Today, the cryptocurrency market offers a wide range of ways through which people can earn tokens. Whether it's through regular investing, staking, slot auctions, or similar, you'll usually find that the process of earning crypto is often pretty dull.

But what if you could earn crypto through gaming? No, it's not a scam. You can actually earn digital assets through play to earn crypto games. But what exactly are these, and which ones are the best? Let's find out.

What Are Play to Earn Crypto Games?

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As the name suggests, play-to-earn (or P2E) crypto games involve earning some form of cryptocurrency by playing games. These usually include making in-game currency by carrying out quests, winning battles, and completing other kinds of challenges. You can typically exchange this in-game currency for Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another token on a decentralized exchange.

Sometimes you can get started for free, but sometimes you need to make an initial investment (which could be considered the "catch").

Read More: What Is Crypto Gaming and Is It Worth Playing?

The funds earned by playing these games can either be transferred into a cryptocurrency wallet or used to buy other in-game items. You can also use them to buy NFTs or non-fungible tokens. In some cases, NFTs are the in-game currency. This means that players can claim ownership of in-game items and sell or trade them.

The financial benefits of these games are a huge incentive for players, which is why the P2E industry is growing so rapidly. Such projects come under an umbrella known as GameFi, the combination of gaming and decentralized finance (or DeFi).

The Best Play to Earn Crypto Games Right Now

Now that you know that play-to-earn crypto games are a big step forward for crypto enthusiasts, which ones, in particular, are the best?

Of course, the answer to this may be subjective, as different individuals enjoy different kinds of games. But, we've put together a list of P2E crypto games that are fun to play and ensure you earn digital assets.

1. Axie Infinity

axie infinity website homepage screenshot

Axie Infinity is one of the most popular play-to-earn crypto games out there today. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that Axie Infinity's in-game currency, Smooth Love Potion (or SLP), can be converted into cash. The game also has another token, known as Axie Infinity Token (AXS).

Axie Infinity consists of two modes: adventure mode and battle mode. The adventure mode involves carrying out tasks and completing missions, while the battle mode involves fighting against opponents.

Within the Axie Infinity universe, you can also farm form to create SLP and then sell it within the game. On top of this, you can create your own characters with which you can win battles (called Axies) and earn AXS is earned by competing in the PVP (or player vs. player) leaderboard. Axies themselves can also sell for a lot of money and have their own marketplace in this sense.

In short, Axie Infinity has a complex ecosystem and economy, so it'll probably take a few hours playing it to truly understand how everything works.

2. Plant vs. Undead

plant vs undead game

Plant vs. Undead is a great game if you're not hugely into non-stop combat. This game focuses on farming, where you produce Light Energy, or LE, to advance further. Light Energy is the in-game currency of Plant vs. Undead, which you can convert into the official Plant vs. Undead (or PVU) tokens. You can then trade them in various decentralized exchanges.

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There are also plant NFTs you can gain and sell for a profit, though the value of each NFT varies depending on its rarity.

Plant vs. Undead has a combat element, as you have to defend your farm and hence your precious plants, but this is by no means the game's primary purpose. Instead, you'll find yourself harvesting seeds, maintaining your farm, and carrying out quests more than anything else.

3. Battle of Guardians

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Battle of Guardians is the first real-time multiplayer NFT platform. This sci-fi-themed game, developed by Unreal Engine, involves three character types; humans, demons, and guardians, and has an exciting storyline incorporating technology, portals, and much more. The game also has multiple playing modes, including arena mode, story mode, and tournament mode, all of which consist of different challenges.

The main way players can earn money through Battle of Guardians is with NFTs. As you progress through the game, you can earn more and more rewards, but you'll come across an entry fee if you want to play in a tournament. Battle of Guardians also has its official marketplace, where you can exchange NFT characters with other players or even sell them.

However, Battle of Guardians also has two kinds of in-game currency: Battle of Guardians Share (BGS) and Fighting Points (FP). They both have different functions, but you can stake either to earn rewards.

4. MetaWars

metwars website homepage screenshot

MetaWars is an exciting multiplayer sci-fi-themed game set in the future. Launched in October 2021 on the BNB Smart Chain (or Binance Smart Chain), this P2E game combines space exploration with combat and offers a user-controlled in-game economy. You can also form space fleets and even own and upgrade your robots.

Related: How to Pay With Crypto on Amazon

You can earn the game's native token, WARS, by winning battles and completing challenges. You can even stake WARS and use it to take part in auctions and in-game governance. Additionally, you can buy NFTs in the game's auctions, which you can then trade with other players to make a profit.

MetaWars also has a secondary token called Gamma (or GAM), which acts as the game's primary reward token. However, it's worth noting that both these currencies have a pretty low value and market cap at the moment.

5. DeFi Kingdoms

defi kingdoms website homepage screenshot

DeFi Kingdoms is an exciting P2E crypto game that began as a decentralized exchange. And while it still features a DEX, the game itself is now becoming globally popular, too. It's essentially an NFT asset platform turned fantasy game, wherein you can gain liquidity by staking its in-game currency, JEWEL. You can also purchase interactive NFT heroes within the game and sell them for a profit.

Related: Why Steam Has Banned NFTs—But Epic Wants Your Crypto

Within DeFi Kingdoms, you can buy plots of land and build upon them to create your own vast kingdoms. There are two ways to stake your JEWEL in DeFi Kingdoms: in the garden or the bank. The bank is a single staking pool and is generally the safest of the two options. On the other hand, the garden provides you with plots of land proportional to the share you've provided to the game, which you can then develop to gain liquidity.

You can also take part in player tournaments using your heroes, through which you can defend your land from other players. Though you can play the game right now, it's still in active development and improved upon, and there are more exciting features to be added in the coming months.

P2E Crypto Games Could Have A Promising Future in The Industry

P2E crypto games, and GameFi in general, are gearing up to become an exciting element of the decentralized ecosystem. They may one day become some of the most popular games out there, with their intriguing developments and attractive financial incentives. Time will tell whether P2E games gain a long-term footing, but that would certainly seem to be the outcome right now.