the EOS Network lies in its innovative technology and vibrant community, enabling developers to create projects that are not feasible on other blockchains. The network’s user-friendly interface, coupled with an array of tools and educational materials, makes it easy for users to navigate and familiarize themselves with the blockchain ecosystem.
Unlock all the possibilities and benefits of the EOS network by connecting to the EOS full node via NOWNodes.
Cardano
Cardano’s research-driven approach and emphasis on security and sustainability make it a promising platform for developers prioritizing long-term stability. Moreover, Cardano utilizes a unique consensus mechanism known as Oroborus that utilizes the Proof-of-Stake (PoS) model, which has allowed the network to remain secure as well as eco-friendly.
Get access to Cardano full nodes and WSS with ease and convenience via NOWNodes!
Harmony
With its focus on cross-chain compatibility, Harmony is perfect for developers aiming to build games that interact with multiple blockchains. As a platform, it offers tools as well as functionalities for the creation, hosting, management, and usage of dApps.
With NOWNodes, you can get instant access to Harmony (ONE) nodes and gain a lot of valuable information surrounding everything that occurs on top of the network.
Conclusion
The web3 gaming space is ripe with opportunities, but navigating this new territory requires careful consideration of the tools and platforms at your disposal. By understanding the nuances of web3 game development, choosing the right blockchain network, and connecting to its nodes you can position your game for success in this exciting new landscape.
Embrace the future of gaming with web3 technologies, and let your creative visions come to life on the blockchain. The journey may be complex, but the potential for innovation and community engagement in web3 gaming is boundless. Happy developing!
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