9 Best Play-to-Earn Games With Crypto and NFT Rewards for 2025

The best play-to-earn crypto games do exactly what their name suggests – pay you to play games. These games have been particularly popular among crypto investors, who can earn different rewards, ranging from tokens to NFTs.

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of top play-to-earn games, including their mechanics, advantages, and investment potential. We cover established titles with active ecosystems and promising newcomers, offering insights for those looking to enter this emerging play2earn crypto-gaming space.

Catslap ($SLAP)

• A fair launch meme coin where everyone gets the same chance to buy $SLAP, ensuring trust and transparency.
• A step up from regular meme coins with an addictive slapping game with community rewards.
• $SLAP is riding the success of popular cat tokens during the 2024 Q3-Q4 meme rally.

Project Launched

November 2024

Purchase Methods

• 
  ETH
• 
  USDT
• 
  Debit

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Best Play-to-Earn Games: Detailed Reviews

The best play-to-earn games of 2025 offer a variety of games, including casino and mobile games.

1. The Sandbox

✅ Available on Android
✅ Available on iOS

Best Play-to-Earn Crypto Game for Creatives

The Sandbox is another one of the top crypto games that focuses on digital land in a 3D virtual world where you can build, explore, and monetize experiences using NFTs called LAND and the SAND cryptocurrency. It offers tools like VoxEdit for designing and animating voxel models, a game maker for creating games, and a marketplace for selling NFTs.

The game maker lets you create your own games using drag-and-drop logic and thousands of assets made by the community. The marketplace, on the other hand, is a platform where you can buy and sell NFTs and LANDs, which are parcels of virtual land in The Sandbox metaverse.

2. Catslap

✅ Available on Android
✅ Available on iOS

Best P2E Game Featuring an Addictive Slapping Competition

Our play-to-earn game list for 2025 can’t kick off without Catslap. This new ERC-20 token aims to dethrone frog- and dog-based meme coins with its click-and-slap revolution. This project uses a competitive and fun gaming system, allowing players to gather points by slapping Pepe.

What makes Catslap intriguing is that it doesn’t offer a presale, trying to be fair and accessible for everyone. Moreover, within an hour of launch, the token was already trending at No.1 on DexTools. The $SLAP token’s price is currently $0.00191807.

3. Lucky Funatic

✅ Available on Android
✅ Available on iOS

Trending Play and Earn Crypto with High Rewards

Next on our list is Lucky Funatic. The platform’s native $FUNZ token offers high play-to-earn rewards to its players. Lucky Funatic is a product of Funtico — an emerging leader in the Web3 gaming space that aims to offer exciting rewards to everyone globally via its Telegram-based game. It offers an engaging gaming platform where players earn rewards by simply playing, ranking up, and completing quests.

The P2E game is easy to play, making it great for beginners and more experienced gamers. It comes with unique elements, like boosters, cards, and jokers. Users can earn passive income from cards, collect Jokers to enter big giveaways, and level up to earn FUNZ more easily. With all of these various challenges and quests, you can earn money by playing and enjoying yourself.

4. Brilliantcrypto

✅ Available on Android
✅ Available on iOS

Sustainable P2E Game with Gemstone Mining

Brilliantcrypto is an exciting new play-to-earn game for desktop and mobile that offers players a chance to explore the metaverse and collect valuable gemstones along the way. What’s exciting about this game is that it’s fully sustainable and is backed by a proof-of-gaming concept that increases the value of mined gemstones as more players join.

Brilliantcrypto is free to join, but you’ll need an NFT pickaxe to start mining for gemstones. Mining can also unlock brilliantstones, which are automatically converted to $BRIL tokens. $BRIL can be used in the in-game marketplace alongside $MATIC, making it a very valuable token for trading. Overall, Brilliantcrypto is highly engaging and rewarding, and we think it could see a significant following as the metaverse grows.

5. CryptoKitties

❌ Not Available on Android
❌ Not Available on iOS

P2E Game Featuring Digital Kittens

CryptoKitties is another great project where you can earn crypto by playing games. It revolutionized the industry by introducing NFT-based digital cat breeding and collecting. The game’s simplicity, coupled with the rarity and unique features of some cats, drives their value and scarcity in the marketplace.

The game was launched in November 2017 by Dapper Labs and quickly became a viral sensation. It generated millions in revenue but also caused Ethereum network congestion. To address scalability issues, the game later migrated to Flow, a blockchain designed for high-volume applications.

6. Axie Infinity

✅ Available on Android
✅ Available on iOS

Pokemon-Like P2E Game

Axie Infinity, an Ethereum-based game, pioneered the concept of battling collectible NFT monsters (Axies) in a play-to-earn model. Players earn and trade Axie Infinity Shards (AXS) tokens, making it one of the most popular play-to-earn NFT and crypto games
with its own tradable cryptocurrency.

