The blockchain gaming and metaverse sectors have been at the forefront of technological innovation, consistently reshaping the digital entertainment landscape. The July 2024 DappRadar report, powered by the Blockchain Game Alliance, offers a detailed look at the latest trends, milestones, and investment patterns in these dynamic industries.

DappRadar July 2024 Report

Key Highlights

• In July, the dapp industry saw over 15 million daily unique active wallets (dUAW), with gaming dapps reaching 4 million dUAW—a 79% increase from the previous month, setting a new record.

• Ronin remained the top blockchain ecosystem for gaming activity, with 1 million dUAW, fueled by the success of games like Pixels and Lumiterra.

• Mocaverse maintained its status as the leading NFT metaverse collection, achieving the highest trading volume of $4 million.

• Blockchain gaming investments totaled $23 million in July, marking the lowest funding level since Q3 2020.

State of Blockchain Gaming July 2024

The dapp industry reached a significant milestone in July, with over 15 million daily unique active wallets (dUAW) engaging with blockchain applications. However, for the first time, gaming dapps have been overtaken as the leading category. AI-driven dapps, including platforms like DIN and Alaya AI, now hold the top spot, commanding 28% of the total market share. Gaming dapps, though still experiencing robust growth, now represent 26% of the market, engaging 4 million dUAW, a remarkable 79% increase from June.

Blockchain Games Historical Activity

The rapid rise of AI dapps reflects the ongoing enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, which is reshaping the blockchain landscape. Despite losing its lead position, blockchain gaming continues to thrive, particularly on platforms like Ronin, driven by popular titles such as Pixels and Lumiterra. Other blockchains, including opBNB, Near, and WAX, are also contributing significantly to the sector’s growth.

Daily Average UAW of Top Gaming Blockchains July 2024

Top Gaming Dapps

BoomLand emerged as the top game by UAW in July, capitalizing on the conclusion of its Season 1 play-to-airdrop event. This platform, hosted on the Immutable zkEVM network, has further cemented its place in the blockchain gaming ecosystem. SERAPH: In the Darkness, an action RPG that launched mid-month, made a strong debut, quickly climbing to fifth place in gaming rankings.

This swift rise highlights the growing interest in innovative gaming apps. Meanwhile, other top platforms continue to see incremental improvements, with titles like Catizen on the TON blockchain and Alien Worlds on WAX maintaining their positions.

Top Game Dapps July 2024

Investments Hit All Time Low

Despite the activity in the gaming space, July 2024 saw a notable decline in investment. The $23 million invested across three deals marks the lowest funding level since Q3 2020. Notable investments include:

1. NPC Labs raised $18 million in seed funding to develop its gaming L3 blockchain.
2. Soccerverse secured $3.1 million, positioning itself for a Q4 2024 full release.
3. Pixelverse extended its recent funding round by $2 million, bringing its total to $7.5 million, to accelerate the global expansion of its game PixelTap.

While this decline reflects seasonal trends, confidence in the sector’s long-term potential remains strong, particularly for infrastructure projects aiming to enhance the web3 gaming ecosystem.

Metaverse and NFT Trends

Although the initial hype surrounding the metaverse has subsided, development continues behind the scenes. Mocaverse stands out as the top NFT metaverse collection, achieving the highest trading volume of $4 million in July. The Otherside metaverse also launched “Project Dragon,” an NFT-based game featuring monthly gameplay events. This project, developed using ApeChain and the Otherside Developer Kit (ODK), exemplifies the ongoing innovation within the metaverse.

Top Metaverse NFT Collections July 2024

Final Thoughts

July 2024 marked a turning point in the dapp industry, with AI-driven applications overtaking gaming as the dominant category. However, blockchain gaming continues to grow, with various platforms contributing to the sector's evolution. While investment levels dipped, the strategic funding of key projects suggests confidence in the long-term potential of blockchain gaming and the metaverse.

These sectors, marked by resilience and ongoing innovation, are likely to see continued growth as they adapt to new technologies and trends. Looking ahead, the foundation laid in 2024 will shape the future of blockchain gaming and the metaverse, with developments in AI and infrastructure playing a crucial role. You can read the full report here.