Having more players is correlated with higher investment and eventual mainstream recognition. Even the worst MCU movies that are hated by most fans generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. The same goes for Star Wars and many other franchises. Similar things can be said about actors. Bad actors with mainstream recognition often end up generating more revenue or streaming views compared to the more unknown actors with little recognition. I'm not expecting us to reach the level of recognition acquired by Fortnite, Call of Duty, Warcraft etc. during this market cycle. We just need to be something people think of when they hear keywords such as "Web 3", "NFT", "Blockchain Gaming", "GameFi" and everything else related.
Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), CryptoPunks, Axie Infinity are few names that has reached a high level of recognition within the cryptosphere. If we can reach this level of recognition, growth in blockchain gaming will naturally funnel players and investments into what I call HIVE's 3 Headed Gaming Dragon. Being one of the dominent players in any niche is tremendously advantageous. This is why we need good marketing and it seems we have already made good first steps.
Onboarding + Conversion Rates Improved
I have been following these statistics for some time. We have seen ~3X increase in signups and ~3X increase in conversion rate (Spellbook purchases). We have a 9X better funnel at the moment mostly thanks to the recent developments in the game that included a Campaign Mode to train the new players. Everyone who has studied about marketing knows about onboarding funnels. If anyone is not clear about why the process is considered a funnel, doing some 30 minutes of research will get you upto speed with the basics.
Do You See Familiar Names
The following is the results I got when I used Brave Search to find "The Best Web 3 Games". I already recognize 3 of the names despite not spending much time learning about games outside of HIVE. Players need to know that they are going to find other players and a community that is not going to crash and disappear. Too many people blindly rely on search results and LLMs to make their decisions. Complaining about people acting more like NPCs are not going to help SPS, GLX, COLONY or any of the NFTs.
Here are some of the best Web3 games as of June 2025:
- **Gods Unchained**: A blockchain-based trading card game that gained significant attention after being listed on the Epic Games Store. It offers a unique blend of strategy and collectibility, making it a standout in the Web3 gaming space.25
- **My Pet Hooligan**: A community-driven, action-centric social game that combines various game modes, allowing players to compete, socialize, and engage in vibrant battles. It became the second Web3 game to join the Epic Games Store, highlighting its popularity and innovation.2
- **Fableborne**: An isometric, play-to-own multiplayer game that invites players on an immersive journey through the Shatterlands. It blends Action RPG and Base Building mechanics, offering a mobile-first design approach. Fableborne is currently in a closed playtest phase, accessible to a select group of players.23
- **HV-MTL Forge**: A fresh addition to the Web3 gaming scene, launched on June 29, 2023. It combines pet simulation, world-building, and dungeon crawling, challenging players to morph their mech pets into formidable EVO2 versions.2
- **Off the Grid**: A highly anticipated Battle Royale game that aims to enhance storytelling and digital ownership. Developed by Gunzilla Games, it leverages Web3 mechanics to reward players for achievements and adds a new dimension of gameplay.6
- **Shrapnel**: A modable, extraction-based AAA FPS built using Unreal Engine 5. Set in a futuristic 2044, players battle in The Zone, extracting resources and using NFTs to create content. Avalanche powers the game’s NFT economy, offering a seamless and engaging experience.6
- **Domi Online**: An MMO without a level or skill ceiling, allowing characters to grow stronger indefinitely. It features a cozy, storybook medieval aesthetic and integrates Web3 elements to enhance rewards distribution, purchasing in-game assets, and governance.6
- **Yokai Rumble**: A 1v1 strategy card game that recently launched a browser-based demo, making it accessible without the need to connect a wallet. It offers a fun and engaging experience for strategy game enthusiasts.7
- **Khuga Rumble Arena**: Known for its action-packed battles, this game is particularly enjoyable when played with friends. It provides a mix of fun and excitement, making it a popular choice among Web3 gamers.7
- **Basketballverse**: A game that gives players NBA 2K21 vibes, offering a familiar and enjoyable basketball experience with Web3 elements. It’s a great option for sports fans looking to explore the Web3 gaming space.7
These games represent a diverse range of genres and mechanics, showcasing the growing maturity and innovation in the Web3 gaming industry.
