Real Money ​Virtual World Games : Guide to Profiting From Cash Economy Gaming

Make Money Playing In Virtual Worlds

There’s a surprise lurking in those online virtual world games which you may have been building, roaming, or exploring – namely the ability to make or earn real money from your gaming efforts.

Also known as role-playing games or RPG, virtual world games deliver one of the few ways you can turn entertainment-style gaming into a way to make some extra cash. You will find opportunities to play them across PC, mobile, console, and virtual reality platforms.

These games based on virtual economies have transformed digital interactions, trade, and value creation in recent years. From text-based MUDs to immersive metaverses, technology and increasing player interest have driven the genre’s evolution.

MMORPGs and virtual worlds like Second Life, Entropia Universe, Axie Infinity, and Decentralands have introduced complex in-game asset trading and economic systems.

Virtual currencies, in-game assets, and player-driven digital marketplaces emerged, integrating real-world economic principles like scarcity, value, and market dynamics to create thriving digital ecosystems.

For players, this ongoing evolution has created environments where making real money from gaming is a viable pursuit.

For the business operators, the gaming industry generates over $200 billion in annual revenue. Virtual economies within games process millions of daily transactions.

This guide explores how to earn real income through digital land ownership and item acquisition that you’ll encounter in games involving the navigation of virtual worlds.

We’ll cover strategies, risks, regulations, and ethical considerations alongside multiple profit paths that include professional competition, content creation, asset trading, and blockchain gaming. Indeed, everything that makes virtual world games what they are.

What are ‘Virtual World Games’?

Virtual world games are computer-based or phone-based online games where multiple players can participate from anywhere globally. They’re normally played on a remote server, with all players connecting via their PC, laptop, or mobile device browser.

They’re typically classified as massively multiplayer online games (MMOG, MMO or MMOs), and known as RPGs or role-playing games because the gameplay calls for you to act out a role within each game…

The Wikipedia summary on them is a good one: ”an online game which is capable of supporting large numbers of players, typically from hundreds to thousands, simultaneously in the same instance (or world). MMOs usually feature a huge, persistent open world, although some games differ”…

..and Wikipedia also says ”A virtual world is a computer-simulated environment which may be populated by many users who can create a personal avatar, and simultaneously and independently explore the virtual world, participate in its activities and communicate with others.”

So, these games immerse you into a synthetic, virtual reality world which can depict fantasy, comic book heroes, science fiction characters or virtual farming, to name but just some of the themes. You can see they’re are not solely gaming environments, but complimentary extensions to our physical world to which they add new dimensions and opportunities for economic, social and leisure activities.

There are many different games and themes to suit all types of preferences. There’s plenty of variety, something to suit everyone, and ways to play some of them that involve you ending up with the chance to make some real money, too.

Players on these virtual gaming platforms interact in real time; so you may wander through dark alleyways, concealed corners or strange new towns at the same time other players are positioned in exactly the same area.

If we take Grand Theft Auto or Second Life as immediate examples – you could be driving down a virtual street and pass a shop or side street where you’ll see another user, possibly doing the same or similar action as yourself. At the same time – they will see YOU only from their point of view. The two gaming participants could well be several thousands of miles away from one another or even on opposite sides of the world.

Communication is possible between players (usually as a text message only, often positioned in a sidebar) and deals and trades can be bartered here. It is in this synthetic environment where money can be made. Real money, that is, but often converted from Bitcoins, Western Union payments or via more popular cash payment platforms such as PayPal.

What Are The Key Components Of Synthetic World Gaming?

Real-money virtual world games revolve around virtual goods, services, currencies, and in-game economies. Understanding these components is essential to navigating their mechanics and financial opportunities.

What Are Virtual Economies?

A virtual economy is a digital ecosystem where users buy, sell, and trade virtual goods, services, and assets using virtual currencies. It mirrors real-world economies but operates within virtual worlds, games, or platforms.

