NFTs are no longer just about ownership. In blockchain games, they are starting to influence the way players interact with each other, especially in multiplayer games. These changes don’t just apply to skins or badges.
Now players can use NFTs to create teams, manage assets between accounts, or progress in shared online worlds. This use of digital tokens is beginning to shape the way some communities create their in-game identities.
Wider reach of NFT features in crypto-based games
NFTs are now being used in more than just RPGs or open world builders. While most NFT titles still focus on long-term character growth or land systems, there has been slow adoption in niche crypto games, including those in the casino sector.
Many still focus on exploration or long-term upgrades, but faster formats like crash games have built a strong base of active users. These games are made for short sessions and quick results. Popular titles such as Spaceman and JetX are played on a number of crypto platforms, often linked to token systems or live multiplayer elements.
Some of these platforms, including sites who offer the hugely popular Aviator gameare starting to test NFT-linked tools. These are not full asset systems like in RPGs, but small functions that track long-term usage or user status.
In some cases, NFTs are used to unlock profile badges or achieve high results. A few platforms have added custom NFTs that act as entry passes or show past results, but these are still limited in scope.
Cross-game items are starting to connect communities
Some platforms are now linking NFTs across multiple titles. This works best for chains like Ethereum or Arbitrum, where smart contracts can help create different games within the same network. This allows players to use the same NFT in multiple locations, which can help keep users within the same ecosystem for longer periods of time.
HoneyDAO is one example. It has a number of games with the same token system. NFTs earned in one game can be used to access another game. That changes how users behave. They don’t consider each title as a separate story. Instead, it’s one long audio about value and progress. This is good for players who like to have a reason to come back, but it also ensures that a developer has a stable user base.
NFT projects are even used in third-party games. They no longer exist in a single world. Owners can lend them out for use by other players. That’s more flexible for multiplayer setups and opens up new ways to collaborate.
Social gameplay built around tokens
In several blockchain games, players not only own NFTs but also use them to access events or join player-controlled systems. This adds new reasons for users to collaborate. Some NFTs grant special access, while others include performance metrics.
These statistics can determine team rank, participation in challenges, or roles within a group. This changes the NFT from a static item to something related to player activity. Guild of Guardians uses a party-based format where users create teams of collectible characters. The NFTs have specific skills that impact how each team performs.
In Illuviumplayers can capture, upgrade and sell creatures, which can also be used in battle. The value of these NFTs depends on how they are used, not just how rare they are. The multiplayer choices in these games revolve around what users own and how they want to trade or stake it.
What could happen next
The next phase for NFT-based multiplayer games won’t be about fancy assets or rare drops. The point is to make these resources usable within group systems. Games that allow for shared ownership, team mechanics, or cross-title identity are a better place to retain players. That’s where the vast majority of the new work is being done.
World of Dypians And Lumiterra are two current examples. Both allow players to earn and use NFTs in ways that impact group play. Whether that means owning territory, farming or trading, users act in teams. These games show how multiplayer formats will embrace NFTs, not just as a style choice, but as a way to influence the way groups play and strategize.
Main image source: Pixabay
