One of the biggest trends floating around the cryptosphere in 2022 is move-to-earn games. Yes, that’s right! You can be rewarded with crypto for simply staying active. Crypto projects are often looking for unique ways to promote themselves in such a fast-paced environment. The move-to-earn initiative involves rewarding users with a project’s native token, for simply walking around the block.

While you may not need to buy or mine these tokens, you still have to do something in return. Move-to-earn is an intriguing concept. It will be interesting to see how many of these projects can prove their sustainability in the long run, especially considering the current bear market.

In this article, RR² Capital outlines the top 5 move-to-earn games of 2022.

What are Move-To-Earn Games?

Move-to-earn games are a relatively new application of blockchain-based rewards. Blockchain-based reward systems are where users earn rewards for an activity, engagement, or participation of some type. Move-to-earn games reward users for participating in physical activities. For some, these games form as a useful source of motivation, while for others they provide an additional source of revenue. The Move-to-earn game concept provides a unique motive for healthy exercise and healthy living.

The main goal of the move-to-earn movement is to utilize blockchain-based rewards to promote a more healthy and active lifestyle.

These games reward users for participating in various forms of exercise, including:

• Running
• Swimming
• Walking
• Jogging

How does Move-To-Earn Work?

Move-to-earn essentially works by gamifying physical activities. By combining blockchain-based rewards with health and lifestyle, users can earn tokens. Users perform physical activities that are then tracked by an app on their smartphone. Users can track their activities on various devices, including smartphones, fitness devices or other wearables. The data collected on the device then syncs with the game, enabling the user to earn rewards. These rewards can range from in-game tokens, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), and other cryptocurrencies.

It goes without saying: the higher the user activity, the greater the user is rewarded.

Why are Move-To-Earn Games so Popular?

The move-to-earn craze is still in its early stages. That said, however, there’s no denying its growing popularity. Here are some reasons why move-to-earn games are becoming so popular:

• You can build your crypto portfolio without having to invest anything (besides your physical activity, of course).
• They offer a fun, unique way to earn cryptocurrencies or crypto tokens
• They’re an easy way to get rewarded for something you’re already doing.
• They’re great for motivation, sometimes all we need is a little motivation to hit the gym or to simply get active.

These are just some of the factors creating extra hype around these projects.

Top 5 Move-To-Earn Games

Below, we outline the top 5 move-to-earn games:

STEPN

STEPN is a popular Web 3.0 lifestyle app and move-to-earn NFT game that rewards users for movement. STEPN is built on the Solana blockchain. STEPN requires users to either buy or rent a pair of NFT sneakers to participate.

STEPN has an easy-to-use interface and a growing user base. Users can earn the native GST tokens by walking, running, cycling and participating in other physical activities.

STEPN has two native tokens:

• Green Satoshi Token (GST): A utility token used as the in-game currency and for minting NFTs. GST is also used to repair, upgrade and mint NFT sneakers within the game.
• Green Metaverse Token (GMT): A governance token for participating in the project’s development.

Both GST and GMT can be earned by completing daily, weekly and monthly challenges, along with other activities. Apart from repairing and upgrading sneakers, users can also sell their minted NFT sneakers on the in-app NFT marketplace.

Genopets

Genopets, launched in November 2021. Genopets was the world’s first Solana-based move-to-earn NFT game. Genopets does not require an initial investment before playing, making it a popular choice for crypto enthusiasts who have limited funds.

Genopets rewards users for exercising, playing games, and caring for their NFT pets. Users can connect their fitness devices to their Genopets account to earn GENE tokens. GENE tokens can be used to upgrade the style and performance of users’ Genopets.

Genopets, like STEPN, also follows a duel native token system:

• KI Token: An in-game utility token used for the distribution of rewards and in-game purchases.
• GENE Token: A governance token, used for staking and participating in the project’s development.
• 

DotMoovs

Dotmoovs is a popular move-to-earn NFT game that allows users to earn MOOV tokens by participating in physical activities. With Dotmoovs Augmented Reality (AR) feature, users can participate in sports activities in real-world locations and get rewarded for it.

Currently, users can earn MOOV tokens by competing in challenges with other users across the world. While the Dotmoovs team has plans to add other sports, the platform currently supports two sports: freestyle football and dance.

Dotmoovs has been dubbed “the next crypto “TikTok” by many users. This comes after its dance feature was released. The dance feature allows users to compete against each other in dance challenges. Say goodbye to unbiased opinions too, because Dotmoovs, powered by their Artificial Intelligence (AI), is the referee. As a reward for winning competitions, winners receive MOOV.

