Will 'Off the Grid' Take Crypto Games Mainstream?

Artwork from Off the Grid. Image: Gunzilla Games

Off the Grid is the talk of the gaming world right now—but can it stay on top?

Last week, the battle royale game (launched in early access) quickly became the top free title on the Epic Games Store, with 148,000 viewers watching the countless streamers playing it on Twitch. Developed by Gunzilla Games, players are dropped into a reality show-style online shooter experience, kitted out with robotic limbs that give them powerful abilities.

What many players don’t know, however, is that Off the Grid is actually an Avalanche-based crypto game. In its current early access state, the crypto elements have not been fully implemented—but the game’s GUN token is in the works, and there are plans for in-game items to be minted as NFTs and traded on a marketplace.

Here at Decrypt’s GG, of course, we’re all over the crypto gaming space. Our Managing Editor Andrew Hayward and reporter Ryan S. Gladwin sat down for a chat about Off the Grid’s initial impact, how it could impact the gaming world going forward, and whether it can maintain the hype.

Ryan: Throughout my time of reviewing and previewing crypto games, I’ve often felt games are trying too hard to be the crypto version of an already established title, rather than truly innovating. This, I believe, has stunted the growth of the industry. Why would I play the Web3 version of a game when I can just play the real deal?

Off the Grid, on the other hand, adds interesting and unique mechanics to the battle royale genre. I believe the cyberlimb mechanic—being able to swap out your arms and legs for robotic limbs with fun abilities—is the core reason why this game is connecting with players so much. We’ve yet to see another game in the genre allow players to access such a wide range of abilities that are so easily swappable.

Apex Legends comes close with its characters having distinct abilities, but being able to mix and match in the heat of battle is just so much fun.

Andrew: Yeah, I’m still coming to grips with the jetpack and the limbs and all of the stuff that makes Off the Grid more than just another battle royale clone, but it certainly gives the game a unique flavor beyond the cyberpunk vibe. I still suck at the game, but that doesn’t surprise me. I don’t have the hours to pour into it!

But just look at some of the highlights that we rounded up earlier this week from influencers and streamers. No doubt, Off the Grid already has that viral it-factor that propels games like this into the spotlight. Whether it stays there will depend a lot on how quickly it adds content and evolves, and how much polish it gets, but it already has so much potential.