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<p>Pudgy Party is one of the latest additions to the Pudgy Penguins ecosystem, and the party game quickly rose to fame following its&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/pudgy-penguins-pudgy-party-game-launches-globally-on-mobile">global launch on mobile in September 2025</a>. The game is free-to-play and also features optional Web3 elements, which may lead players to wonder whether Pudgy Party is truly a play-to-earn game.&nbsp;</p><p>In our&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/games/pudgy-party/editorial-reviews">Pudgy Party review</a>, the game did an excellent job of teaching us the ropes before we were aware of any blockchain-related features. Those come in later as players progress and unlock cosmetics, skins, etc.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h2>Does Pudgy Party have play-to-earn features?&nbsp;</h2><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:58.06%;"><img src="https://assets.funjible.games/pudgy_party_play_to_earn_2_257ed4c978.jpg" alt="Pudgy Party play to earn screenshot" srcset="https://assets.funjible.games/pudgy_party_play_to_earn_2_257ed4c978.jpg 226w, https://assets.funjible.games/pudgy_party_play_to_earn_2_257ed4c978.jpg 500w" sizes="100vw"></figure><p>Yes, Pudgy Party does include play-to-earn elements. The play-to-earn layer comes from skins and cosmetics that can be upgraded and minted as NFTs, which are then tradable on the&nbsp;<a href="https://mythical.market/game/pudgy-party">Mythical Marketplace</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>On a technical level, Pudgy Party players can make money by grinding high-value skins. However, it’s not as straightforward as simply playing matches. Players first need to get familiar with the minting mechanics in the game and identify the best skins to upgrade with talismans to get the most value out of the NFT transitions.&nbsp;</p><p>The earning potential in Pudgy Party exists, but it’s best treated as a side benefit. NFT floor prices can fluctuate heavily throughout the year depending on supply and demand, so the earning potential in Pudgy Party may vary significantly over time.</p><p>Besides the play-to-earn aspects, Pudgy Party has also been delivering in terms of&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/pudgy-penguins-pudgy-party-gets-quick-patches-post-launch">content patches</a> and collaborations with other major players. Most recently,&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/ygg-and-pudgy-penguins-launch-Pengu-Wonderland-LOL-Land">Pudgy Penguins and YGG teamed up to launch the Pengu Wonderland in LOL Land to</a> increase the NFT collection’s visibility even further within the gaming space.</p><div class="raw-html-embed">
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This cute penguin-filled party game has more to offer on the blockchain.

