At this current stage of maturation in the NFT space, static JPEGs just don’t cut it anymore. While generative PFP projects or even simplistic text-based collections might’ve dominated the markets of the past, nowadays, utility and experience are the name of the game.

This is precisely why interactive NFTs are slowly but surely on the rise. Unlike tokenized minigames, where users play to score points or achieve a goal, interactive NFTs offer a more effortless experience and hedge on a quick-hit type of user enjoyment rather than complex tasks and rewards. What could be better in a space that moves a mile a minute?

Despite the ever-changing landscape of Web3 community engagement, interactive NFTs both new and old have remained a unique facet of the metaverse. Here’s a look at some of the most prominent interactive NFT collections out there.

The Dudes

Yo dudes!

It's been 3 weeks since I released the original "the dudes".

They are the first interactive avatar NFT. They were generated while minted. You generated the DNAs randomly.

Even as the creator, I had no idea what the final series would look like. pic.twitter.com/kc078EoovB

— int art (@intartNFT) August 18, 2021

First off, there’s the dudes. This blast from the past was initially released in August 2021 and is the most notable collection to come from the int art NFT platform. Featuring 512 dudes, each NFT in the collection can be directly interacted with by way of clicking or dragging a cursor across the art.

As possibly the first interactive PFP NFTs ever released, the dudes’ claim to fame is that, although seemingly illustrated, each piece within the project is made entirely of code. “No designer worked on this. No one actually drew these. It’s just some code that generates random ugly dudes,” states the int art website.

Out of the countless generative avatar collections launched over the years, few have brought unique art to the table quite like the dudes. What’s more, int art went on to release subsequent interactive collections like the pixels inc and int art factory that each call back to the innovative nature of the dudes.

Digital Paint

GM Digital Paint is interactive & generative pic.twitter.com/3kHk4bC0fs

— Jen Stark (@Jen_Stark) January 31, 2023

Created by celebrated multi-faceted artist Jen Stark, Digital Paint, launched in February 2023, is a first-of-its-kind blockchain art project featuring dynamic, evolving, and interactive NFTs. Made possible by Chain/Saw and CutMod, Digital Paint centers around intractability and offers collectors an affordable entry into Stark’s coveted and constantly growing NFT ecosystem.

By owning a Digital Paint token, holders are empowered to augment their NFTs at whim, utilizing sound-activating brush strokes, unique brush shapes, psychedelic palettes, and undulating patterns in the process. The entire project feels to be a callback to the childhood wonder and creativity users might’ve experienced when first stumbling upon Microsoft Paint in the 80s and 90s.

Pixelgeist

Pixelgeist is a dynamic, generative portrait collection created by prominent AI-collaborative artist Claire Silver and powered by RSTLSS, a Charlie Cohen-founded company focused on powering next-gen wearables for Web3. Featuring 2,136 NFTs, Pixelgeist was released in May 2023 and is billed as “a fusion of technology, fashion, and art that brings trapped AI souls to life.”

Exclusive to the RSTLSS platform, each NFT in the collection is comprised of interactive artwork, a garment featuring the artwork, and a game-ready avatar wearing the garment. The extensive collection features 183 pieces created by Silver, with editions ranging from 1/1, 1/3, 1/6, 1/9, to 1/17, all speaking to a narrative of AI souls trapped within a portrait.

Starbucks Odyssey

Starbucks Odyssey, launched in December 2022, is an on-chain consumer rewards program created by the Seattle-based coffee giant Starbucks. The program is described as “an experience, surrounded by a digital community, where members can come together, interact, and share their love of coffee.”

By using “meaningful elements” of Web3 technology, Starbucks aims to reward members in innovative ways, including ownable digital collectible Stamps (NFTs). These stamps serve as an access pass into the “alluring world of coffee” and unique interactive experiences called Journeys.

By utilizing an NFT to participate in Journeys, members can gain access to a variety of activities to earn exclusive Stamps NFTs and Odyssey Points that can be used to further unlock access to benefits and experiences down the line. Not only is Starbucks Odyssey one of the most comprehensive Web3 brand activations we’ve seen to date, but it’s a unique entrant into the interactive NFT market.

Now Pass

What makes the Now Pass artwork so special? @mattmedved broke it down during @NFTLALive.

Join the community https://t.co/rTVfPDect5 pic.twitter.com/URHw8AbRyh

— NowPass.eth (@thenowpass) April 17, 2023

We would be remiss if we didn’t include the Now Pass on this list. A collection of 2,750 ERC721A tokens, the Now Pass, was released on the Ethereum blockchain in March 2023 by the N3 Foundation. This access pass not only presents a wealth of current and future utility for holders but a unique interactive experience as well.

The generative art NFTs that make up the Now Pass collection are each a product crafted by nft now’s CTO and Creative Director Aaron Baker (aka Nostalgic). The artwork pays tribute to the generative art movement through its design and development, having been procedurally generated through a custom application.

As visual representations of “the signal in the noise,” each piece contains traits of varying rarities and unique attributes that influence its shape, color palette, and noise density. As a fully interactive experience, users can change the qualities of a Now Pass freely, unlocking secret visual modes along the way.

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