The blockchain gaming industry has seen remarkable growth and consolidation over the past few years, with several blockchains emerging as key players. Recent reports by Devin Becker at Naavik, along with comprehensive data from DappRadar and the Blockchain Game Alliance (BGA), highlight significant advancements in this space.

In Q2 2024, the web3 industry witnessed a substantial increase in daily Unique Active Wallets (dUAW), reaching 10 million, with blockchain gaming accounting for 2.8 million dUAW. This article explores the top five gaming blockchains, analyzing their growth, key factors driving their success, and what the future holds for this dynamic sector.

Top 5 Gaming Blockchains

Top 5 Gaming Blockchains

During Q2 2024, the web3 industry witnessed a substantial surge, with daily Unique Active Wallets (dUAW) reaching 10 million, a 40% increase from the previous quarter. The blockchain gaming sector contributed notably to this growth, ending the quarter with 2.8 million dUAW—a 33% rise from the prior period. This indicates that blockchain gaming now represents 28% of the total Unique Active Wallets (UAW), underscoring its growing importance in the web3 ecosystem.

Industry Unique Active Wallets (UAW)

Top Five Blockchains by dUAW

1. Ronin: Ronin emerged as a leader with a 100% increase in dUAW, reaching 1.9 million. This growth is largely attributed to the success of new games like Pixels, which has engaged a broad audience. Despite recent fluctuations in user activity, Ronin continues to attract attention with its strong community and innovative initiatives such as the Ronin Forge program, which offers grants to developers.
2. Polygon: Polygon followed with a 28% rise, achieving 1.5 million dUAW. The platform's shift from a game publisher to a technology and protocol provider has influenced its position in the blockchain gaming sector. Polygon's focus on technology, including its development of ZK-EVM tech, has helped maintain its relevance, even as it steps back from direct competition over game content.
3. NEAR: NEAR almost doubled its user base with a 98% increase, reaching 1 million dUAW. This growth highlights the platform's expanding appeal, though the specific drivers behind this surge were not detailed.
4. Klaytn: Klaytn saw the highest percentage increase at 305%, reaching 699,965 dUAW. This impressive growth reflects the platform's successful integration and adoption strategies, although further details on the underlying factors are not specified.
5. Nebula: Part of the SKALE Network, Nebula grew by 18%, achieving 585,526 dUAW. This modest increase indicates a steady rise in user engagement within the SKALE Network ecosystem.

Top Gaming Blockchains by dAUW

Top Five Gainers by dUAW

The top five gainers of the quarter include Immutable, opBNB, Aptos, Core, and WEMIX. Immutable, in particular, stood out with an over 715,000% increase in activity, followed by opBNB with an 80,000% rise. Aptos also saw a substantial increase of over 5,246%, reflecting the growing diversity and innovation in the blockchain gaming space.

Optimistic rollups and EMV-compatible chains are gaining traction, reflecting their rising popularity in the gaming industry. Please see the detailed image below for a more in-depth breakdown of which blockchains have gained the most traction in Q2 2024.

Top Gaming Blockchain Gainers by dUAW

Factors Contributing to Growth

Ronin Continues to Dominate Due to Pixels

Ronin, developed by Sky Mavis, has emerged as a leader in the blockchain gaming space, largely due to its association with Axie Infinity. In Q2 2024, Ronin saw a 100% increase in dUAW, reaching 1.9 million. The recent success of Pixels, a social farming and crafting game, contributed to this growth. However, Ronin faces challenges, including a potential decline in daily active users and the need to attract more high-quality games. The launch of the Ronin Forge program and integration of Polygon’s ZK-EVM technology aims to address these issues.

You can read more about Ronin's growth here.

Ronin Gaming Ecosystem 

Polygon Shifts Gears and Focuses on Development

Polygon has shifted its focus from game publishing to technology and protocol development. Although Polygon once led the gaming blockchain sector, its current strategy emphasizes its role as an Ethereum layer-2 solution rather than a game publisher. Despite this shift, Polygon continues to support a variety of games and maintains its position in the blockchain ecosystem. Notable games like Champions Ascension and Phantom Galaxies are still in development on Polygon.

You can read more about Polygon's growth here.

Top Rated Polygon Games on GAM3S.GG

Immutable Signs the Most New Web3 Games

Immutable has made significant strides with its Immutable X and ZK-EVM chains. The success of Gods Unchained and recent releases like Guild of Guardians have boosted Immutable’s position, achieving impressive growth in dUAW. Immutable’s collaboration with Polygon to integrate ZK-EVM technology has enhanced its capability to support and onboard games. The focus on offering developers a choice between two layer-2 networks and expanding its game portfolio contributes to Immutable’s strong standing in the industry.

You can read more about Immutable's growth here.

Immutable Gaming Ecosystem

Oasys Builds in Stealth with Major Web2 Studios

Oasys, a blockchain developed through collaboration between Japanese and South Korean game developers, has shown promising progress. Initial support from major developers such as Ubisoft and Sega has bolstered its position. Oasys is beginning to attract games, with titles like Champions Tactics and Captain Tsubasa Rivals utilizing the platform. Although it is still early for Oasys, the involvement of established publishers and the focus on the Asian market highlight its potential for future growth.

You can read more about Oasys' growth here.

Oasys Ecosystem

WEMIX Sees Growth Despite Botting Issues

WEMIX, developed by the South Korean company WEMADE, has struggled to convert its early successes into sustained growth. Despite the launch of games like Night Crows and Mir4, the network faces challenges with bot issues and regulatory hurdles. WEMIX remains focused on the RPG genre and continues to develop new games. The regional interest in South Korea provides a foundation for WEMIX, though it must overcome significant obstacles to achieve broader success.

You can read more about WEMIX's growth here.

Top Rated WEMIX Games According to WEMIX Play

The Future of Gaming Blockchains

The landscape of blockchain gaming is rapidly evolving, with a clear shift towards blockchains specifically designed for gaming rather than general-purpose platforms. Immutable stands out as a prominent player in the Western market, while Oasys shows potential in Asia. However, the success of these blockchains will depend on their ability to attract high-quality games and sustain user engagement.

As the industry progresses, the consolidation of gaming blockchains may amplify the network effects of platforms that host successful games. While no single blockchain has yet achieved a breakthrough success akin to Axie Infinity, the ongoing developments and strategic partnerships will likely shape the future of blockchain gaming. For further insights, readers can explore detailed reports from Naavik and DappRadar.

Sources: Naavik and DappRadar