The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: A 2025 Retrospective and 2026 Crypto Gaming Preview

The crypto gaming landscape of 2025 was a year of stark contrasts, defined by both significant closures and promising breakthroughs. As we look ahead to 2026, the industry is poised for a new chapter, with a slate of ambitious titles—from monster-catching adventures to AI-driven MMORPGs—entering open alpha or full launch. This article breaks down the year that was and previews the most exciting games you should have on your radar for the coming year.

The State of Crypto Gaming in 2025: A Tale of Two Extremes

To understand where we’re going, we must first look at where we’ve been. The year 2025 in crypto gaming can be perfectly summarized as “the good, the bad, and the ugly.”

On the ugly side, it was a tough year marked by a significant wave of project shutdowns. A notable list circulated by analysts like tokenize360 highlighted numerous games that either ceased operations entirely or severed their Web3 integrations. This wave of closures served as a sobering reminder of the market’s volatility and the challenges facing early-stage projects.

Conversely, the good was truly glorious for many. On a personal level for content creators, the year was capped with recognitions like the 2025 Season Content Creator of the Year for Blockchain Gaming, a testament to the growing community and professional ecosystem. On a broader scale, several games broke out commercially. Titles like Gigaverse reportedly generated millions in revenue, while established names like Cambria continued to thrive with successful land sales, demonstrating that sustainable economic models are within reach.

The 2026 Lineup: Games to Watch and Play

With the lessons of 2025 in hand, the focus now shifts to an exciting pipeline of games slated for 2026. The development cycle is maturing, and the result is a more polished, diverse, and engaging roster of titles.

1. The New Contenders: Fresh Experiences Entering the Arena

Several games are making their playable debut, offering new twists on familiar genres.

• Animate: Now in open alpha and free to play on the Epic Games store, Animate is a monster-catching game that has shown considerable promise. Early testers report smooth gameplay with very few bugs. The core loop involves capturing creatures and engaging in real-time battles, with a well-designed traversal system using various tools to explore the environment. Its immediate accessibility makes it a title to try right now.
• Wilder World: This project has evolved significantly from its FPS shooter roots. It has now revealed—and made available for playtesting—a fully open world. Players can explore a visually striking cyberpunk-inspired city in either first or third person, a move that could significantly broaden its appeal. The original arena combat remains, but the open-world expansion positions it as a more ambitious, GTA-like experience within the crypto gaming space.

2. The MMORPG Revolution: AI, UGC, and Evolving Worlds

The massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is becoming a central battleground for Web3, with several heavy hitters approaching launch.

• Mirror’s Edge 5 (Mere 5): Touted as a potential landmark Web3 MMORPG, Mere 5 is generating buzz for its innovative use of technology. As highlighted by NVIDIA, the game employs machine learning AI for its boss encounters. Instead of following predictable patterns, these bosses can assess threats dynamically—for example, prioritizing an attack on a healing party member over the tank. This could revolutionize MMO combat. Building on the success of Mere 4, the game follows a crypto-native model where characters are NFTs that can be leveled up and sold.
• Avalon: Billed as an “AI-powered UGC platform,” Avalon‘s core offering appears to be a high-quality MMORPG that spans different eras. From medieval times to futuristic cyberpunk cities, the game promises diverse environments and incorporates base-building mechanics—a feature not commonly seen in traditional MMOs. The potential for user-generated content within this framework adds another layer of intrigue.
• Illuvium: After a long and highly watched development cycle, the Illuvium team is persisting with their MMO vision. In a climate where many projects have folded, their continued dedication to development is noteworthy. The community is eagerly awaiting to see if the final product delivers on its substantial promise, making its eventual launch one of the most anticipated events in crypto gaming. For those looking to get started in the space while waiting for these giants, exploring free-to-play options can be a great way to understand blockchain mechanics.

3. Established Ecosystems and Niche Favorites

Beyond the new MMORPGs, several established or specialized games continue to evolve and deserve a spot on your 2026 playlist.

• Star Atlas: This space epic continues to expand. Beyond its fun deathmatch and spaceship battle modes, new story-driven content is in development. The project stands out for its deep, dual-token (Atlas and Polis) economy that is fully integrated on-chain. Critics may debate asset origins, but the consensus among players is that the available modules are genuinely enjoyable, offering a compelling mix of combat, racing, and exploration.
• Lumitera: With its mainnet launch on the horizon, Lumitera has cultivated a dedicated following. Its charm lies in a mix of social activities—like communal fishing—and a thoughtful token economy. A unique “burning” system gates higher-level content, and a quest board offers players a choice between standard tasks and more difficult, token-rewarding missions paid in Ron.
• God’s Unchained: The OG of crypto card games remains a must-play. It combines deep, strategic gameplay with true asset ownership, allowing players to earn and trade their cards. Its availability on mobile makes it one of the most accessible and polished blockchain games on the market.
• BR1 Infinite: This shooter introduces one of the more intriguing earning mechanics: “risk-to-earn.” Players can deposit funds (starting with a small grant) into a wallet used for matches. Each elimination earns you crypto from your opponent’s pool, while each death costs you. It creates a high-stakes, skill-based environment that directly ties performance to earnings.

Rapid-Fire Round: More Titles for Your 2026 Radar

The pipeline is deep. Here are more games poised to make an impact:
– Daydreams: A vertical-style mobile game that is engaging and has a strong partnership history within the community.
– Medieval Empires: A free-to-play blockchain strategy game on the Epic Games store, powered by Immutable and Polygon.
– Decimated: A persistent open-world survival game that sees constant development and regular community events.
– Off the Grid: Already a household name in the genre, this title is a guaranteed staple for 2026.
– Axie Infinity: The original play-to-earn phenomenon continues to adapt. Recent changes to its reward system led to a significant surge in its token price, proving this ecosystem still has vitality and an engaged community watching its every move. The evolution of projects like Axie is a key part of crypto gaming’s surprising comeback, demonstrating resilience and adaptation.

Conclusion: Building on a Foundation of Contrasts

The journey from 2025 to 2026 is one of maturation. The “ugly” phase of widespread shutdowns has, unfortunately, cleared some of the weaker projects, while the “good” successes have provided a blueprint for sustainability. What emerges is a clearer picture: the future of crypto gaming lies in compelling gameplay first. The most anticipated titles for 2026—whether it’s the AI-driven bosses of Mere 5, the open-world exploration of Wilder World, or the polished strategy of God’s Unchained—are all betting on fun as their primary feature, with blockchain integration enhancing the experience rather than defining it.

For players, this means more quality options than ever before. The key takeaway is to engage with these games as games first. Explore the free alphas, participate in communities, and find the genres you love. The economic and ownership benefits are becoming bonuses to a solid core experience, which is the healthiest direction the industry could take. The stage is set for 2026 to be a year where crypto gaming truly starts to deliver on its long-held promise of blending ownership with unparalleled digital adventures.