Is Pudgy Party Play-to-Earn? Explained

<p>The blockchain technology became more accessible over the years and play-to-earn games aren't just experiments anymore. There are plenty of GameFi projects that reward players for their skill, strategy, and time investments.</p><p>Play-to-earn (P2E) games generally have economies that reward players for their participation. This isn't a new concept either. Games like World of Warcraft (WoW ) have sustainable marketplaces. Blizzard even introduced WoW Tokens, which allowed players to convert their in-game gold into gametime, or Battle.net credits, basically creating a play-to-earn loop.</p><p>Web3 games have a chance to improve upon the Web2 attempts with real-asset ownership through NFTs and living economies via on-chain trading systems and token-based marketplaces.</p><p>There are plenty of games which have been delivering in-terms of play-to-earn potential and our list features ten of the most promising and polished of them. Here are the best play-to-earn games you can start playing right now.</p><h2><strong>1. Pixels</strong></h2><p>Pixels is a cozy and also a complex farming/exploration game. The game’s iconic pixel art is backed by blockchain capabilities and there are plenty of play-to-earn opportunities in this vibrant world as you continue to socialize with other players. In the process, you can gather resources, master skills like cooking, and also complete quests to learn more about the game’s lore.</p><p>Pixels is free-to-play from the start, but players can unlock more content by purchasing a VIP pass. Pixels developers have also been working toward making the $PIXEL token more universal. For example, a new partnership brings the Pixels token to Forgotten Runiverse and the game frequently launches new events with rewards, which are also excellent play-to-earn opportunities.</p><h2><strong>2. Sunflower Land</strong></h2><div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1. Complete Deliveries 🤝<br>2. Earn Horseshoes 🐴<br>3. Exchange for NFTs 🛍️<br><br>It is time to head to the plaza! 🏃‍♀️ <a href="https://t.co/HvBa8PGNb4">pic.twitter.com/HvBa8PGNb4</a></p>— Sunflower Land (@0xSunflowerLand) <a href="https://twitter.com/0xSunflowerLand/status/1853958730024706302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><p>Sunflower Land is a warm Web3 farming simulator. Inside the game, you can grow your personal farm while managing your resources, experiment with crafting, and explore the game’s cute world. If you had previously played Stardew Valley, you may feel right at home since the two share similar vibes.</p><p>Starting your farm in Sunflower Land is simple since you can simply log in with a crypto wallet, or a more user-friendly login feature. You’ll learn to manage your island, cook meals, raise animals, and complete deliveries, once you’re in.</p><p>In 2025, Sunflower Land introduced the <a href="https://www.funjible.games/news/sunflower-land-to-introduce-flower-token-and-co-op-farming"><mark class="marker-yellow">$FLOWER token alongside dynamic quests</mark></a>, and a "Promote-to-Earn" model where players can earn by driving traffic to their farms. Sunflower Land aims to continue its community-first approach as its roadmap is filled with multi-chain support, more NFTs, and Telegram-based mini-games.</p><h2><strong>3. The Sandbox</strong></h2><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8iF-Or5eURk?si=ttZsxgv-OG9GF-Xp" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>The Sandbox’s roots date back to 2012. The platform evolved into a decentralized universe throughout its time and user-generated content continues to be the game’s main attraction. <a href="https://funjible.games/games/The-Sandbox">The Sandbox</a> empowers players of all skill levels to build and share in the metaverse.</p><p>Famous IP and brands entered the Sandbox, including <a href="https://funjible.games/news/the-sandbox-brings-bruce-lee-legacy-to-the-metaverse">Bruce Lee</a>. The creativity driven gameplay experience is fueled by the $SAND token, which can be earned through completing seasonal quests, participating in community events, or entering contests. The Sandbox is also a pioneer in the Web3 gaming space as it has a long history of <a href="https://funjible.games/news/the-sandbox-alpha-season-5-brings-jurassic-park-adventures">partnering big large IPs, like the Jurassic Park</a>.</p><h2><strong>4. Pirate Nation</strong></h2><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ELt6o7Ln5k0?si=cY453KSysoRB9LMF" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p><a href="https://funjible.games/news/pirate-nation-launches-pv-p-event-with-10-m-pirate-in-rewards">Pirate Nation</a> is a Web3 RPG where you become the captain of your crew and set sail into the high seas. The waters are dangerous, though, since there will be other players looking for gold and adventures.</p><p>The core gameplay loop of Pirate Nation slowly introduces you to building your own crew and other mechanics like crafting ships, and completing quests. When it comes to combat mechanics, the game compliments the experience with deck-building mechanics. The card-based combat system allows you to build strategies around your pirate ship and carefully crafted decks.</p><h2><strong>5. Axie Infinity</strong></h2><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X2z_YIeettE?si=-0zsUlM26L3Knn2d" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Axie Infinity is one of the most known Web3 games around the world. The turn-based strategy game evolved into an ecosystem since its initial release. While there are plenty of new games under Axie’s roof, <a href="https://funjible.games/games/Axie-Infinity-Origins">Axie Infinity Origins is</a> the place to be for that original experience. The game features an engaging combat system and also seasonal competitions with $AXS and NFT rewards.</p><p>Playing an Axie game has become easier over the years too with integrations like <a href="https://www.funjible.games/news/axie-infinity-introduces-keyless-wallets-with-ronin-waypoint">Keyless Wallets, thanks to Ronin Waypoint</a>. In addition to PvP battles and seasonal play, the game’s economy includes crafting, and breeding Axies.</p><h2><strong>6. Fishing Frenzy</strong></h2><div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">5 new pets joined our Frenzy world to celebrate the Ronin ecosystem<br><br>Ronke. Kanstar. Kongz. Jin. And the legendary Katana Doge.<br><br>Unlock each one with Scales you earn from your catches<br><br>You have only until May 8. <a href="https://t.co/W3gM61dBn3">pic.twitter.com/W3gM61dBn3</a></p>— Fishing Frenzy (@FishingFrenzyCo) <a href="https://twitter.com/FishingFrenzyCo/status/1916311446839005227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><p>Fishing Frenzy is a fishing RPG with a player-driven economy on the <a href="https://funjible.games/news/fishing-frenzy-moves-to-ronin-network">Ronin Network</a>. The game starts simple enough, you’ll find yourself reeling in fish with tap and hold mechanics, which rewards timing. Over time, you’ll upgrade your tools and start catching rarer fish, while climbing up the leaderboard.</p><p>Fishing Frenzy originally started as a Telegram-native mini-game, but the game quickly became a standalone product. From <a href="https://funjible.games/news/fishing-frenzy-introduces-founders-nft-collection-on-ronin">NFT collections</a> to offering <a href="https://funjible.games/news/fishing-frenzy-returns-after-exploit-offers-rewards">various rewards</a>, Fishing Frenzy devs are also quite active, which positively impacts the overall gameplay experience.</p><h2><strong>7. My Neighbor Alice</strong></h2><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9JJMfCHNmi8?si=aMzMs8XngT1KPNq5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p><a href="https://funjible.games/games/My-Neighbor-Alice">My Neighbor Alice</a> is the Web3 branch of Animal Crossing. This relaxing social simulation game gives players a chance to decorate their land plots, complete various quests around the town, and get lost in a sea of customization options. Activities in the game also include farming, fishing, and crafting.</p><p>In 2025, MNA also decided to refine its in-game economic system by introducing a secondary currency to the game, $BJORN. This token aims to make the game more accessible as it allows new players to unlock previously locked features in the game without making any purchases.</p><h2><br><strong>8. Big Time</strong></h2><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qb9vNjcfbA8?si=YQcYKIjv3a33-M4X" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Big Time is a Web3 action RPG. Inside the game, you can explore dungeons, fight challenging enemies, and also check out varying classes. You also get to customize your personal space in Big Time while the $BIGTIME token remains at the heart of the core gameplay loop.</p><p><a href="https://funjible.games/news/big-time-reveals-exciting-q1-2025-roadmap-with-major-updates">Big Time’s roadmap still includes major updates</a>, but the game still feels quite robust. Considering World of Warcraft’s in-game economics, MMORPGs could extract a lot of value from the blockchain technology, which makes Big Time an exciting candidate to track.</p><h2><strong>9. Forgotten Runiverse</strong></h2><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jrNrVNtvvYs?si=b1jGD74RFDhZX5BA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Forgotten Runiverse is an MMORPG with pixelated touch. Like most MMOs, Forgotten Runiverse combines PvE experiences with competitive PvP leagues. The overall progression mechanics in the game revolve around crafting. Materials required for crafting can be earned in combat.</p><p>Forgotten Runiverse is also the first game to add $PIXEL token support. This means that the game chose to become a part of an ecosystem that is considered one of the most active and populated ones in the Web3 space. Depending on how the integration goes, Forgotten Runiverse could see more support in terms of player numbers from the Pixels universe.</p><h2><strong>10. Treeverse</strong></h2><div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Treeverse Season 1 relaunch is now LIVE!<br><br>21 days and 2.76% of <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24END&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$END</a>; <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24IMX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$IMX</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24MON&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$MON</a> in rewards.<br><br>Distributed in 3 categories prioritizing highly skilled players 🧵 <a href="https://t.co/9KTdsSjgCP">pic.twitter.com/9KTdsSjgCP</a></p>— Treeverse (@TheTreeverse) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheTreeverse/status/1916461839136784803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><p>Treeverse improves upon the MMO formula with a sandbox-style. When you start playing the game, you’ll first need to craft yourself weapons while getting familiar with various resources before you can hop onto dungeons.</p><p>Crafting is a core part of the game and each boss and dungeon can net you some valuable materials, which you can turn into more useful tools. Treeverse is also relatively simple to onboard since you can start playing the game almost immediately with an Immutable Passport. Considering the Immutable blockchain set its eyes on a massive expansion plan in 2025, features like the Passport greatly contribute to its cause by simplifying onboarding processes.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

10 games that reward time, kill, and, strategy


Top 10 Play-to-Earn Games in 2025

<p>The TON blockchain has introduced TON Pay on Feb. 9. This payment software development kit aims to standardize cryptocurrency transactions across the Telegram ecosystem, starting with the Mini Apps and<a href="https://funjible.games/news/best-telegram-games">&nbsp;Telegram Games</a>.</p><p>TON has been impressing both its native users and Web3 participants with user-friendly updates that even shaped the<a href="https://funjible.games/news/funjible-games-report-2025-crypto-gaming-trends">&nbsp;crypto gaming trends</a>. TON Pay operates as a protocol layer, and it processes transactions directly on the TON blockchain.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ALERT: Surge Nova is finally HERE! ⚡️ <br><br>→ Brand new game mode <br>→ Absolutely stacked rewards <br><br>SWIPE. PREDICT. WIN! <br><br>Get in there NOW! 🚀👇<a href="https://twitter.com/Altcoinbuzzio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Altcoinbuzzio</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FunjibleGames?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FunjibleGames</a> <a href="https://t.co/Lr8r1Cpce9">pic.twitter.com/Lr8r1Cpce9</a></p>— Surge (@WeSurgeNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/WeSurgeNow/status/2020865365585138155?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Dapps and Web3 games have a long history of suffering from fragmentation when it comes to payments, and TON Pay aims to solve this by providing developers with a single integration point.</p><p>TON Pay supports all major TON wallets through TON Connect. For Web3 gaming developers, TON Play’s speed and cost structure could enable in-game purchases and reward systems that don't interrupt gameplay.</p><h2>It’s Quiz Time in Surge Land</h2><div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ALERT: Surge Nova is finally HERE! ⚡️ <br><br>→ Brand new game mode <br>→ Absolutely stacked rewards <br><br>SWIPE. PREDICT. WIN! <br><br>Get in there NOW! 🚀👇<a href="https://twitter.com/Altcoinbuzzio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Altcoinbuzzio</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FunjibleGames?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FunjibleGames</a> <a href="https://t.co/Lr8r1Cpce9">pic.twitter.com/Lr8r1Cpce9</a></p>— Surge (@WeSurgeNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/WeSurgeNow/status/2020865365585138155?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>On the other hand, Surge, a prediction-based game on Telegram, has rolled out Surge Nova. This new quiz mode layers trivia questions onto the platform's existing price-prediction-focused gameplay.</p><p>The mode starts with simpler questions and ramps up in difficulty as players progress. The quiz format also offers in-game currency rewards, including gold for correct answers.</p><p>Telegram games, like Surge, are likely to benefit from TON Pay, which streamlines in-game purchases for both players and developers. TON has opened early access applications for TON Pay, and feedback from this initial group will likely shape how the payment layers evolve into their final form.</p><p><a href="https://funjible.games/news/pixels-founder-says-web3-gamings-core-values-were-wrong">With Web3 game founders' evaluation of GameFi’s core values</a> these days, solutions like TON Pay can start showing their real impact down the line when titles in the space capture more player attention with robust gameplay mechanics. One such example in this regard has been<a href="https://funjible.games/games/anichess">&nbsp;Anichess</a>, which even got to partner with<a href="https://funjible.games/news/team-secret-join-checkmate-eco-with-nfts-and-check-integration">&nbsp;Team Secret, an esports team, that joined the game’s Checkmate Ecosystem</a>. Team Secret and many other esports organizations are set to participate in the<a href="https://funjible.games/news/esports-world-cup-2026-seventy-five-million-dollar-prize-pool">&nbsp;Esports World Cup 2026, which has a total prize pool of $75 million</a>.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjOvFbxJpxg?si=CerJLlMAEE_tzm6l" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

