In the last few years, onchain gaming has exploded onto the Web3 scene, promising decentralized ownership, player-driven economies, and revolutionary gameplay models. Yet despite the hype, most onchain games struggle to survive longer than a few months. Why? Let’s break down the biggest problems holding this space back — and what it will take to build sustainable, thriving blockchain games.

Most onchain games launch with inflationary reward loops: players farm tokens, mint NFTs, and stake assets to earn more — but without meaningful sinks (burn mechanisms) or true value recycling. This creates runaway inflation, collapsing the token’s value and leaving players holding worthless assets.

The fix:
Games need balanced, deflationary economies where earning and spending create tension. This means designing smart burn mechanics, crafting systems, upgrades, and limited-supply events that recycle value and control supply growth.

Many onchain games rely on idle staking or simple click-to-earn models, focusing more on financial speculation than fun. Players quickly lose interest when the only goal is to farm and cash out.

The fix:
Shift the focus to engaging, strategic gameplay — PvP battles, alliances, tactics, decision-making — where onchain assets amplify the experience rather than replace it. Blockchain should enhance the game, not be the game.

Onchain systems are open by nature, but this exposes them to bots, multi-accounting, and Sybil attacks. Many games suffer from users exploiting airdrops, referral programs, or reward pools by spinning up endless wallets.

The fix:
Projects must implement Sybil resistance: wallet verification, social graph checks, proof-of-play, or reputation systems that ensure rewards go to real, engaged players — not farms of empty wallets.

Successful games thrive not just on mechanics, but on story, world-building, and community identity. Too many blockchain games focus solely on tokenomics, ignoring the emotional and cultural hooks that keep players invested long-term.

The fix:
Invest in rich lore, social spaces, and player-driven narratives. Let players form factions, write histories, and create social bonds that turn a game into a living world — something worth belonging to, beyond just financial gains.

Blockchain tech can be clunky: wallet connections, network fees, bridging, and private key management scare away many potential players. Games that force users through complex DeFi steps just to play will lose momentum fast.

The fix:
Simplify onboarding. Use account abstraction, gasless transactions, custodial wallets, or fiat-friendly onramps to make entering the game as smooth as a Web2 login. Let players dive into the fun first, then explore the Web3 layers.

In the last few years, onchain gaming has exploded onto the Web3 scene, promising decentralized ownership, player-driven economies, and revolutionary gameplay models. Yet despite the hype, most onchain games struggle to survive longer than a few months. Why? Let’s break down the biggest problems holding this space back — and what it will take to build sustainable, thriving blockchain games.

Most onchain games launch with inflationary reward loops: players farm tokens, mint NFTs, and stake assets to earn more — but without meaningful sinks (burn mechanisms) or true value recycling. This creates runaway inflation, collapsing the token’s value and leaving players holding worthless assets.

The fix:
Games need balanced, deflationary economies where earning and spending create tension. This means designing smart burn mechanics, crafting systems, upgrades, and limited-supply events that recycle value and control supply growth.

Many onchain games rely on idle staking or simple click-to-earn models, focusing more on financial speculation than fun. Players quickly lose interest when the only goal is to farm and cash out.

The fix:
Shift the focus to engaging, strategic gameplay — PvP battles, alliances, tactics, decision-making — where onchain assets amplify the experience rather than replace it. Blockchain should enhance the game, not be the game.

Onchain systems are open by nature, but this exposes them to bots, multi-accounting, and Sybil attacks. Many games suffer from users exploiting airdrops, referral programs, or reward pools by spinning up endless wallets.

The fix:
Projects must implement Sybil resistance: wallet verification, social graph checks, proof-of-play, or reputation systems that ensure rewards go to real, engaged players — not farms of empty wallets.

Successful games thrive not just on mechanics, but on story, world-building, and community identity. Too many blockchain games focus solely on tokenomics, ignoring the emotional and cultural hooks that keep players invested long-term.

The fix:
Invest in rich lore, social spaces, and player-driven narratives. Let players form factions, write histories, and create social bonds that turn a game into a living world — something worth belonging to, beyond just financial gains.

Blockchain tech can be clunky: wallet connections, network fees, bridging, and private key management scare away many potential players. Games that force users through complex DeFi steps just to play will lose momentum fast.

The fix:
Simplify onboarding. Use account abstraction, gasless transactions, custodial wallets, or fiat-friendly onramps to make entering the game as smooth as a Web2 login. Let players dive into the fun first, then explore the Web3 layers.