Axie Infinity expanded beyond dueling to include a land mode where players build villages on Lunacia, harvest resources, craft items, and interact with others. Recently, they launched the Axie Classic Competitive Season 5 with 35.6K AXS in rewards, World Cup qualification, guild points, the new Coliseum Chest, an exclusive Battle Pass, and a revamped site with guides, tools, and leaderboards.

7. Splinterlands

✅ Available on Android
✅ Available on iOS

Top P2E Game With Blockchain Trading Card Mechanics

Splinterlands is a top play-to-earn game because it offers gamers trading card mechanics with blockchain technology. Players can profit by collecting, buying, and selling unique cards, each represented as a non-fungible token with real-world value.

Inspired by Magic the Gathering and Hearthstone, Splinterlands focuses on card-dueling gameplay. By mastering the rules and strategies, players can earn in-game coins and improve their community ranking. The game’s economy revolves around Dark Energy Crystal (DEC), its main cryptocurrency, which can be traded on exchanges.

8. DeFi Kingdoms

✅ Available on Android
✅ Available on iOS

Fantasy RPG Based on a DeFi Protocol

DeFi Kingdoms is a cross-chain, pixel-art MMORPG where all resources and heroes are NFTs. Available on Klaytn and Avalanche, it boasts over 100,000 users across networks. The game currently features two realms with expansion plans and is marketed as one of the most profitable play-to-earn games in the fantasy RPG genre.

The game’s play-to-earn mechanics are based on the JEWEL token, which is said to be one of the top gaming tokens, and is used to power its ecosystem and has real value. It can also be used for governance rights, in-game power-ups, and even an opportunity to get a portion of the distributed fees that the game charges to players. Like in many other RPGs, heroes have unique abilities and items that can help players. Some heroes feature rare items, making them more valuable.

9. Gods Unchained

✅ Available on Android
✅ Available on iOS

Digital Trading Card Game With P2E Elements

As one of Splinterlands’ main competitors, Gods Unchained is definitely a top-ranking P2E game. It is a blockchain-based trading card game where players collect, trade, and battle using digital cards. Unlike traditional card games, it offers players full ownership of their cards as NFTs on the Ethereum network, securing a spot among the best P2E games.

The game uses a unique balancing system to adjust card power based on popularity and performance. It offers various modes, including ranked matches, draft tournaments, weekend events, and solo adventures.

What Is a Play-to-Earn Game?

A play-to-earn (P2E) game is an online game that rewards players with cryptocurrency or other digital assets for playing.

ℹ️ Unlike traditional games that rely on in-game purchases or advertisements for monetization, play-to-earn games allow players to earn value for their time and skill.

Play-to-earn games are built on blockchain and have their own ecosystems, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs, some of which hold real-life value and can be traded on exchanges. These games are part of the broader Web3 trend, aiming for a decentralized, user-centric internet. Analysts at Citi believe the metaverse could be worth $8 to $13 trillion by 2030, poised for exponential growth as technology advances.

How Do Play-to-Earn Games Work?

Play-to-earn games are powered by blockchain technology, which enables the creation and exchange of digital assets that are scarce, verifiable, and owned by the players. It’s like owning Bitcoin, except you can use it in gaming ecosystems to buy and sell in-game items, characters, features, and more.

Blockchain also ensures the security and transparency of game transactions and the interoperability of game assets across different platforms and metaverses. You can sometimes trade assets from different P2E games, provided they’re on the same blockchain.

Types of Play-to-Earn Crypto Games

The P2E space is new, making it hard to categorize all types. These games span various genres, from shooters and racing games to RPGs and trading ones. Unlike traditional console and PC games, P2E games allow players to monetize their gameplay instead of paying out of pocket.

Even fantasy sports have made it to the blockchain through projects such as Sorare. Many new P2E crypto games are released every day, so fans of any type of game will be able to find what they are looking for.

Benefits of P2E Games

Some of the perks of P2E games include the following:

• Source of income — Players can generate income by playing P2E games. In most cases, that might not be enough to make a living. Still, having a fun side hustle for some extra cash doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.
• Transparent and fair gaming economy — Players control things in play-to-earn games, as they fully own digital assets. This is not like traditional games, which can shut down servers, ban accounts, or change rules at any time. P2E games give players the power to store, transfer, and sell their assets without intermediaries or restrictions.
• Creative inspiration — The best play-to-earn games foster innovation and creativity in the gaming industry, where developers can experiment with new genres, mechanics, and features that leverage the potential of blockchain technology.

