TLDR

• VOYA Games raised $5 million in funding for Craft World, a dinosaur apocalypse crafting game
• Founded by Oliver Löffler, creator of Idle Miner Tycoon, which had over 100 million downloads
• Craft World attracted 240,000 registered players and 50,000 monthly active users during testnet
• The game allows players to rebuild civilization with friendly dinosaurs after a meteor wipes out humanity
• VOYA aims to build a token ecosystem where games are connected through a shared player economy

VOYA Games has raised $5 million in funding to support the growth of their debut game, Craft World, a dinosaur apocalypse crafting game that has already attracted over 240,000 registered players during its testnet phase. The funding round was co-led by 1kx and Makers Fund, with participation from RockawayX and angel investors from established gaming companies.

The Berlin-based game studio, founded in 2023, is led by CEO Oliver Löffler, who previously created Kolibri Games and the hit mobile game Idle Miner Tycoon. That game reached over 100 million downloads and led to Ubisoft acquiring the company for a nine-figure sum in under four years.

Löffler is joined by co-founders Florian Dreschner and Dino Erdmann, bringing technical expertise and creative leadership to the company. The team’s experience in mobile gaming provides a strong foundation for their new venture into the crypto gaming space.

Building a Connected Gaming Ecosystem

Craft World serves as the foundation for VOYA’s broader vision of connected games. The company aims to build a token ecosystem where multiple games are linked through a shared player economy and culture.

“Our goal is to build a token ecosystem where games are connected through a shared player economy and culture,” said Löffler. “Craft World is our first step in that vision, already attracting over 50,000 monthly active users in its test phase.”

The game itself is a casual resource management game with an unusual premise. Players work with friendly dinosaurs to rebuild civilization after a meteor wipes out humanity. This approach creates an accessible entry point for casual gamers to experience blockchain gaming.

Currently available in testnet, the game is free-to-play on iOS, Android, and web platforms. As players progress through the game, they learn about asset ownership and trading in what the company describes as a “fun-first and safe environment.”

Player Activity and NFT Integration

The testnet phase has shown promising engagement metrics. Beyond the 240,000 registered players, the game maintains 50,000 monthly active users and has facilitated 1.1 million total lifetime on-chain trades.

VOYA Games has integrated two NFT collections into the game experiences and economy. These digital assets are part of the broader Dyno Coin utility token ecosystem that will connect future games and experiences.

Peter Pan of 1kx, one of the lead investors, praised VOYA’s approach: “They’re building a Web3 gaming ecosystem that prioritizes openness and ownership, treating the game world more like a public good than a closed economy.”

The funding will be used to scale experiences, expand the user base, and grow the ecosystem. This investment supports VOYA’s plans to launch Craft World out of testing this summer.

The game represents a growing trend of mobile gaming veterans entering the Web3 space with accessible games aimed at mainstream audiences. By focusing on gameplay first and gradually introducing blockchain elements, VOYA hopes to overcome adoption barriers that have challenged other crypto games.

VOYA Games describes their approach as “casual, barrier-free, and educational.” This strategy aims to make blockchain gaming more accessible to players who might be intimidated by the technical aspects of cryptocurrency and NFTs.

The company is committed to building an ecosystem that engages players for the long term, builds loyalty and trust, and rewards creativity and participation. Their approach emphasizes player ownership as a central feature rather than an afterthought.

Craft World will launch out of testing this summer, marking the first full release from VOYA Games.