# Somnium Space

Somnium Space is a persistent, open virtual world built around VR and secured by Ethereum.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Status | Live |
| Rank | 282 |
| Token | somnium-space |

## Verdict

Somnium Space is a persistent virtual world that leans harder into VR than most on-chain metaverses — it runs on headsets and on plain desktop, so you can visit without buying hardware or assets. Launched in 2018 and secured by Ethereum, it treats land parcels, avatars and wearables as NFTs held in your own wallet rather than as entries in a company database. The native CUBE token is an ERC-20 capped at 100 million supply, with a Polygon layer-2 deployment for cheaper transactions, and it underpins in-world activity such as minting full-body avatars and user-made wearables. What works is the ownership model and the fact that almost everything you encounter — galleries, shops, meeting spaces, small games — was built by parcel owners, not the studio. That is also the weakness: there is no campaign, no progression system and no reward loop, so a quiet day in a thinly built area is genuinely

## Pros
- Immersive VR-native virtual world with social events, games, and art installations
- Tradeable virtual real estate players can buy and sell
- Blockchain-secured ownership of virtual assets on Ethereum
- Creator-friendly: users can build their own unique experiences
- Decentralized environment for connecting and expressing creativity

## Cons
- Requires VR hardware for the intended immersive experience
- Ethereum-only, so users face gas fees and no multi-chain options
- Virtual land purchases can be a costly barrier to entry
- Value depends heavily on an active user base and speculative land market
- More of an open-ended platform than a structured game with set objectives

## FAQ

**How do I start playing Somnium Space?**

You access Somnium Space through a client that supports both VR headsets and standard desktop play, so a headset is useful but not required. Exploring the world, attending events and socialising does not require owning anything.

**Do I need a wallet to play?**

Connecting a wallet such as MetaMask is what links your on-chain assets to your in-world identity. Land, avatars and wearables are NFTs held in your own wallet rather than on a company-controlled account.

**How do players earn in Somnium Space?**

Earning comes from ownership and creation rather than combat or quests: parcels can be sold or leased, and creators can monetise builds, wearables and experiences they make for others. Note that land and CUBE are speculative assets whose values fluctuate.

**What is the CUBE token used for?**

CUBE is the native ERC-20 utility token on Ethereum, with a maximum supply of 100 million and a Polygon layer-2 implementation for cheaper, faster transactions. It powers in-world economic activity, including minting tokenized full-body avatars and user-created wearables.

**Do I need to own land to build?**

Yes — to place structures and content of your own you need at least one land PARCEL, which functions as your buildable plot. Parcels were originally distributed through Initial Land Offerings and are now traded on secondary NFT marketplaces.

Source: https://cryptogames.gg/?p=12125