Covering blockchain games since 2022 · checked October 2026
Do you like collecting and breeding digital creatures? CryptoKitties started it all. This Ethereum-based game was one of the first major NFT games, so popular at its peak that it accounted for about 25% of Ethereum traffic and congested the whole network. Today Dapper Labs also runs a free-to-play Telegram spin-off called All The Zen.
What is CryptoKitties?
CryptoKitties is the game that first put NFT collecting in front of a mainstream audience. Developed by Dapper Labs (spun off from Axiom Zen in Vancouver, Canada), it was the first major game to use the ERC-721 token standard, a standard it effectively pioneered. Backed by about $27 million from investors including Venrock, a16z, Union Square Ventures, Google Ventures, Samsung NEXT, and Animoca Brands, it passed 1 million cats within its first year, and the collection now counts about 2 million. The rarest cats sold for as much as $140,000.
Each CryptoKitty is a unique NFT on Ethereum, which means Dapper Labs cannot alter or revoke ownership. The collection remains fully tradable on the native marketplace and on OpenSea. The original game is quieter now, with only a handful of new kittens bred each month, but the cats remain a piece of gaming NFT history.
How Does CryptoKitties Work?
The core loop is collect, breed, and trade. Every CryptoKitty carries a unique 256-bit genome encoding its visual traits (called Cattributes), which determine its appearance and rarity. Breeding two cats produces a kitten that inherits a combination of both parents’ genes, with rare Mewtations occasionally appearing. Generation 0 cats were the original supply; everything else in the collection comes from player breeding.
Cats are bought, sold, and offered for sire (breeding rental) through the marketplace using ETH. Fancy Cats are limited-edition variants with specific trait combinations. Special and Exclusive cats are tied to events and partnerships.
The original game runs at cryptokitties.co on Ethereum. Gas fees make it expensive compared to modern blockchain games, and active trading is low. The interest now is primarily collector-driven.
Digital Collectibles in CryptoKitties
Every CryptoKitty is an ERC-721 NFT on Ethereum. Ownership is tracked immutably on-chain and cannot be altered even by Dapper Labs. The art files are owned by Axiom Zen and licensed to players under the Nifty license for personal display. Cats are traded on the native CryptoKitties marketplace and on OpenSea.
Dapper Labs also runs CryptoKitties: All The Zen, a free-to-play Telegram game that more than 250,000 people have tried. It runs seasons with breeding and ZEN Garden events such as Brite Side, and new mechanics rotate in regularly. Players grow Zen, hatch eggs, collect Fancy Kitties, and earn on-chain rewards. All The Zen runs on Flow, the blockchain where Dapper Labs also operates NBA Top Shot and NFL All Day.
Getting Started in CryptoKitties
Two entry points exist. The original breeding game runs at cryptokitties.co and requires an Ethereum wallet with ETH for gas and purchases. Existing cats trade on the native marketplace and OpenSea.
The new Telegram game, All The Zen, is free-to-play with no wallet required to start. Start from allthezen.cryptokitties.co rather than searching Telegram, because scammers run cloned CryptoKitties groups. Seasons run regularly with rotating mechanics and events. Good to know: a full Flow relaunch of CryptoKitties has been announced, but it has no release date yet.
Where to Go Next
- Explore more NFT games.
- Learn about blockchain gaming in our FAQ Library.
- Browse all NFT games.