Tarochi and the Emergence of Fully On Chain Gameplay

I’m writing about Tarochi as a fully on-chain role-playing game built with a clear commitment to blockchain-native design on Cardano. Tarochi is not positioned as a traditional game with optional Web3 elements layered on top. From its core systems to moment-to-moment gameplay, Cardano is actively used to power progression, ownership, and persistence.

Tarochi is developed using the Paima Engine and is designed as a first-class, fully on-chain game. The goal is permanence and immutability, ensuring that the game world and its systems exist directly within the blockchain environment. The experience blends classic monster-collecting gameplay with modern blockchain mechanics, offering a single-player journey that includes meaningful interactions with other players through shared systems and long-term world features.

Gameplay in Tarochi centers around exploration, combat, and progression. I begin the game directly in the browser and start my journey by receiving a monster companion. Movement is handled with simple keyboard controls, and interactions are immediate and intuitive. The early objective is clearly defined: defeat the four apprentices in order to ultimately face Morrigan. Battles are turn-based, very much in the style of classic monster RPGs, and defeating enemies rewards experience and items that contribute to long-term progression.

One of Tarochi’s standout mechanics is the excavation system. This feature allows me to explore mines daily and uncover treasures such as health potions, warp cards, gold, and other valuable items. Excavation introduces a consistent loop of discovery and reward that encourages regular engagement without relying on constant spending. The items I obtain through excavation are not abstract rewards. They exist as blockchain-backed assets that can be used in gameplay or traded.

This is where Tarochi’s use of Stateful NFTs becomes central. Through the Paima Engine, Tarochi uses Stateful NFTs to represent in-game items and progress that can change over time. Alongside these NFTs, in-game gold is represented through blockchain tokens. Together, these systems allow items and resources to be traded directly on the blockchain, creating a live and functional on-chain economy tied directly to gameplay actions.

Cardano integration in Tarochi is active and unavoidable once I choose to fully participate. To save my game progress, I must connect a Cardano wallet. Progression, persistence, and continuity are tied to on-chain transactions. Every battle and major activity generates a transaction on the Cardano network, anchoring gameplay events directly to the blockchain. This ensures that progress is verifiable, persistent, and owned by the player rather than stored on centralized servers.

Tarochi also features a native Cardano NFT collection called Tarochi Genesis Trainers. These NFTs have existed since the genesis of the Tarochi autonomous world and provide multiple benefits to their holders. Ownership of a Genesis Trainer is verifiable on Cardano through its policy ID, and these NFTs are directly connected to the game’s ecosystem. They represent early participation and long-term alignment with the Tarochi world.

The design philosophy behind Tarochi emphasizes accessibility. The game is built so that players can engage regardless of their financial situation. There is a low barrier to entry, and gameplay systems are structured to allow meaningful progression without forcing constant transactions. At the same time, Cardano remains a foundational layer, supporting ownership, trading, and persistence for players who want full control over their in-game assets.

Tarochi also lays the groundwork for broader MMO-style interactions. While the core experience is single-player, the game includes visible players in shared areas and is designed to support global events and additional multiplayer features. These systems reinforce the idea of Tarochi as a living on-chain world rather than a standalone RPG session.

Within the Cardano ecosystem, Tarochi stands out as a game that commits fully to on-chain execution. Saving progress requires a Cardano wallet. Gameplay actions generate real transactions. Items and gold are blockchain assets. NFTs are native, functional, and integrated into the world’s logic. Tarochi does not treat Cardano as an experiment or a side feature. It uses Cardano as the backbone of its game design, delivering a persistent, autonomous, and verifiably owned gaming experience.