Overview
Wild Forest is a real-time strategy (RTS) game deployed on the Ronin blockchain — the same chain that powers Axie Infinity and has established itself as a leading gaming-focused blockchain. Developed by Zillion Whales (known for mobile strategy games), Wild Forest features PvP battles where players build bases, deploy army units, and compete in fast-paced strategic combat.
The game uses a cartoon animal aesthetic — anthropomorphic animals in a forest setting — creating an accessible, family-friendly visual style. Units are collectible NFTs with varying rarities and abilities, adding a collection and trading layer to the core gameplay. The Ronin blockchain's low transaction costs and fast confirmation times provide the infrastructure needed for the frequent small transactions that gaming generates.
Wild Forest represents the "mobile-first, blockchain-second" approach to Web3 gaming — building an enjoyable game first and adding blockchain features for ownership and trading rather than making blockchain the primary value proposition.
Gameplay
Score: 5/10
Wild Forest delivers a competent mobile RTS experience. Base building is streamlined for mobile play — resource collection, building placement, and unit production follow established mobile strategy patterns. PvP battles are fast-paced, with matches lasting a few minutes, suited to mobile gaming sessions.
The strategic depth is moderate — different unit types create rock-paper-scissors dynamics, and base layout matters for defense. The cartoon animal theme is charming and the visual feedback during battles is satisfying. However, the gameplay lacks the depth of established mobile strategy games like Clash Royale or top-tier PC RTS games. The unit variety is limited, and strategic options can feel constrained once players learn the meta.
Technology
Score: 5/10
The Ronin blockchain deployment is a smart choice for gaming — low gas fees and fast transactions reduce friction for NFT trades and in-game transactions. The game client runs on mobile (Android, iOS) with decent performance and reasonable visual quality for a mobile title.
The NFT integration allows units to be traded on the Ronin marketplace (Mavis Market), providing genuine ownership. The game servers handle real-time PvP matching and battle resolution, with blockchain used for asset ownership rather than game state — a pragmatic design that avoids the latency issues of fully on-chain games.
Economy
Score: 4/10
The economy centers on collectible unit NFTs with varying rarities. Players can buy, sell, and trade units on secondary markets. Higher-rarity units provide gameplay advantages, creating a pay-to-win dynamic that some players find acceptable (it's common in mobile strategy) and others find objectionable (it undermines competitive integrity).
The in-game economy includes resource generation, unit upgrading, and crafting systems. However, the economic model is still being balanced — NFT prices are volatile, and the relationship between spending on units and gameplay success is not always clear. The pay-to-win element limits the game's appeal to competitive players who don't want to spend.
Adoption
Score: 4/10
Wild Forest has achieved modest adoption within the Ronin ecosystem. The game benefits from Ronin's existing user base (Axie Infinity veterans and other Ronin gamers) and the chain's gaming-focused infrastructure. Player counts are in the thousands — small for a mobile game but meaningful for the Ronin ecosystem.
The mobile-first approach provides broad accessibility, and the game's app store presence gives it visibility beyond crypto-native channels. However, mainstream mobile gamers have no shortage of polished strategy games to choose from, and Wild Forest's Web3 features are not a compelling differentiator for this audience.
Tokenomics
Score: 4/10
The token economy is integrated with the Ronin ecosystem, using RON for gas and project-specific tokens for in-game economy. NFT unit sales provide primary revenue, with secondary marketplace trading generating ongoing economic activity. The tokenomics are simple relative to more complex DeFi-gaming hybrids, which reduces confusion but also limits economic sophistication.
Token distribution and emission schedules follow standard patterns. The economic sustainability depends on continued player acquisition and NFT demand — a model that has proven fragile in many Web3 games when player growth stalls.
Risk Factors
- Mobile competition: Competing against polished, well-funded mobile strategy games
- Pay-to-win concerns: NFT rarity advantages may limit competitive appeal
- Ronin ecosystem dependency: Success tied to Ronin chain's continued growth
- Limited gameplay depth: Strategic options may not sustain long-term engagement
- NFT price volatility: Unit values fluctuate, affecting player experience
- Retention challenge: Mobile games face inherently high churn rates
- Web3 gaming uncertainty: Broader market for blockchain games still unproven
- Developer sustainability: Revenue model depends on sustained NFT demand
Conclusion
Wild Forest is a competent mobile RTS on Ronin that succeeds at being an actual playable game — a low bar in Web3 gaming, but one that many projects fail to clear. The cartoon aesthetic is appealing, the gameplay is accessible, and the Ronin deployment provides appropriate infrastructure. The developer's mobile gaming experience shows in the game's polish and accessibility.
The challenges are competition and depth. The mobile strategy market is dominated by games with years of content development and massive marketing budgets. Wild Forest needs to continually add content, balance the economy, and grow its player base to remain viable. The pay-to-win element of NFT unit advantages is a double-edged sword — it drives NFT revenue but limits competitive appeal. A solid foundation with uncertain long-term prospects.