Key features include virtual currencies, which serve as the medium of exchange and can be earned, purchased, or acquired through gameplay. In-game assets such as weapons, skins, avatars, and virtual real estate hold value, allowing players to trade, sell, or use them to enhance their experiences.

What Are Virtual Currencies?

Virtual currencies are the backbone of the virtual economy, acting as the primary medium of exchange in digital spaces. These platform-specific currencies facilitate transactions and microtransactions or virtual goods and services, sustaining economic activity. To obtain them sometimes requires some spending on the behalf of the participant.

What Are In-game Assets?

In-game assets include weapons, armour, cosmetics, and virtual real estate or land Their value fluctuates based on demand, rarity, and utility, reflecting real-world market dynamics around demand and sales.

What Are Virtual Products?

Virtual products are similar to in-game assets but broader-reaching and encompassing all digital goods and services used within metaverse platforms and virtual economies. These include avatar accessories, virtual clothing, digital art, in-game items, and immersive experiences.

Key features include NFT-based ownership, digital scarcity, virtual fashion, and cross-platform compatibility. Virtual products fuel metaverse commerce, enabling self-expression, collecting, and value creation in digital spaces.

What Are Game Economies?

Game economies are systems governing virtual goods and services, including supply and demand, inflation, and player behavior.

What Are Marketplaces?

Marketplaces in virtual economies serve as trading hubs where players buy and sell goods, services, and in-game assets. These platforms enable users to exchange virtual currencies for items that enhance gameplay or status. Transactions occur through player-to-player trades or direct purchases from developers, driving value circulation within the digital ecosystem.

How Does Player Engagement & Behaviour Shape Gameplay?

Player engagement and behavior shape real-money virtual world games at a core level. Game design, social interactions, rewards, and challenges influence player retention. Developers must understand player psychology and behavioral economics to build engaging and sustainable game economies, which leads us to a major difference in the types of games available. 

Centralized vs Decentralized Games: Traditional Gaming vs Web3 Metaverse-based Blockchain Gaming

Up until a handful of years ago, most players would have been traversing virtual worlds in games based on centralized servers. That’s to say they run on servers situated somewhere in the world, and all players access them the same way across the internet. This solution is still widely used, with millions of players.

With the arrival of Web3, Blockchain-based gaming in more recent years, things have changed to reflect shifts in technology, philosophy, and user engagement. These metaverse games run on decentralized servers, offering players a host of additional benefits.

We can categorize the inherent differences between these two forms of synthetic world gaming across several key dimensions: 

Technology & Infrastructure

• Older Virtual Worlds – Operate on centralized servers controlled by a parent company (e.g., Linden Lab for Second Life). Use traditional databases for asset storage, limiting transparency and user control.
• Web3 Games – Built on decentralized blockchain networks (e.g., Ethereum, Polygon). Record assets and transactions on public ledgers, enabling trustless and transparent interactions.

Ownership & Asset Control

• Older Virtual Worlds – Users license in-game assets (e.g., land, clothing) under the platform’s terms of service.
  Assets disappear if the platform shuts down.
• Web3 Games – Players have true ownership via NFTs, enabling independent trading and selling. Assets remain on the blockchain, even if the game ceases operations.

Economic Structure & Currency 

• Centralized Virtual Worlds – Feature closed-loop economies with proprietary currencies (e.g., Linden Dollars, Project Entropia Dollar) convertible to fiat through centralized exchanges. Transactions often require platform approval and may include fees.
• Blockchain-based Games – Use cryptocurrency-driven economies (e.g., AXS in Axie Infinity, MANA in Decentraland).
  Tokens are tradable on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and integrated with the broader crypto market.

Governance & Decision-Making

Original Virtual Worlds – Operate under top-down control, where the company makes all decisions with minimal user influence over updates or policies.
Web3 Metaverse Games – Utilize Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), allowing token-holding players to vote on governance decisions (e.g., Decentraland’s DAO).