TON ecosystem debuts standardized crypto payments, while the telegram game Surge adds a new quiz-based mode named Nova.

Telegram Launches TON Pay as SURGE rolls out new game mode

<p>There are many games within the Ronin ecosystem but two games have been holding the fort lately, and those are Fishing Frenzy &amp; Pixels, which both rolled new updates in the second week of Feb.</p><p><a href="https://funjible.games/games/Pixels">Pixels</a>, the cozy farming simulator of Ronin, launched the "Heidi's Birthday Bake" event this week. As a part of the update, players must bake a cake and identify the real Heidi among a crowd of duplicates. This quest will be live until Feb. 13 and the rewards include a lemon teddy bear and pink heart sofa.</p><p>Pixels devs also shared more details inside their&nbsp;<a href="https://pixelspost.substack.com/p/new-event-heidis-birthday-bake">Heidi’s Birthday Bake Substack post</a>. One notable change was also to the resource-drop mechanics, with mines now only yielding materials for their own tier. Higher-level players will be able to get bigger drops from the mines.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:47.21%;"><img src="https://assets.funjible.games/pixels_heidi_c9661a9994.jpg" alt="Pixels Heidi screenshot" srcset="https://assets.funjible.games/pixels_heidi_c9661a9994.jpg 226w, https://assets.funjible.games/pixels_heidi_c9661a9994.jpg 500w" sizes="100vw"></figure><h2>Time to Fish</h2><p><a href="https://funjible.games/games/fishing-frenzy">Fishing Frenzy</a>, meanwhile, released the&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/FishingFrenzyCo/status/2021071917436809488">fifth edition of its dev blog</a>, where the devs walked community members through all the cool products that have been delivered over the last months.</p><p>In recent months, Fishing Frenzy has seen new mechanics, like diving jackpots, referral campaigns, seasonal events, and creator contests.</p><p>According to the devs, a diving jackpot saw players win up to 5,000 RON or 1m FISH. A collaboration with Angry Dynos brought in new users with a prize pool worth $42,000 in FISH. Though the prize distribution caused a sharp drop in FISH token's price, it also burnt 1.4 tokens from circulation.</p><p>There are plenty of hints on where Fishing Frenzy is headed next inside the blog as well since the devs believe that the game must broaden its appeal beyond Crypto Twitter. The biggest step toward that goal will be with Fishing Frenzy Chapter 3, which is currently in development, and will focus on:</p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:56.36%;"><img src="https://assets.funjible.games/fishing_frenzy_chapter_3_615ab68274.jpg" alt="Fishing Frenzy Chapter 3 screenshot" srcset="https://assets.funjible.games/fishing_frenzy_chapter_3_615ab68274.jpg 226w, https://assets.funjible.games/fishing_frenzy_chapter_3_615ab68274.jpg 500w" sizes="100vw"></figure><ul><li>Deeper progression, less grinding, more social features such as chat and guilds.</li><li>Creating interdependency between players so that trading becomes necessary rather than optional.</li><li>More ways to compete for real money, starting with mini-game experiments.</li></ul><p>The team is also eyeing new user acquisition beyond the Ronin bubble, potentially through mini-games on other chains or an eventual iOS or Android app.</p><p>As players, we appreciate these two games sharing their progress with communities via blog posts, while also releasing key gameplay updates. There’s a clear shift in&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/funjible-games-report-2025-crypto-gaming-trends">crypto gaming trends</a> and more developers are making decisions based on that, including&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/pixels-founder-says-web3-gamings-core-values-were-wrong">Pixels’ founder who recently said that Web3’s gaming core values were wrong</a>. More and more games are now shipping gameplay-first updates, with&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/top-10-play-to-earn-games-in-2025">play-to-earn</a> mechanics taking a backseat.</p><div class="raw-html-embed">
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Pixels and Fishing Frenzy roll out mid-February updates

New Fishing Frenzy and Pixels Updates Refresh Ronin Ecosystem

<p>SuiPlay0X1, a handheld gaming device built on the Sui blockchain, released a progress report on Feb. 10 with impressive numbers. Since September, the device's compatible game library has tripled from 300 titles to 1,042, spanning Steam, Epic, and GOG.</p><p>In total, nearly 3,000 devices in the wild have logged over 102,000 gaming sessions. SuiPlay0X1 users logged 5,746 hours alone in the last month, and the top games have been a mix of AAA blockbusters like GTA V and Hogwarts Legacy, alongside a Web3-native Xociety.</p><p>SuiPlay0X1 runs on Playtron GameOS, a Linux-based operating system that prioritizes compatibility. This allows the handheld console to run games like Dota 2 and Fall Guys as well.</p><p>The telemetry data, pulled as of Feb. 9, shows 2,943 active devices generating substantial activity. The platform has attracted 25,931 users since launch, with 164 new registrations in the past month alone.</p><div class="raw-html-embed">
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            SuiPlay0X1 has 3x’d its compatible game library, since September 🎮 
            <br>
            From 300 to 1042 verified titles across Steam, Epic, and GOG 
            <br>
            <br>
            → 3,939 unique games played 
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            → 102,764 total (all-time) sessions logged on <a href="https://twitter.com/PLAYTR0N?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PLAYTR0N</a> GameOS 
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            → 1,042 compatible games 
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            <br>
            Full data breakdown: <a href="https://t.co/K0c1QrwM7i">https://t.co/K0c1QrwM7i</a>
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        — SuiPlay (@SuiPlay) <a href="https://twitter.com/SuiPlay/status/2021280235526947181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2026</a>
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</div><h2>SuiPlay0X1’s Verified Library Grows</h2><p><br>SuiPlay0X1’s verified library now spans three major storefronts, with Steam featuring 592 compatible titles, followed by Epic Games with 280 and GOG with 170.</p><p>Beyond the verified titles, users have played 3,939 unique games on the Playtron GameOS platform, with 1,645 games played five times or more.</p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:54.69%;"><img src="https://assets.funjible.games/suiplay0_X1_241fac4c89.jpg" alt="Suiplay0 X1 screenshot" srcset="https://assets.funjible.games/suiplay0_X1_241fac4c89.jpg 226w, https://assets.funjible.games/suiplay0_X1_241fac4c89.jpg 500w" sizes="100vw"></figure><p>All the data featured in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SuiPlay/status/2021234599293247850">Sui’s blog post</a> indicate that SuiPlay0X1 carved out a niche amongst gamers. With eFootball dominating the top-played games chart with 593 hours, it looks like SuiPlay0X1 may have found itself a main niche with sports games. These titles tend to be quite competitive, and most favor active progression. If SuiPlay0X1 were to treat this data as a signal, it could focus on supporting more sports titles across different genres.</p><p>This focus could also open doors in competitive and semi-professional environments. Major events like the&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/esports-world-cup-2026-seventy-five-million-dollar-prize-pool">Esports World Cup</a> already feature a wide spectrum of titles, from mobile-friendly games to large-scale AAA releases. While no GameFi project has yet appeared on a stage of that caliber, Web3-adjacent organizations are already involved. Anichess, part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/team-secret-join-checkmate-eco-with-nfts-and-check-integration">Checkmate Ecosystem, will see its partner Team Secret</a> compete across multiple divisions, with traditional chess also featured in the event. SuiPlay0X1 has an opportunity to position itself as a practical training and play device as competitive gaming continues to diversify.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kHGgOVo_C4w?si=DEV_oBoV81tpM495" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
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SuiPlay0X1 triples its verified game library, surpasses 25,000 users

