The concept of a "metaverse" - a fully realized virtual world where people can live, work, and play - has captured the popular imagination for decades, inspiring countless works of science fiction and serving as a vision of what the future of the internet might look like. Decentraland represents an innovative approach to virtual worlds and online gaming. In this review, we'll take a closer look at what Decentraland has to offer and see whether it lives up to the hype as one of the leading Web3 games.

• Blockchain Platform: Ethereum Blockchain

• Genre: Sandbox Game

• Available In: Web Browser

• Status: Live

DEVELOPMENT

Decentraland was a name that popped up first in 2018 and launched in 2020. The development of Decentraland began in 2015 when its co-founders, Esteban Ordano and Ari Meilich, set out to create a decentralized virtual world where users could own, build, and monetize their own content. They raised funds for the project through an initial coin offering (ICO) in 2017, which allowed them to expand the development team and accelerate development of the platform. The team has also worked closely with this community to ensure that Decentraland remains an open and decentralized platform that is responsive to the needs and interests of its users.

GAMEPLAY SUMMARY

Decentraland is a decentralized virtual world that allows you to explore, create, and interact with each other in a 3D environment. The gameplay in Decentraland is open-ended and player-driven, with a wide range of activities and experiences available to users. You can navigate the world using a customizable avatar, moving through a variety of environments such as forests, deserts, and cities. Along the way, you can interact with other players, chat, and collaborate on projects. You can also purchase and own virtual land, which you can then use to build and customize your own structures and environments. Overall, the gameplay in Decentraland is designed to be open-ended and collaborative, allowing you to explore your creativity and build your own virtual worlds. The decentralized nature of the platform also means that the experience is entirely controlled by you, with no central authority or corporate entity controlling the world or its contents.

TOKENOMICS

• LAND Token: This represents the 16mx16m parcels on the gigantic 3D grid of the metaverse. These LAND tokens aren’t interchangeable and are considered in-game NFTs since they can be traded on the marketplace for a profit.

• MANA Token: A token that is burned to acquire LAND parcels or can be traded to buy land on the massive 3D grid. MANA is also used to purchase various digital assets and services within Decentraland. MANA holders will also have a say in the development and policy-making phase of the game.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

Decentraland's graphics and art style are a significant part of what makes the platform so visually engaging. The graphics are based on a voxel-based system that gives it a distinct look that is reminiscent of classic 8-bit and 16-bit video games. Moreover, I think one of the standout features of Decentraland is its focus on user-generated content. Players have the ability to create their own experiences and content on lands they own, giving them complete creative control over their corner of the metaverse. The creation tools are also relatively simple to use, with a drag-and-drop interface for placing objects and a scripting engine for more advanced development.

While the decentralized nature of Decentraland provides many benefits, it can also be a double-edged sword. The platform is entirely controlled by its users, which means that there is no centralized authority to ensure quality control or enforce community standards. In addition, Since the landscape in Decentraland is so uniformly flat, even its vastness makes it feel more like a massive amusement park than a whole planet. Even though you might find some of the aesthetic elements in Decentraland rather neat, you'll also notice that there are large stretches of flat, barren greenery in the game.

Decentraland is a sandbox-style virtual world, which means that there is no overarching story or quest to follow. This can make it challenging for some players to find a sense of purpose or direction within the game. Decentraland is also plagued with pop-up—which makes more organic exploration difficult. Certain areas of Decentraland can also feel sparsely populated, which can make the game feel less engaging and interactive than other virtual worlds. Even if escaping reality is the point of the game, I doubt I'll be spending much time in Decentraland unless it's improved significantly.