Monetization Models

• ‘Traditional’ Synthetic Worlds – Generate revenue through subscriptions, microtransactions, and land sales (e.g., Second Life’s premium memberships). Users can profit by selling creations, but earnings depend on the platform’s ecosystem.
• Web3 Games – Implement Play-to-Earn (P2E) game mechanics, rewarding players with crypto (e.g., Axie Infinity’s SLP tokens). Encourage participation through NFT speculation and token appreciation as investment opportunities.

Interoperability & Portability

• Older Virtual Worlds – Assets remain confined within the game’s ecosystem, limiting cross-platform use.
• Web3 Games – NFT-based assets offer theoretical cross-platform compatibility (e.g., a sword from one game usable in another), though full interoperability is still developing.

User Experience & Community Focus

• Centralized Virtual World Games – Focus on social interaction, creativity, and immersive role-playing (e.g., Second Life’s virtual events).
• Blockchain Worlds – Combine social engagement with financialization (e.g., Decentraland’s virtual real estate market). Often prioritizing economic incentives over pure creativity.

Risks & Sustainability

• Older Virtual Worlds – Maintain stable economies but remain vulnerable to corporate decisions and potential shutdowns.
• Metaverse Web3 Games – Subject to crypto volatility, speculative bubbles, and environmental concerns (e.g., energy-intensive blockchains). Play-to-Earn models can foster exploitative labor practices (e.g., Axie Infinity’s scholarship systems).

It’s clear that the pioneering gaming worlds championed user-generated content and virtual economies but remained centralized. Web3 games leverage blockchain technology to decentralize ownership, empower players financially, and enable cross-platform interoperability. However, they face challenges related to sustainability and speculative risks.

This shift aligns with broader trends toward digital sovereignty and decentralized systems. But, for players, the gaming itself is what’s of most interest, with most attention initially focused on whether it cost anything to play and, if it does, then how much?

Free To Play or Pay To Play: A Fundamental Player Choice

If you’re looking to play one of these games in the hope of making extra cash, there’s a fundamental choice to consider from the outset. And that choice revolves around how much it costs to play and how transparent those costs are.

At a high level, the options are to seek free-play games or those where a definite cost is involved.

Free Play Games

Free-to-Play (F2P) virtual world games provide access to expansive digital realms without an initial purchase. Players can explore core mechanics and community features before deciding to invest, making F2P games widely accessible. This model attracts a broad audience by lowering entry barriers.

Monetization in F2P games relies on in-game purchases, including cosmetic items (skins, outfits) and convenience boosts (XP multipliers, resource packs). Some games introduce pay-to-win (P2W) mechanics, where spending money provides competitive advantages. Subscription-based premium accounts offer perks like increased inventory or exclusive areas, while Battle Passes reward players for completing activities.

The F2P experience varies by game design. Well-balanced games ensure fair competition regardless of spending, while unbalanced titles may pressure non-paying players into excessive grinding. Evaluating whether a game remains enjoyable without purchases is key.

While F2P games generally attract more players than Pay-to-Play titles, their long-term success depends on maintaining value and engagement in the user experience.

Pay To Play

Pay-to-Play (P2P) virtual world games require an upfront purchase and often include ongoing subscription fees. This model ensures a high-quality experience with balanced gameplay, as all players make a similar financial commitment.

Beyond the initial cost, P2P games may offer expansion packs – large content updates introducing new areas, storylines, and features. Cosmetic items provide customization without affecting game balance. Regular updates and engaging content justify the ongoing expense, extending the game’s lifespan.

P2P games generally provide a fairer experience due to the shared entry fee. The steady revenue stream supports larger content updates, leading to more immersive and refined gameplay than many F2P counterparts. Players benefit from a focused, well-developed experience without pay-to-win mechanics.

