What are NFT card games?

Written by Sankrit K

Reviewed by Brady Werkheiser

Published on March 29, 20235 min read

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NFTs use blockchain technology for ownership verification, authentication, and provenance tracking, enabling the blend between the physical and digital worlds. As such, NFT card games now offer players a new level of immersion, NFT interactivity, and collectability.

In this article, we will explore the basics of NFT card games, how they work, learn some examples, learn important things to know before playing, and how to start playing them.

What are NFT card games?

NFT card games are NFT gaming niche that use cards as NFTs to track ownership and provide a provable scarcity of cards. The NFTs can also be traded, exchanged, and sold as digital assets via NFT marketplaces.

Unlike traditional trading card games printed on cardboard or paper, NFT cards can be managed as digital tokens on a blockchain network. This uniqueness as NFTs means the cards can be digitally traded, sold, and exchanged.

How do NFT card games work?

NFT card games use blockchain technology to create unique, one-of-a-kind virtual cards that can be collected, traded, and used in gameplay.

To start playing, players will typically need to have a cryptocurrency wallet compatible with the blockchain platform used by the game. This wallet is used to store the player's NFT cards and make transactions such as buying new NFTs or trading with other players.

Each NFT card is unique and represents an asset on the blockchain. The blockchain acts as a distributed ledger that stores the ownership and attributes of each NFT card. Smart contracts are used to manage the NFTs within the game. Smart contracts are self-executing computer programs that define the rules and logic of how NFTs are created, traded, and used within the game. For example, a smart contract might specify the attributes of an NFT card, such as its rarity, power level, and special abilities.

One thing to note is that the media file itself (JPEG, PNG, PDF, etc., representing the NFT) is usually not stored on the blockchain due to limited block size. instead, these are stored off-chain on centralized servers like AWS or decentralized storage solutions like IPFS.

In the game, players can view, collect, and trade NFT cards through a user interface. This interface interacts with the blockchain through APIs to verify the authenticity and ownership of NFT cards and execute transactions such as trades or purchases of new NFTs.

When a player collects an NFT card, the card's ownership record is etched permanently in the blockchain's distributed ledger, and the player becomes the sole owner of that NFT.

Players can then trade, sell, or use the NFT card within the game as they see fit, with the ownership and provenance of the card securely recorded on the blockchain. The attributes and rarity of each NFT card can also affect gameplay, as some cards may have special abilities or higher power levels that can give players an advantage.

NFT Card Game Examples

There are a few notable NFT card games already in the market today, mostly on the Ethereum blockchain. Here are some popular examples players can start with:

1. Sorare

Sorare is a blockchain-based fantasy soccer game that allows players to collect and trade unique, one-of-a-kind digital player cards featuring some of the biggest names in soccer. Each card is an NFT on the Ethereum blockchain.

Gameplay

In Sorare, players can collect digital player cards, build their own teams, and compete in various online tournaments. The game uses a scoring system based on the real-life performance of the players featured on the cards, so the better the players perform in real life, the higher the score of the card in the game.

Cards

Sorare has a wide variety of cards available, ranging from "Limited" to "Unique." The rarest cards are the Unique cards, which are limited to just one copy of each card. By collecting and trading these cards, players can make a profit in the game.

2. Gods Unchained

Gods Unchained is a free-to-play, digital collectible card game that is built on top of ImmutableX, a Layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum. In Gods Unchained, players collect, trade, and use unique digital cards featuring powerful gods, heroes, and creatures from a rich fantasy world.

Gameplay

In Gods Unchained, players build decks of cards and use them to battle against other players in fast-paced, turn-based games. The game features a wide variety of cards with different abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, providing players with a high degree of strategic depth and replayability.

Cards

Cards in Gods Unchained range from Common to Mythic. The rarest cards are the Mythic cards, which feature special abilities and powers that make them incredibly powerful. Players can give themselves a massive advantage in the game by collecting, trading, and using these Mythic cards.

3. Blockchain Cuties Universe

Blockchain Cuties Universe is an adventure game where players can collect, breed, and battle unique digital creatures called Blockchain Cuties, which are NFTs. This is the first game to offer interoperable gameplay. Players can play the game on Ethereum, TRON, EOS, and NEO blockchains.

Gameplay

In Blockchain Cuties Universe, players go on adventures with their Cutie, completing quests and participating in battles. The game also features a variety of mini-games that allow players to earn rewards, such as new Cuties or special items.

Cards

Blockchain Cuties come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from cats to dragons. They are of three types; Regular, Tribute, and Unique. The rarest Cuties are often the most powerful.

NFT Card Marketplaces

NFT card marketplaces are NFT marketplaces where players can buy, sell, and trade NFT cards with other players. Not only can they be used to buy and sell cards, but these marketplaces also provide an opportunity for players to connect with each other and build relationships.

Best NFT Card Game Marketplaces

There are many NFT marketplaces to trade gaming NFTs, and some of the most popular NFT marketplaces include:

1. OpenSea

2. Sorare Marketplace

3. Blockchain Cuties Universe Marketplace

4. ImmutableX Marketplace

5. DTTD

6. NBA Top Shot

How can I buy NFT Trading cards?

When buying NFT trading cards, there are simple steps first-time players can take to purchase one.

Steps to buy an NFT trading card:

1. Create a digital wallet (e.g. MetaMask)

2. Buy some cryptocurrency, such as Ethereum

3. Search for the card of interest or browse until a desired one is found

4. Connect a wallet to the chosen marketplace 

5. Authorize a transaction to buy the NFT at the listed price

6. Receive the NFT trading card in your cryptocurrency wallet

How do NFT card game players make money?

There are a number of ways NFT card game players can make money through playing games including trading in-game assets and hosting tournaments.

1. Trading In-Game Assets

One of the most straightforward ways for NFT card game players to make money is by selling in-game assets in exchange for cryptocurrency.

Similar to physical trading card games, the value of NFT cards is influenced by various factors such as rarity, popularity, and power level. This can lead to a vibrant market for NFT card trading, where players can buy and sell NFT cards for a profit.

Further, since NFTs do not rely on intermediaries, trading these assets is safe, trustless, and fast.

2. Playing NFT Card Game Tournaments and Special Events

Playing in tournaments and special events are an excellent way for NFT card game players to use their skills to win prize pool money.

Players can organize and host tournaments in their own games, charging fees for participation, or participating in marketing events where game developers may offer cash prizes to the winners.

3. Earn Money from Airdrops

Players can also earn money by receiving airdrops. For example, TreasureDAO is a game on Arbitrum, and during the Arbitrum's token airdrop, the TreasureDAO community received 8 million $ARM tokens.

4. Renting NFTs

Renting NFTs is a relatively new possibility for web3 gamers where they can lend an NFT to another player, and that player can use the NFT to access private communities, or unlock new areas of a the game. In this scenario, the NFT owner will receive interest payments from the renter, while they're lending their assets.

Start Playing NFT Card Games

Researching NFT card games can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, it can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

By researching each game's community, economics, and gameplay mechanics, players can identify the best NFT card games for themselves.