- A New York art museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, has launched a web3 game
- Dubbed Art Links, the game involves finding a connection between displayed artworks
- Art Links is powered by Ethereum layer 2 network Base and rewards gamers using NFTs
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has launched a web3 game on the Ethereum layer 2 network Base to attract visitors and promote art history. Known as Art Links, it tasks users to find a link/connection between over 140 artworks drawn from the museum’s collection. The game will run for twelve weeks with weekly challenges, indicating that the museum may be testing the waters before releasing a permanent blockchain game.
The Game Offers NFT Rewards
Art Links was developed in collaboration with TR Labs. Gamers must establish a connection between artworks using either the materials used or the inspiration behind the artworks.
Check out Art Links, The Met’s blockchain-based game. 🎨⛓️
Not everything is always as it seems, especially when artists make one material look like another. In this week’s chain, look closely at how objects were made to find connections!
Play now: https://t.co/yxgV0FNRjB pic.twitter.com/M8wPWtzUw6
— The Metropolitan Museum of Art (@metmuseum) January 27, 2025
The game also allows participants to use symbols and emojis with successful connections earning gamers NFT rewards. The NFTs enable gamers to purchase artworks on the museum’s online store at a discounted price. They can also be redeemed for virtual event tickets, one of the museum’s three publications, and a private tour, among other rewards.
Gamers must be at least 18 years old and “based in the United States to be eligible for in-game rewards.” non-U.S. residents will be able to claim NFTs but “will not be able to win rewards.”
This isn’t the first time the Metropolitan Museum of Art is exploring the virtual world. Two years ago, for example, it partnered with Replica to provide a virtual tour of the museum within the Roblox metaverse.
It’s Not the Only Art Museums Exploring Web3
The Metropolitan Museum of Art isn’t the only art museum interested in blockchain technology and NFTs. In 2023, the Norman Rockwell Museum announced an NFT collection featuring Rockwell’s work. The British Museum has also in the past unveiled plans to create an NFT collection.
Other museums like France’s Centre Pompidou have chosen to display existing NFTs like Yuga Labs’ CryptoPunk #110 and Larva Labs’ Autoglyph #25.
With the Metropolitan Museum of Art releasing a temporary web3 game, it’s to be seen whether it’ll later convert it to a permanent blockchain game or NFT collection.