7 Best Gaming Cryptocurrency To Invest in January 2025

Our experts pick the 7 top gaming crypto tokens to invest in that combine strong foundations, unique tech and the highest upside for the future.
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Updated on Jan 15, 2025
Reading time 4 minutes

With so many different crypto projects available today, it’s never been more important to invest in the best ones.

Pick one of the best cryptos to buy now, and you can make 10x or more on your money, but poor-quality projects can flop during crypto’s notorious winters.

We’ve picked out the 7 top crypto gaming coins with the most potential to help you make the best investment decisions.

Compare the leading lights with the latest projects to find the gaming tokens that are worth your precious money.

7 Top Crypto Gaming Crypto Coins to Buy Now

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  1. The Sandbox: Best for buying virtual land in the metaverse
  2. Decentraland: Best for gaming inside the metaverse
  3. Gala: Best for an entertainment platform where you can earn real rewards
  4. Axie Infinity: Best for breeding & battling your own NFTs in-game
  5. UFO Gaming: Best gaming crypto for earning eSports rewards
  6. Enjin: Best for creating your own digital assets & NFTs for games
  7. Apecoin: Best for access the exclusive Bored Ape Yacht Club

Summary of the Best Crypto Gaming Coins

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Rank Top altcoin Symbol Price Market cap
1 The Sandbox SAND $0.61 $1,498,405,200.34
2 Decentraland MANA $0.53 $1,022,658,548.04
3 Gala GALA $0.04 $1,322,288,677.35
4 Axie Infinity AXS $6.14 $968,798,090.13
5 UFO Gaming UFO $5.10 $13,130,792.32
6 Enjin ENJ $0.21 $376,758,669.20
7 Apecoin APE $1.12 $840,069,373.36

Detailed Reviews of the Best Gaming Cryptos

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1. The Sandbox: Best for buying virtual land in the metaverse

The Sandbox
  • Symbol: SAND
  • Market cap: $1.50B
  • Current price: $0.61
  • Founded: 2020
  • Whitepaper

Overview

The Sandbox is a blockchain-based virtual world where users can create, own, and monetise their gaming experiences and virtual assets. It provides a platform for creators to build, share, and play games, as well as buy and sell virtual assets within The Sandbox metaverse.

The initial development of what became The Sandbox began in 2011 and it began life as a mobile game in 2012. It wasn’t until 2018 that The Sandbox team announced plans to embrace the metaverse concept by developing a decentralised metaverse world powered by blockchain technology, a move that turned it into one of the top metaverse crypto coins.

Nowadays, The Sandbox emphasises user-generated content and play-to-earn gaming mechanics, allowing creators to unleash their creativity and build unique experiences while earning rewards in the platform’s native utility token, SAND. This enables a diverse and constantly evolving metaverse.

The metaverse is built using blockchain technology to ensure true ownership of virtual assets. The use of NFTs within The Sandbox enables creators and players to buy, sell, and trade virtual items securely through its native NFT marketplace, without the risk of duplication or fraud.

In 2022, The Sandbox partnered with major gaming brands, including Atari, The Walking Dead, and Binance, to bring popular IPs and characters into the virtual world. Ongoing development has helped the metaverse to expand and attract a growing number of passionate creators and players, making SAND one of the most desirable metaverse coins out there today.

Key features

User-generated content and creativity-driven platform Blockchain-based true ownership and secure transactions with NFTs Play-to-earn mechanics, allowing players to earn rewards by participating in the ecosystem

Key negatives

The token is inflationary, unlike most competitors

51% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.

2. Decentraland: Best for gaming inside the metaverse

Decentraland
  • Symbol: MANA
  • Market cap: $1.02B
  • Current price: $0.53
  • Founded: 2017
  • Whitepaper

Overview

Decentraland is a decentralised virtual world built on the Ethereum blockchain. It enables users to create, explore, and monetize digital content and experiences within a virtual reality environment. Decentraland uses blockchain technology to ensure true ownership and scarcity of virtual land and assets.

Decentraland is a detailed metaverse that incorporates land ownership, content creation, and an entire in-world economy based around the MANA token. The virtual metaverse world of Decentraland is divided into parcels of virtual land called LAND. Each LAND parcel is represented by a non-fungible token (NFT) on the Ethereum blockchain, allowing users to own, buy, sell, and trade metaverse plots securely.

LAND is at the centre of the whole ecosystem, and each user has the ability to purchase a piece of land within one of the Decentraland servers, then develop interactive 3D scenes and experiences on that land using a native scripting language called Decentraland SDK. These creations can range from art installations and games to virtual shops and social spaces.

All you have to do is create your own avatar to interact with the Decentraland metaverse. You can explore the various virtual environments, interact with other users, attend events, and participate in activities. You can also buy virtual land, assets, and services using MANA, or monetise your creations by selling or leasing them to other users.

Decentraland is governed by a decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO), called the Decentraland Foundation. Owning MANA entitles you to participate in the DAO’s decision-making process and influence the development and direction of the virtual world.

