Deep Dive: Solana Gaming - August 2024

Note: Below is the text-accessible version of this post for visually impaired readers.

Memecoins have outpaced gaming on Solana. Since the start of memecoin mania in March, Solana games have experienced a decline in players. Player count has steadily decreased MoM while the number of monthly memecoin traders rose to a new high of 18.9M.

Gaming interest has ended its five-month downtrend. Using DEX volume share as a proxy, a slight recovery in the gaming sector's activity was observed in August. This year, Solana Breakpoint introduced a Gamer Village with live Solana games, sparking fresh interest in the gaming sector.

Gaming tokens' performance has been underwhelming. Of the 14 gaming tokens reviewed, only $CROWN and $YAKU are trading above their launch prices.

Part I: Moonwalk Fitness - Solana's Latest Accountability Tool for Fitness

Assemble a crew, set a daily step target, and deposit USDC, SOL, or BONK. Meet your crew's goal or keep pace with the highest days completed to safeguard your deposit.

Moonwalk Fitness gained rapid market adoption. The platform has consistently seen over $300k in monthly deposits and 500 depositors since its launch in March. To participate in a game, players can deposit either SOL, BONK, or USDC.

Moonwalk Fitness assists projects in community building. Teams like Bonk, Wen, Brave, Access, Lulo, and others have engaged their communities by sponsoring pools funded through entry fees and incentives. Collectively, $18k has been contributed towards sponsored pools.

Players demonstrate deep commitment to Moonwalk Fitness. Since the platform's inception, the average monthly deposit per player has exceeded $500, not including sponsor deposits.

The Moonwalk Fitness ecosystem has become increasingly lively. In August, the platform reached an ATH with 158 pools created, offering players a diverse selection. Each pool varies by entry fee, duration, and the number of steps required, providing more choices for engagement.

Part II: Star Atlas - The First Space Strategy & Unreal Engine 5 Game on Solana

Set in the year 2620, Star Atlas offers a vast, interactive universe for exploration, resource mining, and combat. The game is being developed in stages, enabling players to engage with various mini-games as the full experience continues to evolve.

Star Atlas' active player count increased in August following the release of the Crew Pack NFT. The NFT collection serves multiple purposes in the game, including Avatars, PFPs, and crew customization. SAGE (Star Atlas: Golden Age) is a mini-game of Star Atlas designed to engage the community while the main game continues to develop.

Star Atlas SAGE's retention rate saw a notable uptick last month. This metric is one to watch in the coming months, especially following the first-ever Star Atlas Summit at Breakpoint.

Part III: Photo Finish Live - The World's Most Realistic Virtual Horse Racing Game

Built on Solana, Photo Finish Live offers an authentic and immersive experience where players can own, race, breed, and trade digital race horses.

CROWN Voucher NFTs were not able to reverse the wane in player engagement. In July 2024, Photo Finish Live's PFP NFTs transitioned to Voucher NFTs, aiming to drive higher gaming engagement. Despite this, the game continued to see a decline in USDC depositors, which began in April.

Median monthly user deposits on the platform dropped from $1.05k to $250. Higher deposits indicate that users actively participate and find value in the game's offerings.

Photo Finish Live has built a consistent player deposit base. USDC net deposits returned to $3.2M, settling a little over where they were at the start of the year. Announced at Breakpoint, the game has secured approval from Apple’s App Store and is now available in the US, boosting its visibility and expanding its player base.

Part IV: Projects to Watch & Notable Developments

BR1: INFINITE - Pay-to-Spawn, Kill-to-Earn Shooter

Players pay a spawn fee to enter the game and earn the spawn fees of opponents they eliminate.

Tatsumeeko - Modern Fantasy Idle Game

Players can explore vast worlds, engage in strategic combat, and personalize their experience with exclusive NFTs.

Elementerra - Alchemy-Themed Strategy Game

Players combine basic elements like Air, Earth, Fire, and Water to discover new inventions. Each discovery can lead to rewards.

Earth From Another Sun - Open-Galaxy MMORPG Looter-Shooter

A sci-fi world where players can fight, trade, loot, build, raise children, recruit, clear dungeons, win wars, and go on conquests.

Honeyland - Strategic Resource Management Game

Players start with a Gen Z Queen and Bees - expanding colonies, enhancing bees, and interacting with other players through various activities.