SuiPlay0X1 Handheld Top 1,000 Compatible Games and 25K Users

<p>Binance has pulled the plug on Aavegotchi and announced the delisting of the $GHST token on Feb. 2. All spot and perpetual pairs will rotate out of the number one crypto exchange on Feb. 13.</p><p><a href="https://www.binance.com/en-BH/support/announcement/detail/87a9bdf137f348668a85575ee02b8a27">Binance’s support announcement</a> also featured five other tokens, Acala Token (ACA), Tranchess (CHESS), Streamr (DATA), dForce (DF), and NKN, which are all getting the axe alongside&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/games/aavegotchi">Aavegotchi</a>. The exchange cited this as a result of its periodic review process, which evaluates digital assets against industry standards.</p><p>$GHST deposits on Binance will stop crediting on Feb. 14, while withdrawals will close on Apr. 13.</p><div class="raw-html-embed">
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            A statement on the recent <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24GHST&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$GHST</a> delisting from Binance by <a href="https://twitter.com/coderdannn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coderdannn</a>
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            tl;dr: CEX is great, but nothing beats onchain 👻 <a href="https://t.co/A878fJHnqP">pic.twitter.com/A878fJHnqP</a>
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        — Aavegotchi 👻🟦 Now on Base! (@aavegotchi) <a href="https://twitter.com/aavegotchi/status/2018313390318653844?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2026</a>
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</div><h2>Aavegotchi developers double down as a response</h2><p>Aavegotchi devs responded to the delisting on Discord, and the message was filled with determination.</p><p>"This is an unfortunate decision, but in the long run it makes us more bullish on decentralized finance and unstoppable liquidity," the team wrote on Discord, noting that GHST remains tradable on Ethereum, Polygon, and Base with strong liquidity across all three networks.</p><p>"This delisting has no material impact on Pixelcraft's resolve to continue building Aavegotchi. If anything, we are more resolved than ever after such a slap in the face."</p><h2>A Year of Major Moves</h2><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:57.38%;"><img src="https://assets.funjible.games/aavegotchi_binance_delist_e8898395f2.jpg" alt="Aavegotchi Binance delist screenshot" srcset="https://assets.funjible.games/aavegotchi_binance_delist_e8898395f2.jpg 226w, https://assets.funjible.games/aavegotchi_binance_delist_e8898395f2.jpg 500w" sizes="100vw"></figure><p>The timing of $GHST’s delisting from Binance was rather surprising to many, given that Aavegotchi was quite active throughout 2025. The project completed a full&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/aavegotchi-ends-polygon-support-migrates-fully-to-base">migration from Polygon to Base</a>, Coinbase's layer-2 network.</p><p>The migration came after concerns about declining DeFi and gaming activity on Polygon, along with infrastructure overhead from running their own Layer-3 network, Geist.</p><p>Aavegotchi stayed busy on the content front, too. The project partnered with Cat Town for a Halloween fishing event in October, with the rewards pool featuring GHST airdrops, and themed catches like the Ghost Snapper and Ghoulish Crab.</p><h2>What Happens to $GHST Now?</h2><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:60.96%;"><img src="https://assets.funjible.games/aavegotchi_binance_delist_2_db09060810.jpg" alt="Aavegotchi Binance delist screenshot" srcset="https://assets.funjible.games/aavegotchi_binance_delist_2_db09060810.jpg 226w, https://assets.funjible.games/aavegotchi_binance_delist_2_db09060810.jpg 500w" sizes="100vw"></figure><p>If you hold $GHST on Binance, you may want to consider withdrawing to another supported exchange or your personal wallet. Binance will convert delisted tokens into stablecoins on behalf of users after Apr. 14.</p><p>Based on Pixelcraft’s response to Binance, the dev team doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to get listed back on the exchange. The game is currently banking on the fact that building great experiences should matter more than exchange listings, which has been one of the main&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/funjible-games-report-2025-crypto-gaming-trends">crypto gaming trends</a> in recent years.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mjWJnHLyTIM?si=BfiivgtpHzK4irG8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

Binance's delist hammer catches Aavegotchi offguard.

Binance Delists Aavegotchi Due to Lack of Liquidity

<p>Luke Barwikowski, founder of Pixels, one of the few Web3 games to hit one million daily active users, published a detailed post-mortem on Jan. 21 that explains why Web3 gaming's foundational assumptions were wrong.</p><p><a href="https://x.com/whatslukedoing/status/2014069314865823841">According to Barwikowski</a>, asset ownership cannibalized revenue for games with play-to-earn mechanics, attracting bot farms instead of players. Communities cared more about token prices than the actual game, while government votes involving players accelerated bad decisions.</p><div class="raw-html-embed">
        
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                        I've been sitting on this for a while, it has so much alpha and unique insights from our team that I honestly didn't think I should release it as I'm likely helping competitors or future competitors.
                        
