Launched in 2020 by Ava Labs, Avalanche is a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain network that aims to solve the blockchain trilemma of security, decentralization, and scalability with the help of its specifically developed consensus mechanism named Snowball. Like its direct competitors Ethereum, Solana, and Polkadot, the Avalanche network supports smart contracts and decentralized applications (Dapps) to run on its blockchains.

The Avalanche network has recently emerged as a powerhouse for decentralized applications, especially in the gaming sector. With its high throughput and low fees, it's no wonder that game developers are flocking to this platform.

If you're a gamer looking to dive into the world of web3 on Avalanche, here's a list of some popular web3 IP and gaming projects built on Avalanche. In this article, we also include the most relevant updates and news for the projects.

1. Off the Grid

Off the Grid recently made history by becoming the inaugural web3 game to be featured on the Xbox Store, marking a significant shift for the web3 gaming industry. 

Gunzilla Games, with Neill Blomkamp as Chief Creative Officer and Vlad Korolev as CEO, leads a team of around 260 employees. The studio brings forth Off the Grid, an ambitious project that goes beyond the conventions of traditional gaming.

The game sets itself apart by integrating blockchain technology without compromising the core multiplayer shooter experience. Gunzilla Games envisions a 60-hour narrative campaign and a 150-player battle royale with an extensive arsenal of over 300 guns and 30 different cyberlimbs. This ambitious vision aims to redefine player engagement in the gaming landscape.

“Off the Grid is a traditional multiplayer shooter [that] puts all its economy and progression on-chain,” Korolev said, adding that "Blomkamp is overseeing all of the game’s visuals, creative materials, and animation effects on a daily basis."

Gunzilla Games has also launched the test network for Gunz, a dedicated Avalanche-based blockchain subnet. Alongside, the studio released Technocore, a companion game enabling players to find items transferable as NFTs on Gunzilla's marketplace.

“We chose Avalanche because we couldn’t make it work on any other chain,” Korolev stated, referring to the game’s wide-ranging blockchain features. 

Off the Grid's availability extends to PC gamers on the Epic Games Store, as well as soon-to-be-available PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S and X consoles. Multiplayer matches unfold on Teardrop Island, a sci-fi locale offering both player-vs-player (PVP) and player-vs-environment (PVE) battles, featuring 13 unique points of interest.

“We’ve been working so hard for the last four years to make the world which will never be boring for users to spend so much time there,” Korolev said. 

“In the era of TikTok, experienced users—it’s too boring for them to even watch YouTube. It’s too boring for them to wait on the map for 10 minutes until they experience some interaction with the world,” the CEO added, highlighting a challenge many FPS game developers face with multiplayer BR titles.

To enhance player engagement, Gunzilla Games introduces non-playable characters (NPCs) and quests throughout Teardrop Island during battle royale matches. With an average match duration estimated at 38 minutes, the game aims to provide an immersive and dynamic experience for players.

As Off the Grid takes its place on Xbox, Gunzilla Games propels the gaming industry into a new era. The game's integration of web3 technologies sets it apart, promising a fresh and innovative gaming experience for players across platforms.

2. TSM Blitz

TSM, the global esports, video game, and creator-focused company, and Blitz, the company’s competitive gaming platform, recently announced they would be leveraging Avalanche, the cutting-edge blockchain platform, to revolutionize the gaming industry. The collaboration names Avalanche as the Exclusive Blockchain Partner for TSM and Blitz.

With Avalanche, TSM will create new experiences for players, fans, and creators, marking a major step forward in bringing player-first web3 gaming products mainstream. TSM and Blitz will also use Core to power all user payments and to store, sell, and purchase digital assets.

As part of the partnership, Blitz, the company’s gaming app with 30 million users, will be built on an Avalanche Subnet, custom blockchains designed to maximize speed, security, and scalability. TSM will host Avalanche-branded tournaments on the Blitz Subnet to help gamers improve their skills with performance insights and learning tools and also allow players to compete in Blitz Arena for prizes.

TSM and Blitz will be pioneering innovations with Subnets powered by $AVAX. Blitz’s Subnet will use $AVAX for gas fees, burning a portion of $AVAX fees with every transaction that gamers make. In the future, the Blitz Subnet intends to evolve into an Elastic Subnet, enabling greater community involvement by allowing users to validate the Subnet.

3. Shrapnel 

Neon Machine Inc., the Seattle-based gaming studio behind the web3 extraction shooter Shrapnel, recently took a unique approach with the release of its early access demo, Shrapnel Training Exercises One (STX1), on the Epic Games Store.

