From FPS nostalgia to laid-back island-building, Avalanche’s gaming ecosystem proves accessible, fun, and full of promise.

A wave of fresh energy swept through Davao as Paradise Tycoon x Maplestory: Game Day – Mindanao brought together seasoned gamers and curious newcomers for a full day of Web3 gaming. Taking place at Flynn Online Gaming, the event was brought to life by Avalanche Team1 PH in partnership with Kadiliman Esports, The BLOKC, and Davao DeFi Community (DDC).

It offered an alternative to high-octane FPS action: slow-building strategy, resource management, and community-first gameplay.

Returning attendees from the first event featuring "Off The Grid," a first-person shooter that resonated with Counter Strike and Farlight fans, found themselves in a different kind of digital world.

Paradise Tycoon, by contrast, invites players into a colorful, laid-back setting where you grow your own island paradise through quests, planning, and smart use of in-game assets. The relaxed pace was a pleasant surprise, especially for newcomers to crypto gaming. Christ Odtojan, aka Marix Gaming, gave us his insights into how the event went down.

From Shooters to Sim Games

The contrast between the two Game Days highlighted the range of Web3 gameplay that Avalanche supports.

While Off The Grid emphasized quick reflexes and tactical shooting, Paradise Tycoon leaned into a different skillset: patience, planning, and progression. This kind of game opens up opportunities to a broader base of players, especially those unfamiliar with crypto.

"Comparing this second event to the first one, both brought different strengths... Off The Grid had that FPS thrill, nostalgic for many of us who grew up playing games like Counter Strike. Paradise Tycoon, on the other hand, is perfect for casual gamers who like to build and manage."

Attendees were quick to adapt. Many had never played a blockchain game before, yet within minutes were farming, building, and completing quests.

"What Avalanche does really well is onboarding. Both games were easy to access and understand, even for beginners."

Welcoming the Non-Crypto Crowd

One of the most notable aspects of the event was its reach beyond the Web3 native community. Thanks to partnerships with Kadiliman Esports and The BLOKC, the Game Day attracted a sizable group of Web2 gamers and curious newcomers. Their reactions? Surprisingly positive.

"We’ve definitely had non-crypto gamers join us, and their reactions have been very encouraging. Most were surprised that Web3 games are already this smooth and fun to play. A few even said they’re now curious to explore more about blockchain and crypto."

The interactive game demos, open Q&As, and short talks on the Avalanche ecosystem made it easy for anyone to get up to speed, no wallet or prior knowledge required.

Pro Tips and Future Hopes

For those who stuck around to level up in Paradise Tycoon, a few strategic insights emerged.

"If I had to share one pro-gamer tip, it’s focus on resource management early and follow the Quest. Don’t just build randomly—plan your paradise with long-term growth in mind."

That kind of mindset reflects not just in gameplay, but also in the goals of Team1, the global community behind the Avalanche meetups. Their aim is to bring local builders, gamers, and creators into the Web3 fold through grassroots, real-world events.

Operating in 50+ countries, they’re creating a decentralized movement, one meetup at a time.

What’s Next for Web3 in Mindanao

With each Game Day, the local ecosystem expands. The partnerships between Avalanche, DDC, Kadiliman Esports, and The BLOKC are paving the way for more events, more game releases, and a growing cross-section of players blending traditional and blockchain gaming.

"Looking forward, we’re excited to keep growing this community With each game day, we’re bringing more people into Web3 in a fun, accessible way, and this is just the beginning."

Davao’s Game Day didn’t just introduce a new game, it tested what a new kind of player-driven ecosystem might look like, adding to the success of the first Game Day.

Check out the first event here: Game On: Avalanche Launches 'Off The Grid' Free-to-Play Gaming in Davao City