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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Faraway announced a $21 million Series A on November 4, 2021, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and FTX. The game developer said it had previously raised more than $8 million in seed funding, putting its reported total at almost $30 million. The company said it would use blockchain technology to pursue social games with open, player-driven economies; those figures and plans describe the 2021 announcement, not Faraway’s current finances or results.
Who invested in Faraway’s 2021 Series A?
Faraway’s November 4, 2021 announcement named Lightspeed Venture Partners and FTX as the round’s lead investors. Other participants included a16z, Sequoia Capital, Pantera Capital, Jump Capital, and Solana. Faraway reported more than $8 million in earlier seed funding and almost $30 million in total funding after the Series A. These are company-reported figures from that announcement, not a current funding update. Read Faraway’s announcement distributed through PR Newswire.
What did Faraway mean by player-driven game economies?
Faraway’s stated strategy was to build social games using blockchain technology and open economies. In a conventional closed game economy, the publisher generally controls how items are issued and used, and whether players can trade them. An open or player-driven model aims to let players and creators participate more directly in the digital economy, for example through tradable assets or user-created content.
That distinction is an intended design direction, not proof that players control a game’s rules or that digital items have lasting value. Blockchain-based ownership alone does not guarantee that an item can be used across games, sold at a desired price, or retained if a game’s services change. Faraway CEO Alex Paley described the company’s ambition this way: “Our goal for both current and future games is to create extremely fun and social games with open economies.”
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- CATCH THE CHAMELEON: A bluffing board game where players must race to catch the chameleon before It's too late
- ONE SECRET WORD: In this board game for adults and family everyone knows the secret word - except for the player with the chameleon card
- DON'T GET CAUGHT: Use hidden codes, carefully chosen words, and a bit of finger-pointing to track down the guilty player... Before the imposter blends in and escapes!
- EASY TO LEARN, QUICK TO PLAY: Like all good family board games, it takes 2 minutes to learn and only 15 minutes to play. Recommended for 3-8 players and ages 12+
- MULTI-AWARD WINNING: "Best Party Game" At UK games expo. "Seal of excellence" From dice tower games. A perfect board game for adults and teenagers
How did Mini Royale: Nations fit the plan?
In the November 2021 funding announcement, Faraway presented Mini Royale: Nations as its browser-based multiplayer first-person shooter and flagship game. The company said the game was live, required no third-party client or installation, and was planned for launch on Solana, with virtual-economy updates ahead. Those statements describe the game as Faraway presented it at the time; they do not establish its current availability, performance, or player count.
Faraway argued that browser access could reduce installation and hardware barriers and make it easier for people to join friends. It also emphasized clan competition, cooperation, and social play. Those were the company’s design rationale, not independently measured outcomes. Its intended contrast was between easy browser entry and installed clients, social play and isolated play, and closed inventories and economies that might support trading or creator participation.
Rank #2
- NO ‘UMMs’ or ‘ERRs’ ALLOWED – One player has to describe random items to their team mates to get points – but the other team gets points if the player says ‘Umm’, ‘Err’, ‘Ah’ or uses any verbal fillers
- DING DING! YOU’VE BEEN CAUGHT OUT! – The opposing team has to listen to the player describing the words to their team, if they hear ‘Umm’, they ring the bell and collect a point each time
- LAUGH OUT LOUD FUNNY: Its harder than you think trying to not say the forbidden sounds and even harder with the other team giggling each time they catch their opponents out
- MADE FOR GAME NIGHT: Crazy card game combos, a noisy bell and the other team watching your every move… this is the ultimate party game for families, adults and big groups. Plus it's quick to learn and easy to play!
- SPICE IT UP: Once the basics are mastered, new challenges add to the fun. For example, you’ve gotta read all your cards in a high-pitched voice or you can’t use words beginning with ‘C’. In this family friendly adult party game, new challenges keep on coming.
What does Faraway offer now, and what changed later?
Faraway’s current website describes a broader ecosystem for game studios, players, and creators. Its company materials list game-publishing and web3 economy tools, embedded self-custodial wallets linked to email or social logins, player profiles, game web shops, secondary marketplaces, and creator tools for making and selling digital game content. These are first-party product descriptions, not an independent technical assessment. See Faraway’s current company website.
In April 2024, Yuga Labs announced that Faraway was acquiring the Legends of the Mara and HV-MTL brands for use in current and future gaming products. That announcement adds context to Faraway’s later portfolio, but does not by itself establish the present status of either brand or any related game. Read Yuga Labs’ April 2024 announcement.
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Rank #3
- Targets the development of essential social skills such as empathy, friendship, manners, and emotional understanding.
- Versatile gameplay options, including action games and sentence-building games, ensure a rich, engaging experience.
- Designed for children aged 5-8, aligning with educational standards for grades 1-2.
- The set includes 4 board games, 6 counters, a spinner, a die, and an answer sheet, providing all you need for endless fun and learning.
- Ideal for both classroom and family settings, offering a fun way to build interpersonal skills through play.
What the funding announcement does—and does not—show
The raise documents Faraway’s financing and strategic pitch in 2021: build social games, use blockchain technology, and give players and creators a larger role in game economies. The cited announcements do not establish Faraway’s current financial position, the current status of Mini Royale: Nations, current player numbers, acquisition terms, or whether the proposed economy delivered particular results.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- TENSE SOCIAL DEDUCTION – Use influence, bluffing, and clever timing to manipulate rivals as you claim roles, challenge actions, and decide when to take risks or play it safe in this fast, interactive strategy card game.
- FAST, CLEAN GAMEPLAY LOOP – Each turn you take a single action, whether or not you truly have the role you claim; simple structure keeps play moving quickly, encouraging bold decisions and steady table engagement.
- EASY TO LEARN, DEEP TO MASTER – Clear iconography and a compact ruleset help new players jump in immediately, while experienced groups explore layered mind games, calculated challenges, and long-term reads on opponents.
- SMALL BOX, BIG INTERACTION – Minimal components and a portable form factor provide a full social experience in any setting; ideal as a warm-up, a closer, or a repeat-play favorite for hobby groups and mixed tables.
- REPLAYABLE EVERY SESSION – Unique role interactions, shifting alliances, and player-driven narrative ensure every game feels different; Coup’s elegant system rewards repeated play and evolving strategies.
Rank #4
- Hot or cold. Soft or hard. Wizard or…not a wizard? Work together to decide where your clue falls on the spectrum in this telepathic party game.
- POLYGON: “One of the best party games we’ve ever played.”
- NYT WIRECUTTER: Featured in “The best board games”
- Works in groups from 2-12+ people. Great for large parties, offsites, family gatherings, and anywhere you need instant fun.
- 5 seconds to set up, 1 minute to learn, 30 minutes to play
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