WHAT IS A TELEGRAM TAP-TO-EARN GAME AND WHY ARE THEY SO POPULAR?

Tap-to-earn games are a novel genre of crypto games that have captured global attention. The premise is straightforward: you message a bot on Telegram to initiate the game, which then loads within the Telegram app. By tapping on a coin or symbol in the center of the screen, you earn points or in-game tokens. While this is the foundational mechanism, many newer games are exploring different directions.

Notcoin, one of the pioneering tap-to-earn games, conducted the largest airdrop of 2024 in May. Shortly thereafter, another tap-to-earn game, Hamster Kombat, attracted over 200 million users in June. It made headlines when Iranian officials accused it of being part of a "soft war" waged by the West.

1. What are Tap-to-Earn Games?

Tap-to-earn games adhere to a basic model: tap to earn points. Despite their simplicity, these games have garnered immense popularity within the crypto community and are now gaining mainstream traction at a scale that previous blockchain projects could only dream of. This popularity stems from the anticipation that in-game points will eventually qualify for an airdrop. Approximately 35 million players worldwide participated in Notcoin before the game's token, NOT, was airdropped to players on The Open Network (TON). The Hamster Kombat team has also announced plans to release their token on this network.

2. How to Play Tap-to-Earn Games

Most tap-to-earn games share several core elements. Typically, they require users to tap a coin or symbol in the center of the screen to earn points. Players can tap until their energy bar depletes, at which point they must wait for it to refill before continuing to earn rewards.

All tap-to-earn games feature missions, boosters, and upgrades. Missions are tasks that players can complete to earn a significant amount of points or coins at once, such as joining the game's community channel on Telegram or following them on Twitter. Many games also feature missions from partner games and projects, using them as marketing channels for players eager to earn.

Tap-to-earn games often include social mechanisms that encourage users to invite friends, offering rewards for milestones like inviting 10 or 100 friends. Additionally, players typically receive a percentage of the points earned by their referrals indefinitely.

Boosters are free items that players can use to increase their point-earning potential. There are usually two main types of boosters: one refills the energy bar so players can keep tapping, and the other adds a multiplier to points earned for a short time. Many games offer three free uses of each booster daily.

Upgrades vary between games, but most tap-to-earn games include similar enhancements. These typically include upgrades that increase the points or coins earned per tap, raise the player's maximum energy limit, and speed up energy recovery.

Another common feature in tap-to-earn games is the "Tap-Bot." While the name varies by game, the mechanism is the same: you purchase a bot with earned points or coins, and it automatically taps for you even when the app is closed. This allows you to earn passively over time.

3. Why Are Tap-to-Earn Games So Popular?

Several factors contribute to the popularity of tap-to-earn games:

3.1 Nostalgia

These games evoke memories of Flappy Bird or the dinosaur game in Google Chrome, with roots tracing back to Progress Quest in 2002.

3.2 Low Entry Barrier

Unlike the first wave of play-to-earn games, you don’t need to spend money or buy expensive NFTs to participate. While you can purchase in-game boosters, it's not mandatory.

3.3 Simple Gameplay

These games typically require simple actions like tapping or swiping to earn crypto rewards. The variety of rewards, rapid progression, and leaderboards keep gameplay engaging.

3.4 Profit Potential

Users collect points or coins that could be converted into real cryptocurrency. For instance, Notcoin successfully distributed $4.2 million to its top players, with its market capitalization now at $1.6 billion.

3.5 Referral Programs and Social Tasks

Tap-to-earn games often reward users for completing simple tasks like inviting friends, joining social media, or interacting with content.

3.6 Introducing Web2 Users to Web3

New users unfamiliar with cryptocurrencies are naturally drawn into the Web3 space, facilitated by integrated wallets within Telegram.

3.7 Easy Mobile Access

These games don’t require additional devices or constant access to a laptop – just a phone.

3.8 Telegram’s Contribution to App Development

Telegram recently announced Telegram Stars, allowing mini-apps to accept payments for digital services via in-app purchases on Android and iOS.

Unlike traditional apps, Telegram games don’t need to be downloaded or installed, enabling rapid growth. The social nature of Telegram allows these mini-apps to quickly go viral, reaching tens of millions of users within weeks!