10 Best Upcoming NFT Projects to Watch

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are digital assets with unique traits that represent ownership of real-world items. Built on blockchain technology, NFTs encompass a range of formats including art, music, video, and gaming. The NFT market has grown rapidly in recent years, introducing a new wave of digital collectibles such as BTC Ordinals and Ethscriptions. With advancements in generative AI and other technologies, these upcoming NFT projects are redefining possibilities, offering innovative opportunities for investors and collectors.

Top 10 Upcoming NFT Projects

NFTs stand out not only for their tradability but also for their versatility in catering to individual interests. However, leading NFT projects often come with high price tags, making it difficult to add them to a crypto investment portfolio. To help you explore the space, we’ve selected 10 top upcoming NFT projects that appeal to diverse interests and objectives. The following list is not ranked, and each project offers a strong entry point into the world of NFTs.

Honeyland: PvP Battles as a Bee

Honeyland is an upcoming NFT gaming project where you manage virtual bee colonies to earn in-game currency Honey ($HXD). Players send bees to gather resources, hunt for honey pots, breed new bees, and compete in player-vs-player (PvP) battles.

Gathering tasks allow players to deploy bees and collect resources for Honey ($HXD). Hunting involves searching for honey pots filled with valuable shards, which can be exchanged for items that enhance bee abilities and improve gameplay. Breeding lets players create new bees, expanding their colonies and adding strategic depth. PvP battles introduce competitive gameplay, enabling players to raid other hives and steal Honey, raising both risk and reward.

Land ownership generates commissions and weekly airdrop rewards when others hunt or gather on your land. The in-game shop features mini-games, where players use Honey and Zzubs to upgrade their experience and customize appearances. Honeyland offers free-to-play options and starter hives, attracting both casual and dedicated players.

Metropoly: Real Estate NFT Marketplace

If real estate is your passion, Metropoly NFT is an innovative blockchain platform that allows users to acquire shares of popular properties in NFT form. Each property is tokenized and stored on the blockchain, letting users buy fractions and earn passive monthly income.

Metropoly is open to anyone, anywhere, and at any time. With an entry point as low as $100, users can access the metaverse and interact with real estate assets. This model enables investors to diversify and receive passive returns. Each NFT property represents a share that can be sold at any time to meet liquidity needs. Real estate NFTs have strong potential, and Metropoly stands out as a well-funded upcoming project with assets backed by actual properties.

Polygon Doodles: Polygon-Native NFT Collection

Polygon Doodles is a derivative of the popular Doodles NFT collection, distinguished by its animated box artworks. Each box features a visually striking floating NFT, and buyers reveal a unique NFT upon purchase.

There are 10,000 Polygon Doodles, each with a distinct set of traits, color combinations, and attributes. This project provides a unique entry into upcoming NFTs linked to top Ethereum scaling solutions. Polygon Doodles continues to grow and attract collectors and investors, with an increasing supply available for claims.

Saved Souls: For Adventurers and Web3 Enthusiasts

Saved Souls features a nautical theme, immersing users in exploration and adventure. Inspired by leading blue-chip NFT projects, Saved Souls elevates the profile picture (PFP) NFT concept.

Each avatar is generated using advanced algorithms and adorned with traits of varying rarity. Every NFT is a unique character, combining charm and distinctiveness. The project plans to add gamified features for holders, such as achievements for reaching milestones. The community collaborates to unlock the world map, fostering teamwork and camaraderie.

Saved Souls holders receive their own Ethereum Name Service (ENS) subdomain, a decentralized domain system on Ethereum. For example, owning groceries.eth enables you to create a subdomain like shop.groceries.eth as a Saved Souls holder.

Game of Silks: Fantasy NFT Horse Racing

Game of Silks (GoS) is an upcoming NFT project for horse racing fans. This fantasy dynasty sports game immerses players in the world of thoroughbred racing.

GoS lets users acquire NFTs representing real racehorses and earn rewards based on on-track and off-track outcomes. The project serves as a blockchain counterpart to the high-stakes horse racing industry. GoS has issued substantial rewards to holders, according to its website. Even newcomers to horse racing can easily get involved, making it a standout among sports-focused NFT projects.

Calvaria: NFT Card Battle Game

Fans of card-based fantasy games should consider Calvaria: Duels of Eternity. The game challenges players to build strong decks and outwit opponents, with RIA—the native token—as the top prize for winners.

