Reminiscent of play-to-earn games, tap-to-earn blockbusters have taken Telegram by storm. Despite relative simplicity, they have captured the attention of millions. In this guide, we delve into the mechanics of this crypto craze to understand its prospects in the context of blockchain-based entertainment.

What are tap-to-earn games? 

This term is quite self-explanatory. Users tap a specific icon to score points or in-game currency. While the themes and aesthetics vary, this simple basic model is ubiquitous.

All games are played within the Telegram messenger app, which boasts over 900 million users. A player messages a dedicated bot to get started, and the game loads. 

Users’ primary motivation is expectations of a crypto airdrop. For instance, a tap-to-earn pioneer, Notcoin, attracted around 35 million users before its NOT token premiered on TON (The Open Network) for the first airdrop in May 2024.

Explosive growth of tap-to-earn gaming

Notcoin has exploded in popularity, conducting the biggest gaming airdrop of this year so far. A mere month later — in June 2024 — Hamster Kombat attracted a whopping 200+ million users. In Iran, it grew so popular that state officials accused the creators of aiding the West in its "soft war" against the Islamic Republic. 

Dissecting tap-to-earn gameplay

At the heart of any such game is a tappable icon. Other essentials include boosters, tasks, and upgrades. Here's a closer look at each component. 

• Coin (or icon). Users must tap the image at the center of the screen to earn rewards, as long as the energy bar allows. Once the energy runs out, they wait for a refill and resume tapping.
• Tasks. Apart from in-game tasks, projects may implement third-party offers from partners using them as marketing avenues. Typical examples include joining an official Telegram community channel or following the game on Twitter to unlock lump-sum rewards.
• Referral rewards. To encourage word-of-mouth promotion, players may get a share of the points earned by users they invite — perpetually. They may also get bonuses for milestones like 10 or 100 invited friends.
• Boosters. These are free earning boosters, typically available three times per day. Boosters fall into two main categories: some refill the energy bar, while others multiply the points earned over a certain period. 
• Upgrades. These may ramp up the different aspects of the gaming experience. Most commonly, these include points earned per tap, the energy bar, and its replenishment rate. 
• Tap bot. This common feature, named differently, auto-taps on the player's behalf when the app is closed. Users buy such bots with points or coins received within the game, and earn rewards passively.

TON (The Open Network) as blockchain of choice

This high-speed, sustainable, and efficient blockchain is the network of choice for tap-to-earn developers. It is integrated with Telegram, which boasts over 900 million users. Proof-of-stake consensus supports a high transaction throughput without excessive carbon footprint. 

The games within the messenger have a simple UX compared to most crypto games or apps. They do not usually require a wallet to start playing, as airdrops come later in their roadmaps.

Top tap-to-earn games in 2024

Notcoin 

Unveiled in early 2024, this viral Web3 clicker kicked-started the entire Telegram phenomenon. After racking up 35 million players, NOT — the biggest gaming token this year — was launched. 

Partners have various opportunities to connect to this enormous audience, as players get NOT for engaging with third-party content. According to the creators, Notcoin is poised to grow into the "Netflix of social, viral games."

The first airdrop in May released over 80 billion NOT, worth approximately $1 billion at the time. 

Hamster Kombat

Building on Notcoin's essentials, this game offers a crypto exchange management simulator — with hamster CEOs. To run a virtual CEX, users tap the hamster image and earn tokens, which may be spent on various upgrades to boost passive earnings in the play-to-earn cycle. 

The game has already attracted over 250 million players. Initially inspired by Notcoin and social media games of the 2010s, its anonymous creators plan to launch their token on TON. The first airdrop is slated for July, with the second one already in the works. 

TapSwap

This game, with its social and interactive features, essentially emulates Notcoin's tap-to-earn model. Nonetheless, it has attracted over 60 million players so far. By late May 2024, the TapSwap Telegram community had overtaken Notcoin by size, trailing Hamster Kombat's.

Anyone can mine TAPS with only a smartphone. The team plans to launch the token on TON, and the audience is hoping for a big payday. However, the airdrop, scheduled for July 1, 2024, has been indefinitely postponed as the developers discovered bots earning rewards unfairly.

Catizen 

Instead of tapping on a single image, users match cartoon cats on a puzzle board. This game is positioned as a "cat-themed casual gaming center on Telegram" with a P2E airdrop model. 

Catizen's mechanics resemble those of 2049 or Threes in an upgraded package. The higher the cat level, the higher the rewards. 

Like the rest of our top six, Catizen is set to launch its token on the TON network. This will be followed by a GameFi platform economy with staking, unlocking new game NFTs and airdrops, and revenue sharing for game launches. The characters will be enhanced with AI and AR features.

Yescoin 

Yescoin's biggest difference is that it replaces tapping with swiping. Players must move their finger or mouse pointer across the screen to garner small pixel tokens and progress between various leagues.

The swipe-to-earn experience in this mini-game features a vintage design that appeals to retro lovers. The dedicated Telegram community now has over 18 million users and 8 million members worldwide. The Yescoin token will also launch on TON.

PixelTap

This competitor also modifies the core mechanics. Instead of simply garnering tokens, users tap a large yellow coin to smash rivals. With the in-game currency, they upgrade bots, called pets, which help them fight other players by boosting the tapping pace.

PixelTap game was developed by the Pixelverse team, the creators of a crypto punk gaming universe. In addition to the gameplay, users can earn tokens through the referral program — in lump sums or percentages of fellow users' rewards.

Future of tap-to-earn gaming 

Tap-to-earn games have exploded in popularity thanks to their user-friendly approach, simplistic mechanics, fast onboarding, and quick rewards. They thrive on the players' appetite for airdrops and hopes for big paydays. 

While this interest holds, there will be demand. As the airdrops have only just started, time will tell if this model can capture the masses’ attention for a long time.