Mythical Games successfully integrates its web3 gaming model into the mobile app space with NFL Rivals, which has seen significant success since its launch. The game has hit over five million players and boasts more than a million active wallets on the Mythos Chain (MYTH). This momentum is helping the company establish credibility in the blockchain space and expand its reach to other games.

In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about how NFL Rivals has successfully gained traction on traditional web2 app stores. We will also touch on new partnerships, revenue growth, and upcoming projects like Pudgy Penguins and Blankos Block Party.

Mythical Games Logo

Mythical Games IP

Seattle-based web3 gaming studio, Mythical Games, recently raised an impressive $37 million as the initial part of its Series C extension round. The round saw contributions from significant players in the tech investment field, with digital asset manager Scytale Digital leading and prominent firms ARK Invest, Andreessen Horowitz, and Animoca Brands participating.

The funding extends from a $150 million Series C round in November 2021, where a16z took the lead and valued Mythical Games at $1.25 billion. The company plans to conclude the extension round later this year, with expectations to raise an additional $20 million to $30 million in capital.

Known for the Mythos Chain (MYTH), Mythical Marketplace, and popular blockchain-based games such as NFL Rivals, Nitro Nation, and Blankos Block Party, Mythical Games has made significant strides in the gaming industry. In particular, NFL Rivals has hit over five million players and boasts more than a million active wallets.

Mythical Marketplace

Mythical Moves to Polkadot to Build Mythos Chain

Mythical Games announced in late April of this year that it was transitioning from Ethereum to Polkadot for the launch of its new web3 gaming ecosystem called the Mythos Chain (MYTH). On Mythos, gaming partners have the opportunity to create their own chains, aiming to establish the largest and most interconnected gaming ecosystem in web3.

Despite achieving significant success on Ethereum, including a user base of over 650,000 and over two million downloads of the popular game NFL Rivals Mythical decided to move to Polkadot due to the network's superior speed and scalability capabilities.

John Linden, Mythical’s CEO, stated: “The decision to leave the Ethereum ecosystem stems from a combination of issues surrounding relatively slow transaction speeds, even with L2 roll-ups, that would ultimately hinder our scaling plans with our new games this year.” 

Mythical Games Moves to Polkadot to Build Mythos Chain (MYTH)

NFL Rivals Hybrid Success Story

NFL Rivals employs a hybrid web2 and web3 gaming model. The web2 version of the game, available on mobile app stores, operates on a free-to-play basis with in-app purchases made using traditional payment methods. This approach ensures a broad reach and compliance with Google and Apple store policies. The web3 version, accessible through Mythical's website, allows players to use cryptocurrencies and wallets, engaging in secondary market trading.

John Linden, Mythical’s CEO, noted a significant revenue boost due to the introduction of secondary trading. Initially, this feature led to a 10-15% revenue increase, which has since grown to a 50% lift as more functionality was added. Players can merge assets, creating new tradeable items, further enhancing the game's economy.

NFL Rivals Cards

Quick Trades Feature for NFL Rivals

A standout feature introduced in December is Quick Trades, enabling players to trade assets directly without monetary transactions. These trades, conducted behind the scenes on the blockchain, have dramatically increased activity, with daily transactions rising from 100 to 6,000-7,000. John Linden commented:

“Now it’s becoming a huge part of the business. It’s very powerful. Gamers have loved it. We’ve also cleared it with Apple and Google and so we have those Quick Trades directly in the mobile game itself. You can do that from the NFL Rivals game itself, and it’s a huge driver of activity. We were seeing 100 transactions a day in the secondary market for the NFL Rivals. Now we’re seeing 6,000 or 7,000." 

NFL Rivals Team Roster

New Partnership with Pudgy Penguins

Building on the success of NFL Rivals, Mythical Games recently announced a partnership with Pudgy Penguins to develop a web3-enabled mobile game. This collaboration aims to replicate the strategy used in NFL Rivals, leveraging Pudgy Penguins' strong social media presence and retail partnerships.

Luca Netz, CEO of Pudgy Penguins, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting the potential for growth and community engagement. The game is slated for release in 2025, with exclusive content and development participation offered to Pudgy Penguins holders.

Luca Netz commented: “When we decided to create a mobile-first AAA blockchain-based Pudgy Penguins game, working with Mythical Games is something that excited me. Our growth strategy that has reached millions, combined with Mythical Games’ experience and success with gaming, sets up this endeavor for success. We can’t wait to show the Pudgy Penguins community what’s in store and solicit their feedback as development ramps up.”

Pudgy Penguins and Mythical to Build Web3 Mobile Game

What about Blankos Block Party?

Mythical Games is preparing to bring the casual party game Blankos Block Party to mobile platforms. Initially launched on PC, the game struggled with user acquisition costs but is expected to find a larger audience on mobile through a free-to-play version. Blankos Block Party was Mythical's first web3 game, reaching approximately 1.5 million users on PC. However, the increasing cost of user acquisition on that platform led Mythical to scale it down.

"Unless you hit the algorithm exactly right, it gets very competitive. We've taken everything we learned from what worked in web3 and we're building a new version for mobile devices," said John Linden.

The team believes that Blankos Block Party has the potential to reach a larger audience on mobile devices through a free-to-play version, or a hybrid model where web3 still plays a role among web3-savvy gamers who are willing to spend more money. Mythical has engaged in discussions with Apple and Google to bring the game from PC to mobile platforms.

Blankos Block Party Moves from PC to Mobile

Expanding the Web3 Ecosystem

Mythical Games is also working on expanding its web3 economy across multiple games. Upcoming projects include Nitro Nation World Tour, currently in soft launch, and potentially enabling cross-game trading. This development could further enhance the value and engagement within the Mythos ecosystem.

“We’re applying this to other games like Nitro Nation, our racing tool, and we think we will do it with the mobile version of Blankos Block Party. The game is currently in soft launch but has about 500,000 players," Linden said. 

In Nitro Nation players can engage in high-speed racing while collecting unique car NFTs inspired by renowned automotive brands like Aston Martin, Jaguar, Pagani, and McLaren Automotive. Developed in collaboration with CM Games, the original creators of the Nitro Nation franchise, and backed by McLaren Automotive, Nitro Nation World Tour aims to captivate mobile gamers.

Nitro Nation World Tour Logo and Cover Art

Looking Ahead

Linden is optimistic about the future, noting the increasing interest from high-quality developers and the potential for mainstream adoption of web3 gaming. He anticipates significant industry moves within the next year, driven by major IP owners entering the market.

John Linden Mythical Games CEO

The success of NFL Rivals and the strategic expansion into new games and partnerships underscore Mythical Games' ambition to lead the web3 gaming space. With plans to reach 10 million players for NFL Rivals and explore other sports genres, the company is poised for continued growth and innovation.

As web3 technology evolves, Mythical Games aims to blend mainstream appeal with blockchain features, providing gamers with engaging and valuable experiences. The upcoming season and new game announcements are highly anticipated as Mythical Games continues to push the boundaries of what web3 gaming can achieve.