The GameFi marketplace continues to defy the overall sluggish performance in crypto markets in 2023, with the explosion of blockchain gaming seen in 2022. In the past 12 months, the number of GameFi titles doubled, leaving enthusiasts spoilt for choice when deciding which platforms to invest their hard-earned cash.
With GameFi combining two niches of interest for many, cryptocurrencies and video gaming, it can be difficult for gamers to untangle where to find the best value for their money. This guide looks at the five best cheap crypto to buy now in the GameFi sector. They are:
Metacade (META)
Gods Unchained (GODS)
The Sandbox (SAND)
Star Atlas (ATLAS)
Stepn (STEPN)
What is GameFi?
The word GameFi is a fusion of “gaming” and “finance” and is used in crypto circles to refer to play-to-earn (P2E) blockchain games that offer gamers the chance to earn passive income. This income, usually in the form of crypto tokens and NFTs, is achieved by completing tasks, winning battles, and climbing leaderboards.
While many more traditional video games have their own native currency that gamers can use to make in-game purchases, the difference with GameFi is that gamers can transfer their in-game currency into real-world money. Using crypto exchanges, they can sell their earnings and NFTs to boost real-world earnings.
Since the beginning of 2022, the GameFi industry has caught the imagination of gamers and investors alike, with a significant boom occurring in the sector. DappRadar lists more than 2000 GameFi titles on its website. This number is likely to increase significantly over 2023 and beyond, with the development of exciting new titles and incorporation of new technologies building loyalty in the existing userbase and attracting a whole new generation of gamers to the market.
1. Metacade – The best cheap crypto for GameFi enthusiasts to buy now
Metacade is a new blockchain-based platform that plans to become the largest P2E virtual gaming arcade in the metaverse. It is a community-led hub where members control which games they want to see on the platform while hanging out and socializing with like-minded enthusiasts.
While Metacade’s vast P2E capability is the prime attraction, users have several more opportunities to earn through their Create2Earn, Compete2Earn, and Work2Earn initiatives. Users are rewarded for every social interaction with the community, like writing reviews, sharing alpha, and passing on the best tips to other gamers on how to progress through the levels on specific titles.
Metacade aims to become much more than a game-hosting platform but to lead the future of GameFi development. At the core of this is its ground-breaking Metagrants scheme, designed to support game developers with their projects to create exclusive titles for Metacade.
Developers can apply for funding to help them design new games by submitting proposals that community members vote on. This enables users to control the games that hit the platform, with the most popular titles gaining funding and becoming a reality. This allows Metacade to support GameFi innovation overall. The scheme begins in Q3 of 2023, with the first Metagrant-supported titles hitting the virtual shelves in Q1 of 2024.
Why buy MCADE?
One thing sure to grab investors’ attention is a successful presale. With Metacade’s initial presale stages selling out in a matter of weeks and raising more than $4.5m in the process, MCADE is proving no different. The momentum is showing no sign of slowing as the presale continues, making it one of the best cheap crypto for GameFi investors to consider adding to their crypto portfolio.
MCADE launched at $0.008 each during the beta phase, the first of nine presale stages. The value will rise during each step to $0.02 at the presale conclusion, while forecasts predict that MCADE could skyrocket once it hits centralized and decentralized exchanges.
The rich and diverse roadmap, which includes the Metagrants scheme and further GameFi innovation, looks set to generate high demand for MCADE tokens once it goes public. With existing token holders likely to maintain their holdings, there is potential for MCADE to break the $1 barrier in 2023, making it a great penny crypto opportunity.
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2. Gods Unchained (GODS) – Free2play NFT trading game continues to build popularity
Gods Unchained is already one of blockchain’s most popular titles with its unmatched NFT trading capability. Unlike many GameFi titles, Gods Unchained is Free2Play offering users the chance to make passive income without the need to part with funds. This has helped the game become an excellent, accessible entry point into crypto gaming for many enthusiasts.
The game’s premise builds on the traditional real-world card trading experience, with users collecting cards and competing against other players in duels to earn rewards. Gamers can buy, trade, and sell their NFT cards to build the best chance of battle success.
Why buy GODS?
Gods Unchained’s native coin is GODS, which underpins all trading on the platform. Players use GODS tokens to purchase card packs and chests, create NFTs, and as stakes to gain rewards as they progress through the game. This allows gamers to experience a much deeper gameplay experience than real-world card trading games can provide.
