Out Of My Bubble
Blubber Notes #113
Dear Future Whales,
In today’s note, I follow my own advice from Friday’s letter about broadening our horizons beyond immediate interests in Web3. I participated in the 48-hour Cambria playtest, and it turned out to be the most fun I’ve had in Web3 in quite some time. In this note, I’ll review the gameplay and share insights on what I think upcoming gaming titles could learn from Cambria’s launch. Let’s dive in.
Summary:
What is Cambria?
Elements of a Great Game
Go Beyond—The Value-Add Plus
Rekt Moments
Lessons for Other Web3 Titles
Out of My Bubble
As a crypto-native, it's easy to get wrapped up in the projects that align with our ventures or investments. But every so often, it's worth stepping outside that comfort zone to see what else is out there. That’s exactly what I did when a friend suggested I try out Cambria, a web3 game on the Blast network.
Now, let me be clear—I didn’t just skim through some gameplay videos or read a few articles before forming my opinion. I dove headfirst into Cambria, logging more than 20 hours in a single 48-hour playtest. As someone who grew up playing fantasy adventure games in the 90s, Cambria felt like a nostalgic trip down memory lane, but with a modern, blockchain-powered twist. And while I’m not claiming to be a top player, I put in the grind to truly experience what this game has to offer.
What is Cambria?
Cambria is a fantasy adventure game that blends elements from classic 90s games with the innovations of the web3 space. It’s an expansive world where players can choose their paths, from specializing in melee or ranged combat to mastering fishing or crafting. Each decision shapes your experience, offering a depth that’s reminiscent of a 2D version of the legendary World of Warcraft. And while I’ve only scratched the surface during this short playtest, it’s clear that Cambria is built on a foundation of rich gameplay and intricate design.
Recently, Cambria managed to raise $2.5 million in funding, a testament to the growing interest and confidence in the game's potential.
Elements of a Great Game
Even within the limited time I had, Cambria proved to be more than just a game—it’s a vast, living world. The map alone is something to marvel at. Just when I thought I had seen it all, the game would open up new areas with fresh geography, NPCs to interact with (or battle), and new challenges to overcome. The game is massive and filled with layers upon layers of content that I haven’t even begun to fully explore. This sense of discovery kept me hooked, and I imagine it will do the same for countless others.
But what really stood out was the multiplayer aspect. Cambria’s world isn’t just big; it’s alive with other players, all charting their own courses. Whether you're teaming up to take down a tough boss or competing in crafting, there's always a sense that you're part of something larger.
Moments I Got Rekt
Like any great game, Cambria isn’t just about the highs; it’s also about the lows—those moments when the game humbles you and reminds you that you’re not invincible.
Take, for instance, the time I held onto five artifacts. These artifacts are crucial as they help you earn royal favor and increase your rewards. I was deep in the red zone, confident but not cautious. Out of nowhere, two players ambushed me, making quick work of my character. Because I was in the red zone, I lost all my loot items. Lesson learned: always return your artifacts before you become an easy target and waste an hour's worth of grind.
Another hard-learned lesson came when I decided to lean into the outlaw persona. In Cambria, attacking a player within a safe zone, or one not deemed to be an "outlaw," turns you into an outlaw for four hours. I found a player to attack, but what I didn’t realize was the importance of clans in this game. I had this guy on the run for a few moments until he led me straight into the lion's den—a group of his fellow clan members who promptly ended my outlaw experiment.
But perhaps the most defining moments were those fueled by chance. Throughout the map, treasure chests are scattered, and certain NPCs drop the keys needed to unlock them. I managed to find three keys. The first chest I opened summoned a cyclops, who promptly sent me to the afterlife. The second chest? No loot at all. But the third time, I was certain I would finally unlock some precious reward. As I approached the chest, however, I realized that other players had already been there, unleashing two cyclops in the process. Their target? Me, standing there as they ran away, leaving me to shake my head at my rotten luck. But these moments of unpredictability are what make Cambria truly great.
Lessons for Web3 Projects
What impressed me most about Cambria was its approach to development. This wasn’t just a game thrown together and rushed to market. As far as I know, this was the fifth playtest, and the team continues to introduce new elements to the gameplay. Another playtest is scheduled for the third week of September, leading up to the alpha testing phase. Did you catch that? They aren’t even in alpha yet, but they’ve already engaged well over 1,000 players in multiple playtests, and the experience was nearly bug-free.
This is how you should roll out a game—thoughtfully, with constant feedback loops, and with an eye toward building a community even before the official launch. Labeling these stages as playtests gives the developers some leeway with users while gathering valuable feedback to build a truly great title. Cambria is setting a new standard in web3 gaming, and other projects would do well to take notes.
Authored by Matt Bartlett, CAIA. Follow Matt on x.com @MattBartlettVE
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