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In 2023, the top metaverse virtual worlds are ready to rock the world. In fact, many metaverse ideas have been brewing for years. After a year of solid development in 2022, the metaverse is no longer just a buzzword or a utopian ideal. Science and technology have vigorously propelled this concept towards reality.
This year at CES, metaverse, Web3 and gaming have their own dedicated space, attracting global tech companies to showcase their latest breakthroughs to craft the parallel reality.
Based on Accenture’s recent research, a total of $1 trillion market value could come from metaverse experiences and commerce by the end of 2025. Also, the findings indicate that 55% of consumers want to become active users of the metaverse, and nearly all of them (90%) want to do so in 2023.
- But why the metaverse?
- Decentraland
- The Sandbox
- Hyperfy
- Voxels, formerly known as Cryptovoxels
- Somnium Space
- Spatial
- Matrix World
- NFT Worlds
- Netvrk
But why the metaverse?
The metaverse will change the way people generate, consume and exchange information. It would be cliche to take Spielberg’s film Ready Player One as an example again, but it does give us a vivid visual reference to the future of gaming. In fact, the movie’s plot is already happening in real life.
Today, we interact with the internet in a two-dimensional form, a screen that separates two worlds. But in the metaverse, you interact with information in an immersive way. A wave of the hand, a nod of the head, and your voice could become commands, rather than typing text and moving a mouse around to accomplish them.
The metaverse is important because it is industry-agnostic, but rather, like the internet, it changes communication. People can use it for almost anything, from gaming to work, from social to research.
We have put together an article to help you understand the basic concepts and technology of the metaverse. Click the button below to read it.
The metaverse consists of different types of virtual worlds and services. They can be gaming spaces, museums and galleries, sports fan clubs, financial services, media outlets, offices, and virtually anything.
Next, let’s dive into the list of top metaverse virtual worlds you should know in 2023.
1. Decentraland
Decentraland is an open-source virtual social world powered by the Ethereum blockchain. It allows users to personalize their digital character, create virtual buildings, curate experiences, and monetize from doing so.
In the past year, Decentraland has incubated a variety of entertainment events, including Fashion Week, Art Week, Metaverse Music Festival and more. In addition, brands have found new ways to engage Web3 users here, with Heineken, Samsung, Nike, Cola-Cola, Starbucks, Domino’s and Adidas hosting brand experiences in this venue.
All the above-mentioned activities take place on Lands, an important asset in this metaverse. With lands, users can build venues and host experiences on them. If you want to hold a party but you don’t have any land, the option is to rent one.
It is also worth mentioning that the VR version of Decentraland is already available, and users can experience it with Oculus Quest 2.
2. The Sandbox
The Sandbox is a virtual world where players can build, own, and monetize their video game creations. Being gaming-centric is the biggest selling point of this metaverse platform.
In order to create a dynamic and sustainable ecosystem, The Sandbox provides a set of powerful game-making tools for anyone to make 3D games. Thanks to The Sandbox Game Maker, you can become a game creator, even without knowing how to code.
The gaming experience within The Sandbox is without limits. In the latest Season 3, Atari revives its classic game Crystal Castles, and SCMP takes users on a ride on the famous Hong Kong Star Ferry. To conclude, the possibilities are endless.
With the introduction of multiplayer gameplay features along with video and audio streaming, The Sandbox is more than worth anticipating in 2023.
3. Hyperfy
Hyperfy is a virtual world-building platform on the Ethereum blockchain. It provides tools for users to design and build entire worlds they can own and trade freely on the open marketplace.
It has attracted many digital creators and artists, and they have built many highly immersive spaces for users to explore. You can check out art pieces in a futuristic gallery, play poker inside a warehouse, or laze around in Van Gogh’s bedroom.
4. Substrata
Substrata is a free, online 3D metaverse where users can build, explore and socialize with each other.
The Substrata team has extensive experience in high-end graphics. They developed a 3D engine that can be used to handle the large amount of dynamic content needed for the metaverse while guaranteeing high quality output.
To create an object in the Substrata main world, users need to own a parcel. Alternatively, they can go to the sandbox (parcel #20), a public parcel, and start creating.