This model fosters a dedicated fan base where the shared financial investment encourages long-term player commitment. Progression is typically uniform, with fewer shortcuts available through purchases.

You can see the main differences in the following table:

The table gives us a strong starting point for an analysis of what’s really at the root of virtual world gaming – the games themselves. There are multiple well-known and widely played game titles.

What Types Of Make-Believe World Games Can You Play?

You’ll find almost all the most popular video game genres represented in make-believe world themes:

• Puzzle
• Multi Online Battle Arena (MOBA)
• Battle Royale
• Shooter
• RPG
• Strategy
• Action or adventure
• Racing
• Simulation
• MMO
• Farming

It’s a list that clearly will result in a significant number of individual game titles.

List of Leading Virtual World Game Titles

This list covers the top virtual world games that offer players ways to earn real cash. These games span various themes, from financial simulations to war and battle. All listed games are currently active and have a history of stability. Platforms can shut down, though, so always verify a game’s status before playing. If you can access the site and register an account, it should be operational. However, avoid spending money before conducting further checks.

We’ll start the list by talking a little about three of the best-known Web3 games. I won’t go into depth on these here because they’re covered in detail on the separate Play-To-Earn games page. The three I’m referring to are The Sandbox, Decentraland, and Axie Infinity.

Just taking The Sandbox as an example, it’s a great illustration of the money-making power in these playing options. The Sandox’s first game item sale – a LAND sale – took place in December 2019. The initial digital real estate offering sold out in just four hours, despite being planned as a 15-day event. Subsequent LAND sales have remained highly popular, generating over $5.5 million USD (A$7 million) for the game’s owner – Animoca Brands – even before the game officially launched.

But as we’ve seen, Blockchain games alone don’t tell the whole story. Several titles based on a centralized operational model have stood the test of time and delivered great gaming to players over many years. Let’s see an extensive list of those titles. Game descriptions follow the list: 

• eRepublik
• Planet Calypso
• Golden Battles
• My Lands
• Dungeons and Treasures
• Entropia Universe
• Exodus 3000
• Second Life
• Fortnite
• Everquest

eRepublik

eRepublik, a free-to-play online game, is set in a virtual world called “The New World,” players become citizens who manage political, economic, and social affairs within their nation.

Despite its text-based interface, eRepublik has inspired other developers to create similar games. Players can own land, upgrade with gold currency, engage in wars, and build economic powerhouses that generate real income. Success depends on working, fighting, and voting in elections. The game is accessible for free online.

Making Cash from eRepublik

eRepublik Gold is a fictional currency earned through achievements or purchased at a rate of 300 coins for €100. Players can generate real income by accumulating and selling Gold once they reach a profitable reserve.

Success requires dedication, including frequent presidential campaigns and military battles against real players to gain dominance and increase earnings.

Planet Calypso

Planet Calypso is a multiplayer, real-time game set in a stunning 3D environment with a real-money economy. Players can take on roles as business professionals, inventors, explorers, or entrepreneurs.

You can become a craftsman, tool designer, trader, or developer, fully engaging in the in-game economy. While free play offers an immersive experience with high-quality graphics, real-money gameplay provides earning opportunities.

Building and growing your avatar is key to success. Players can perform paid jobs, collect resources for other colonists, and fund their accounts using debit or credit cards. Earnings can be transferred directly to a real bank account.

Making Cash from Planet Calypso

Planet Calypso offers more than just combat, vehicle exploration, and weapon collection – it features a real cash economy where players can earn money.

The game has a user-friendly account system and a welcoming community. New players often receive valuable in-game gifts, but serious earnings require time and effort. Success depends on effectively managing your avatar’s actions.

The new starter packs in Entropia Universe offer a convenient way to equip your avatar and gain Cympatech Corp’s stylish new armor. Available in Bronze ($5), Silver ($15), Gold ($30), and Platinum ($75), these packs provide essential items. The Silver, Gold, and Platinum editions also include PED currency, allowing immediate participation in the in-game economy.