Sweatcoin

Sweatcoin is a free to use move-to-earn app that rewards users for their daily steps.

For every 1,000 steps they take, users earn 1 SWEAT token. Users can use their SWEAT to buy things in the Sweatcoin marketplace, including high-tech shoes, iPhones, anti-gravity yoga classes, Apple Watches, and more.

Sweatcoin is a great app for anyone wanting to count their daily steps while getting rewarded for their physical activity

Dustland

Dustland is a narrative focused health and fitness blockchain game. Dustland encourages and motivates players to earn rewards for being active. Players are required to perform missions by running.

Real-world runs, jogs, and sprints, move players forward in the game’s narrative. The more missions a player completes, the greater the rewards. Players earn DOSE tokens for completing missions. These tokens can be used to unlock items, purchase NFTs, participate in special events and explore game modes.

Getting Started with Move-To-Earn

Now that you know more about move-to-earn, you’re probably wondering how you can earn crypto tokens in return for being active. We’ve outlined some tips below:

Choose a game that interests you

If you’re looking to participate in a move-to-earn game, choose something that you’re actually interested in. If running is your thing, then Sweatcoin or Dustland may be the perfect fit for you. If, however, you’re more into dancing, then Dotmoovs may be the game for you.

Understand the objectives of the game

You need to ensure you understand the objectives of the game. Pay attention to all the details, including how to complete missions/tasks to earn rewards, how to spend your rewards and any other important details. Most games allow you to buy in-game upgrades, enter competitions or cash out for real-world rewards.

Download the app

Now that you’ve chosen a game and understand how it works, it’s time to download the mobile application and create an account. In most cases, you’ll likely need to link your fitness mobile application or device to the game so you can start tracking your movements.

Play and earn rewards

Now it’s time for the fun part. Start playing and start earning rewards. The more you move, the more crypto tokens you’ll earn. You now start earning tokens while hitting all your fitness goals.

Other Ways to Earn Crypto

Move-to-earn falls under the category of GameFi, which is a combination of the terms gaming and Decentralized Finance (DeFi). Below are some of the most common ways you can earn crypto through GameFi.

Play-to-earn

Just as the name suggests, play-to-earn games involve playing a game to earn a reward. Rewards usually in the form of in-game tokens or NFTs. Players can also create and sell their NFTs on the in-game marketplace. Players have full ownership of all NFTs and tokens, while game developers benefit from transaction fees.

Some of the most popular play-to-earn games include: Axie Infinity, The Sandbox, and Gods Unchained.

Learn-to-earn

The term “learn-to-earn” was developed around the idea of rewarding people with tokens, simply for learning about crypto. There are two motivations for the development of learn-to-earn:

Crypto exchanges: Exchanges seek to drive traffic to their platform and grow their customer base by teaching and rewarding people with crypto on their platform.

Crypto projects: To teach people and get them to invest in their projects, stealing the attention away from the thousands of other crypto projects.

Watch-to-earn

Given that three of the top 10 websites in the world revolve around video content, watch-to-earn crypto projects have huge potential. Watch-to-earn provides a great opportunity for both content creators and users. Users earn rewards for watching videos, while content creators get paid for creating content. Watch this space.

The Future of Move-To-Earn

While many move-to-earn projects are still in their early stages, various projects have seen incredible success. Overall, the concept of move-to-earn is quite unique and catchy. Furthermore, move-to-earn projects have the potential to introduce blockchain and crypto to an enormous audience who may otherwise not have been intrigued.

While there is still much uncertainty around the longevity and return on investment with these projects, there’s no denying their potential. The growth that could potentially come from this sector is undefined.

As we have seen in the past, the crypto market is incredibly volatile and there’s no guarantee that a project will survive the test of time. So before investing your hard earned money, time or energy into any project, make sure you do your own research. This article is not investment advice.

That being said, it’s incredible to see how far blockchain technology has come over the past few years. We’re excited to witness the progress we’ve made over the past few years and can’t wait to see what unfolds for the x-to-earn movement.

At RR² Capital, we’re a Venture Capital (VC) firm with a passion for disruptive technology. To date, we’ve successfully invested in over 140 projects, many of which include move-to-earn games. Our mission is to capture value by investing in early stage projects and teams who are leading innovation and disruption within the Web 3.0 world.

For more information about RR² Capital and our expansive disruptive technology-focussed investment portfolio, visit our website here or send us a mail here.