Trying to pick out the best space-themed P2E game is a galaxy-sized question.  It’s just that there are so many adventures out there in the great unknown to get swept in – and video games are one of the only ways that most of us will ever get to fly through space or hop along the surface of an alien world. If you’re like me who wants to travel beyond our little blue and green marble, then get your spacesuit ready as we voyage in the Star Atlas universe. 

DEVELOPMENT HISTORY

Star Atlas is a virtual space-themed, massively multiplayer online game based on the Solana Blockchain. The development team for the Star Atlas project was put together in 2020, being led by Michael Wagner - Co-founder and CEO of Star Atlas. His vast experience in digital finance firms over the years puts him in the spot to make excellent financial decisions for Star Atlas. Moreover, the creators of the Axie Infinity scholarship program, Animoca Brand, Yield Guild, and others have also contributed significantly to the game’s funding. Star Atlas is expected to have its pre-alpha on September 29, 2022.

GAMEPLAY SUMMARY

It's the year 2620. Humans have figured out interstellar travel, Sentient Robots walk among us, and the universe is filled with aliens. Star Atlas’s core storyline focuses on the tussle for resources, political power and survival that ensues between 3 factions – the MUD territory (Controlled by Humans), Ustur Sector (Collective of Sentient Androids) and Oni Region (Consortium of Alien Races). You will choose your side but think hard since each faction has their own strengths and weaknesses.

In Star Atlas, not only will you be able to traverse in third-person and first-person views, but you will also be able to oversee fleets distributed across the game's universe. Offering you an isometric top-down view. Moreover, Star Atlas has 3 games modes:

• Faction-Controlled Safe Zone- Where you can experience basic game features while avoiding destructive game modes like combat, rescue missions, and Salvage Wars.
• Medium Tiered Safety Zone- This area is secured by AI-controlled mercenaries where you can engage in combat.
• The Wild Frontier- You can enter full combat mode against other players in this area. Note that you’ll lose your assets permanently if they’re destroyed in the Wild Frontier.

Other than the three game modes, there’ll also be space exploration in the game. All celestial bodies in the Star Atlas universe are accessible for exploration. You will personally control your spaceships, allowing you to experience the vastness of the metaverse. Construction is also a major component of the game. Players can construct mining farms to gather precious materials from diverse zones and space stations to facilitate intergalactic trade. 

TOKENOMICS

ATLAS and POLIS are the two native tokens supported by Star Atlas. The ATLAS token can be used as in-game currency to purchase items like ships, components, land, and equipment. This can be earned by doing various in-game activities like selling assets on the Star Atlas marketplace or mining and selling ore.

POLIS, on the other side, is the governance token for the platform where holders will have key roles in governance decisions. This can be earned by completing special missions or helping the ecosystem by building new alliances in the game.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

The fact that Star Atlas is attempting to produce an intriguing blend of real-time graphics and multiple ways to earn makes it one of the best options for crypto enthusiasts. I appreciate how Star Atlas combats the repetitive scenarios, meaningless gameplay, and mediocre mechanics that plague the P2E industry currently. Like the repeated cartoon-like 2D creatures in card games that discouraged casual gamers from entering the lucrative world of blockchain gaming. Star Atlas is being implemented on what is arguably the most powerful real-time 3D construction platform, and I have no doubt that this will impress even the most hard-core gamers.

Star Atlas is among the most ambitious P2E projects since the developers literally intend to create a virtual universe, the project's breadth is simply mind-blowing. That’s why many people have been skeptical when it comes to all the promises Star Atlas is making – and who could blame them? There is indeed some lack of reasonable updates on development and the repeated network outages of the Solana blockchain network only added onto the negative buzz.

The game is still in its early stages, and it will take Star Atlas between 5 and 10 years to realize their whitepaper's ambition. There are still unfavorable attitudes in the community that point to some of the risk, despite the enthusiasm of others. Nonetheless, I am intrigued to see if this game lives up to its hype.