Golden Battles

Golden Battles is a free-to-play war simulation game where players worldwide can convert battlefield success into real cash. Set in a near-future Earth, victory in war efforts determines financial earnings.

The game blends historical and modern battle strategies, offering a sophisticated experience beyond simple combat gameplay. Players can also contribute through jobs, earning wages based on completed tasks, mirroring real-world employment.

In this virtual world, everyone plays as either a soldier, an assistant, or both. Soldiers and assistants can be bought and sold by mentors and leaders, adding strategic depth to the game’s economy.

Making Cash from Golden Battles

Players accumulate virtual gold, which can be converted into euros. The total value of your gold is displayed at the top of the homepage after logging in. You can place buy and sell offers on the marketplace or accept existing deals.

Many players invest real money to strengthen their position in battles. The more gold you acquire, the higher its real currency value.

To earn money, invest in the in-game market. Trade food, beverages, clothing, armor, weapons, accessories, transport, homes, materials, and licenses. These commodities hold value, and listing them on the marketplace allows you to profit.

To track earnings, check the Possessions menu for gold and its euro conversion. The Country menu provides exchange rates for your local currency.

My Lands

My Lands: Black Gem Hunting is a real-time, browser-based military strategy game where thousands of players worldwide compete or cooperate at any time. Success depends on building economies and engaging in strategic military combat.

Players must develop cities, construct buildings, establish factories, trade, and employ workers. A strong economy and military presence are essential. Forming alliances is crucial, but so is waging wars – either dominate or be dominated.

Players can choose between a mining server or a military-focused one. With nearly 250,000 players globally, My Lands is a leading MMOG and one of the first to run on a standard web browser.

As players expand their kingdoms, they must defend against inevitable attacks. To stay in control, armies and military strategies must be well-trained and battle-ready.

Black Gems: The Way to Attain Wealth in My Lands

Black Gems are the in-game currency in My Lands: Black Gem Hunting and are locked to your account. Your total balance is displayed in the top-right corner of the home screen.

Players can earn Black Gems by capturing salt lakes (found in Mines), looting ruins by defeating monsters, or purchasing them with gold at auctions in the marketplace.

Dungeons and Treasures

Dungeons and Treasures is a multiplayer adventure game inspired by classic gothic board games like Dungeons & Dragons. Players explore a dynamic virtual world filled with challenges, puzzles, and the opportunity to win money and prizes.

The game requires strategic thinking, especially in combat. Fighting monsters is a core element, but healing potions don’t always work. Players can only lose three lives within 24 hours—five untreated wounds mean instant defeat.

Players start as Knights and can progress to the highest rank, God. Each month features a unique theme or storyline. In one event, the world was divided into four kingdoms, battling for dominance as the ultimate warrior faction.

Dungeons and Treasures can be a Cash Cow

As your character levels up in Dungeons and Treasures, you accumulate more wealth but also face stronger monsters. Players can upgrade by purchasing DT Codes, each granting four star points, which can be used to win more gold.

Win gold by discovering chests in dungeons and playing various site games.

• Each month, characters reset to zero, and earned gold converts into virtual DT Dollars (DT$).
• Once you reach a minimum of 5 DT$, you can request a payout in euros (DT$1 = €0.70).
• Earn extra gold and cash through bonus games like Jackpot, Treasure Hunt, Jousts, Contest Quest, and more.

You can also earn by referring other new players:

• Earn 5% to 40% of your direct referrals’ earnings.
• Gain 0% to 20% from second-level referrals.
• Receive 0% to 14% from third-level referrals.

Entropia Universe

Entropia Universe is a sci-fi multiplayer game set in a vast virtual world reminiscent of Star Trek and Star Wars. Players explore planets like Rock Tropia, Arcadia, Cyrene, Toulan, Calypso, and Next Island using helicopters, boats, hoverboards, or spacecraft.

