The Metropolitan Museum of Art has introduced a new game called Art Links, which challenges players to uncover connections between artworks in its collection. This marks The Met's first Web3-based experience, developed in collaboration with the art-tech platform TRLab. Designed for mobile and browser play, Art Links offers collectible NFT badges and various rewards as players engage with the museum's art. The game launched on January 23 and can be accessed at artlinks. metmuseum. org. Art Links will feature over 140 artworks across The Met collection in serialized weekly challenges. Players identify art-based connections, known as "chains, " earning free NFT badges and rewards like catalogues and exclusive tours. New challenges will be released every Thursday for 12 weeks, with rewards for players achieving certain milestones. Max Hollein, The Met's Director and CEO, described the game as a significant innovation in museum engagement, allowing players to explore diverse artistic collections in an interactive manner.

Curated by Destinee Filmore and a team at The Met, each challenge includes artworks from various eras, enriching the players' understanding of culture. Four connection types in the game include “Highlights, ” “Material, ” “Emojis, ” and “Web3, ” emphasizing different artistic aspects. Themes to be explored include “Objects in Disguise, ” “Art x Tech, ” and “Harlem as Muse, ” spotlighting specific artists and cultural discussions. Audrey Ou, CEO of TRLab, emphasized the company's commitment to enhancing art interactions through innovative platforms. Players construct a chain of seven artworks and six connections over three progressively harder rounds, with no prior art knowledge required. The game is designed for accessibility, featuring support for screen readers and visual descriptions of artworks. Participants can earn a total of 12 free badges, with seven achievements available through challenges, five of which are complimentary. The game utilizes cryptocurrency and credit card payments via MoonPay and Stripe and was developed to be accessible and inclusive. Art Links will be promoted on The Met's website and social media channels, reflecting The Met’s mission to make art engaging for audiences globally, as well as showcasing TRLab's aim to connect artists with fans through innovative digital experiences.