Axie Infinity Review: What You Need To Know

If you have been into crypto games for a while, there’s no way you have not heard of Axie Infinity. The hype has been such that no one has been spared. Chances are that all the peer pressure and FOMO have led you here. Before we get into the whats and hows in this review, let’s get to know Axie Infinity a bit.

What is Axie Infinity?

Axie Infinity, a crypto game by Vietnamese developer and published, Sky Mavis was launched in 2018. The game is based on non-fungible tokens – NFTs – and enjoys an active community. The game runs on the Ethereum and Ronin blockchains and operates a play-to-earn model.

The gameplay is more or less like the Pokemon games. You have to catch creatures named ‘Axies’, train them, and fight other players. We can convert the rewards that we earn from the game into real crypto assets. As Axie infinity has breedable creatures, you can compare it to CryptoKitties.

How to Play Axie Infinity?

If you have not played crypto games before, you might find it difficult to get started. So we decided to make things easier for you. Here’s a quick rundown on how to start playing Axie Infinity:

How to get started

Install the game through their official website. As of now, Axie Infinity is playable on PCs and smartphones.
Next, you will need a Metamask account and a good crypto wallet. In case you are not sure, you can check out our guide on ‘ best crypto wallet for gaming’. And of course, you will have to fund your wallet.
Now, it’s time to buy some digital pets. Visit the Axie Infinity marketplace to get your Axies. Note that you need three Axies to start playing,
Make sure you spend some time researching the best Axies to buy. You will be playing with these Axies for a while before you can get other beasts.

Axie Infinity Gameplay

Axie Infinity is a mix between Pokemon Go and Hearthstone. To save all of us some time, we have summed up the gameplay in a few pointers:

There are two modes: Adventure and PvP
In the Adventure mode, you fight the PvE enemies and earn XPs
In PvPs, you fight other players for rewards.
You get 20 Energy Points every day to spend on both modes.

For more details, you can check out our Axie Infinity gameplay walkthrough.

How to earn from Axie Infinity?

Let’s answer the million-dollar question: How do you earn from Axie infinity? The answer is simple – you have to collect SLP (short for Smooth Love Potion). You get these by logging in daily, completing your daily adventures, and by winning PvP battles. These are straightforward ways of earning SLPs.

These SLPs can be traded for real other cryptocurrencies of your choice. Of course, breeding and trading Axies is a whole different story. Simply put, you can breed Axies and sell them in the marketplace. For details, you can check out our Axie Infinity breeding guide.

Depending on the rate of the basal cryptocurrency and the performance of the game, you will make profits.

Axie Infinity Review: Pros and Cons

Considering the popularity of Axie Infinity, you will be tempted to try the game out as soon as possible. However, P2E games are an investment. This is why you need to weigh the pros and cons before you invest your time, money, and effort.

Advantages of Axie Infinity

Here’s why you should be downloading the crypto game already!

Axie Infinity has a promising future. The developer, Sky Mavis, had intended to make Axie infinity and open pet universe. This means that the gameplay might be made more complex and have increased functionalities. Considering the immense popularity of blockchain games, Axie Infinity is likely to receive frequent updates.

Compatibility across platforms

Axie Infinity is playable on Windows, Android, and iOS. You can also play the game on your iPad or MacBook. This means that you can play the game across all the major platforms. It is clear that the developer wants to make it accessible for all kinds of players.

The P2E model

The main highlight of Axie Infinity is the P2E model. For many, P2E games are a passive source of income. And a lot of players manage to earn a substantial amount by playing the game right. The AXS (Axie Infinity Shards) and SLP (Smooth Love Potions) can be traded for ETH (Ether).

Engaging Gameplay

The very first ‘pro’ of Axie Infinity would be the engaging gameplay. Like we mentioned before, Axie Infinity resembles Pokemon games with some elements of Hearthstone. Most of the game is focused on PvP battles and breeding Axies. The side quests and PvE aspects are enough to hook the players and keep them engaged.

Your pets are the NFTs

The Axies that you purchase, collect, or breed are all NFT assets. The Axies can be sold to other players for profit. This also means that the Axies that you have is a collection of NFTs that has a great price tag. If the game keeps performing well, you will benefit from the collection.

Disadvantages of Axie Infinity

And here’s why you may have second thoughts about entering the digital pet universe.

Capped earnings

As we have discussed before, players can earn AXS and SLPs by completing daily quests, finishing tasks, and winning PvP battles. However, the developers have capped how much a player can earn daily from these activities.

Also, to earn something from the game, you have to put in time and effort. For instance, you will have to play a few adventure stages, complete daily tasks, and play a few PvP battles to earn 40 to 50 SLPs. To make it a steady stream of income, consistency is needed. Not everybody has the time to play.

High entry cost

Just like many other similar P2E games, Axie Infinity has an entry cost. Before you start playing, you have to buy three Axies. Initially, those three Axies would cost you around $500. However, the sudden popularity has increased the same cost at least two to three times.

This acts as a barrier to entry. However, some players simply hire other players to play the game on their behalf. If you don’t want to invest in Axies just yet, you can look for players who will lend you their Axies.

Economic uncertainty

The controversy surrounding cryptos and NFTs is no secret. Some experts and observers have expressed their concerns regarding the surging trade of NFTs. Many believe it to be an economic bubble that is being bloated by the hype. Of course, we cannot comment if this is true or not.

This skepticism is further fuelled by the volatility of cryptocurrencies. Even though Bitcoin and Ether have seen a significant increase in their prices over years, we cannot overlook the sudden fluctuations.

Axie Infinity: The Verdict

So, is Axie Infinity worth all the hype?

Yes, it is! It is likely that the developer will keep introducing new ways to play in the game. As the popularity of Axie Infinity (and NFTs in general) keeps growing, you are likely to make profits. The strong, active player base indicates that the game is legit and has a robust ecosystem.

Even with the fair NFT prices, Axie Infinity is not free from the risk of overvaluation and hyperinflation. While investing, your decisions have to be backed by deep research. This Axie Infinity review should be a starting point for you to understand what the game is all about.

If you decide to sign up, you can read more on Axie Infinity gameplay and also check out the Axie Infinity best team guide.