The game features a real cash economy with Project Entropia Dollars (PEDs) as its currency. Millions of real dollars are exchanged yearly through trading, marketplaces, and personal shops. Every world within Entropia Universe is filled with opportunities to earn real money in U.S. dollars.

How To Make Money Online in Entropia Universe

Entropia Universe is a cash-generating powerhouse, but success requires effort. Players can earn revenue by acquiring land and collecting taxes, specializing in trades, or selling digital artwork.

Many players take on roles such as electronic engineers, hair stylists, plastic surgeons, or doctors. Others act as virtual real estate agents, selling land to wealthy clients. The game offers endless skill-building opportunities with no fixed rules.

Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records, Entropia Universe continues to break records for the most expensive virtual item sales. In 2010, player Jon Jacobs made history with a virtual real estate deal. After purchasing an asteroid for $100,000 in 2005, he generated up to $10,000 per month from in-game banking and $20,000 per month from his nightclub. By 2007, his real estate holdings were valued at $2.5 million. He later sold the asteroid for over $600,000.

To achieve similar success, players must invest, develop property, and trade services using Project Entropia Dollars (PEDs) – which are directly convertible to U.S. dollars. The exchange rate is displayed on the game’s homepage.

Take Note Of Rocktropia

ROCKtropia is a hybrid of an MMORPG based on Entropia Universe and a ‘real’ Virtual Reality World. Here you can get involved with a global gaming community that’s going to interact in a game based on virtual reality, as opposed to the 2-dimensional games you’ll play currently.

Ways to make money in Rocktropia include:

• Crafting – Earn money by crafting weapons, armor, clothing, tools, and components. Discover rare blueprints and sell them for profit online.
• Professions – Specialize in roles such as monster hunting, mining, healing, or trading virtual goods for real cash.
• Missions – Complete missions to boost skills, find treasure, win prizes, earn virtual currency, or unlock free items and achievements.
• PVP – Become a pirate and loot valuable items from other players in Space or Mineral-Rich PVP Zones. Engage in combat for profit or fun in non-lootable PVP areas.

Exodus 3000

Exodus 3000 is a multiplayer online strategy game where players explore Mars, form alliances, battle enemies, and earn real money. Stronger strategies lead to higher earnings.

No additional software is required – simply register on the Exodus 3000 homepage and start playing. Players earn Mars Dollars by searching ruins, mining volcanoes, and attacking opponents. This currency can be used for upgrades, prizes, or converted into real cash.

With RPG elements similar to Dungeons & Dragons, this game is set in a future where Earth is destroyed, and humanity survives on Mars. The game fosters a strong community through chat rooms and forums, while referrals offer extra earning opportunities.

How to Make Cash in Exodus 3000

To make cash in Exodus 3000, upgrade key stats like weaponry, defense, intelligence, cargo capacity, radar, and storage. A stronger avatar increases earning potential.

Completing missions also rewards Mars Dollars, which can be exchanged for real money. You will need to gain a specified amount of Mars Dollars before you can cash out. This figure is pre-determined by the developers.

Be warned that cashing out does reset many of your facets back to where they once were, so you may wish to accumulate a high amount of Mars Dollars before trading in for real money.

Second Life

Second Life is one of the most well-known virtual world games, allowing players to escape reality and create their own digital lives. Unlike traditional MMOs, it lacks set objectives or combat-driven gameplay. Instead, it focuses on user-generated content and social interaction.

By 2013, over a million players engaged regularly. The platform operates within “The Grid” and uses its own virtual currency, the Linden Dollar, which can be earned, traded, and exchanged for real money. Players must be at least 16 years old to join, though some school-sponsored groups allow younger participants.

How to Earn Extra Cash in Second Life

Second Life’s in-game economy allows users to buy, sell, rent, or trade virtual assets, including land and digital goods. With over 1.3 million daily trades, players can create and sell virtual items for Linden Dollars, which are exchangeable for real U.S. dollars.