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</div><h2>What Went Wrong for Play-to-Earn Games</h2><p>Play-to-earn games had a simple pitch. Players have always assigned real value to digital items. RuneScape, Diablo, andCS2 skins all had secondary markets mainly because users wanted liquidity.</p><p>Web3 games are technically built upon this formula with the mindset of “if you earn an item, you should be able to trade it freely. If you quit, you can sell what you earned.”</p><p>The Web3 gaming philosophy worked wonderfully at the beginning in 2021, but cracks began to show later when it was realised that game companies needed long-term revenue streams.</p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:52.4%;"><img src="https://assets.funjible.games/Sleepagotchi_pixels_partnership_2_414923f801.jpg" alt="Sleepagotchi Pixels partnership screenshot" srcset="https://assets.funjible.games/Sleepagotchi_pixels_partnership_2_414923f801.jpg 226w, https://assets.funjible.games/Sleepagotchi_pixels_partnership_2_414923f801.jpg 500w" sizes="100vw"></figure><p>Barwikowski identifies the revenue problem with “If future players can buy everything they want from existing players, then future spending gets redirected away from the game developer.” Overall, asset ownership is and was a valuable idea, but the strongest form of it directly conflicts with game monetization.</p><p>Pixel founder also evaluated&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/games/Axie-infinity">Axie Infinity</a>’s case, stating that the token incentives created a new class of gamers who played primarily to earn, not for fun. Despite achieving great success, Axie’s dual-token system eventually collapsed, leading to a significant drop in earnings. With reduced earning potential, Axie also lost a considerable number of players.</p><p>However, the Web3 gaming industry consistently tried to keep up and innovate as well.&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/games/Pixels">Pixels</a>, for example, put its own spin on the monetization formula and rolled out with a play-to-earn system. This allowed Pixels to grow from 1,000 daily users to 100,000 daily users with essentially zero paid advertising.</p><h2>The Bot Farm Problem of Web3 Games</h2><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:53.22%;"><img src="https://assets.funjible.games/pixels_chapter_3_2_6583ab181a.jpg" alt="Pixels Chapter 3 screenshot" srcset="https://assets.funjible.games/pixels_chapter_3_2_6583ab181a.jpg 226w, https://assets.funjible.games/pixels_chapter_3_2_6583ab181a.jpg 500w" sizes="100vw"></figure><p>Pixels also tracked a metric called Return on Reward Spend. This would closely follow every dollar in rewards distributed and how much revenue came back into the game. Early numbers showed $1 out brought back $0.20-$0.30. While this is nowhere close to ideal, Pixels was drawing users at scale at the time, so the ends justified the means until bots came into the picture.</p><p>Barwikowski explains that traditional anti-fraud tools no longer work. Pixels experimented with fingerprinting, IP detection, and CAPTCHA, but none of them was sufficient against modern bot farms using anti-detect browsers, VPNs, and spoofed fingerprints. Pixels eventually found an optimal response by tracking user intent, but the process had already caused damage in its economy.</p><h2>What Comes Next</h2><p>Barwikowski also noted that when real money enters a game's core loop, player psychology fundamentally changes. Players stop asking if something is fun and start asking if they're making money. Additionally, Pixels discovered through ad testing that mentioning "crypto" performed 5-10x worse than framing rewards as regular real-money incentives.</p><p>Pixels is now launching two products: Chubkins, a Web2-first mobile virtual pet game, and Stacked, a B2B2C platform that helps game studios deploy rewarded play systems while handling fraud prevention and reward optimization.</p><p>Barwikowski believes that the next era of gaming will be less ideological and more operational, which may also shape&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/funjible-games-report-2025-crypto-gaming-trends">crypto gaming trends</a> moving forward.</p><h2>Our Take</h2><p>We believe that crypto gaming happened to learn the hard lessons early as opposed to failing altogether. The Web3 gaming industry is already correcting its course too, with next generation focusing on gameplay first, and rewards second.</p><p>Instead of making crypto the selling point, developers are building genuinely engaging experiences where blockchain infrastructure runs quietly in the background, like <a href="https://funjible.games/games/off-the-grid">Off the Grid</a>.</p><p>Blockchains that prioritise gaming still organize competitions, like <a href="https://funjible.games/news/avalanche-launches-build-games-with-1m-prize-pool">Avalanche's Build Games</a>. Similar initiatives are likely to support sustainable growth and also real player engagement in the long run.</p><p>We believe that the next wave of crypto gaming will present itself simply as good games that take their in-game economies to the next level with blockchain technologies, and that would be a well-suited evolution for the entire GameFi industry.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NAy_sPYKcps?si=O7obA21bcRnr52FF" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

Luke Barwikowski details why the GameFi industry’s foundations collapsed and what comes next.

Pixels Founder Says Web3 Gaming's Core Values Were Wrong

<p>Forgotten Runiverse, the fantasy MMORPG on the Ronin Network, has officially gone offline. The development team announced the shutdown on Jan. 27 via an&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RuniverseGame/status/2015967471161745673">X (formerly Twitter) post</a>.</p><p>Forgotten Runiverse’s servers will go offline by the end of Jan. 28, with no clear timeline for when or if they'll return. According to the team's announcement, maintaining a live MMORPG environment became too costly despite efforts to overcome various operational challenges.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Farewell for now, Wizards. <a href="https://t.co/LT1l1o1zbb">pic.twitter.com/LT1l1o1zbb</a></p>— The Forgotten Runiverse (@RuniverseGame) <a href="https://twitter.com/RuniverseGame/status/2015967471161745673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>A Promising Start Cut Short</h2><p>The timing of Forgotten Runiverse’s shutdown is particularly unfortunate given the game's performance in 2025. FR attracted over 250,000 players, with concurrent user counts peaking above 7,000 during its New Foundations Beta and launch period, so there was genuine interest in the Runiverse concept.</p><p><a href="https://funjible.games/news/new-partnership-brings-pixels-token-to-forgotten-runiverse">Forgotten Runiverse also integrated the $PIXEL token</a> from&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/games/Pixels">Pixels</a> and became one of the first third-party titles to join that ecosystem. FR developers specifically thanked the Pixels team in their shutdown announcement, calling them "incredible partners."</p><p>While the announcement marks the end of Forgotten Runiverse, the development team emphasized that they're not abandoning the project entirely. Player progress and account data will be preserved during the downtime, and they've promised to return "stronger, better resourced" when conditions allow.</p><p>However, that may not mean much to those who were heavily invested in Forgotten Runiverse’s ecosystem, as plenty of users claimed that the decision caused them significant financial losses, including Cagyjan,&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/Best-YouTube-Crypto-Gaming-Influencers-2025">one of the best YouTube Crypto Gaming influencers</a>.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨BREAKING: I LOST OVER $30,000 IN FORGOTTEN RUNES! <br><br>THEY ARE SHUTTING DOWN!  <br><br>INCREDIBLE HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN STOLEN IN THE GAMING SPACE. WE ARE EXHAUSTED. <a href="https://t.co/qA8gkAu4qX">pic.twitter.com/qA8gkAu4qX</a></p>— cagy | youtube/cagyjan (@cagyjan1) <a href="https://twitter.com/cagyjan1/status/2015975738017775860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Regardless of whether the Forgotten Runiverse ever makes a comeback, it joins a growing list of blockchain games that launched with ambition but couldn't sustain operations. Plenty of high-potential&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/The-Great-Fade-Why-Crypto-Games-Are-Shutting-Down">crypto games shut down</a> in recent years, with those remaining looking to maximize their runway for the future.</p><p>In addition to Web3 games that remain active, there are new and upcoming projects looking to burst onto the scene through competitions, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/avalanche-launches-build-games-with-1m-prize-pool">Avalanche’s Build Games</a>. In addition to offering prize pools, these events are also perfect networking opportunities for developers aiming to take their products to the next level.</p><p>Forgotten Runiverse team says they'll share updates if substantial progress is made, but there's no guarantee the game will return.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NAy_sPYKcps?si=2qTehsYQunn8hQlV" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

