Introducing Web3 to gamers; Gamefi from indie to Epic
Gaming in 2024 delivered an eclectic mix of blockchain adoptions, from long-running indie MMOs to near-AAA projects pivoting quietly (or controversially) into web3. Below are three examples—MapleStory, RavenQuest, and Shatterline—that together paint a picture of how old favorites and new labs each found crypto in 2024.
Maplestory UniverseWhen it first launched in the mid-2000s, MapleStory was by most measures an “indie MMO”— though it later grew under a major publisher’s umbrella. In 2024, MapleStory Universe on Polygon brought that original side-scrolling nostalgia into web3. The result: a lighthearted, pixel-packed gaming world that’s still easygoing for its legacy fans, despite the crypto additions.
Polemos Content Producer Lyka spotlighted Maplestory Universe in her video Crypto Games I’ll be playing this 2025, highlighting how Nexon leveraged “The Genesis” (a dedicated pre-release version) to rally community buzz months before launch. When Gamers meet Web3
Lyka also touched on Maplestory, among other titles, at the at the YGG Play Summit, a web3 games showcase in Manila. Learn along with Lyka about the familiar core game, and the blockchain applications surrounding it in the full video: When Gamers meet Web3. The Play Summit’s speed-dating-style “Match+Play” session brought first impressions to a panel of web2 creators.
Although some gamers may see MapleStory Universe as too “niche” to be a mainstream on-ramp, it’s worth noting how this beloved IP was an underground hit long before blockchain—and has potential to draw in certain nostalgic gamers.
RavenquestMeanwhile, RavenQuest continued to gain traction as an independent blockchain MMO, adapted for the blockchain from Ravendawn—an established, non-blockchain MMORPG still in parallel development. Early on, some Ravendawn veterans questioned the pivot to web3, but regular AMAs demonstrate ongoing interest—covering land sales, class balance, economy fixes, and more.
lnighter (Nicolas Schrik, Ravenquest CEO & Game Director) disclosed that an “absolutely insane” 90,000 adventurers had played in Ravenquest’s Phase 3 by the mid-December AMA. A proven MMO concept adapted to the blockchain is a distinctive approach. In the coming year, we’ll be observing how models like this compare to others, when it comes to making inroads with traditional gamers.
ShatterlineThis multiplayer PVP and PVE roguelike from Ukraine-based studio Frag Lab, left Steam and implemented web3 mechanics, relaunching on the Epic Games Store—leaving its enthusiastic but wary community grappling with “pay-to-win” fears.
Lyka broke down this backlash in her coverage:
This Hero shooter is back with some changes…, where she highlighted how fans loved Shatterline’s early-access launch but felt blindsided when the devs announced optional NFTs, token integration, and the Steam departure.
In I got better at Shatterline PVE after doing THIS, Lyka offers insights on Shatterline’s “Expedition Mode,” plus her own take on the dev’s blockchain plans—especially how they ring-fenced PVP from tokenized advantages, hoping to ease the pay-to-win anxiety.
Several gaming titans ventured into blockchain
SonyThe PlayStation powerhouse made significant strides into the space in 2024. In March, Sony patented “super-fungible” gaming tokens, a new type of token for gaming assets, before acquiring Amber Japan in July, a cryptocurrency exchange (rebranding to S.Blox).
In August, Sony announced Soneium, an Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain aimed at integrating web3 into entertainment and gaming.
Epic Games StoreThe Fortnite publisher and gaming giant further established itself as a home for blockchain games, welcoming an array of web3 titles, including:
