Best NFT Projects to Watch

NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) are digital assets with unique properties that verify ownership of real-world items. These tokens are built on blockchain technology and come in various forms, including art, music, video, and gaming assets.

The NFT market has seen ongoing transformation, with a steady stream of upcoming NFT projects creating new opportunities for investors and collectors. Recent years have introduced a wave of innovative digital collectibles, such as BTC Ordinals and Ethscriptions. NFTs are not just a passing fad—advancements like generative AI continually expand the possibilities of this sector.

Brief Overview

New types of digital collectibles and evolving NFT use cases are emerging across the industry. Despite cycles of volatility, the NFT market continues to demonstrate robust growth potential. Breakthroughs in generative AI are reshaping the NFT landscape, empowering creators to develop highly personalized and distinctive digital art.

NFTs now extend well beyond simple digital collectibles, finding real-world applications in gaming, art, real estate, and more. As with the broader crypto market, NFTs carry inherent risks. Always perform comprehensive due diligence before engaging with any NFT project and never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Top 10 NFT Projects Worth Watching

In addition to being tradable, NFTs are notable for their diversity, catering to a variety of personal interests. Still, leading NFT projects can be daunting due to their high valuations, which may make adding them to your crypto portfolio more challenging.

To support your exploration, we’ve curated a list of 10 standout upcoming NFT projects that cover a range of interests and goals. The projects below appear in no particular order:

1. Honeyland: PvP Battles as Bees

Honeyland is a game focused on managing virtual bee colonies and earning in-game currency, Honey ($HXD). Players dispatch bees for gathering missions, hunt for honey pots, breed new bees, and engage in player-vs-player (PvP) battles. In gathering mode, players send bees to collect resources to earn Honey. In hunting, players search for honey pots filled with valuable shards, which can be traded for items that enhance bees and the overall gameplay. The breeding feature allows players to grow their colonies by creating new bees, adding diversity and strategic complexity. PvP battles deliver competitive gameplay, letting players raid other hives to steal Honey, introducing a risk-reward component. Landowners earn commissions and weekly airdrop rewards when others use their land for hunting and gathering. The in-game marketplace offers mini-games, where players use Honey and Zzubs for access and cosmetic upgrades. Honeyland’s free-to-play model and entry-level hive appeal to both casual and veteran gamers.

2. Metropoly: Real Estate NFT Marketplace

Metropoly NFTs are a compelling option for real estate enthusiasts. This blockchain-powered platform allows users to acquire fractional ownership of high-demand real estate properties as NFTs. Each property is tokenized and published on the blockchain. Users can buy shares and earn monthly passive income. Metropoly is globally accessible, allowing anyone to invest or interact at a low entry threshold. Investors can diversify real estate portfolios and receive passive returns. Each NFT property represents a share and can be sold at any time for liquidity. The real estate NFT sector is widely seen as promising, making Metropoly a leading upcoming NFT project. The platform has attracted significant funding, backed by real estate assets.

3. Polygon Doodles: Polygon-Native NFT Collection

Polygon Doodles is a Polygon-based version of the popular Doodles NFT series. The collection differentiates itself with animated box artworks. Each box contains an eye-catching NFT suspended inside. After purchase, buyers reveal the unique NFT within. The set includes 10,000 Polygon Doodles—each with distinct traits, color patterns, and unique properties—making it a strong contender among upcoming NFT collections. The project consistently draws collector attention and engagement.

4. Saved Souls: For Adventurers and Web3 Explorers

Saved Souls features a strong nautical theme, immersing participants in exploration and adventure. Like top-tier PFP projects, it advances the profile-picture NFT concept. Using advanced algorithms, each avatar is meticulously crafted with a range of rare traits. Every NFT embodies a unique and compelling character. The project plans to roll out gamified features for holders, such as achievement unlocks for milestones. The community collaborates to unlock the Saved Souls world map, building camaraderie among members. Holders receive their own ENS (Ethereum Name Service) subdomain on Ethereum’s decentralized domain system.

5. Game of Silks: Fantasy NFT Horse Racing

Game of Silks (GoS) is an essential NFT project for horse racing fans. This immersive dynasty fantasy sports game places players in the world of thoroughbred racing. GoS enables users to collect digital twins (NFTs) of real horses and earn rewards based on real-world racing outcomes. The project aims to recreate the high-stakes horse racing industry on blockchain. The GoS platform reports substantial rewards paid out to users. Even newcomers to horse racing will find GoS accessible, making it an important upcoming NFT gaming project.

6. Calvaria: NFT-Driven Battle Card Game

Calvaria: Duels of Eternity is a must-watch NFT project for card game fans. Players build powerful decks to outwit opponents, competing for Calvaria’s native token, RIA. The project seeks to drive crypto adoption with user benefits such as sponsorships, advertising, NFT upgrades, and exclusive collections. Calvaria also features staking for direct deposits and upgrades. Its whitepaper and roadmap show steady progress, and the team plans to enter the esports space—positioning Calvaria as a high-potential upcoming NFT game.

7. Moonbirds: 10,000 Cartoon Owls

Moonbirds is a collection from Proof Collective, comprising 10,000 unique cartoon owls—each with its own traits and appearance. Owners can personalize their Moonbird’s look by reflecting wallet holdings and achievements within the PROOF ecosystem. The Moonbirds Mythics extension introduces eggs containing the souls of mythical creatures, unlocked by burning the egg. Eggs come in Legendary, Rune, and Stone variants. The Lunar Society DAO connects Moonbirds and Mythics community builders. Moonbirds has collaborated with NFT icons like Beeple, 0xdgb, and Linda Dounia. The team is actively expanding the Moonbirds universe as a home for these digital companions.

8. Women Rise: NFT Project Empowering Women

Women Rise, created by Pakistani author Maliha Abidi, spotlights diversity and inclusion. The project highlights women’s contributions in today’s society. The 10,000-piece series features women artists, scientists, astronauts, and professionals from a range of backgrounds and nationalities. The NFTs are computer-generated, and holders receive special benefits—such as exclusive book copies from Abidi. Women Rise partners with BackpackX to deliver immersive VR experiences, establishing itself as a socially meaningful upcoming NFT project.

9. Hangry Animals: Play to Donate Charity Gaming

Hangry Animals introduces the innovative “Play to Donate” model, merging gaming with charitable giving. The project gamifies philanthropy, blending entertainment with social responsibility and adding a new dimension of value to the NFT space.

Collectively, these upcoming NFT projects showcase the sector’s diversity—spanning gaming, art, real estate, and social impact—to offer rich choices for a wide range of participants.

FAQ

What Are the Top Upcoming NFT Projects to Watch?

Upcoming NFT projects are newly emerging initiatives across gaming, art, real estate, and more. Examples include Honeyland (bee PvP game), Metropoly (real estate NFTs), Polygon Doodles (animated collectibles), and Game of Silks (fantasy horse racing). These projects provide investors and collectors with diverse opportunities and growth potential.

What Are the Practical Applications of NFT Projects?

NFTs now extend beyond simple collectibles, finding use in gaming (Calvaria card games), real estate (Metropoly property tokenization), sports entertainment (Game of Silks horse racing), and social good (Women Rise empowerment, Hangry Animals charitable gaming). They offer users passive income, gaming rewards, and exclusive privileges.

What Should You Consider Before Joining Upcoming NFT Projects?

Always research thoroughly before getting involved in NFT projects and assess their real-world value and use cases. Like other crypto assets, NFTs are subject to market volatility. Choose projects that fit your interests and risk profile, only invest what you can afford to lose, and keep up with ongoing development and community engagement.