I Asked for HIVE Games
The expectation was to find some of the games we are familiar with. It makes sense to expect @splinterlands to be on top as a 7 year old game withe CEX listings and a brief period of being the #1 DAPP in the world. The real recognition we have is virtually non existing outside of our silo created in the social media aspects of HIVE.
After explicitly mentioning "blockchain", the results aligned more with expectations. Results only had 1 of 3 heads of the "dragon". Arcade Colony and Genesis League Sports are missing despite being around for many years withe backing by one of the best teams in blockchain gaming. We need to change this!
Who is Marketing COLONY Airdrop?
I have been reminding my readers about COLONY Airdrop semi frequently. I rarely see others do it. One of the main reasons to conduct an Airdrop such as this is to build brand awareness and interest. We have what is likely the longest spanning Airdrop in the history of blockchain and there is hardly any buzz about this even within HIVE. $SPS investors already get an APR above 10% on top of earning through gameplay. GLX investors (I am one of them) may stake less if COLONY Airdrop was removed.
Turn Airdrop into Onboarding
Consider what is necessary for a potential investor to become a part of @arcadecolony and/or @gls.goals. Whatever the list you come up with, @splinterlands players have already completed the most important steps. Journey from Splinterlands to Invennium is as easy as signing upto another Web 2 application. We could simply use the Airdrop as a funnel to acquire more players for Invennium projects.
More Cross Promotion is Needed
Above is an excellent example of good cross promotion. Visitors are greeted to 2 external websites within the game showcase. Simple curiosity can put them in a funnel to become investors of SPS, GLX and other assets of these games. These are low hanging fruits that are not being used enough. Let me bring you an example from Genesis League Sports created by the same company.
There was only one game featured on the website. I had to go out of my way to ask the chatbot about COLONY Airdrop to get some articles about the subjects. I will list the first 2 support articles presented.
- FAQ: GLX Airdrop for Staked SPS
- Everything You Need to Know About Arcade Colony Fork (Colony & Script Drop)
These articles did not include information regarding the ongoing Airdrop spanning 5 years. I had to go to Arcade Colony website and ask around. I found all the relavent information from the first support article recommended. This is a win for the chatbot and support team.
Article stated the following at in the second paragraph and provided a helpful table in the middle. The writing was concise while being helpful to a complete newcomer. Read for yourself.
50% of the airdrop balance will be dropped to staked SPS holders while remaining 50% of the airdrop balance will be dropped to staked GLX holders. To qualify for the SPS airdrop share, users need to have atleast 5000 SPS or more staked on Splinterlands. Similarly, to qualify for GLX airdrop share, users need to have atleast 10,000 GLX or more staked on Genesis League Sports (or Genesis League Goals).
| Year | Total Colony Airdrop | Colony for staked SPS | Colony for staked GLX |
| Year 1 | 21,024,000 COLONY | 10,512,000 COLONY | 10,512,000 COLONY |
| Year 2 | 63,072,000 COLONY | 31,536,000 COLONY | 31,536,000 COLONY |
| Year 3 | 126,144,000 COLONY | 63,072,000 COLONY | 63,072,000 COLONY |
| Year 4 | 210,240,000 COLONY | 105,120,000 COLONY | 105,120,000 COLONY |
| Year 5 | 385,239,893.208 COLONY | 192,619,946.604 COLONY | 192,619,946.604 COLONY |
| Total | 805,719,893.207 COLONY | 402,859,946.604 COLONY | 402,859,946.604 COLONY |
I Had to Already Know About COLONY Airdrop
There is nothing in any of the UIs of the 3 games that made me think that there is an ongoing Airdrop except a single hint here with no links explaining what is going on. What are the chances of a regular normie figuring out how to use the chatbot to gain more information. We have a very small playerbase for Invennium games and the conversion rates are lower than that of Splinterlands (especially after the 9X improvement over the past few months).
Actionable Intelligence
I have written a great deal now. Let me get to the essence of it in simple bullet points. These are low hanging fruits.
- Add more links between the games for cross promotion.
- Give more hints about COLONY Airdrop.
- Use Splinterlands as the beginning of the Invennium funnel (for now).