MMORPG Goes Offline Indefinitely as Development Team Cites Unsustainable Costs

Forgotten Runiverse Shuts Down After Financial Struggles

<p>The Sandbox confirmed its integration with Base on Jan. 5. The move marks another step in Sandbox’s multi-chain expansion.</p><p>The announcement came in a brief social media post that read "The Sandbox 🤝 @base," with the tagline "Onboarding the masses,” while the&nbsp;<a href="https://playtoearn.com/news/the-sandbox-taps-base-to-expand-sand-access-and-streamline-onchain-onboarding">details of the expansion were shared by PlaytoEarn</a>.</p><div class="raw-html-embed">
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            The Sandbox 🤝 <a href="https://twitter.com/base?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@base</a>
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            Onboarding the masses
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</div><h2>What actually changed for $SAND</h2><p>Following the expansion, the $SAND token became accessible on Base through multiple channels. Binance completed Base network integration for $SAND deposits and withdrawals on Dec. 15, opening a direct route between exchange accounts and the Base ecosystem.</p><p>Aerodrome, a Base-native DEX, launched an initial liquidity pool to support on-chain trading for $SAND, so the users wouldn’t need to bridge back to Ethereum or Polygon.</p><p>The Base integration also closely ties Sandbox to Corners, a curation platform on Base that launched an invite-only beta on Dec. 9. Corners allows users to browse collections and on-chain content before jumping into wallets or token mechanics.</p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:78.62%;"><img src="https://assets.funjible.games/the_sandbox_base_78ac11cf96.jpg" alt="The Sandbox base screenshot" srcset="https://assets.funjible.games/the_sandbox_base_78ac11cf96.jpg 226w, https://assets.funjible.games/the_sandbox_base_78ac11cf96.jpg 500w" sizes="100vw"></figure><p>The Base push comes during a pivotal period for The Sandbox since the project went through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.funjible.games/news/what-is-happening-to-the-sandbox-layoffs-ceo-exit-explained">layoffs and a CEO exit</a> at the start of Q4 2025. The changes didn’t prevent Sandbox from progressing through its roadmap, though, as it rolled out updates like the&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/the-sandbox-launches-holiday-advent-calendar-with-nft-rewards">Advent Calendar event</a> in December.</p><p>Overall, this is a decent development for the Sandbox as $SAND becomes usable across more environments. Also, Base-native tools like Corners are likely to offer more entry points into the game’s ecosystem, which could be an opportunity for Sandbox to strengthen its player base.</p><p>With the start of 2026 in the books, we have seen multiple GameFi projects move to new homes. Most recently,&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/shrapnel-starts-gala-chain-migration-in-january-2026">Shrapnel announced its migration to GalaChain</a>, while&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/illuvium-migrates-all-assets-and-core-services-to-immutable">Illuvium migrated all assets and core services to Immutable</a>. Sandbox’s case isn’t a full-on migration, but these moves signal that a decent portion of active projects are looking to build their products in the most favorable ways possible. If a certain chain proves itself to be a better home than what they have at that moment, a move is never out of reach.</p><div class="raw-html-embed">
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The Sandbox brings $SAND to Base network with bridging and new ecosystem tools.

$SAND Goes Live on Base as The Sandbox Expands Multi-Chain

<p>The Esports World Cup Foundation revealed details for its 2026 event on Jan. 20. The event is set to return with a $75 million total prize pool distributed across 25 tournaments and the Club Championship. The seven-week competition runs from July 6 through Aug. 23 in Riyadh, with 24 games including Fortnite and Trackmania as new additions.</p><p>While Trackmania is new, Fortnite was a part of the EWC until 2025. It’s back after a brief timeout, and Chess is still on the menu. In total, more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries will compete across multiple venues, with several championships running in parallel throughout the event window.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The world’s best games, players, and clubs. One global stage where competition, culture, and community collide. <br><br>This is EWC 2026. <a href="https://t.co/sye9P5pg6b">pic.twitter.com/sye9P5pg6b</a></p>— Esports World Cup (@EWC_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/EWC_EN/status/2014769839278006404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>The Club Championship</h2><p>The club Championship remains the most appealing part of the EWC for esports organizations. The format crowns a single cross-game winner, and the 2026 Club Championship features a $30 million prize pool for the top 24 clubs.</p><p>The winning club takes home $7 million, with expanded prize distribution across remaining positions. Last year’s event was fiercely competitive until the last minute, and organizations are likely to race each other to sign the most talented rosters for all games at the EWC, which are:</p><ul><li>Apex Legends</li><li>Call of Duty: Black Ops 7</li><li>Call of Duty: Warzone</li><li>Chess</li><li>Counter-Strike 2</li><li>Crossfire</li><li>Dota 2</li><li>EA Sports FC 26</li><li>FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves</li><li>Fortnite</li><li>Free Fire</li><li>Honor of Kings</li><li>League of Legends</li><li>Mobile Legends: Bang Bang</li><li>Overwatch 2</li><li>PUBG: Battlegrounds</li><li>PUBG Mobile</li><li>Rocket League</li><li>Street Fighter 6</li><li>Teamfight Tactics</li><li>TEKKEN 8</li><li>Rainbow Six Siege X</li><li>Trackmania</li><li>Valorant</li></ul><p>One notable title on the list is Chess, as it was first introduced in 2025. As avid fans of Web3 gaming, we would love to see this inclusion benefit variants like&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/anichess-launches-CHECK-token-all-tge-tokenomics-details">Anichess, which launched its $CHECK token</a> in November 2025, and&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/games/anichess">Anichess also</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/team-secret-join-checkmate-eco-with-nfts-and-check-integration">recently partnered with Team Secret</a>.</p><p>Overall, EWC 2026 has big shoes to fill, as the event’s 2025 variant reached 750 million viewers worldwide and 350 million hours watched. League of Legends peaked at 7.98 million concurrent viewers, while the event brought 3 million visitors to Riyadh across seven weeks.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s happening!<br>EWC 2026 tickets are LIVE right now! 🎟️ <a href="https://t.co/iYUFD5ox6T">pic.twitter.com/iYUFD5ox6T</a></p>— Esports World Cup (@EWC_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/EWC_EN/status/2014352471225758098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>EWC 2026 tickets went on sale Jan. 22 via esportsworldcup.com and partners Webook, India, Damai, and Tixr. Options include Weekly Access Passes, Premium Tournament Passes, and Hospitality Packages.<br>&nbsp;</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zoNeL23pBe0?si=jTHOpt51hp6oHguD" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

