What Are NFT Games? And How to Launch Your NFT Games Career
Find out what NFT games are, what career opportunities are available in the NFT gaming industry, and the skills you need to succeed in this career field.
![[Featured image] An NFT game developer is demonstrating a product for a colleague.](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/3BSWHk28px8RrVlwJWQAXM/e0eb3306b854416c4b038843f640b9bf/GettyImages-1271658553.png?w=1500&h=680&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive&auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=1000&h=)
NFT games are similar to traditional video games, where players can sell, trade, and buy items for in-game currency. However, NFT games allow players to transfer their earnings to other games and exchange it with other players with cryptocurrency. These platforms have recently gained popularity and have intrigued gamers and non-gamers over their novel design and opportunities for profit.
Outside of earning money by playing the games, many opportunities exist in this niche professionally. These positions range from technical roles, such as NFT game developers and blockchain game engineers, to business roles, such as brand market strategists, consumer research analysts, and business development managers. In this article, learn about NFT games, career opportunities, the companies involved, and more.
What are NFTs?
NFTs stand for non-fungible tokens, which are digital assets stored on a blockchain that can’t be copied, substituted, or changed. A blockchain is a digital ledger that securely stores and tracks transactions and assets. These tokens provide proof of ownership and validate the authenticity of digital content. NFTs also have many uses, such as digital assets in a game or collectible pieces of art.
Read more: What Is an NFT? Your Guide to Non-Fungible Tokens
How do NFT games work?
NFT games use non-fungible tokens to provide the foundation for how players interact, the rules, and how players move in the game. Users who play an NFT game might use NFTs to create a character or find, create, buy, or trade NFTs within the game to play.
Generally, developers create NFT games using smart contracts, a unique contract designed on blockchain technology. Smart contracts are coded directly into the blockchain and execute once gameplay meets a predetermined set of functions.
NFT games differ from many video games because the value of in-game assets carries over outside gaming contexts. Smart contracts shift ownership of in-game NFTs to players when they meet the requirements. Players can either continue using their NFTs in the game, take their token to another gaming platform, or sell it outside the gaming environment.
Users can play or design two types of NFT games that use NFT and blockchain technology, slightly different in their design. You can also find both features within one NFT game:
Play-to-earn NFT games
As the name suggests, play-to-earn NFT games allow players to earn money as they play the game. This type of design usually runs on “tokens,” which players earn by completing in-game tasks and achieving milestones.
In-game NFTs games
NFTs games let you earn NFTs and trade them within the game or exchange them for real-world money. This is the original way to generate income through NFT games. Examples of in-game NFTs include currency used only in:
A particular game
Avatar character skins
Weapons
Tools
Gloves
Trading cards
Pets
Other items in a game
Average time: 5 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Collaborative Working Environment, Blockchain (Database), Open Collaboration, Access Structure, Object Binding, Alcatel Business Communications, Centurylink, Base Address
Read more: What Is a Blockchain Developer (and How Do I Become One)?
Examples of NFT games
Whether you are interested in being a player, starting a career in NFT gaming, or both, familiarity with the leading games can help you feel more confident making decisions in this space. Take a look at a few examples of NFT games:
Read more: What Is Metaverse Gaming? (Career Opportunities)
Splinterlands
Splinterlands is a blockchain-based collectible card game where users build a card collection of cards with different abilities, such as camouflage, forcefield, and heal. Players can battle each other by using these cards and abilities. Splinterlands has its own coin, Splintershards, which users can collect and trade to earn money while playing. Splinterlands exploded in popularity in mid-2021, seeing an increase from 8.3k users on July 11th, 2021, to 492.13k users on October 31st, 2021, according to historical data on DappRadar [2].
Alien Worlds
Alien Worlds was the first blockchain-based game to top 100,000 users, with nearly 8 million lifetime miners [3]. In Alien Worlds, you mine for Trilium (its crypto token) in a metaverse spanning seven virtual planets. This game is a play-to-earn game in which users and you can earn Trilium by mining coins, achieving milestones, renting digital land, and battling other players. Players can take out their Trilium from the gaming environment when they want to cash out.
