GameFi decrypted: Sandbox vs Decentraland

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XPLUS

4 min readFeb 10, 2023

GameFi is a game-changer in the online gaming world. Using blockchain technology and incorporating decentralized finance (DeFi), GameFi is now growing more popular in the metaverse. It adopted the P2E or play to earn model. This means users play the game to earn rewards, unlike traditional online games which require you to pay first to participate in the game.

Monetize your playtime

Terms like non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrency associated with GameFi seem to be a little intimidating. But just like any other game, you just have to play it and get rewarded. The rewards may come in the form of a crypto or an NFT. Here’s why:

It’s fun and engaging

Various GameFi differ in mechanics. You can complete tasks, combat with other users, engage in tournaments, unlock levels to access new games, sell virtual assets or even develop a virtual land! GameFi has a lot of in-game items to choose from as well. These come as NFTs in the form of avatars, land, garments, weapons, pets, gold, or tokens that you have full access as owners or creators.

It’s an opportunity to invest

Since it has in-game items that come in the form of NFTs, thus it has digital marketplaces where these can be purchased, sold, auctioned, or traded. These options provide users opportunities to grow their assets and profit. GameFi developers allow players to fully own game assets. However, not all of the games are entirely free, just like Axie Infinity, Decentraland, and Sandbox because users need to have a crypto wallet fund to store their earnings and NFTs to fully immerse in these platforms.

It’s safe and secure

In the GameFi sphere, the information, transactions, achievements, and ownership of various items are all stored in the public blockchain. Since users have full access and ownership to these assets, which include items created or purchased, no one can take away ownership rights even if the game’s server goes offline. It will never be lost! Also, acquired and purchased items are verifiable through the public blockchain and serve as proof for users to do anything to an asset or item. Blockchain technology and NFTs give an item a unique identification for it to get a sensible value.

Sandbox vs Decentraland

The metaverse is teeming with virtual gaming worlds that provide users unique virtual gaming experiences. GameFi offers users the experience as well as endless opportunities to monetize it.

There is much game finance available in the metaverse but here are two big names in this domain amid the growing attention and debate on where to put your time and crypto funds into good use. The Sandbox and Decentraland have a lot of similarities and notable differences so read along to know more about them.

The Sandbox

Developed by Pixowl, The Sandbox is a 3D open-world game where users can own a piece of digital real estate called LAND. The gaming ecosystem allows users to create, own and monetize their gaming engagements in their LAND on the Ethereum blockchain using the platform’s token- SAND.

Once users own a LAND, they can utilize it to contain what they create. Multiple lands combined form an estate. Land and estates can be used to place digital assets like games and items in the form of NFTs. These digital assets can be uploaded to the marketplace and games can be integrated or published with Game Maker.

Image: Sandbox

Here’s how you can monetize in Sandbox:

Use The Sandbox’s voxel art program called Voxedit. Voxel artists can create art, garments, music, videos, or any in-game items in exchange for SAND.
Create, share, and monetize experiences on LAND. Create games in your LAND where other users need to pay a small fee in SAND for them to play.
Participate in events. The Sandbox announces events such as pre-season and in-season events to play games and earn SAND, game maker competitions, and surprise giveaways.

The Sandbox is hyped with a lot of innovative gaming experiences that empower users both as players and content creators. The Sandbox is much younger than other GameFis and offers a virtual world gaming experience, so it has better visuals and runs more smoothly. Moreover, it is developed through user-generated content that motivates a great degree of creativity to its users.

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