Here is a short curated list of the best metaverses to try out in 2022! For the purpose of this article, we will focus on decentralized metaverses, where cryptocurrencies & non-fungible tokens are fuelling a new economy owned by users, communities & creators.
First off, what is the metaverse? While there doesn’t seem to be a fixed definition for the term, the metaverse can be defined as a simulated digital environment where users can socially interact in an immersive fashion. Others also described it as a huge digital mall where creators, brands, companies, and individuals can build their own digital space.
Metaverse believers would go further and define it as the evolution of the internet. Web 1.0 connected information, web 2.0 connected people, and web 3.0 will connect information, people, and digital things. While we are currently in an era where users are ‘spectators’, the metaverse will allow users to become ‘participants’ and have a much more immersive experience while navigating the web.
We are still in the early stages of the development of the metaverse, however, we are already observing a few digital worlds that seem to particularly distinguish themselves. Let’s dive into the top 3 blockchain Metaverses!
N°1: Sandbox
At number 1 we have Sandbox! This virtual environment built on top of the Ethereum blockchain has not fully been released yet -as it is still running its apha version- but its potential is simply astounding. Sandbox is THE platform empowering creators, with a specific focus on game creators & developers!
The Sandbox is a metaverse where players can create, own, & sell their gaming items & experiences. Landowners use SAND -the platform’s token- in order to control the game they have created. To create your game, you can either acquire a Land or collaborate with a landowner. What is particularly interesting is that Sandbox has its own Game Maker & it’s free. You can start crafting games with their toolbox without having to learn to code or to own land.
While traditional centralised gaming environments do not allow builders to have ownership and control over their creations, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and blockchain technology seem to completely reverse this dynamic. Each in-game item (NFT) has its own unique digital identity, therefore creators are able to monetize all the digital assets they build within this metaverse.
The future is very bright for Sandbox, the metaverse has already collaborated with hundreds of brands, franchises, and artists -including the Smurfs, The Walking Dead, Atari, Gucci, Snoop Dogg, & Ubisoft.
It was recently announced that Sandbox committed $50 million to launch an accelerator program with Animoca Brands and Brinc. This program will allow Sandbox to invest in up to 100 crypto startups to build on top of their virtual gaming universe.
N°2: Decentraland
At number 2, we have a wonderful 3D universe called Decentraland, one of the pioneer metaverse projects! Decentraland is also currently the largest virtual 3D environment. This Metaverse is governed by a decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO).
The Decentraland 3D environment allows users to host events, participate in social activities/events, and build on their virtual plots. Similar to Sandbox, Decentraland has its own token: MANA. Users use this token to participate in the metaverse’s activities: acquiring NFT art in digital art galleries, studying at the Decentraland Academy, gambling in the Decentral Games’ casino, playing mini-golf, and much more. This metaverse was created for social entertainment!
MANA is also used to acquire parcels, a plot of digital land in Decentraland. Users are able to have full control over their parcel and what they build on them: 3D scenes, applications, games, etc. Owning a parcel is necessary to start building, but you don’t need to own anything to explore the virtual world, as long as you have a crypto wallet installed on your browser (like Metamask). Why not try it out now!
N°3: CryptoVoxels
Last, but not least, we have the amazing Cryptovoxels Metaverse!
Like the other 2 Metaverses in this list, Cryptovoxels is powered by the Ethereum blockchain. It is a smaller metaverse, but it is the only one that is continuously expanding! There are no limits set for the growth of this virtual world for the time being.
Cryptovoxels is the easiest Metaverse to get started with exploring and building virtual experiences. Users can acquire parcels/plots, where they can establish stores and art galleries displaying non-fungible tokens. It is a fantastic metaverse for creators as the editing tools built into the world itself are very user-friendly. Users don’t need to own a plot to practice building: free spaces are available for this purpose. To build you simply need to drag and drop blocks: if you like Minecraft, this metaverse is for you!
Due to its great building features, different NFT projects are establishing their headquarters in this metaverse for parties, events, and meta-activities. For example, BlockBots organised a housewarming party that gathered more than 500 people! Players were dancing on the rooftop, while 2 DJs in Berlin were being live-streamed on a giant screen. Meta-events of this type should become a norm in the future: it’s a very cool and innovative way to interact with people online!
If you want to visit a unique metaverse HQ, the BlockBots hideout’s doors are always open HERE!
Sandbox, Decentraland, and Cryptovoxels are currently the best metaverses available! But this does not mean that they will be the most popular ones in the future… We are only at the very beginning of the Web 3.0 era, and many amazing projects are currently being developed. Only time will tell which metaverse(s) will conquer the masses and become the new standard for web browsing!