EWC returns to Riyadh with 24 games and a massive prize pool

Esports World Cup 2026 is Back with $75M Total Prize Pool

<p>My Neighbor Alice rolled out Cooking on Jan. 21. This adds another layer to the game’s resource management system, as you can now transform farmed crops and caught fish into processed ingredients and full dishes that restore Moxie.</p><p>With the Jan. 21 update, MNA players gained access to two crafting stations. The Food Processor converts raw ingredients into processed forms, while the Stove turns processed ingredients into complete dishes.</p><div class="raw-html-embed">
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            We teased it and some of you understood this already… now it’s time to finally announce the new feature in Lummelunda! 🧑‍🍳
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            Get ready to show off all your cooking skills, as the Cooking System is now live! For raw to wow, from ingredients to real food, it’s your time to be become… <a href="https://t.co/SNsKUIqSVV">pic.twitter.com/SNsKUIqSVV</a>
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        — Alice (@MyNeighborAlice) <a href="https://twitter.com/MyNeighborAlice/status/2014041623684943996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"> Jan. 21, 2026</a>
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</div><h2>How does Cooking work in My Neighbor Alice?</h2><p>Cooking in&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/games/My-Neighbor-Alice">My Neighbor Alice</a> works in a three-tier structure: raw foods, processed foods, and dishes. Dishes restore the most Moxie, so it definitely pays off to cook your raw materials with recipes.</p><p>Moxie is essential to complete quests in My Neighbor Alice. MNA introduced the Moxie System with its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.funjible.games/news/My-Neighbor-Alice-Goes-Browser-Based-with-Chapter-One-Launch">Chapter One launch, which also made the game browser-based</a>. It’s now a core part of the gameplay loop, and players burn through Moxie when completing quests, crafting items, and developing land.</p><p>There’s still a lot of room for growth here, though, since MNA developers described this as the "first version" of Cooking.</p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:54.88%;"><img src="https://assets.funjible.games/my_neighbor_alice_cooking_2_85c2ded519.jpg" alt="My Neighbor Alice cooking screenshot" srcset="https://assets.funjible.games/my_neighbor_alice_cooking_2_85c2ded519.jpg 226w, https://assets.funjible.games/my_neighbor_alice_cooking_2_85c2ded519.jpg 500w" sizes="100vw"></figure><p>While MNA continues to roll out features that further improve the gameplay experience, other Web3 titles are testing the waters to attract new players on a larger scale.&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/aneemate-open-alpha-launches-with-eight-maps-and-progression">AneeMate’s open alpha launch</a> falls into this category, and the game aims to attract as many players as possible to maintain a fluid feedback loop.</p><p>There has been a wave of positivity within the GameFi space in&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/why-axie-infinitys-axs-token-is-pumping-in-january-2026">Jan. 2026, especially with AXS token pumping</a> from its Dec. 2025 lows. That move was mostly correlated with Sky Mavis’ decisions regarding the game’s tokenomics, but it didn't take too long for it to modestly spread around the GameFi space.&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/top-10-play-to-earn-games-in-2025">Play-to-earn</a> mechanics have taken a step back over the past few years, but such drastic price increases still help games attract attention and draw new players.</p><div class="raw-html-embed">
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MNA Introduces Cooking After a Series of Teases

My Neighbor Alice Adds Cooking System in January 2026 Update

<p>Team Secret announced a partnership with the Checkmate Ecosystem on Jan. 12. The move would see $CHECK token adoption beyond&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/games/anichess">Anichess</a>, mainly into the esports landscape. The collaboration introduces a membership NFT pass and positions CHECK as a functional currency across Team Secret's operations.</p><h2>What is included in the Team Secret Membership Pass?</h2><p>Team Secret's NFT pass grants users access to exclusive content and other competitive opportunities. Pass holders receive access to community tournaments, VIP tickets for Team Secret's global events, and direct interaction with players from the organization's Dota 2, VALORANT, and Rainbow Six Siege rosters through private AMA sessions.</p><p>Ultimately, the membership pass aims to create direct value for supporters, so it’s not a collectible NFT.</p><p>Considering the Checkmate Ecosystem started picking up steam after launching the $CHESS token in Nov. 2025, it’s encouraging to see this type of partnerships with big names. Team Secret CEO John Yao framed the partnership as a step toward fan ownership, noting that CHECK integration gives supporters "a direct stake" in the organization's activities.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We just Checkmated Esports.<a href="https://twitter.com/teamsecret?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@teamsecret</a> is a global top-tier esports org with championship teams across multiple games with millions of fans.<br><br>What’s cooking<br><br>→ Team Secret NFT Membership<br>→ <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24CHECK&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$CHECK</a> for payments<br>→ <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24CHECK&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$CHECK</a> your participation<br>→ <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24CHECK&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$CHECK</a> as buy ins/prize pools… <a href="https://t.co/fTmes8g7pj">https://t.co/fTmes8g7pj</a></p>— Anichess (@AnichessGame) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnichessGame/status/2010639562951770439?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Anichess head Chevan Tin emphasized the long-term infrastructure angle, positioning the partnership as foundational work for “tokenized rewards that will redefine the esports experience.”</p><p>Team Secret also appears committed to hosting competitive Anichess events. The organization will work with Chess.com, which backed Anichess alongside five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen.</p><p>Going into 2026, Anichess aims to reach traditional esports audiences that might not have considered a Web3 chess variant before. Team Secret's competitive credibility in games like Dota 2 lends legitimacy to that effort.</p><p>The partnership between Team Secret and Anichess also follows the game’s recent competitive restructuring with Season 5's&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/anichess-launch-winter-clash-as-illuvium-merge-ranked-queues">Winter Clash update</a>, which introduced the Checkmate Arena and shifted reward distribution toward CHECK-based competition.</p><p>At the time of writing, it’s currently unclear what the Checkmate Ecosystem is planning to turn $CHECK into a cross-platform currency. Speaking from experience, one could expect more games to become available within the ecosystem, but Checkmate also seems determined to create valuable experiences outside of the gaming bubble as well. If Anichess can continue to bring in notable names, like Team Secret, they may even kickstart a new&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/funjible-games-report-2025-crypto-gaming-trends">crypto gaming trend</a>.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fA-z4rKziCU?si=jGKUJSNiJyHzX3oR" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

Team Secret introduces CHECK token utility to merchandise, tournaments, and fan engagement.

Team Secret Join Checkmate Eco with NFTs & CHECK Integration

<p>Axie Infinity's $AXS token became one of the standout performers in the crypto market this January. A relatively quick 3x move from December lows, between $0.759 and $2.26, drew massive attention back to a project. While volume spikes and technical breakouts are easy to spot on the charts, they don't often tell the whole story.</p><p><a href="https://funjible.games/games/Axie-Infinity">Axie Infinity</a> and its ecosystem went through various changes throughout 2025, and Sky Mavis is still looking to implement multiple features in its games in 2026, including the upcoming release of&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/games/atias-legacy">Atia’s Legacy</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.funjible.games/news/atias-legacy-reveals-new-combat-system-for-playtest-2">Axie Infinity MMO with a new combat system</a>.</p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:74.69%;"><img src="https://assets.funjible.games/AXSUSDT_2026_2b6418c1f8.png" alt="AXSUSDT 2026 screenshot" srcset="https://assets.funjible.games/AXSUSDT_2026_2b6418c1f8.png 226w, https://assets.funjible.games/AXSUSDT_2026_2b6418c1f8.png 500w" sizes="100vw"></figure><h2>Why is $AXS Pumping in January 2026?</h2><p>Axie Infinity’s $AXS pumped in January 2026 because Sky Mavis overhauled Axie Infinity's reward system to fix bot farming and sell pressure problems that killed the game's economy in previous cycles.</p><p>The core change is the introduction of bAXS. This is a new token that players earn through gameplay rather than receiving liquid AXS rewards. The bAXS token is bound to player accounts and can't be sold immediately on open markets.</p><div class="raw-html-embed">
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            bAXS is designed to evolve the Axie Infinity ecosystem.
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            It allows us to reward active players and ensure that the value generated within the digital nation stays within the community to support long-term sustainability.
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            bAXS isn’t just a token, it’s part of the foundation to… <a href="https://t.co/bJaoPsjtIr">pic.twitter.com/bJaoPsjtIr</a>
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        — Axie Infinity (@AxieInfinity) <a href="https://twitter.com/AxieInfinity/status/2012556951918456933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2026</a>
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</div><p>However, players can stake bAXS, spend it in-game, or sell it with a variable fee that depends on their Axie Score. Higher-reputation players pay lower fees, while extractors get steeper costs. The fees paid in this process go back to development.</p><p>At the same time, Sky Mavis stopped Smooth Love Potion (SLP) emissions in Axie Origins on January 7. SLP had become a magnet for bots that farmed and dumped tokens without contributing real engagement. Overall, Sky Mavis aims to create a healthier economic model by cutting off the SLP tap and shifting to bAXS rewards.</p><p>Axie Infinity Origins and Classic will also get new competitive seasons on January 21 and 22. Payouts for these seasons will also be in bAXS tokens, so January 2026 marks a clean break from the old inflationary structure and gives the market confidence that Axie Infinity is serious about fixing its tokenomics.</p><p>As avid GameFi fans, we’ve enjoyed watching the market’s reaction to all the Axie Infinity news. During the process, $AXS’ trading volume exceeded $400 million at its peak. While it’s relatively difficult to comment on the future of this price movement, other GameFi projects’ tokens, like&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/games/My-Neighbor-Alice">My Neighbor Alice</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/new-multiverse-quest-launches-for-enjin-web3-games">Enjin</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/games/Alien-Worlds">Alien Worlds</a>, also tried to keep up in the meantime, including Ronin's $RON.</p><div class="raw-html-embed">
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How bAXS rewards, SLP shutdown, and a tokenomics reset reignited Axie Infinity’s ecosystem