This, allied with Gods Unchained’s plans to release seasonal game packs and new characters and extend the gameplay to maintain their loyal customer base, looks set to ensure the long-term future of GODS. With the potential of an improving crypto outlook in 2023 ahead of the next bull market, GODS is one of the best penny crypto to buy now for the GameFi enthusiast.
3. The Sandbox (SAND) – Popular GameFi digital real estate platform looks set to rebound in 2023
The Sandbox’s decentralized blockchain-based digital real estate platform has become a well-established GameFi title over the past few years and looks set to continue building popularity into 2023 and beyond. Gamers can buy digital real estate plots that can be monetized in several different ways through the creation of games or other utilities.
The Minecraft-esq aesthetic is familiar to many traditional gamers. At the same time, the simple-to-use creative tools make The Sandbox an excellent entry point for budding game and character creators, particularly those without any coding experience. The platform’s user-friendly and intuitive plug-and-play tools mean anyone and everyone can get involved with The Sandbox’s P2E capability.
Why buy SAND?
The Sandbox is in a prime position to take advantage of the continual growth of the GameFi sector and the use of digital real estate for other ways of utilization. With the backing of big names such as Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton, Gucci, Adidas, and Tony Hawk, who is building a virtual skatepark on the platform, The Sandbox is only going to go from strength to strength.
Allied with the knowledge that SAND has significant scope for growth in value from its current low levels, almost 95% below its all-time high of $8.44, and SAND is one of the best cheap crypto available now with the promise of excellent potential long-term returns.
4. Star Atlas (ATLAS) – New partnership with The Sandbox promises GameFi innovation
Star Atlas is a metaverse-hosted massive multiplayer online strategy game. Players must develop tactics to interact with other factions within the game to undertake deep space exploration and combat while building spaceships and stations.
Excitingly, Star Atlas has partnered with The Sandbox to provide interoperability between the two platforms, even though they’re hosted on different blockchain providers, to create the Star Atlas Vox Edit contest. Players can act as envoys from The Sandbox and visit one of the three galaxies in the Star Atlas metaverse before reporting on what they find. These reports then inform the creation of Star Atlas portraits on The Sandbox’s software.
Why buy ATLAS?
While Star Atlas already has a comprehensive and loyal user base, this exciting link-up with The Sandbox stands to place the platform at the front of the GameFi gaming experience. With cross-blockchain interoperability between the Solana and Ethereum chains providing innovation, ATLAS could potentially surge as gamers flock to this new offering.
With the excellent potential long-term value given ATLAS’ current extremely low value, GameFi enthusiasts would be well-advised to consider adding ATLAS to their crypto portfolio.
5. Stepn (GMT) – New GameFi title with real-world health benefits
Stepn is a new GameFi platform that provides users with real-world health benefits while earning passive income as they exercise. Users purchase a pair of NFT sneakers on the platform before setting off and counting steps as they walk, jog, and run each day. Once they’ve accrued enough steps, there is potential to earn the platform’s native GMT coin.
There are several revenue sources on the platform; users are charged for replenishing energy and moving levels, selling NFT sneakers, and earning royalties on NFT transactions. Meanwhile, users earn based on the number of steps tracked by GPS during five-minute periods, which are replenished over time.
Why buy GMT?
Stepn’s innovative approach to GameFi, offering users the opportunity to earn as they exercise and become healthy, has an enormous user case, which bodes well for the platform’s longevity.
Indeed, GMT coins have outperformed crypto markets since its launch, which is a positive sign ahead of improved market conditions in the lead-up to the next bull market, expected in 2025. As a result, GMT is one of the best cheap crypto to buy now, particularly for investors in it for the long haul.
Metacade – the best cheap crypto to buy now for GameFi enthusiasts
The five cryptos listed offer the long-term GameFi enthusiast significant earning potential in 2023 and beyond as the GameFi sector continues to bloom. With many forecasts predicting an improvement in the outlook for crypto markets this year, now is the time to make the most of the current bear market low prices.
It’s Metacade that looks the best of the bunch, however with its exciting and innovative roadmap providing Metagrants, Work2Earn capabilities, and an eventual transition to becoming a fully-fledged DAO by Q4 of 2024. The current presale phase offers investors the opportunity to buy MCADE tokens at what looks like a grossly undervalued price and then watch as it surges after being listed on DEXs. This potential and the platform’s long-term value make Metacade the best penny crypto to buy now.
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Disclaimer: Insights provided by crypto industry players and is not a part of the editorial content of BanklessTimes.