Off The Grid guide: GameFi's new F2P extraction battle royale

Initially fueled by titles like Axie Infinity, GameFi's explosive surge has since faced challenges as the promises of play-to-earn have often failed to materialize. Amid a shifting crypto landscape, many believe the novelty of earning crypto while gaming has waned. Fortunately, exciting new titles like Off The Grid aim to revitalize the genre.

As an all-new title that merges fast-paced gameplay with cutting-edge blockchain technology, Off The Grid blends familiar elements of extraction shooter and battle royale gameplay with the innovation of blockchain integration via Avalanche. Designed for both avid gamers and those interested in GameFi, Off The Grid introduces a dynamic player-driven economy without compromising on the satisfying gameplay you'd usually see in today's premium AAA games.

In this article, we’ll explore Off The Grid’s gameplay, tips to excel in its extraction royale mode, how it leverages the Avalanche blockchain, and why it matters for the future of gaming in the GameFi industry.

TL;DR

• Off The Grid is an all-new extraction battle royale game that blends quality shooting gameplay with potential future blockchain integrations.

• In its main extraction royale mode, players gather resources, avoid elimination, and extract valuable assets while competing with 57 other players.

• Off The Grid plans to leverage the Avalanche blockchain for a decentralized player-driven economy, allowing players to own and trade in-game assets.

• The game is designed to be accessible to both traditional gamers and those new to GameFi, with an onboarding process that abstracts typical onchain pain points.

What is Off The Grid (OTG)?

At its core, Off The Grid is an extraction battle royale game with dystopian cyberpunk themes. It builds on familiar gameplay elements from the genre while introducing a decentralized player economy via the Avalanche blockchain. Players enter a dystopian world, competing in fast-paced shooter combat while collecting valuable resources and extracting them from the battlefield before others eliminate them.

The game’s unique selling point lies in the integration of blockchain, where players can truly own their in-game assets, trade them, and even earn profits. The Avalanche network enables this by offering fast, secure, and scalable transactions, ensuring a seamless gaming experience. This combination of action-packed gameplay with lucrative real-world value opportunities makes Off The Grid a game-changer in the emerging GameFi landscape that puts player enjoyment first.

The history of Gunzilla Games and Off The Grid

Gunzilla Games was founded with the mission to push the boundaries of what games can offer, particularly in terms of storytelling, gameplay innovation, and technological advancement. The studio was formed by a team of veteran developers, including CEO Vlad Korolev, Chief Visionary Officer Neill Blomkamp, and CPO Timur Davidenko, all of which have decades of collective experience across both the gaming and entertainment industries.

From the start, Gunzilla’s goal was to create narrative-driven, cinematic games that still offered the kind of depth and complexity sought by competitive players. The studio's ambition to build Off The Grid reflects its commitment to innovation, combining the strengths of both traditional gaming and blockchain technology.

Why are gamers excited for Off The Grid?

Regardless of whether you're an avid gamer or a GameFi veteran, you may be wondering why there's so much hype for Off The Grid. Despite being Gunzilla’s first foray into the GameFi world, Off The Grid is led by a team boasting a strong background in AAA gaming. Members of the development team have previously worked on major titles across genres, providing them with the expertise to craft a unique experience for Off The Grid. This is also in part due to Blomkamp's role in directing dystopian blockbuster films like District 9 and Elysium. It's this combination of storytelling prowess, world building, and technical knowledge that’s positioned the studio as a worthy contender in the rapidly growing blockchain gaming industry.

Simplified onboarding for non-crypto natives

One of the challenges for non-crypto gamers is the often complex onboarding process that blockchain games require. From connecting crypto wallets to paying gas fees to ensure transactions go through, there's a high barrier to entry that often deters eager players looking to simply try out the game. However, Off The Grid simplifies this with an intuitive onboarding system that minimizes the need for prior crypto knowledge. By putting off the entire onchain aspect, players can first start playing the game without having to worry about setting up a crypto wallet or buying crypto upfront. This strategic decision makes Off The Grid accessible to a broader audience, ensuring that both traditional gamers and crypto-curious players can enjoy the extraction battle royale for what it is, rather than what crypto natives are hyping it up to be.

