{
  "id": 7809484,
  "title": "Can a Blockchain Game Exist Without Coins, NFTs, or Play-to-Earn?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/can-a-blockchain-game-exist-without-coins-nfts-or-play-to-earn",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-16T15:06:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/badjoke-lab/can-a-blockchain-game-exist-without-coins-nfts-or-play-to-earn-2713"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent announcement on X caught my attention regarding a new blockchain game. Curiosity piqued by the reactions it garnered, I began to ponder the essence of a blockchain game. Traditionally, these games often involve a coin or token, NFTs, a marketplace, and sometimes a Play-to-Earn system. However, the order of these elements may not always make logical sense. Instead of starting with a game that requires blockchain to function, we often see coins and NFTs integrated first, with the game serving merely as a platform for their use.\n\nThis led me to question whether the game truly needs the blockchain. Owning characters, trading items, creating scarce assets, receiving rewards for play, and transferring characters to other players could all be accomplished through a conventional server and database. Similarly, the concept of Play-to-Earn does not inherently necessitate blockchain. Therefore, I started contemplating whether there exist blockchain games where removing the blockchain would fundamentally alter or break the game.\n\nTo explore this idea, I began by considering the blockchain and game components separately. Could a game be designed such that removing the blockchain would also remove an essential aspect of the game itself? My approach involves starting from scratch, stripping away the common blockchain-associated elements like coins, NFTs, Play-to-Earn, and marketplaces. By focusing solely on the blockchain and its integration with gaming, I aim to discover if a game can genuinely benefit from blockchain technology in a meaningful way.\n\nThis exploration is not merely a critique of the prevailing understanding of blockchain games. Rather, it is an attempt to design a game from an alternative perspective, questioning whether a game can function effectively without the blockchain. The initial challenge is to conceptualize a game that inherently requires blockchain for its functionality. I am committed to documenting this process, including both successful and unsuccessful ideas.\n\nThe ultimate question remains: is there any game that cannot be effectively replaced by a traditional database? As I delve deeper into this inquiry, the goal is to uncover whether blockchain technology truly adds value to certain types of games or if its integration is merely a conventional practice rather than a necessity.",
  "summary": "Recently, I saw an announcement on X about a new blockchain game. I wasn't particularly interested in that project itself. What caught my attention was the reaction to it. There have already been a lot of blockchain games. Some have shut down, while others seem much quieter than they once were. So when another new blockchain game appeared, many of the reactions I saw were fairly cynical.…",
  "key_points": [
    "Blockchain games often rely on coins, NFTs, marketplaces, Play-to-Earn systems.",
    "Essential game elements could exist on traditional server and database.",
    "Removing blockchain might fundamentally alter or break certain games."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}