Calvaria aims to drive crypto adoption by offering benefits like sponsorships, ad opportunities, NFT upgrades, and exclusive collections. The platform also supports staking, enabling direct deposits and upgrades. Calvaria stands out for its engaging storyline. According to its whitepaper and roadmap, the project is continually adding new features and updates. The team intends to expand into esports, further broadening the project’s use case.

Moonbirds: 10,000 Cartoon Owl NFTs

Moonbirds, by Proof Collective, is a well-known NFT collection featuring 10,000 unique cartoon owls, each with distinct traits and appearances—some wear glasses, others have skeletal designs.

You can customize your Moonbird’s appearance according to your wallet balance and achievements within the PROOF ecosystem, showcasing your status and style. Moonbirds Mythics is an expansion, where each egg contains the soul of a mythical creature released by burning the egg in the Odd God’s fireplace.

Eggs come in three types: Legendary, Rune, and Stone. Legendary eggs can yield three possible mythic forms, determined by the minter; Rune eggs offer two forms, and Stone eggs provide one. By joining the Lunar Society DAO, you’ll collaborate with other Moonbirds and Mythics community members. Moonbirds has partnered with prominent NFT artists like Beeple, 0xdgb, and Linda Dounia.

The Moonbirds team is developing the Moonbirds Universe—a dedicated space for Moonbirds to connect and explore Volaria. The collection is being upgraded to 3D, moving beyond static .jpgs. The project hosts regular community events like "Moonbirds Fireside," encouraging engagement and keeping the community vibrant.

Women Rise: NFT Project Empowering Women

Women Rise, founded by Pakistani author Maliha Abidi, is a socially impactful NFT project that champions inclusivity and diversity, aiming to represent women’s achievements in modern society.

The 10,000-piece collection features artists, scientists, astronauts, and professionals from various backgrounds. These computer-generated NFTs offer holders special perks, such as a free copy of Abidi’s book "RISE: Extraordinary Women Of Colour Who Changed The World" and access to over 450 hand-drawn NFT traits.

Women Rise partners with BackpackX to offer immersive virtual reality experiences, helping learners address environmental challenges and connect with nature. Both organizations regularly celebrate major environmental days. On Discord, Women Rise continues to collaborate with edtech companies, opening new opportunities for NFT holders.

Hangry Animals: Gaming for Charity With "Play to Donate"

Hangry Animals combines gaming with a "Play to Donate" model, allowing players to contribute their in-game earnings to animal shelters and organizations. All donations are decentralized and secure, ensuring transparency and trust.

The game’s plot centers on a human crisis, with Shillarkis considering humanity expendable, causing widespread panic. Hangry Animals, a group of animal-human hybrids altered by DNA changes, become defenders of Earth. They work to unite animals and humans to prevent species extinction.

Despite its humor, the project delivers a serious message about caring for the planet and its inhabitants. Gameplay gives players a way to support real-world causes, making their experience meaningful and rewarding.

GamifAI: User-Generated Games on Bitcoin

If you’ve played Super Mario Maker, you’ll appreciate creating your own video game in minutes. GamifAI brings user-generated gaming to the Bitcoin blockchain through Ordinals, offering similar capabilities in Web3 as a cutting-edge NFT project.

GamifAI lets users build custom games with up to 50 levels, varied difficulty, and unique character abilities. Once the concept is set, users input game details into the GamifAI generator, which closely matches the desired specs. This project empowers creators and gamers with unprecedented freedom and blockchain integration.

FAQ

What Are Upcoming NFT Projects?

Upcoming NFT projects are new or soon-to-launch initiatives featuring non-fungible tokens. These projects span art, gaming, real estate, and more, using blockchain to offer investors and collectors unique digital assets with growth and value potential.

How Do You Choose Promising Upcoming NFT Projects?

Key factors for choosing upcoming NFT projects include real-world utility, team credibility, community engagement, and innovation. For example, Honeyland features play-to-earn mechanics, Metropoly supports real estate investment, and Women Rise offers social impact. Select projects with authentic use cases and ongoing development aligned with your interests and investment goals.

What Are the Main Categories of Upcoming NFT Projects?

Upcoming NFT projects fall into categories such as gaming (Honeyland, Calvaria), collectibles (Moonbirds, Polygon Doodles), utility (Metropoly real estate NFTs), and social impact (Women Rise, Hangry Animals). Each type serves different purposes, from entertainment to investment, giving users a broad range of choices.