I’ve been following the Splinterlands + HIVE universe closely for quite some time now, and the more I observe it, the more impressed I am with this game’s ability to stay relevant despite so many market turbulences. In a scenario where we’ve seen dozens of blockchain games appear with grand promises and vanish within a few months, Splinterlands keeps going strong, still gathering players and fueling discussions.
This made me reflect on what truly keeps this game standing and, at the same time, the points that still concern me.
Where the heck did I pull this from? Well, I was searching for a new #Play2Earn game and ended up finding this 3-year-old post: Play2Earn - Best NFT Games List
Published on CoinMarketCap Academy.
In short, this post highlighted some big names that were bringing what was then the “NFT fever” into games, integrating it with true Play2Earn mechanics. Names like Axie Infinity, Plant vs Undead, and other well-known titles…
Why this image? I don’t know either LOL. I just found it catchy…
I believe that aside from a few names, most of them simply vanished from the community abandoned or, in the worst case like PvU, tried to reach beyond their grasp. They introduced mechanics and sold players on future dreams, only to get lost in endless maintenance.
Looking at Splinterlands’ journey, it’s clear that it stayed afloat for some very specific reasons. First, the gameplay has always been authentic at its core, it’s a Trading Card Game that doesn’t try to be something it’s not. That may seem simple, but it made a big difference. While other projects promised open worlds, cutting-edge graphics, and even entire metaverses, Splinterlands chose to focus on a format that already had a fanbase:
Fast and strategic battles, in the style of the good old card games we know.
Another crucial point is the internal economy.
The use of the SPS (Splintershards) token for rewards and governance shows there was care in creating something beyond just a temporary speculative coin.
The fact that the community can take part in decisions also gives players the sense they’re not just consumers but active participants in the project. The community, in fact, is probably the soul of the game. It keeps the forums alive, organizes tournaments, discusses strategies, and brings in new players. Without it, Splinterlands would probably have fallen behind long ago. It’s inspiring to see that even when the crypto market went down, many players stayed, still playing and collecting.
Even so, as someone who follows it closely, I can’t ignore a few things that worry me. The Web3 gaming market remains extremely competitive. Every month, a new title appears with flashy graphics, cinematic trailers, and massive marketing budgets. If Splinterlands doesn’t keep evolving, it risks looking outdated to new audiences.
Another challenge is the sensitivity of its economy.
If the tokens lose utility or the reward system isn’t well-balanced, the incentive for many players could drop. And no matter how strong the community is, we know that an unsustainable economy can discourage even the most loyal fans.
I also think about adoption outside the crypto niche. The entry barrier is still high for anyone who’s never dealt with blockchain. A person who just wants to try the game might feel lost with the process of creating digital wallets and buying tokens. This needs to be simplified because the game’s future depends on attracting new players who come for the gameplay, not just the earnings.
Finally, there’s the regulatory factor.
Games involving crypto are always at risk of facing new rules or legal restrictions. Although it’s not something that depends directly on the Splinterlands team, it’s a reality they’ll have to deal with. I once tried to explain to my girlfriend how Hive worked and how I was making some money with it. Then I moved on to Splinterlands, and her question was:
Does this game have any legal representation? Where is their company based, and where does the money come from?
I tried to explain it comes from investments through pack sales, other in-game sales, or something like that, but she simply told me it sounded shady. “How can you make money playing a card game?” she said.
Even though she plays Magic: The Gathering… which doesn’t earn her a single cent.