Key features

True ownership and secure transactions using blockchain technology. Creative freedom and the ability to build unique 3D experiences within virtual land parcels. Use MANA to buy and sell virtual land or monetise your creations

Key negatives

The NFT and metaverse space is very competitive

51% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.

3. Gala: Best for an entertainment platform where you can earn real rewards

Gala
  • Symbol: GALA
  • Market cap: $1.32B
  • Current price: $0.04
  • Founded: 2020
  • Whitepaper

Overview

Gala is a blockchain-based entertainment platform that aims to revolutionise the gaming industry by leveraging blockchain technology and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). It uses the concept of play-to-earn, where players can earn real value in the form of tokens and NFTs while playing games on the platform.

The GALA token is the in-game currency, which you use to buy virtual items, assets, and upgrades within Gala-powered games. You can earn GALA tokens for participating, achieving, and engaging with the platform.

Gala rates as one of the best cryptos to explode because it combines power of blockchain and play-to-earn mechanics to create an immersive gaming ecosystem where players can earn real value while enjoying and contributing to the Gala community.

Key features

Earn GALA tokens as reward for participating in the community Developer-friendly platform that offers user-friendly tools to create blockchain-based games Gala fosters an engaged and collaborative community of gamers, content creators, and developers

Key negatives

The blockchain gaming space is very competitive The Gala tokenomics are obscure

51% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.

4. Axie Infinity: Best for breeding & battling your own NFTs in-game

Axie Infinity
  • Symbol: AXS
  • Market cap: $0.97B
  • Current price: $6.14
  • Founded: 2020
  • Whitepaper

Overview

Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based game that combines elements of strategy, collectibles, and blockchain technology. It features cute and unique creatures called Axies, which players can collect, breed, battle, and trade, and a pioneering play-to-earn (P2E) model.

Play-to earn means that players can earn in-game rewards and cryptocurrencies (AXS and SLP tokens) by playing the game and participating in battles. These rewards can be sold or used to acquire more Axies, creating opportunities for income generation.

The Axies themselves are non-fungible tokens (NFTs) based on the Ethereum blockchain. Each Axie is represented as an NFT, giving players control over their digital assets. Players can buy, sell, and trade Axies on the marketplace, creating a vibrant virtual economy.

The value of Axie Infinity’s native token, AXS, experienced a significant surge in 2021, reflecting the game’s growing user base, the popularity of its P2E model, and its prominence in the blockchain gaming industry. It has continued to introduce new features and game modes, and innovate within the blockchain gaming space, ever since.

Key features

Axie Infinity allows players to earn AXS tokens by playing the game It uses NFTs to create provable scarcity of Axies and in-game assets, enhancing their value and tradeability Axie Infinity has a vibrant and supportive community that fosters social interactions, collaborations, and guilds

Key negatives

Axie has experienced hacks in the past

51% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.

5. UFO Gaming: Best gaming crypto for earning eSports rewards

UFO Gaming
  • Symbol: UFO
  • Market cap: $13.13M
  • Current price: $0.000000509784
  • Founded: 2021
  • Whitepaper

Overview

UFO Gaming is a decentralised gaming platform which is still being developed. UFO Gaming aims to create playable P2E games, NFTs, and digital real estate on the blockchain. The $UFO coin is the utility token of UFO Gaming and its Dark Metaverse, which will be the home of UFO Gaming’s future releases.

Each game will be known as a planet in the Dark Metaverse. Its first game/planet will be Super Galactic, a top-down 3-D arcade shooter. To play Super Galactic, one must acquire a playable character in the form of an NFT called UFOep. To create UFOeps, potential players must first purchase UFO from a crypto exchange and then use their UFO to farm ‘Plasma points’.

Players can build virtual NFT stores to exchange NFTs that will be available as they play the games in the future and UFO Gaming intends to work with traditional gaming companies to bridge the gap between the crypto world and traditional gaming. Their vision is bold, and the market has shown great interest in UFO crypto gaming coins.

Key features

Blockchain-based gaming platform that leverages the power of decentralised finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). You can earn rewards, trade virtual assets, and participate in play-to-earn gaming experiences. With its focus on community-driven development and the integration of UFO tokens, the platform provides gamers with an immersive gaming environment.

Key negatives

Huge amount of competition

51% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.

6. Enjin: Best for creating your own digital assets & NFTs for games

Enjin Coin
  • Symbol: ENJ
  • Market cap: $376.76M
  • Current price: $0.21
  • Founded: 2017
  • Whitepaper

Overview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL_nmDRuniI

Enjin is a blockchain platform that provides a suite of tools and services for creating blockchain-based assets into the gaming industry. Enjin allows game developers to incorporate decentralised ownership into their games, creating unique virtual economies and empowering players to earn money from their creations.

Using Enjin’s tools, developers can create digital assets inside a metaverse platform, such as in-game items, characters, or virtual goods, and tokenize them on the Ethereum blockchain as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). These features in some hugely popular games that run on the Enjin platform, such as Age of Rust, Forest Knight, The Six Dragons, and AlterVerse.

