Top Game Projects on Base Chain Worth Watching
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Top Game Projects on Base Chain Worth Watching
If you're following on-chain gaming, don't overlook Base.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsAuthor: WASD
Translation: TechFlow
Previously, WASD has covered on-chain gaming ecosystems across various L2s such as Starknet and Arbitrum.
Today, we’ll dive into the on-chain gaming ecosystem on Base!
Base is an optimistic Rollup developed by Coinbase and built using the OP Stack.
While it may not yet match older networks like Arbitrum or OP Mainnet in metrics such as TVL, Base has been steadily growing since its launch in August 2023.
Although L2s are known for social and creator economy use cases, Base is quietly becoming a hub for gaming and other innovative on-chain experiments.
Can Base become a leader in this space? Let’s find out!
Why Base?
Before diving into specific projects, let’s explore why Base is well-suited for hosting on-chain games.
Scalability:
As an L2, Base offers higher TPS compared to Ethereum L1.
This is crucial for on-chain games, which require numerous low-cost transactions to deliver smooth and accessible experiences for players.
EVM Compatibility:
Base is EVM-compatible, allowing developers to leverage existing development tools or migrate their DApps from other networks.
For on-chain games specifically, this means teams can utilize EVM-compatible engines like MUD or Paima.
Coinbase Support:
In the long run, teams building on-chain games on Base stand to benefit greatly from Coinbase’s vast existing user base.
Base is being deeply integrated into Coinbase’s products, whether through support for bridging from CEXs or enabling free USDC transfers on the L2 via Coinbase Wallet.
Additionally, the team provides extensive developer support, focusing on projects building on the network and distributing grants to developers.
Games on Base
Now that we’ve explored Base’s value proposition as a platform for on-chain gaming, let’s look at some ready-to-play games currently available on the Base network.
FrenPet
FrenPet is a Tamagotchi-style mobile game where you care for a pet on-chain.
Beyond caring for your pet, you can engage in various activities such as battling other players, purchasing cosmetics from an in-game boutique, and participating in mini-games like "Spin" and "Dice."
Each FrenPet is represented by an NFT, which can be minted for 10 FP tokens ($7), and will be destroyed if neglected.
$FP is an ERC-20 token with a 5% transaction tax; however, part of this fee is redistributed back to players in ETH based on their score relative to all players in the game (i.e., the higher your score, the larger your share of rewards).
Overall, if you enjoy simple casual mobile games, you'll likely enjoy FrenPet.
The retention mechanics are clever, incentivizing players to stay active and climb the rankings to maximize their rewards.
However, given its casual nature, as someone who prefers deeper gameplay, I’ve never fully immersed myself in it.
Words3
Words3 is a PvP word game developed by Small Brain Games.
Similar to Scrabble or Words with Friends, Words3 challenges you to compete against other players by forming words to earn points.
However, unlike these off-chain games, you must pay ETH to use letters, whose prices fluctuate during gameplay based on demand.
Games in Words3 take place in timed rounds.
At the end of each round, the total ETH spent throughout the round is redistributed among players based on their profitability or score relative to the ETH they spent.
I love Words3 because it combines strategy, speed, and creativity into an easy-to-learn (but hard-to-master) game.
I participate weekly in the Words3 community rounds hosted by WASD and [WE].
That said, I think the game could benefit from burner wallets to provide a smoother experience, and it could include a tutorial or guide with more strategic insights and gameplay tips.
Drawtech
Drawtech is a PvP drawing game also developed by Small Brain Games.
As the first-ever mobile on-chain game, Drawtech is built as a PWA and uses Privy for onboarding and embedded wallet hosting.
In the game, you compete to color tiles on a shared grid.
Like Words3, you must pay ETH to do so, with each tile having its own price determined by player demand.
Assuming another player doesn’t overwrite your tile, whenever a player colors a tile, you earn a portion of the ETH they spent, proportional to the number of tiles you control.
While I appreciate the underlying mechanics and the opportunity to earn some ETH, I do feel tile prices escalate quickly, potentially deterring new players.
Nonetheless, as the first mobile game, this is a significant leap forward for on-chain gaming.
LandTorn
LandTorn aims to build an interconnected on-chain gaming ecosystem.
You can think of the project similarly to Treasure DAO on Arbitrum or Realms on Starknet, with LandTorn acting as a game publisher and distributor designed to unify its ecosystem around a shared token ($TORN).
Along these lines, games released within the LandTorn ecosystem will leverage $TORN while participating in a broader metagame and economy.
The project’s first game is Lorak, an idle game similar to Treasure DAO’s Bridgeworld and Realm’s Eternum, serving as the ecosystem’s metagame.
In Lorak, you mint a "Settler NFT," which you use to complete dungeons and obtain loot.
Loot consists of NFTs that can be sold for a second ERC-20 token, $SHARD.
$SHARD serves as the primary in-game currency for Lorak itself, as it can be used to upgrade your settler and access certain dungeons.
The ultimate goal is to discover items called "Mythics," which can be used to mint "Torn Lords," a rare collection of 500 NFTs.
Overall, the vision behind LandTorn—creating an interconnected gaming ecosystem—is highly intriguing, though Lorak itself is quite complex.
While the pace of the game isn't fast, I enjoy climbing the leaderboard, especially now when there aren't many players.
Cambria
Cambria is a studio developing multiple games, including Duel Arena, Degen Wars, and Gold Rush.
Degen Wars is a 2D MMO inspired by games like Runescape and Ultima Online.
In it, players battle in PvP as part of on-chain tribes competing for territory and resources.
Their second game, Degen Arena, is now the team's main focus. In Arena, players challenge each other to 1v1 duels.
Duels use a staking mechanism where users can wager ETH, NFTs, FriendTech shares, or other assets on Base, with prizes going to the winner.
Participants earn Essence Points, qualifying them for an upcoming Arena token airdrop.
You can also join free duels, where you can earn Arena tokens—another currency used to purchase cosmetics and other items.
I find Degen Arena highly engaging, offering plenty of opportunities to chat, compete, showcase NFTs, and even win some ETH.
I’m excited to keep playing and look forward to future upgrades, such as guild implementation.
Other Games on Base
There are several other interesting on-chain games, projects, or experiments on Base worth checking out.
These include:
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Basepaint, a collaborative on-chain art project.
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Dot, a protocol allowing you to create collectible pixel art.
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Land, Labor, Capital (LLC), a tycoon game deployed on Base.
Bullish on Base
As you can see, Base’s on-chain gaming ecosystem is thriving.
There are already numerous games being built and played on the L2, each bringing unique gameplay mechanics, designs, and economic models.
Thanks to Base’s scalability, EVM compatibility, and strong ties to Coinbase, it is well-positioned to continue emerging as a leading on-chain gaming ecosystem.
If you’re following on-chain gaming, don’t overlook Base.
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