If you are creating a blockchain game and plan to introduce NFT assets – weapons, skins, characters, or resources – the choice of token standard is critical. In the Ethereum ecosystem, the two most common types are ERC-721 and ERC-1155. Both allow the issuance of non-interchangeable tokens, but their approaches and capabilities differ greatly. Let’s find out what their differences are and which of them is better suited for gaming projects.
ERC-721: the classic standard for unique NFTs
ERC-721 is the first widely recognized NFT standard designed for tokens, each of which is unique. It is ideally suited for objects that have no counterparts. Examples are rare items, individual characters, or unique in-game locations.
Pros of ERC-721:
- Each token has its own unique ID and metadata.
- Well supported by most wallets and marketplaces.
- Easy to implement, especially for small collections of unique items.
Cons:
- A separate contract object is created for each token, which increases the load on the network.
- Not suitable for working with large volumes of similar items.
- Higher fees for bulk issuance and transfer.
ERC-1155: flexibility for large-scale gaming systems
ERC-1155 is a multi-token standard that allows both non-interchangeable and interchangeable tokens to be combined in a single contract. In games, this means the ability to issue, for example, both a unique sword (NFT) and “normal” potions or ammo (Fungible tokens) using the same contract.
ERC-1155 Benefits:
- Supports bulk issuance and transfer of tokens (batch transfers), which reduces commissions.
- Allows multiple tokens (NFT and FT) to be stored and managed in a single contract.
- Ideal for game economies with hundreds of items where many of them are recurring.
Disadvantages:
- More difficult to implement compared to ERC-721.
- Support on some marketplaces and wallets is still limited compared to ERC-721.
What to choose for the game?
- If you are building a simple collection of unique items and don’t expect a large volume of transactions – ERC-721 is fine.
- If you have a lot of similar game items (for example, thousands of similar resources, equipment items, maps) and need scalability – ERC-1155 will be a much more efficient and economical choice.
- In hybrid games, where there are both rare unique NFTs and bulk items, the ERC-1155 allows you to combine everything into one system, simplifying logic and reducing costs.
Conclusion
ERC-721 is classic and good for unique assets, but ERC-1155 offers far more flexibility and optimization for game ecosystems. In 2024, more and more game developers are choosing ERC-1155 as the default standard – especially if the game includes both unique and recurring elements.
