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20 Popular Metaverse Platforms

20 Popular Metaverse Platforms

Metaverse platforms are digital universes where users interact in real-time, blending virtual and physical realities. Discover the best metaverse...

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Introduction

The popularity of metaverse platforms has been on the rise in recent times. This interest has led to a surge in the adoption of popular metaverse platforms, which offer a new way to experience the internet.

Metaverse platforms offer a number of advantages over traditional web platforms. They are highly immersive and allow users to interact with each other in a variety of ways. These platforms also offer a unique way to monetize content and services.

While metaverse platforms are still in their early stages of development, they have already gained a significant following. With their growing popularity, top metaverse platforms will likely continue to gain mainstream adoption in the years to come. So let’s read more about the best metaverse platforms in detail!

What are Metaverse Platforms?

The concept of a fully virtual world called the metaverse came from Neal Stephenson’s novel Snow Crash. The metaverse will be based on blockchains, and here, you can perform all the real-world activities like work, meetings, social interactions, and games with a virtual avatar. The metaverse takes our connectivity through the internet multiple steps further with interactive blockchain platforms.

Top metaverse platforms typically use avatar-based systems, in which a digital avatar represents each user. Best metaverse platforms may also enable you to create and sell virtual goods and services.

So what are metaverse platforms, and which ones are the most popular metaverse platforms? Let’s find out! 

The Creator Era in the Time of Metaverse

In the era of the creator, producers may generate experiences and material for their audiences without being constrained by technological limitations. Their superiority over rivals stems from their in-depth familiarity with particular communities, inventive storytelling methods, and command of modern modes of expression.

Particularly in the metaverse, the creator era is expanding quickly. During this time, some of the most intriguing internet companies have developed. In addition to becoming more immersive, social, and real-time, metaverse experiences are also being produced by an exponentially growing number of artists. The tools and technology that creators employ to produce enjoyable experiences for customers are all included in the creative economy.

How do Metaverse Platforms Work?

Metaverse platforms are created using a variety of different technologies, including but not limited to game engines, virtual world platforms, augmented reality systems, and web-based 3D environments.

Metaverse platforms work on blockchains in order to create a more secure and efficient system. By using blockchain technology, metaverse platforms can offer a decentralized environment for users to interact with each other. 

In addition, metaverse platforms can use smart contracts to automate transactions and create a more user-friendly experience. For example, Decentraland is a virtual world that runs on the Ethereum blockchain.

What are the Benefits of Metaverse? 

Benefits of Metaverse
Source: Freepik

Now that we know ‘what are metaverse platforms?’, let’s find out about their benefits too. Virtual reality has a wide range of potential advantages. VR has the potential to offer fully immersive learning environments. It might be used, for instance, to instruct individuals about history or different civilizations. Physical treatment, pain management, and mental health issues including anxiety and PTSD are all helped by it. In addition to other forms of entertainment, it can offer immersive gaming experiences. It can be used to prepare people for careers that demand certain talents, like operating on patients or flying an airplane. No wonder the best metaverse platforms are so popular!

Let us look at some more benefits:

Potential To Earn Rewards

Top metaverse platforms offer the potential to earn rewards for users who contribute their time and effort to the platform. For example, users may be able to earn rewards for creating and curating content or for participating in platform governance. The size and nature of these rewards will vary from platform to platform. They can also participate in games and be eligible to earn rewards.

Invest in Virtual Real Estate

Investing in virtual real estate is one way to make money in the metaverse. When you buy virtual real estate, you are buying a piece of digital land that you can use for various purposes. You can use it to build a virtual store, a virtual home, or even a virtual office. By investing in virtual real estate, you can earn money from the appreciation of the digital land, as well as from the rent that you charge other avatars that use your land.

Integration with Cryptocurrencies

There are a handful of popular metaverse platforms that offer integration with cryptocurrencies. This allows users of these platforms to use cryptocurrency to buy, sell, or trade virtual assets and services. It increases the adoption of crypto and also provides a fast and secure mode of payment.

Limitless Customizability

In the best metaverse platforms, players can customize their avatars to look however they want, and there are endless possibilities for what kinds of environments and experiences can be created. Developers can use the same tools to create avatar customization options and environments for their games, making it easy to create a unique and immersive experience for players.

New Way to Socialize

Physical boundaries do not limit a metaverse. People can connect from anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet connection. This makes a top metaverse platform ideal for people who want to meet new people from different cultures and backgrounds.

What are the Risks of Metaverse and VR Usage?