Core gameplay elements of Off The Grid

Let's now delve into what makes Off The Grid tick by checking out its key mechanics and gameplay loop.

What is an extraction royale?

Source: Off The Grid

Extraction royale is Off The Grid's only playable mode so far. It's an all-out brawl where you and 59 other players are parachuted onto Teardrop Island to do battle until a single team of three remains. Unlike traditional battle royales where the objective is to outlast opponents until only one player or team remains, the extraction aspect adds a strategic layer with its extraction mechanic. In an extraction battle royale, players aim to gather resources while simultaneously avoiding elimination. The end goal isn’t just to be the last one standing but to also safely extract valuable assets from the battlefield.

Escape From Tarkov was one of the first games to popularize this unique twist on the battle royale format, as players must weigh the risks of continuing to fight versus extracting early to secure their loot. This mechanic helped games like Tarkov excel in a market dominated by mainstays like Fortnite and Warzone.

In this sense, OTG feels like a breath of fresh air as it combines the fast-paced action of a traditional battle royale with the strategic depth and risk-reward mechanics of extraction shooters. This blend offers a unique and engaging experience that sets it apart from other titles in the genre.

Source: Off The Grid

Interestingly, there's also a traditional battle royale mode that'll launch soon that significantly ups the ante by including a total of 150 players and having a narrative campaign that'll play out as you're combating other players. With such stakes, it's no wonder many Off The Grid players are looking forward to this alternative game mode.

Mechanics of Off The Grid

Source: Off The Grid

Set in a dystopian future, Off The Grid immerses players in a world where they must complete missions, collect resources, and fight off other players. 60 players will do battle on the massive Teardrop Island while earning cash, looting equipment, and picking off enemies. This is all done while avoiding the ring that periodically closes in over time and ushers you to the middle of the map. If you've previously played multiplayer shooters like Warzone and Escape From Tarkov, you'll certainly feel right at home given the similarities in objectives and gameplay.

After a brief warm-up session, you'll be tasked with deciding where to drop as you and your team parachute from a plane that's jetting across the island map. Choosing a strategic landing spot with your teammates is crucial, as it can significantly impact your early game success. Popular locations tend to be densely populated with loot, but they also attract a higher concentration of players, increasing the risk of early elimination.

Once on the ground, your primary objectives include the following.

• Gathering resources: As an essential starting point of every battle royale game, looting will be key here as you explore the map and gather loot from chests that hold weapons, ammunition, cyberlimbs, and other essential items.

• Completing Teardrop Ops: Contrary to popular belief, Off The Grid isn't just a shooter game where you're ushered from point to point on a giant map. Thanks to the introduction of Teardrop Ops, you'll uncover a whole host of missions that allow you to get a leg up on the competition. From Netrunner missions that inform you of where the next circle will be to Bounty Hunter contracts that reward you handsomely for eliminating targeted players, there's plenty to do once you've mastered the basics.

• Avoiding the ring: The ring is a deadly force field that slowly contracts towards the center of the map, forcing players to move closer together and increasing the intensity of combat. This mechanic ultimately discourages passive gameplay as more aggressive players will likely be skulking around and picking off stragglers who are struggling to keep up with the ring.

Source: Off The Grid

As the game progresses, the number of surviving players dwindles, leading to more intense firefights and strategic alliances. The ultimate goal is to be the last player or team standing, emerging victorious from the chaos of Off The Grid. In addition to the ego boost of being top of the server, victory also grants you additional rewards.

Personalized loadouts

Source: Off The Grid

As previously mentioned, you'll be able to airdrop your preferred weapon and cybernetic loadouts mid-game. This is a key gameplay mechanic that helps you overcome the procedural randomization that comes with looting in each game. From deciding between shotguns or sniper rifles as your primary weapon to choosing the amount of armor kits to bring, these costs will add up and determine the amount of cash needed to summon your preferred loadout. As a result, there's an overall sense of strategy here as you weigh the costs involved with the amount of gear to include in your customized loadout.