Risks of Play-to-Earn Crypto Games

Even the most profitable play-to-earn games come with their own risks, so investors should be aware of the following ones:

• Time-consuming: Players can become engrossed in the thrill of winning, leading to more time spent than intended, which can negatively impact productivity, health, and relationships.
• Uncertainty: Players aren’t guaranteed to earn what they expect, and some games may be scams that don’t pay at all. Additionally, hidden fees or charges can reduce earnings.
• Sustainability: Play-to-earn projects hinge on attracting new users or effectively incentivizing existing players, which could pose sustainability challenges over time.
• Health risks: Extended gaming periods can result in health issues such as eye strain, musculoskeletal disorders, and disruptions to sleep patterns.

Can You Play P2E Games on Mobile?

The play-to-earn (P2E) mobile gaming landscape is vibrant and diverse. Several standout titles are captivating players globally, offering unique gameplay experiences and innovative reward systems.

• Axie Infinity
• Gods Unchained
• Pancake Protectors
• Meow Match
• Taitiko
• IN

These games not only entertain but also provide opportunities for players to earn real-world value, driving the popularity and growth of the P2E sector.

Can You Really Earn Crypto With Play-to-Earn Games?

In short, this is possible because P2E games are blockchain-based, and the space is only getting more popular. A recent Statista report revealed that by 2026, at least 25% of people worldwide will spend at least one hour per day in the metaverse, with 30% of global businesses expected to have metaverse-ready projects and services by then.

Knowing how to earn crypto by playing games depends on the game’s design and mechanics. Some common methods are:

• Trading in-game tokens earned through achievements or as a reward for other top cryptocurrencies or fiat money on exchanges and marketplaces.
• Collecting NFTs that represent unique game items or characters and selling them.
• Staking or lending in-game coins to earn passive income (provided this feature is available in the game of your choice).
• Taking part in governance and community activities related to game development and direction.
• Competing in in-game tournaments that offer coins or NFTs as prizes.
• Building upon virtual plots of land in a metaverse and charging admission.

Are Crypto Earning Games Legit and Safe?

Generally speaking, blockchain is a safe and secure technology that protects your digital coins and transactions. However, you should still learn as much as possible about crypto, blockchain, DeFi, and P2E to minimize the risk of being scammed. 

Here are some of the main factors regarding safety to consider when playing P2E games:

• Overall security — Players must use secure and reputable wallets, platforms, and exchanges to protect their assets from hackers, scammers, and fraudsters. They must also keep their private keys and passwords safe and never share them with anyone.
• Regulation — P2E games operate in a somewhat unregulated space, which means there might be no clear legal framework or authority to govern them. This can lead to uncertainty, ambiguity, and disputes over taxation, ownership, intellectual property, and consumer protection issues. Players must know their jurisdiction’s laws and regulations and comply accordingly.
• Volatility — P2E games are subject to the volatility of the crypto market, which means the value of their tokens and NFTs can fluctuate significantly over time. Players should be prepared for the price to increase and decrease at any time and act accordingly.

What’s the Taxation Process With Play-to-Earn Crypto Games?

The play-to-earn crypto model is relatively new, so most tax authorities haven’t issued specific guidance, except in the Philippines, where players earning over $5,000 annually from games like Axie Infinity must pay taxes. However, all crypto income is generally subject to tax, whether through Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax, depending on the type of transaction.

Capital Gains Tax applies when you sell, spend, swap, or gift crypto based on the difference between the asset’s value at acquisition and disposal. If you profit, you’ll pay Capital Gains Tax; if you incur a loss, you won’t. Income Tax may also apply, particularly if you’re paid in crypto, staking, or mining, and is taxed at your regular Income Tax rate based on the crypto’s market value at receipt.

What Are the Top New Play-to-Earn Games?

The hype for P2E games does not and will not stop in the near future as more and more new games are developing every moment. These games are gaining popularity for their engaging gameplay and the potential to earn real-world value, attracting a growing community of dedicated players. Here’s a round-up of the best new crypto earning games:

What Is the Future of Play and Earn Crypto Games?

The play-to-earn gaming market is projected to grow significantly, reaching $6.32 billion by 2023, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.3% from 2024.

This expansion is mainly due to the popularity of p2e gaming models, where players earn rewards in the form of crypto, NFTs, and in-game tokens, offering both entertainment and income. This market sees high engagement, especially in Asia-Pacific and North America, as more people embrace the play-to-earn model’s earning potential and experience.

Conclusion

Some of the best play-to-earn crypto games offer profit potential alongside engaging gameplay, but players should research each game’s rules and approach them as a side activity rather than a primary income source. Among these, Sponge V2 ($SPONGE) stands out as a top choice to earn crypto playing games.

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