The use of virtual reality could potentially come with certain risks. Long-term VR use can result in an illness known as “cybersickness,” which can have symptoms like nausea and vertigo. Due to the fact that they replace the real world with a virtual one, VR headsets can strain the eyes. Some stimuli, such as flashing lights, might cause seizures in some people. With VR headsets that make use of fluorescent lighting, there may be a risk.

Here are some of the the risks of metaverse:

What are the Risks of Metaverse and VR Usage
Source

Cybersickness

Cybersickness is a form of motion sickness that can occur when using virtual reality or other forms of immersive technology. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, and fatigue. This can be completely avoided by limited usage of VR devices, and maintaining a healthy balance.

Metaverse platforms are particularly susceptible to causing cybersickness, as they often require users to interact with virtual objects and move around in virtual environments. This can be stressful for the body and brain, leading to cybersickness symptoms. Such symptoms can also lead to other health hazards, if not taken care of at the right time.

Eye Strain

Since we spend more time on screens than ever, it’s no surprise that digital eye strain is on the rise. And while the symptoms of digital eye strain may not be permanent, they can be very annoying, affecting our quality of life. Eye strain can also affect you if you spend too much time on popular metaverse platforms.

A number of factors can contribute to digital eye strain, but one of the most significant is the amount of time we spend looking at screens. When we look at a screen, we blink less often, leading to dry eyes. In addition, the blue light emitted by screens can cause our eyes fatigue.

Seizures

For those with pre-existing conditions that may make them more susceptible to seizures, it is important to be aware of the potential risks before using any virtual reality or metaverse platforms. If you experience any seizures while using these technologies, it is important to stop using them immediately and seek medical help.

List of the Most Popular Metaverse Platforms

1. Decentraland  
2. Illuvium
3. The Sandbox
4. Axie Infinity
5. Crypto Voxels
6. Bloktopia
7. Metahero
8. Star Atlas
9. Roblox
10. Somnium Space
11. Hyper Nation
12. Nakamoto
13. Stageverse
14. Spatial
15. Polkacity
16. Viverse
17. Sorare
18. Upland
19. Second Life
20. Sansar

So, what are the top metaverse platforms you can invest in today? Let’s find out!

Top Metaverse Platforms 2023

1. Decentraland

Decentraland
Source: Freepik

One of the best metaverse platforms today, Decentraland is a blockchain-based virtual social community that is a well-liked platform for building, exchanging, and exploring virtual worlds. The platform enables you to construct virtual experiences using your creative sense. Decentraland also gives users the chance to explore the metaverse on other people’s digital land parcels. It sponsors international tournaments to make the benefits of the metaverse available to everyone. Decentraland is one of the top metaverse platforms today, constantly innovating and expanding its feature set.

The popular metaverse platform is also one of the first to offer a real-time economy, with users able to buy, sell, and trade virtual goods and services. Decentraland is constantly innovating and expanding its feature set, making it one of the top metaverse platforms.

2. Illuvium

Illuvium
Source: Freepik

Counted among the most popular metaverse platforms, Illuvium is a full-featured, decentralized role-playing game with collectibles. The game, which was created on the Ethereum blockchain and the immutable X L2 Network, requires players to travel over vast and varied landscapes in order to hunt and gather magical animals known as Illuvial. 
Players might appreciate both the game’s excellent design and the storytelling experience. Illuvium has effectively tapped into users’ interests with its engrossing gameplay. This makes it one of the top metaverse platforms for luring corporate players in addition to gamers. Illuvium has become an insanely popular metaverse game with excellent graphics and well-written storylines.

3. The Sandbox

The Sandbox
Source: Freepik

A decentralized NFT game metaverse called the Sandbox is where users can create, sell, buy, and make money from virtual reality NFTs. It enables the blockchain network to sell virtual goods and other gaming activities. It provides tools for setting up and customizing virtual parcels of land as well as holding events and exhibitions. Due to its strong dependability and vigilant security, it has become one of the best metaverse platforms today. 

The Sandbox has a token called SAND, which you can use to buy and sell items in the game. There is also a thriving community of creators who share their creations with the world.

4. Axie Infinity

Axie Infinity
Source: Freepik

The ERC-20 token AXS is used on the Axie Infinity platform. The creatures available in the game called the Axies are ones players need to breed and grow to stay in the gameplay. By deploying the creatures in battles and wars, players might construct, extend, or defend their cosmos. It is one of the best metaverse platforms for gaming since it requires users to engage in battle with one another using novel tactics and methods. As of 2022, Axie Infinity is one of the top metaverse platforms for many.