CryptoMines Reborn
CryptoMines Reborn is another play-to-earn NFT game set in an alternate sci-fi reality. This game is the updated version of the original, now known as CryptoMines Legacy. CryptoMines games are based on the Binance (BNB) blockchain and are designed to have players search for $CRUX, its cryptocurrency. By collecting $CRUX and exchanging it for Dark Matter, players strive to travel throughout the Reborn galaxy by collecting $CRUX, hangars, spaceships, fleets, and workers.
Axie Infinity
Axie Infinity is a popular NFT game that reached around 34k users in July 2021 and primarily uses Ethereum as its base coin [4]. For this game, users have NFTs as digital pets called Axies. Players can raise these pets, train them, battle with other players’ pets, and sell them. Users try to increase the value of their in-game pets and assets to sell to other players to make money.
Farmers World
Farmer’s World is a play-to-earn NFT game where users can build farms, buy resources, acquire tools, and create a thriving virtual ecosystem. Users can earn three in-game tokens: Food (FWW), Wood (FWF), and Gold (FWG) on the WAX blockchain. Players can exchange their tokens for other resources or sell them on the marketplace to make money.
5 NFT gaming development companies to know
| Company name | About | Job roles |
|---|---|---|
| The Nine Hertz | The NineHertz is an international game development company that creates NFT games in genres like action, racing, adventure, sports, and more. | Web designer, business analyst, content writer |
| Suffescom Solutions | This company specializes in developing high-end blockchain-based 2-D and 3-D games and has successfully developed projects delivered in over 95 countries 1. | Blockchain developer, 3-D game developer and designer, business development manager, quality analyst |
| EverdreamSoft | EverdreamSoft released its first blockchain-based game, “Spells of Genesis,” in 2017 and was the first to introduce true ownership of digital assets into gaming. | Blockchain developer, software developer and architect, community manager, project manager |
| Sky Mavis | Sky Mavis was founded in 2018 and is responsible for the design and launch of “Axie Infinity,” which is one of the most popular NFT games on the market. | Social media specialist, CRM manager, Origin UX designer, marketing coordinator |
| B2Expand | B2Expand strives to increase the availability of peer-to-peer trading and true ownership of NFTs within its games. | While it may not have job openings posted at the moment, this company is one to watch for in the future as it continues to grow. |
NFT gaming industry careers
The demand for blockchain-based NFT games and gaming systems has risen over the past year, and many exciting roles exist in the game development industry to become involved in this space. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are some projected growth rates for occupations that may be in the NFT gaming industry from 2021 to 2031:
Computer and information technology: 15% [5]
Business and finance: 7% [6]
Web developers and digital designers: 23% [7]
Game development companies are recruiting professionals to help in areas including game design and development, coding, game testing, creative roles, and more.
If you are interested in working in the NFT gaming industry, understanding the available careers can help you decide how to build your skills and increase your employment opportunities. While companies will vary in available positions and ideal candidate qualifications, here are some examples of NFT gaming companies and possible career opportunities on their teams.
NFT game industry job titles and salaries
While not a comprehensive list, some common roles and their respective annual US salaries you are likely to find within the NFT gaming industry include:
*All US salary data is sourced from Glassdoor and is updated as of February 2023.
Blockchain developer: $90,539 [8]
Game developer: $74,351 [9]
Game engineer: $85,851 [10]
PHP developer: $89,286 [11]
Magento developer: $94,937 [12]
React Native developer: $88,977 [13]
Unity developer: $69,594 [14]
UX designer: $81,282 [15]
Sound engineer: $48,862[16]
Business analyst: $76,253[17]
Financial analyst: $67,905 [18]
Quality assurance analyst: $76,149 [19]
Marketing coordinator: $48,422 [20]
Customer support specialist: $42,907 [21]
Graphic designer: $44,942 [22]
specialization
Game Design and Development with Unity 2020
Launch Your Career in Game Design and Development. Learn the theory and practice of game making using Unity 2020
4.8
BEGINNER level
Average time: 5 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Video Game Development, Unity, video game, Game Design, technology, Game Making
Skills for working in NFT gaming
For an industry as diverse as the NFT gaming industry, a mix of workplace human and technical skills is often beneficial to create high-quality products, network with global partners, and market the product to a wide audience. If you are looking at a technical position, such as an NFT game developer, you will need skills such as:
Techincal
Programming languages (C++, Java, Objective-C)
Web development (JavaScript, HTML, Solidity)
Agile software development
Game development tools (Unity, Unreal Engine)
Knowledge of blockchain technology, cryptocurrency technologies, and decentralized networks
Knowledge of virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and Web3 concepts
3D art and animation
Workplace
Critical thinking
Clear communication skills
Ability to work on tight deadlines
Problem-solving
Ability to work with diverse teams
Creativity
Resilience
Education
The educational qualifications you will need to work in NFT gaming will depend on the kind of role you are applying for. Employers often prefer a bachelor's or graduate degree for technical positions such as blockchain developers or NFT game developers. Degrees in technical fields, such as computer science or computer engineering, can help demonstrate you have the skills required to be successful in these positions. These roles typically, as they often require advanced coding and software development skills.
