My top 5 games from The Web Monetization Challenge 2020
Tags: gamedev, webmonetization, challenge
Published: 2020-12-15 16:24:51

---
title: My top 5 games from The Web Monetization Challenge 2020
published: true
date: 2020-12-15 00:00:00 UTC
tags: gamedev, webmonetization, challenge
canonical_url: https://end3r.com/blog/top5-web-monetization-challenge-2020/
cover_image: https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/f7ygmefs4vubhbvb6u9n.png
---

I was invited to be a judge in [The Web Monetization Challenge 2020](https://itch.io/jam/the-web-monetization-challenge-2020) organized by [Björn Ritzl](https://twitter.com/bjornritzl) from the [Defold Foundation](https://defold.com/foundation/) as part of [their Grant](https://defold.com/2020/06/09/Defold-is-awarded-a-grant-from-Grant-for-the-Web/), and since the concept of having your own top 5 games [ended up quite well](https://dev.to/end3r/js13kgames-2020-winners-and-top5-picks-from-the-experts-34fp-temp-slug-6192883) for the experts in [js13kGames](https://js13kgames.com/) 2020, I decided to do that myself too.

![End3r's Corner - The Web Monetization Challenge 2020: top 5](https://end3r.com/blog/media/wmchallenge20-top5.png)

The challenge was running for a month between November 1st and December 1st 2020, and it was held the same month [GitHub’s Game Off](https://itch.io/jam/game-off-2020) from [Lee Reilly](https://twitter.com/leereilly) took place, so many entries actually got submitted to both jams. It was quite challenging, since this jam’s theme was **Secrets** , and the other’s **Moonshot** , but double the challenge meant [double the fun](https://enclavegames.com/blog/double-game-jam-web-monetization-game-off/).

Out of 38 entries, we were given a shortlisted 15 games to judge based on three criteria: **Fun** , **Theme** , and **Web Monetization**. After voting for all the submissions, I decided to pick my personal top favourites. It seems we had some solid diversity in the judging panel, since two out of five of those ended up outside top 10 eventually (my 2nd pick was 13th) - check the [official results](https://coil.com/p/britzl/Winners-of-the-Web-Monetization-Challenge-2020/p_2LUVEm9) to see how it went.

Below are the games I really enjoyed playing - I did put the focus on the fun aspect when selecting those. I’ll go from my personal winner, a runner-up, and three honorable mentions in no particular order:

### [<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#relic-splatter)Relic Splatter

![End3r's Corner - The Web Monetization Challenge 2020: Relic Splatter](https://end3r.com/blog/media/wmchallenge20-splatter.jpg)

[Relic Splatter](https://havana24.itch.io/relic-splatter) is definitely my favourite with cool idea, nice graphics, smooth gameplay, and a whole lot of juiciness. I really liked splashing colorful stuff all over the place, and the idea of using a gun as a jetpack as well. Paying [Coil](https://coil.com/) members get help finding the relics.

### [<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#no-way-back)No Way Back

![End3r's Corner - The Web Monetization Challenge 2020: No Way Back](https://end3r.com/blog/media/wmchallenge20-back.jpg)

[No Way Back](https://eprozorov.itch.io/no-way-back) is a tank shooting game with a top-down view, and you have to repair your vehicle while moving forward - literally, since at the beginning you can’t even go in reverse. After repairing and gearing up, you can return to the start and find what was waiting there for you since the very beginning. Extra life and tank speed for Web Monetized users.

### [<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#moonshot-the-great-espionage)Moonshot: The Great Espionage

![End3r's Corner - The Web Monetization Challenge 2020: Moonshot](https://end3r.com/blog/media/wmchallenge20-moonshot.jpg)

[Moonshot: The Great Espionage](https://nimblebeastscollective.itch.io/moonshot) have a cool vibe, nice pixel art style, and intriguing story, with the monetized bonus being a passive income. This game won the whole competition.

### [<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#silent-ruins)Silent Ruins

![End3r's Corner - The Web Monetization Challenge 2020: Silent Ruins](https://end3r.com/blog/media/wmchallenge20-ruins.jpg)

[Silent Ruins](https://micron-flash.itch.io/silent-ruins-idle-game) is an idle clicker that looks nice and offers increased earnings as an extra bonus. You can dig and collect artefacts up until a point where you can trade them for a permanent upgrade which resets the game.

### [<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#secrets-of-atlantis)Secrets of Atlantis

![End3r's Corner - The Web Monetization Challenge 2020: Secrets of Atlantis](https://end3r.com/blog/media/wmchallenge20-atlantis.jpg)

[Secrets of Atlantis](https://benjames171.itch.io/secrets-of-atlantis) is an old school arcade experience with colorful visuals and a catching tune, where monetized users are able to access the third, extra level.

Overall I really ejnoyed playing and judging the games - it’s so great to see more jams (after js13kGames 2019 and 2020) incorporating **Web Monetization**. Since **Itch.io** now supports it, you can expect **Gamedev.js Jam 2021** to join the monetized fun as well.