The popular metaverse platform is one of the first to offer players true ownership of in-game assets and a real-time economy powered by the Ethereum blockchain.

5. Crypto Voxels

Crypto Voxels
Soure: Freepik

Crypto Voxels is counted among the best metaverse platforms today. Built on the Ethereum blockchain, it provides a virtual game environment that supports both VR and PC use. Users can use the platform to build virtual properties in the metaverse and sell those properties. Additionally, crypto voxels provides a sizable market for buying and trading digital collectibles like NFTs.

 Cryptocurrencies, digital assets, and NFTs can all be used in Crypto Voxels to purchase in-game items and services.

6. Bloktopia

Bloktopia
Source: Freepik

In honor of the hard cap of 21 million Bitcoins, Bloktopia is actually a virtual skyscraper that has 21 levels. Built on Polygon, this popular metaverse platform’s economy includes advertisements and activities that earn money for users. Users of Bloktopia have access to a variety of options, including the chance to gain new talents, make money, and interact with other users. 

7. Metahero

Metahero
Source: Freepik

Metahero, created by Wolf Digital World, acts as a portal into the metaverse, and is among the top metaverse platforms today. A fully immersive environment with gadgets and avatars is made possible by the metaverse platform’s 3D scanning and modeling technologies. The technological advantages of Meta Hero can aid in the creation of 3D avatars that are lifelike and virtual objects.

Using its HERO token, users of Metahero can do transactions, buy collectibles and create their 3D avatars. It is one of the best metaverse platforms today.

8. Star Atlas

Star Atlas
Source : Star Atlas

Star Atlas, one of the best metaverse platforms, is a blockchain game with a space-themed design. The platform facilitates the creation, sale, and purchase of NFTs. The popular metaverse platform introduces Solana blockchain’s advantages for faster transaction processing. 

Star Atlas is one of the most popular metaverse platforms and has a large community of users.

9. Roblox

Roblox
Source: Roblox

On the online gaming platform Roblox, users can make their own games. Apart from various VR experiences, Roblox’s objective of uniting all experiences under one roof is its most distinctive feature. Users on the network can socialize in addition to playing because it is a community-driven setting. No wonder this is one of the best metaverse platforms out there! Being free to use and easy to learn, it is a very popular metaverse platform.

10. Somnium Space

Somnium Space
Source: Somnium Space

Users can access the Somnium Space metaverse using PC, web, VR, and mobile interfaces. Somnium Space is a cross-platform project; Ethereum, the Solana blockchain protocols, and the asset marketplace make up the main base of Somnium Space. 

It is accessible from all devices and provides its own economy and currency for a completely virtual experience. With its distinctive features and long-term growth outlook, Somnium Space is definitely one of the top metaverse platforms today.

11. Hyper Nation

Hyper Nation
Source: Hyper Nation

A democratic and egalitarian economy supporting a decentralized ecosystem, Hyper Nation is committed to bringing about a Utopia. As the project puts it, they take into account the numerous lessons discovered in the blockchain sector, examine what makes it function, and optimize it to design a nearly ideal life for users within the metaverse. Hyper Nation is currently among the best metaverse platforms, according to the community. 

12. Nakamoto

Nakamoto
Source: Nakamoto

The NAKAverse was first introduced along with the NAKA token. One of the first and best metaverse platforms, they will bring about a true in-game economy. Users will have the option to buy virtual land, construct structures, and more. The NAKAverse’s official currency is, of course, the $NAKA token.

A very popular metaverse platform, Nakamoto provides players with various game worlds to explore, each with its unique set of features. Players can avatar chat with others, participate in mini-games, and even earn rewards for their gameplay.

13. Stageverse

Stageverse
Source: Stageverse

A social VR platform called Stageverse offers digital material, interactive experiences, and virtual locations. Muse: Simulation Theory’s 360-degree concert experience was the platform’s first release. Through 3D films shot from various viewpoints all around the theater, the Stageverse platform enables numerous viewers to share a musical experience. It is accessible on iOS, Android, and Oculus Quest smartphones.

14. Spatial

Spatial
Source: Spatial

Spatial is one of the best metaverse platforms if you’re looking for an immersive 3D experience.Spatial is a platform for augmented and virtual reality that makes cooperation possible. It allows users to communicate with one another virtually using computers, mobile devices, or VR headsets. Real-time material and idea sharing is possible, and users of the site can collaborate electronically.

It has live shows, community hangouts, and immersive galleries. It also has a community called the Spatian community.

15. Polkacity

Polkacity
Source: Polkacity

Polkacity is all about a video game in which users can move about using resources like gas stations and banks. The game is already being counted among the top metaverse platforms today. 