Additional education focused specifically on game development or blockchain technology can also help you gain familiarity with game engine environments and platforms commonly used in the NFT gaming industry.
For less technical roles, such as graphic design or business development, having educational experience related to the position—such as an MBA for business positions or a graphic design degree for artistic positions—can be beneficial to showcase your skills.
Read more: Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering: How the Jobs Differ
Certificates
Whether you’re in another industry or want to pivot into the NFT world, specializations and certificates can help demonstrate your technical knowledge and enhance your resume. Gaining a certificate can validate your skills and draw attention from hiring managers. Since this field is diverse, here are some specializations and certificates to consider:
professional certificate
Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce
This is your path to a career in digital marketing. In this program, you’ll learn in-demand skills that can have you job-ready in less than 6 months. No degree or experience required.
4.8
BEGINNER level
Average time: 6 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Marketing, E-Commerce, display advertising, Email Marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Customer loyalty, Marketing Analytics, Customer Outreach, Website Structure, Customer Awareness, Google, Search Engine Marketing, Social Listening, Social Media Bidding, Customer Engagement, Social Media Analytics, Social Media Branding, Email Writing, Email list segmentation, Email marketing strategy, Email marketing analytics, Contact management, Digital marketing KPIs, Spreadsheet management, Presenting to stakeholders, Media planning and strategies, Fulfillment and delivery, E-commerce platforms, E-Commerce Strategy, Seasonality, Job preparedness, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Portfolio preparation, E-commerce store optimization, Building customer loyalty
specialization
Engineering Project Management
Manage Successful Engineering Projects. Master strategies and tools to more effectively and successfully manage projects.
4.8
BEGINNER level
Average time: 4 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Planning, Schedule, Earned Value Management (EVMT), Project Management, Procurement, Project Charter, Project Planning, Risk Management Plan, Project Risk Management
NFT gaming portfolio
Building a portfolio of past projects and highlighting relevant experiences on your resume are great ways to potentially stand out during the application process and increase your chances of moving on to the next hiring stage. However, only some roles may benefit from having a portfolio, such as game designer, UX designer, computer programmer, and content writer.
If you don’t have relevant project experience or want to pivot to the technical aspect of the gaming industry, completing a Guided Project on Coursera may help you demonstrate your skills in applicable ways. Guided Projects such as Create Basic Behavior With C# in Unity can help you build your project experience and gain confidence using common platforms.
guided project
Create basic behavior with C# in Unity
In this 1-hour, project-based course, you will create a simple game environment and a handful of simple blocks of code called “components” and attach them ...
4.7
BEGINNER level
Average time: 1 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Unity, Video Game Development, C Sharp (C#) (Programming Language), Application development
Get started in the NFT gaming industry
From technical roles to customer service representatives, you'll find no shortage of professional directions in the NFT gaming industry. Learn more about game development, NFT design, and applications founded on blockchain technology to determine whether this is the right career path for you. Here are some courses that provide insight into different areas of this industry:
course
What is the Metaverse?
The metaverse isn’t just for gamers or developers, it will be for everyone. In this free course from the experts at Meta, you’ll learn what the metaverse ...
4.6
BEGINNER level
Average time: 1 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
NFTs, Content Creation, Game Engines, Extended Reality, Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
course
Story and Narrative Development for Video Games
In this course, you will examine how storytelling acts as a vital mechanism for driving video gameplay forward. Looking at several historical and ...
4.7
BEGINNER level
Average time: 1 month(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Interactive Storytelling, Video Game Development, Video Game Design, Game Design
Article sources
Suffescom Solutions. “About Us, https://www.suffescom.com/about-us.” Accessed January 20, 2023..
This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.
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