Upland

Simon · Chief Gaming Officer
Covering blockchain games since 2022 · checked October 2026

Ever wanted to own a virtual version of your house, or pick up a property on Fifth Avenue without the Manhattan price tag? Upland is a real-world property trading game where every parcel maps to an actual address. Buy, sell, trade, and develop virtual land across more than 50 real cities, from New York and San Francisco to London, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro, on the EOS blockchain (now called Vaulta). With over 4.5 million properties in player hands, it’s one of the longest-running metaverse games around.

What is Upland?

Upland is a blockchain-based property trading game from Uplandme, Inc., founded by Dirk Lueth, Idan Zuckerman, and Mani Honigstein and headquartered in Silicon Valley. The platform runs on EOS (now Vaulta) and uses UPX as its primary in-game currency. Fast Company named it one of the “Next Big Things in Tech” in 2021.

The concept is straightforward: virtual properties mirror real-world addresses, so buying a parcel in virtual San Francisco means owning the digital equivalent of a specific street address. Cities span the US (New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Nashville) and international locations including London, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, and Porto. Players have traded more than $20 million worth of properties with each other.

How Does Upland Work?

Every property in Upland is an NFT tied to a real-world address. Properties generate UPX yield over time, boosted by completing property collections, which are groups of properties in the same neighborhood or city block.

Beyond property ownership, Upland has expanded into a full city-building economy. Players construct structures on their land using SPARK hours, a resource tied to the $SPARKLET utility token. Structures unlock business types like Meta Ventures, player-operated shops that sell digital goods to other Uplanders. Virtual cars let players travel between cities, offer ridesharing, and compete in kart races. Third-party developers can build games and experiences within Upland’s map through an open API, and Polemo Games, for example, runs a 3D shooter inside the platform.

Upland runs on a seasonal model, with six-week seasons introducing fresh mechanics, limited sales, and exclusive collectibles. Neighborhoods have Residents, digital citizens called Uppies who move in based on available Living Units and can be assigned to properties. Players also grow ornamental trees and shrubs from Protem resources, and plants wither without care. Newer layers include construction crews that speed up builds and Troves, a system of collectibles, banking, and player levels.

Digital Collectibles in Upland

Properties are the core NFTs, each tied to a real-world address and tradeable on Upland’s marketplace for both UPX and USD. Players can also sell properties for US dollars through Thunes, a regulated payment partner, after a KYC check. UPX itself stays within the game economy by design, keeping it stable against broader crypto market swings.

$SPARKLET is the external utility token on Ethereum, used for construction, content creation, and rewarding developers building on the platform. A Share and Build SoFi airdrop campaign distributed SPARKLET through social and in-game missions. Seasonal collectibles include badges, Lore Legits, and limited-edition items tied to each season’s theme. Structures, cars, and Meta Venture businesses are also tradeable NFTs. No prior crypto experience is needed to start, since Upland is specifically designed for mainstream players, with fiat onboarding available.

Getting Started in Upland

Upland is free to play on iOS, Android, and web browser at upland.me. Create an account directly or through a referral link. New players start as Visitors and can explore the map for free; upgrading to Uplander status by purchasing your first property unlocks full trading features. No crypto wallet is required, and fiat payment via credit card works for buying UPX. Join the Discord and follow @UplandMe on X for seasonal event announcements and city expansion news.

Watch Upland in Action

Here’s an official Upland trailer showcasing the real-world property map, city building, and seasonal gameplay.

Where to Go Next

• Explore more metaverse games.
• Learn about blockchain gaming in our FAQ Library.
• Browse all NFT games.