5. Voxels, formerly known as Cryptovoxels
Voxels is a virtual world building and sharing platform on the Ethereum blockchain. Users can develop, explore, trade and own properties in this virtual world.
Cryptovoxels rose to fame in 2021 as the NFT frenzy took off, but changed its name to Voxels. Today, it is still one of the most famous metaverse platforms, attracting digital artists and developers to build all shapes of 3D buildings and venues.
Voxels seems to be more popular among artists than Decentraland and The Sandbox. The streets of Voxels are lined with digital art galleries, displaying a wide range of fabulous and eye-catching artworks.
But it’s also worth mentioning that Voxels is an all-encompassing virtual world where not only digital art but also social events and even play-to-earn games can take place. Above all, the platform is accessible through browsers, mobile devices and VR headsets.
6. Somnium Space
Somnium Space is an open, social and persistent VR world on the blockchain, and it is currently available on Ethereum and Solana.
Users can purchase and own virtual land, build their dream homes, start businesses, and enjoy all kinds of entertainment and social events, such as live concerts, parties, and playing video games.
The space is accessed through VR, PC, and web, and it is also mobile-friendly. The project has a long-term vision to create a virtual environment that offers a rich addition to reality, packed with unlimited and exciting possibilities.
7. Spatial
Spatial is a 3D metaverse platform that allows creators and brands to build their own spaces to share culture and passion together. It provides users with robust and easy-to-use tools for creating eye-popping and interactive content in an effortless manner.
The platform aims to empower metaverse use cases such as social networking, Web3 marketing, branded events, and more. Brands and users have already benefited from Spatial’s smooth experience and fantastic visuals.
Here, users have built cyberpunk forests, skyline offices, sceneries overlooking New York, futuristic cloud bars, and so much more. Most importantly, all these user innovations can be traded as NFTs.
Spatial supports VR experiences as well. Imagine how amazing it would be to immerse yourself in a movie premiere, gallery party, or even a sports event in virtual space like this.
8. Matrix World
Matrix World is a decentralized open virtual world that lets users interact with immersive 3D applications. The platform currently supports Flow and Ethereum and will be available on more networks.
In Matrix World, users can build 3D architectures, hold virtual events, exhibit NFTs, and create their own 3D decentralized applications with Matrix’s built-in computation resources. To achieve so, It will offer users powerful low-code tools to make creating accessible to everyone.
So if you want to create a parallel world, you may try the system tools when the time comes.
The beta version of Matrix World is coming in 2023, and it will be officially open to the public in early 2024.
9. NFT Worlds
NFT Worlds used to be a metaverse platform built on top of Minecraft using Polygon. But since July 20th, 2022, NFT Worlds has been developing its own game and metaverse ecosystem. Now the open-source platform has fostered a thriving community that actively drives its virtual world development and gameplay innovation.
The virtual world is designed to unleash the fullest of users‘ creativity. In this regard, there is a variety of powerful tools that users can leverage to co-build this virtual world.
For example, worlds and systems are fully programmable in NFT Worlds, meaning that users have complete control over how the ecosystem works. Furthermore, it supports real-time in-game world and land editing, bringing users a seamless virtual experience.
Usually, virtual worlds require players to use an individual editor that is not embedded in the platform. But NFT Worlds allow users to modify their virtual space without leaving the platform.
10. Netvrk
Netvrk is an all-encompassing, multi-chain metaverse where gaming, entertainment, e-commerce, education, and social networking co-exist in one immersive environment. Users can access the platform via PC, mobile, and VR tech.
Netvrk utilizes Unreal Engine 5 combined with blockchain technology to bring users an exquisite, high-fidelity metaverse experience. Here in Netvrk, “the only limit is your imagination”. You explore an exotic world, hop into a Battle Royale game, shop online, or go to concerts and parties at anytime from anywhere.
This metaverse platform provides users with the Creation Engine that empowers them to create their own digital assets in the metaverse using this intuitive, easy-to-use toolset.
According to the official roadmap, it will launch alpha in Q1 2023.