Why Axie Infinity's AXS Token Is Pumping in January 2026?

<p>The Animoca Brands-backed chess game, Anichess, confirmed the launch details for the $CHECK token, which will serve as the native token of its Checkmate ecosystem. The $CHECK token went live on Base on November 13 at midnight UTC, with distribution continuing in multiple phases throughout the month.</p><p>The $CHECK token plays a vital role in <a href="https://funjible.games/games/anichess">Anichess</a>, as it's used across the game’s competitive features, including content seasons, Gambit Mode, reward systems, and competitions. In addition to Animoca, Anichess is also partnered with&nbsp;<a href="http://chess.com/">Chess.com</a>, and the game already has over 340,000 players and 100 million minutes of gameplay since early access, alongside&nbsp;<a href="https://funjible.games/news/chess-lovers-get-excited-anichess-is-magnus-carlsen-approved">Magnus Carlsen’s approval</a>.</p><div class="raw-html-embed">
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            From 36 puzzles and a big dream to 
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            → the GOAT Magnus Carlsen making moves
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            → Pudgy Penguins taking over
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            → chesscom and other major tournaments
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            → 6M+ minutes of gameplay
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            → 960 Ethernals
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            → and so much more
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            Built by mates. Soon powered by <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24CHECK&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$CHECK</a>.
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            Still early. ♟️ <a href="https://t.co/ZqfxPTEVzw">pic.twitter.com/ZqfxPTEVzw</a>
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        — Anichess (@AnichessGame) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnichessGame/status/1987904612633133488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2025</a>
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</div><h2>When does $CHECK launch?</h2><p>The $CHECK token launched on November 13, 2025, at midnight UTC on the Base network. The initial distribution at 12am will be through Aerodrome Finance, so early voters and liquidity providers will set the opening price.</p><p>Following the midnight release, Kaito Capital Launchpad participants received their $CHESS allocation at 4am, November 13. This phase also opened community claims on Abstract Chain for Season 1-4 players, Ethernals NFT holders, puzzle participants, top scorers, MocaDrop users, and Lympo OGs.</p><p>Besides the above, here’s $CHECK’s launch schedule:</p><ul><li>November 14: Mon Protocol Launchpool begins on Base.</li><li>November 17: onwards: Select centralized exchange listings go live.</li><li>November 25: Nansen airdrop distribution on Base.</li><li>December 1: First Kaito yapper release on Base.</li></ul><h2>What is the $CHECK token used for in Anichess?</h2><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:60.93%;"><img src="https://assets.funjible.games/check_token_anichess_2_8e90ee39ba.jpg" alt="Check token Anichess screenshot" srcset="https://assets.funjible.games/check_token_anichess_2_8e90ee39ba.jpg 226w, https://assets.funjible.games/check_token_anichess_2_8e90ee39ba.jpg 500w" sizes="100vw"></figure><p>$CHECK token in Anichess functions as both a competitive currency and progression system within the Checkmate Ecosystem,&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.anichess.com/anichess/usdcheck-the-strategy-token">according to Anichess’ official token strategy documents</a>.</p><p>Here’s everything you can do with the $CHECK token in Anichess:</p><ul><li>Players can spend $CHECK to enter ranked tournaments and skill-based events, which can also feature $CHECK prize pools.</li><li>Users can stake $CHECK for Mate Points (M8), which are non-transferable in-game credits that unlock exclusive cosmetic items, higher reward multipliers, and progression bonuses in Anichess.</li><li>Creators can use $CHECK to release AI-generated content and community projects. The platform's users then vote on the submissions, and the best performers receive token rewards.</li><li>$CHECK can be used to unlock collectibles and NFT assets related to in-game or special events.</li><li>$CHECK owners can vote in Checkmate Improvement Proposals (CIPs). As a community member, you’ll get a chance to participate in important proposals regarding the ecosystem’s partnerships, funding decisions, and priorities.</li></ul><h2>$CHECK tokenomics breakdown</h2><p>$CHECK has a fixed supply of 1 billion tokens with no future minting. All the following data can be verified through <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/checkmate/">CHECK's CoinMarketCap page</a>.</p><ul><li>Player Rewards - 39.38 percent<ul><li>5% unlocks at launch, with the remaining tokens vesting over 36 months.</li></ul></li><li>Ecosystem and Treasury - 20 percent<ul><li>0.5% unlocks at launch, followed by equal monthly vesting over 39 months.</li></ul></li><li>Investors - 13.62 percent<ul><li>No tokens at launch, with a 6-month cliff before vesting begins across 18 months.</li></ul></li><li>Team - 10 percent<ul><li>No tokens at launch, with a 12-month cliff and 40-month vesting schedule.</li></ul></li><li>Liquidity - 7 percent<ul><li>Fully unlocked at launch.</li></ul></li><li>Operational Expenses<ul><li>4 percent - 2% unlocks at launch, with 10-month vesting for the remainder.</li></ul></li><li>Advisors - 4 percent<ul><li>No tokens at launch, with a 4-month cliff and 16-month vesting period.</li></ul></li><li>Kaito Launchpad<ul><li>2 percent - Fully unlocked at launch, with a 7-day refund guarantee for participants.</li></ul></li></ul><h2>What is the Checkmate Ecosystem?</h2><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:64.36%;"><img src="https://assets.funjible.games/check_token_anichess_3_151df2aa45.jpg" alt="Check token Anichess screenshot" srcset="https://assets.funjible.games/check_token_anichess_3_151df2aa45.jpg 226w, https://assets.funjible.games/check_token_anichess_3_151df2aa45.jpg 500w" sizes="100vw"></figure><p>The Checkmate Ecosystem connects multiple games and applications through the $CHECK token. Anichess is the first live game in the ecosystem.</p><p>Here's what the ecosystem includes:</p><ul><li>Anichess: The main chess game with spell-based mechanics.</li><li>King's Gambit: A chess-inspired roguelike survival game, which is in development.</li><li>VibeCheck: AI-powered creation tools where users build content and vote for $CHECK rewards</li><li>Digital Passport: Tracks your achievements and progress across all Checkmate games</li><li>Competitive programs: Tournaments, educational initiatives, and merchandise tied to the ecosystem</li></ul><div class="raw-html-embed">
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