Remember Blankos Block Party? The colorful game with the vinyl toy characters that made a splash a few years back?
If you were keeping tabs on gaming trends, you probably caught wind of it when it burst onto the scene as one of the first mainstream games to dabble in blockchain tech. It’s been quite a ride since then!
Let’s take a closer look at what made this game special, why it disappeared from PC gaming, and where it might be headed next.
Key Takeaways
- Blankos Block Party created some of the first “playable NFTs” through digital vinyl toy characters that players own on the blockchain.
- The game became the first blockchain title on Epic Games Store in 2022 and secured partnerships with Burberry, Deadmau5, and Godzilla.
- After reaching one million players, Mythical Games shut down the PC version in December 2023 to focus on mobile platforms.
- User-friendly blockchain integration meant no technical knowledge required—85% of transactions used US dollars rather than cryptocurrency.
- Players could create their own levels and collectibles, with blockchain ensuring creators received royalties on resales.
- In 2023-2024, Blankos migrated to the Polkadot blockchain for improved performance and integration with Mythical’s other games.
Where did Blankos Block Party come from?
Blankos begins (2018-2020)
Blankos started as a passion project at Mythical Games, founded by industry veterans who’d cut their teeth on massive franchises like Call of Duty and Skylanders. When they unveiled it at SXSW 2019, the gaming press was buzzing about the fresh concept of a vibrant world filled with digital vinyl toys you could actually own.
Throughout 2019 and 2020, the team at Mythical kept refining their creation. They kicked off a private beta and offered these “Founder’s Packs” starting around $25, giving early players both game access and exclusive Blanko NFTs.
What made these digital toys different was that they also existed on a blockchain, meaning players truly owned them – a pretty revolutionary idea at the time!
The private beta launched on Windows, with promises of Mac and console versions down the line. Trailers for the game were racking up hundreds of thousands of views, and even mainstream gaming outlets like IGN were talking about it.
Growth and Expansion (2021-2022)
June 2021 was huge for Blankos, when Mythical finally opened the doors to everyone through early access. By December, they were celebrating over a million registered players. Not bad for a blockchain game when most people were still scratching their heads about what NFTs even were!
The game started hitting its stride during this period. Mythical secured a massive $75 million in funding, revamped the social hub, and launched an in-game marketplace where players could trade their digital collectibles.
What really turned heads, though, were the partnerships. Burberry, the luxury fashion brand, created exclusive Blankos characters. Electronic music superstar Deadmau5 brought his iconic style to the game too.
These weren’t just random collaborations; they represented a wild convergence of gaming, fashion, art, and blockchain that nobody had pulled off before.
September 2022 marked another milestone when Blankos became the first blockchain game to land on the Epic Games Store. This wasn’t a small feat – the team spent a year working with Epic to navigate the murky waters of platform policies and age ratings for blockchain content.
The full launch introduced Season One with fresh game modes, new character classes with special abilities, and various power-ups that deepened the gameplay. They even partnered with Toho to bring Godzilla, Mothra, and MechaGodzilla into the game as limited-edition Blankos.
Platform Changes (2023-Present)
Throughout 2023, Mythical kept the content flowing. Season 2 brought redesigned characters and new progression systems. They added battle royale modes, crafting mechanics, and constantly improved the social hub.
But then came the bombshell announcement. Blankos was pivoting to mobile and shutting down the PC version. The community was mixed as CEO John Linden explained that PC user acquisition had become too expensive while mobile offered better growth potential.
The PC servers went dark on December 18, 2023, though loyal players received a special commemorative NFT and the promise that their collections would transfer to the mobile version.
Last year brought another major shift when Blankos migrated from its original blockchain to Polkadot, chosen for better speed and security, similar to how other projects are exploring the next big Layer-2 blockchain technologies. This move placed Blankos on the same Mythos blockchain as Mythical’s other games like NFL Rivals, hinting at possible cross-game features down the road.
How did Blankos Impact NFT Gaming?
Blankos Block Party made its mark on NFT gaming in several ways that are still influencing the industry today:
- Making “Playable NFTs” mainstream
- Presented itself as a fun multiplayer game that happened to use NFTs ‘under the hood’
- No crypto wallet or blockchain knowledge is required to play
- Over 85% of marketplace transactions were done with standard US dollars
- Demonstrated how to integrate blockchain without alienating mainstream gamers
- Helping Boost Blockchain Games
- Became the first blockchain game listed on the Epic Games Store in 2022
- Especially significant since Steam had completely banned blockchain games
- Worked closely with Epic to establish ground rules for blockchain content
- Paved the way for other Web3 titles like Engines of Fury launching on Epic Games Store in 2025
- Merging User-Generated Content with Blockchain
- Drew comparisons to Roblox through its emphasis on player-created content
- Players could build their own game levels (“Parties”) and share them online
- Added blockchain twist, allowing creators to design unique collectibles
- Blockchain ensured designers received royalties whenever their creations were resold
- Demonstrated how blockchain could reward community creativity in a tangible way
- Bringing Brand Collaborations to NFT Gaming
- Established partnerships with major brands like Burberry and Deadmau5
- Burberry’s limited-edition Blanko sold out in minutes
- Represented one of the first times a luxury fashion house directly participated in a game economy
- Validated the concept of in-game NFTs as desirable digital merchandise
- Encouraged other brands to explore similar partnerships
What’s it like to play Blankos Block Party?
