}
Splinterlands is a NFT game that started in 2018. While the game is growing by leaps and bounds, it should always be affordable in order to attract new players and keep existing players.
You can technically play the game for free though you will not be able to earn Dark Energy Crystals, compete in daily quests or compete for season rewards.
In order to start earning in-game currency, you only need to pay a one-time fee of $10 for a Summoner's Spellbook.
This will get you on your way to earning in game currency to be able to purchase and rent cards.
If you are starting out, it pays to rent out cards first before purchasing them as it gives you the chance of trying the cards so you can see if they fit your strategy or not. You can rent cards for as short as a day to as long as 180 days.
The rental system allows you to play the game sustainably without the need to spend anything beyond the $10 for the spellbook.
Let's say you earn 10 DEC per match and your daily rental cost is 100 DEC, you just need to win 10 games to recoup your costs and anything beyond that is pure profit.
This is a good strategy by the game developers as a high barrier to entry will scare new players away.