One of the best metaverse platforms out there, it is an AR NFT multichain platform in a completely 3D-generated environment where people can explore, interact, and create in unique ways that may not be possible in the real world. Polkacity also provides a huge amount of customization options, so you can make your avatar look and behave exactly how you want.

16. Viverse

Viverse
Source: Viverse

Viverse is a metaverse ecosystem that links users of various backgrounds to a free and open virtual environment. Each experience is unique, your transactions and data are protected, and everyone is empowered to explore, work, and play in a safe environment thanks to this new way of living.

A popular metaverse platform that allows users to create and explore virtual worlds, it is one of the most user-friendly platforms available and offers a wide range of features to its users. It allows users to create highly immersive and interactive 3D virtual worlds. 

The Viverse platform is also integrated with a number of popular social media platforms, making it easy for users to share their experiences with friends and family.

17. Sorare

Sorare
Source: Sorare

Sorare provides collectible digital cards for users to trade with each other in the open marketplace of the portal. At Sorare, all it takes to fulfill your desire to play football is the click of a button. 

It allows users to buy, sell, and trade digital cards representing real-world footballers, as well as NBA and MLB players. Additionally, you may build lineups based on real-world performances and manage your squad using never-before-seen techniques. Points are also awarded based on how well players perform in the real world.

18. Upland

Upland
Source: Upland

Upland, a brand-new online environment, is the first NFT metaverse with a physical connection to the outside world, and it is considered one of the best metaverse platforms. It is quickly becoming one of the Metaverse’s most major and vibrant blockchain-based economies.

A popular metaverse platform, it is based on the Ethereum blockchain and uses ERC-721 tokens to represent virtual property ownership.

19. Second Life

Second Life
Source: Second Life

Second Life is one of the original and best metaverse platforms. Created in 2003, Second Life is a virtual world that is entirely user-generated. Today it is one of the most popular metaverse platforms.

Second Life is a multimedia website that enables you to make an avatar and live a second life in a virtual environment online. You can discover new worlds, interact with others, and go on a variety of adventures with Second Life. This top metaverse platform is a fantastic way to socialize and have fun because there are no restrictions on what you can do there.

20. Sansar

Sansar
Source: Sansar

The future of virtual concerts is quite bright; with this popular metaverse platform, you can watch your favorite performers without having to travel to their concerts with virtual reality. You can even upgrade your tickets to VIP status to access private meet-and-greets, unique rewards, and superpowers.

Created by Linden Lab, the same company behind the popular virtual world Second Life, Sansar is designed to be a more immersive and interactive experience that takes advantage of the latest technology, including virtual reality. The user interface of Sansar has been streamlined and more simplified than before, and the platform supports avatar customization. However, Linden Lab sold Sansar to another company in 2020.

Conclusion

We hope your question ‘what are metaverse platforms?’ is answered by now. The monetization of digital assets and virtual real estate is just the beginning of the metaverse. There is so much unrealized potential in the metaverse. The time is now for creators to fully capitalize on the concept of this interconnected virtual world. As you can see from the top metaverse platforms, creators and users alike have a tremendous opportunity here to use and profit from their talents. 

Of the many metaverse platforms, we have listed the best ones for you to explore and get involved in. Each has its own unique features and community that make it special. So dive in and find the one that’s right for you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Best Metaverse Project?

Regarding the best metaverse projects, there is no shortage of unique and innovative platforms to choose from. There are many popular metaverse projects up and running already, and others that are currently in development. Each one has the potential to create a truly unique and immersive virtual world experience. Decentraland, The Sandbox, and Axie Infinity are some of the best metaverse projects.

2. Which Company is Best for Metaverse?

Various companies are engaged in the development of metaverses. Top technology companies like Meta and Microsoft are involved in metaverse development. Animoca Brands and Linden Lab have been pioneers in developing metaverse platforms.

3. What are the Four Major Metaverse Platforms?

Several metaverse platforms are very popular. But some major metaverse platforms include Roblox, Second Life, Decentraland, and Upland.

4. Which Metaverses have the Most Users?

It is difficult to state which metaverse platform has the highest number of users, but Roblox is a metaverse platform that can boast millions of users. Decentraland is also gaining huge popularity in 2023.


Disclaimers: Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s). They do not necessarily purport to reflect the opinions or views of Shardeum Foundation.

About the Author: Anuska is a sci-fi lover freshly exploring the blockchain and Web3 space. Her expertise lies in simplifying complex Web3-related concepts and topics for herself and others.

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