So, what was Blankos actually like to play? Essentially, it’s a multiplayer party game focused on creativity, social interaction, and player ownership:
Characters and Customization
The Blankos themselves were stylized vinyl toys inspired by designer collectibles like Funko Pops. Each was an NFT that players could own through gameplay rewards, marketplace purchases, or trading.
You could deck out your Blankos with accessories and outfits, many created with real-world artists and brands. Using your characters leveled them up, unlocking skill points for abilities. There was also a unique “mash-up” system that let you combine certain Blankos to create new, potentially rarer characters.
The Unboxing Mechanic
True to its toy collector roots, Blankos featured a clever ‘unboxing’ mechanic. New characters arrived in virtual boxes – you could keep them mint-in-box (like a pristine collectible) or “unbox” them to start playing.
Once unboxed, they could never go back, creating an interesting dynamic where boxed Blankos became increasingly scarce over time.
Different Game Modes
The actual gameplay featured various competitive modes:
- Fast-paced races with parkour elements
- Shooter style where Blankos tagged each other with toy-like weapons
- Collection challenges that sent users exploring for vibrant tokens
- Battle royale matches added in later seasons
All these modes connected through a central hub, making it easy for users to jump between different activities with friends or random players.
User-Generated Content
Build Mode is like a creative mode that lets users create their own games without any coding knowledge. Using environmental pieces and interactive props, players designed everything from simple race tracks to elaborate multi-stage platforming challenges.
Once published, these creations became playable by everyone. The developers regularly spotlighted exceptional community designs, giving creators their moment in the sun. This user-generated content meant there was always something new to try beyond the official content.
Social Hub and Multiplayer
When users weren’t competing, they could hang out in the Junction, a colorful playground where up to 60 players could interact. The space featured NPCs offering daily quests, hidden secrets to discover, and tons of interactive elements for socializing.
During special events like seasonal launches, Mythical hosted virtual gatherings with music and unique decorations, creating festival-like experiences that brought the community together.
Marketplace and Economy
The NFT marketplace was crucial for letting players trade their Blankos and accessories securely. While it was possible to enjoy the game without ever touching this system, taking part in it added a play-to-earn dynamic where rare items could be traded with other collectors.
The marketplace mainly used US dollars to help its reach. Mythical provided a custodial wallet by default to handle all the blockchain complexity behind the scenes, though more technically-minded players could connect external wallets for complete control if they wanted.
Every marketplace transaction included royalty fees – whenever an NFT was resold, a percentage went back to the original creator or brand. This helped incentivize quality content while letting players potentially recoup value from their in-game investments.
What will Blankos do next?
Where does Blankos Block Party stand in early 2025? Here’s what to watch for:
Mobile Launch and a New Audience
With the PC version now gone, all eyes are on the upcoming mobile launch. Mythical has promised more than just a port – they’re building a fully optimized mobile experience with touch controls for the build mode and game formats better suited for on-the-go play.
If they pull this off successfully, Blankos could become one of the first major Web3 games to break into mainstream mobile gaming, potentially inspiring others to follow, such as Nakamoto Games expanding its mobile offering with 10 new titles, all despite the notoriously tricky approval process for crypto-adjacent apps.
Technical Upgrades and wider Ecosystem
The move to Polkadot opens up some new possibilities. Faster transactions and lower fees should make marketplace interactions smoother, which is crucial for handling the potential flood of new mobile players.
Since Mythical’s other games now share the same blockchain infrastructure, there might eventually be assets that work across multiple games or unified marketplace experiences. Imagine Blankos items being usable in NFL Rivals, or special crossover events featuring content from both games!
The Polkadot ecosystem’s focus on interoperability also makes bridges to other blockchains more feasible. Down the road, we might see ways for players to export their Blankos to outside marketplaces like OpenSea, truly delivering on that promise of ownership beyond Mythical’s ecosystem.
Community Evolution and Platform Expansion
The dedicated Blankos community has been vocal about hoping cross-platform play might eventually return, potentially bringing back PC support or adding console versions once the mobile edition finds its footing.
While Mythical hasn’t confirmed any plans for consoles, the game’s design could absolutely work on PlayStation or Xbox if they can navigate the thorny issues around digital collectibles functionality on those platforms, similar to how Moonray is preparing to launch on Xbox Series X/S in 2025.
Blankos Earns its Spot
Blankos Block Party presents a fascinating chapter in NFT gaming.
From experimental beginnings in 2018-2019 to a bold platform shift and blockchain upgrade, it’s consistently pushed boundaries in how games approach digital ownership, community creation, and brand partnerships.
While shutting down the PC version was definitely a blow to many fans, moving over to mobile and Polkadot is more of a transformation rather than an ending.
As one of the earliest blockchain games to achieve mainstream recognition, Blankos will likely be remembered as a trendsetter regardless of what happens next – it arrived before the “metaverse” hype train and has weathered wild ups and downs of the NFT market by focusing on fun and community.
By showing how digital ownership, creativity, and play could blend together without alienating mainstream gamers, Blankos Block Party has already earned its place in gaming history, whatever the future may hold.
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