Crypto gaming has been a hot topic in recent years, with the promise of blockchain technology allowing gamers to truly own and trade their in-game assets. However, many developers are facing challenges in sustaining their games and digital economies. While some games like Gunzilla Games’ Off the Grid have seen success without full blockchain integration, others have struggled to find players and funding.
In 2025, several once-promising crypto games have shut down, signaling a growing trend in the industry. Here’s a look at some of the biggest games that have gone offline or ceased development entirely.
Deadrop
Deadrop, an extraction shooter game developed by Midnight Society, announced its closure in January. The studio, which had previously removed co-founder Dr. Disrespect due to alleged misconduct, gave employees just two days’ notice. The game, which sold NFT access passes on the Ethereum scaling network Polygon, faced backlash from players who sought refunds through credit card chargebacks.
Ember Sword
Ember Sword, an Ethereum game that received over $200 million in pledges for an NFT land sale, ultimately shut down in May due to a lack of funding. The MMORPG faced criticism from players and struggled to find a permanent home after moving chains multiple times.
Nyan Heroes
Nyan Heroes, a Solana cat-mech shooter game, ended its run in May due to a lack of funding. Despite garnering over 250,000 wishlist additions, the game was unable to complete development and push ahead with its planned full launch.
Realms of Alurya
Realms of Alurya faced funding issues that led to its apparent end. The game, initially expected to launch on Treasure’s blockchain, had to migrate to the Ethereum gaming-focused sidechain Ronin after funding was unexpectedly cut. The developers are currently exploring future solutions while the game remains offline.
Symbiogenesis
Square Enix’s Ethereum-based blockchain game Symbiogenesis will come to an end in July as the storyline reaches its conclusion. Unlike other games that shut down due to funding issues, Symbiogenesis was intentionally designed to end in 2025. Square Enix has ample resources to keep the game live but decided to conclude it.
The Mystery Society
The Mystery Society, an Ethereum game blending elements of Among Us and murder mystery, suspended operations in February due to lack of funding. Despite raising $3 million, the game was unable to secure the necessary funding to continue development.
The Walking Dead: Empires
Gala Games’ zombie-themed MMORPG The Walking Dead: Empires will be discontinued by the end of July. The game, officially licensed from the AMC show, will offer compensation to players in the form of mystery boxes filled with NFTs from other Gala Games.
MetalCore
Mech shooter MetalCore closed its game servers and Discord community in March, citing important changes to the game. Despite being listed in the Epic Games Store, no updates have been provided since the announcement.
Blast Royale
Mobile game Blast Royale signaled its discontinuation in May and will close to players on June 30. The battle royale-style game, which featured Ethereum NFTs, will open its source code for further development by the community.
Mojo Melee
Mojo Melee, an NFT-fueled auto-battler game, will shut down on July 1 as developer Planet Mojo pivots to AI. The studio will launch a movie-making platform, closing Mojo Melee and the WWA platform for AI gaming agents.
As the crypto gaming industry continues to evolve, developers face challenges in sustaining their games and digital economies. While some games have found success, many others have struggled to find players and funding, leading to their eventual closure.