In a departure from traditional game development practices, Shrapnel adopts a community-driven strategy, allowing players to actively participate in shaping the game's development until its full release in 2025. This marks a shift from conventional triple-A game launch schedules.

The community, with over 100,000 Discord members and 350,000 followers, plays a crucial role in the game's development. Shrapnel actively seeks feedback and votes from players on design and story decisions, creating a transparent and engaging game development process.

STX1 introduced playable characters at the maximum progression level, three guns, a grenade, and the first special Sigma ability, "Sigma Wave." Sigma, a mysterious resource in the Shrapnel universe, enhances gear and abilities. Further expansions in characters, weapons, and Sigma abilities are expected as the game progresses through early access.

Shrapnel aims to empower creators, allowing customization of characters, weapons, and in-game maps. Online leaderboards track player skills based on Sigma extraction, offering rewards from Shrapnel's community pool. The game encourages the creation and trade of in-game content, fostering a robust creator ecosystem with potential income opportunities for players.

Mark Long, Shrapnel's CEO, appreciates the community's feedback, stating, "Our execution of early access gameplay puts players right in the driver’s seat, helping us steer towards a blockbuster-quality triple-A first-person shooter game."

Set in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world, Shrapnel expands its universe into comic books and a live-action short film, showcasing a rich lore. Developed by industry veterans with expertise in transmedia, virtual production, and blockchain production, Shrapnel recently secured $20 million in funding, totaling $37.5 million.

As Shrapnel unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world across various media, including comic books and a live-action short film, its innovative approach and community involvement resonate with the principles of web3 gaming. Developed by industry veterans and backed by recent funding, Shrapnel's commitment to transparency and player engagement sets a standard for the evolving landscape of web3 gaming, shaping the future of online gaming experiences.

4. Domi Online 

Domi Online is an MMO without a level or skill ceiling, meaning your character can grow stronger and better limitlessly. Within the MMORPG genre, Domi has a "cozy, storybook medieval aesthetic" that brings to mind World of Warcraft.

Players tackle quests and pwn mobs, amass loot, earn experience points, and join guilds just like in web2 MMOs. So why web3? Tokenization boosts reward distribution, purchasing in-game assets, and governance. Players with tokens have the ability to vote on in-game design changes and character rebalancing. 

Domi Online brings players on an exciting and thrilling MMORPG adventure through a vast medieval world filled with forests, deserts, ruins, caves, and islands. As you explore, you'll encounter mythical creatures and seek out treasure and power. The journey never ends in this expansive and exciting world. In the game, actions will not only shape your character’s destiny but also play a pivotal role in contributing to the dynamic and ever-evolving online community. 

Domi Online puts out monthly development updates for all interested players to keep up with the studio's efforts on the game. You can apply right now on the website to get potentially accepted into the ongoing Alpha stage of Domi Online.

5. Fableborne 

As an isometric free-to-play and play-to-own multiplayer game, Fableborne combines Action RPG and Base Building with unique twists, redefining accessibility for mobile games and challenging what competition in short snackable sessions means. 

Throughout the rich story and venture into the Shatterlands, a realm torn apart by a mysterious event that tore the world apart, you are challenged to compete against other players for gold and glory. When players enter the game, they become Fableborne, a mysterious being exploring the broken realm of the Shatterlands, which was created by a cataclysmic event.

New players start with a starting island floating in the sky and an Echo of common rarity. They must explore the Twisting Aether, upgrade their Echoes, and discover new islands. These islands can be either empty or occupied by other players or NPCs.

Players must raid both types of occupied islands to progress in Fableborne. When they challenge other players in player-versus-player battles, they must attack their opponent's base, counter defensive structures, evade traps, and face off against monsters. One important structure in each floating base is the Heart of the Island, which represents the island's life.

Players can raid other players' islands and reap their resources once the island's defenses are weakened. This helps to improve their overall ranking in the game. If they choose to raid an NPC island, they can participate in a player-versus-environment adventure that consists of multiple stages of increasing difficulty, ending in a boss battle. Players can earn various rewards by completing these PvE challenges, including resources and new Echoes.

Fableborne is currently still in development, but Pixion has recently conducted its first pre-alpha stage, letting players get their first hands-on experience with the game. However, there hasn't been any announced timeline or future playtesting stages scheduled. Once there is, we will make sure to update you as well so stay tuned on our socials and our News section.

More About Avalanche?

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions. Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for web3 devs.

This article was inspired by an original blog post from Andrew Cooper, you can read the full post on their website here for more information.