A report released by DappRadar on Monday revealed a sharp rise in blockchain gaming activity, with onchain interactions tripling in January 2025 compared to the same month last year.

The February 13 report highlighted that Web3 games drew over 7 million unique active wallets (UAW) daily last month, representing a staggering 386% increase from January 2024.

The report suggests that blockchain gaming is experiencing a strong growth trajectory and is showing signs of industry maturation. This expansion is attributed to several factors, including advancements in layer-2 technologies, evolving token economies, and high-profile collaborations, such as the one between Gunzilla Games and their game Off The Grid.

In addition to the growth in user engagement, new gaming ecosystems are developing, and artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly integrated into games. DappRadar's findings also indicated that top-performing titles are enhancing gameplay mechanics, reward structures, and community engagement.

OpBNB emerged as the top-performing gaming blockchain in January, followed by Matchain, while Polygon experienced a doubling in gaming activity month-over-month. Despite not all new ecosystems meeting traditional AAA gaming standards, they are recognized for their technical and creative contributions to the future of blockchain gaming.

The report also noted a broader trend in the DApp ecosystem, with AI-powered applications gaining momentum. This trend was further evidenced by Tether 's announcement on February 6 about its new venture into AI applications, including an AI translator, voice assistant, and a Bitcoin wallet assistant.

While gaming is a growing segment, DeFi still leads in the DApp ecosystem, with 26.7 million daily UAW, slightly ahead of gaming by 1%. However, despite the surge in user engagement, investment in blockchain games has seen a decline. The year 2024 witnessed $1.8 billion invested in blockchain gaming and metaverse projects, a 38% decrease from the previous year.

According to DappRadar, this reflects broader economic trends and a strategic shift towards investing previously raised capital into active projects, while funding rounds continue to demonstrate confidence in the infrastructure and innovation of Web3 gaming.