Enjin provides the infrastructure for storing, managing, and monetising these NFTs. The assets can be easily integrated and interoperable across different games and platforms within the Enjin ecosystem. All of these digital assets are backed by ENJ tokens held in reserve, which gives the assets real-world value, as they can be redeemed for the ENJ tokens they are backed by.

Enjin enables developers to design and implement virtual economies within their games, allowing players to own, trade, and monetize their in-game assets. The platform supports the creation of scarcity, rarity, and value for these digital items.

Key features

Dedicated focus on gaming industry and infrastructure tailored for game developers Interoperability of assets across different games and platforms within the Enjin ecosystem Asset backing and real-world value

Key negatives

There are only a handful of games available

51% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.

7. Apecoin: Best for access the exclusive Bored Ape Yacht Club

ApeCoin
  • Symbol: APE
  • Market cap: $840.07M
  • Current price: $1.12
  • Founded: 2022
  • Whitepaper

Overview

ApeCoin is a cryptocurrency that was created to empower the community of the APE ecosystem, which originated from the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) range of NFTs. It’s developed by Yuga Labs and used for Otherside, an online multiplayer role playing game inside the metaverse. You can use APE to buy virtual land in the Otherside metaverse.

Yuga Labs’ BAYC range of NFTs, famous for their ape-like appearance, took the world by storm when they were popularised by celebrities like Justin Bieber, Steph Curry, and Jimmy Fallon. Bored Ape NFTs were changing hands for hundreds of thousands of dollars in late 2021, which prompted the creation of a unique APE cryptocurrency in 2022.

ApeCoin serves multiple purposes within the ecosystem. Firstly, it enables APE token holders to participate in the decision-making process through the ApeCoin DAO, where they can collectively vote on governance issues such as fund allocation, rule framing, partnerships, and project selection.

Secondly, ApeCoin grants holders access to exclusive features of the ecosystem, including games, events, merchandise, and services. Lastly, ApeCoin can be used as a transactional currency, allowing for payments within the ecosystem and potentially with third-party developers who incorporate the token into their services, games, and projects.

Key features

ApeCoin holders can participate in the decision-making process within the ApeCoin DAO Holders get access to exclusive features, including games, events, merchandise, and services You can use APE to buy goods, services, and rewards within the metaverse

Key negatives

Apecoin's value is tied to NFTs, which are highly volatile

51% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.

How to Find the Best Gaming Cryptocurrency

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Use the guide below to help you find the best gaming coin projects in 2025.

  • Research reputable gaming coin projects. You can use crypto news websites like Twitter and Telegram to find the latest gaming projects. Once you’ve found a gaming coin you’re interested in, check out its website, where you’ll be able to learn more about the project and its future plans.
  • Look for gaming coins with a strong development team. The best crypto gaming coins have a strong team of game developers behind them. Make sure you take the time to find gaming cryptos with a solid team of founders and developers.  
  • Read the project’s whitepaper. All crypto gaming coins have a whitepaper, which is a document explaining what the project is about. Take the time to read the documentation to understand its technology, features, and potential use cases. Look for gaming virtual assets that incorporate the latest technology, such as AI or virtual reality, within their gaming ecosystems.
  • Consider community engagement. Many of the best crypto gaming tokens have thriving communities and active participation in the project’s ecosystem. Most are used as a currency within the game itself, so a large and growing community could bode well for the future. Make sure to consider the game’s release date and schedule, as gaming cryptocurrencies with a large community ahead of release could be in a great spot to thrive.
  • Examine partnerships and collaborations. Partnerships with reputable gaming entities like Ubisoft, Activision Blizzard, or Rockstar demonstrate credibility and potential integration opportunities for the gaming coin.
  • Assess the project’s tokenomics. Take the time to study the tokenomics of a gaming crypto coin, including its distribution model and utility within the gaming ecosystem. Understand how the gaming coin is distributed, its supply dynamics, and its utilization within the gaming ecosystem.

Are Gaming Crypto Coins a Good Investment?

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They can be, but the quality of the game itself is the most important thing.

The success of individual coins is usually tied to how popular the game or platform is.

For example, The Sandbox has consistently been one of the biggest crypto gaming coins because it has thousands of active users every day 1 .

While Immutable X is one of the best crypto gaming companies because it offers a range of developer applications – such as NFT minting 2 – that have become extremely popular.

These tokens represent good investments if you can find a game that has the potential to attract a lot of users.

The overall crypto gaming market is expected to scale $1 trillion within the next decade, so there’s certainly opportunity out there.

Conclusion

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GameFi is one of the fastest growing sectors in crypto, with new games being produced all the time.

These projects challenge the traditional layout of the gaming world, where players have to pay more to play their favorite games.


Sources & references

James Knight

James Knight

Editor of Education

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James is the Editor of Education for Invezz, where he covers topics from across the financial world, from the stock market, to cryptocurrency, to macroeconomic markets. His main focus is on improving financial literacy among casual investors. He has been with Invezz since the start of 2021 and has been...