Profit can be made by trading virtual currency, waiting for favorable exchange rates, or investing in digital assets like buildings, vehicles, art, and fashion. Reselling these assets at a higher price generates income.

Players can also earn Linden Dollars by offering services such as hospitality, business consulting, entertainment, tourism, and office work. These earnings can then be converted into real money.

Ailin Graef is a prime example of virtual entrepreneurship in Second Life. She registered an account in 2004 for under $10 and initially made money as an in-game entertainer. She later launched a virtual fashion accessories business and expanded into real estate, earning around $250,000 in 2005. By 2007, with a physical office in China, her virtual holdings were valued at $1 million.

This all adds to the reasons why Second Life is probably the best known of all virtual world games where you can make real money.

Fortnite

Fortnite is a free-to-play battle royale game by Epic Games, where up to 100 players compete to be the last one standing. Players drop onto an island, collect weapons and materials, and battle opponents while a shrinking storm limits the playable area.

Known for its cartoonish graphics and building mechanics, Fortnite allows players to construct defensive structures during combat. Frequent updates introduce new items, locations, and seasonal themes. Beyond battle royale, Fortnite features Creative Mode, where players design custom islands and gameplay experiences.

How to Earn Extra Cash in Fortnite

Players can earn real money through Fortnite in several legitimate ways. The most direct path is competitive tournaments and esports. Epic Games hosts high-stakes events, including the Fortnite World Cup, which has awarded millions in prizes. Top players can earn six to seven-figure incomes annually through tournament placements.

Content creation is another profitable avenue. Skilled or entertaining players can build audiences on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok, monetizing through subscriptions, donations, ad revenue, and sponsorships. Some players also earn by coaching, joining esports teams with salaries, or participating in Epic’s Support-A-Creator program, which provides a share of in-game purchases made with their creator code.

While success requires exceptional skill or entertainment value, many players have turned their Fortnite passion into a profitable career.

Everquest

EverQuest is a pioneering 3D fantasy MMORPG released in 1999 by Verant Interactive and Sony Online Entertainment (now Daybreak Game Company). Set in the world of Norrath, players create characters from various races and classes to complete quests, battle monsters, explore dungeons, and interact with others.

As one of the first major MMORPGs, EverQuest defined the genre with its focus on group cooperation, complex raid encounters, and an expansive world. Despite its age, the game continues to receive regular expansions and maintains a dedicated player base, cementing its status as one of the most influential MMORPGs in gaming history.

Making Extra Cash in Everquest

Unlike modern games with official esports circuits, EverQuest offers revenue opportunities mainly through the secondary market and content creation.

Players can earn money by selling in-game currency, rare items, and high-level characters on third-party marketplaces, though this may violate the game’s terms of service. Some provide powerleveling services, leveling up characters for a fee, or act as paid guides for difficult content.

Content creation is another monetization route. Experienced players generate income through YouTube tutorials, Twitch streams, and written guides, earning from ad revenue, subscriptions, and donations. Some maintain EverQuest-focused websites and blogs, profiting from ads and affiliate marketing.

A few players have even leveraged their deep game knowledge to secure jobs with Daybreak Game Company as community managers, game testers, or consultants. While EverQuest lacks modern esports prize pools, its dedicated community still offers entrepreneurial players ways to turn expertise into supplemental income.

That’s an extensive list of virtual world games, all offering various forms on money-making opportunities. And we haven’t even mentioned three of the biggest names yet – Grand Theft Auto, IMVU, and World of Warcraft. I’ll cover those another time.

Before we start our further analysis of virtual world gaming, here’s a video that covers some of the best virtual world game titles. Some you can play with the chance of making money, others are ‘just’ vehicles for entertainment. Overall it offer a good visual representation, after which we’ll take a look at how much money a player might expect to make.