Off The Grid tips: a quick beginner's guide

Rack up as much cash as possible

Cash is king in Off The Grid as it dictates everything from reviving your eliminated teammates to calling in a personalized loadout so you can take on opponents with your comfort picks in weapons and cybernetics. As such, it would make sense to gather as much cash as possible from looting containers and completing Teardrop Ops.

Focus on getting your loadouts

As with most battle royale games, the randomization of the loot involved can sometimes be frustrating. That's why prioritizing your loadout drops is crucial for success in Off The Grid. While you can't always control what weapons and equipment you find, you can take control of the game with specific weapons, armor, and attachments that suit your playstyle. This can ultimately increase your chances of victory as you dominate the battlefield with your comfort picks.

Familiarize yourself with the map

While the loot may be random, Off The Grid's map certainly isn't. With enough time in the game, you'll be able to tell where the hotspots are thanks to the game's iconic landmarks. This can be especially helpful if you're new to the game and aren't fully used to the movement or shooting mechanics yet, as you can simply avoid these popular landing spots and instead prioritize landing along the edges of the map to first build up enough cash and quality gear.

Play together as a team

One of the most annoying things about shooting games like Off The Grid is getting double or triple teamed while you're caught up in a firefight. To even the odds, stick together with your teammates so they can cover your blind spots and back you up in the heat of battle. While it can be tempting to go exploring on your own, Off The Grid is a team game at its core and rewards playing together as a unit.

Preparing for Hex extractions

Once you've built up enough confidence in the game's in-depth mechanics and proven yourself with various victories, you'll probably want to consider perfecting your loadout. This can be done by exploring the Hex extraction mechanics. Like its namesake, there are various Hexes scattered across Teardrop Island that are ripe for extraction. Being one of the game's most valuable resources, there are likely other players gunning to do the same. That's why combat at Hex extraction points tends to be the most frantic and engaging as swarms of players strive to secure these valuable items at all costs.

The significance of Off The Grid in the GameFi industry

Off The Grid stands out in the GameFi space due to its emphasis on traditional gameplay combined with blockchain. Unfortunately, the term play-to-earn seems to have left a sour taste in the mouths of many who were previously burnt by the promises of the last cycle's GameFi projects. These older blockchain games primarily focused on the financial aspect of GameFi over fun core gameplay.

Thankfully, Off The Grid seems to have learned from these mistakes and attempts to strike a balance between fun and monetization. At this current build, the game seems to be designed for engagement and fun from the ground up, while blockchain elements are seamlessly integrated into the background. It's ultimately this fun-first approach that sets it apart from other GameFi titles that may struggle with mass adoption.

Is earning while playing sustainable?

A concern in blockchain gaming is the risk of over-monetizing gameplay, where the focus shifts from fun to profits. Off The Grid avoids this pitfall by ensuring that earning opportunities are a natural part of the gameplay rather than the sole focus. The game remains enjoyable whether or not players choose to engage with the blockchain aspects, and any earnings come as a bonus to the core gaming experience. This balanced approach helps Off The Grid maintain sustainability, ensuring that players aren’t forced into a “pay-to-win” model, but instead rewarded for skill and strategic thinking.

Final words and next steps

With an explosive debut that's caught the attention of gamers and crypto enthusiasts alike, Off The Grid is a standout example of how blockchain technology can enhance the gaming experience without overshadowing it. With its focus on providing engaging gameplay first, supported by a player-driven economy, the game succeeds in balancing traditional gaming elements with the innovative possibilities of GameFi. With plans to seamlessly integrate Avalanche's blockchain infrastructure in a way that doesn’t intimidate non-crypto users, Off The Grid has the potential to attract both gaming enthusiasts and crypto-curious players. As GameFi continues to evolve, Off The Grid’s unique approach could lead the way in setting a new standard for blockchain-based games. Its fun-first approach coupled with opportunities to earn in-game assets offers a promising glimpse into the future of sustainable GameFi projects.

Keen to learn more about Avalanche's subnets? Read up on our Avalanche guide to educate yourself about how the Layer-1 network excels in silos like GameFi. Alternatively, you can also read our guides to other popular GameFi titles like Big Time.