The Open Network’s Gaming Ecosystem

The Open Network’s nascent gaming ecosystem has emerged as one of 2024’s most interesting case studies in crypto, with casual games like Notcoin, Hamster Kombat, and Yescoin potentially onboarding tens — if not hundreds — of millions of people to web3.

Gaming on the TON blockchain (The Open Network) has grown exponentially in recent months after the accessibility of a series of clicker games that promise players token rewards, available to anyone using the Telegram messaging app.

TON Foundation’s Gaming Lead, Inal Kardan, noted that last December, only about 1% of Telegram’s monthly active users were playing games. He remarked, “And I was saying it should be at least 10% to 12% as on other socials, or even 30%, as on WeChat.” Kardan explained that now around 20% of Telegram users engage with at least one game monthly, representing a 20-fold increase.

Telegram, which has 950 million users globally, hosts several mini-games leveraging the TON blockchain, closely tied to the messaging app’s creators.

While it’s uncertain if this gaming trend can create sustainable businesses or stimulate growth across the blockchain, titles like Notcoin and Hamster Kombat have attracted new players with free-to-play models that also offer chances for financial rewards.

Kardan elaborated that most current games focus on building communities and boosting engagement, stating, “All these games, their monetization model is not about in-app purchases; it’s all about traffic. They are monetizing traffic in different ways.”

Upcoming titles like Catizen and Yescoin are expected to initiate token airdrops soon.

Notcoin Paved the Way

Notcoin stands out as the sole major Telegram title showcasing how a tap-to-earn game with millions of users can successfully implement a token airdrop (TGE) to retain player engagement. After its launch in January, Notcoin’s team executed a $1 billion token airdrop in May, distributing 80 billion NOT tokens. Currently, the NOT token holds a market cap of $1.1 billion.

Notcoin’s creators have also launched another game on Telegram to expand its ecosystem. Kardan mentioned, “They want to keep existing audiences engaged, offering them something interesting.”

Hamster Kombat’s Next Step

Hamster Kombat’s future trajectory mirrors Notcoin’s, generating notable online interest as it claims over 300 million users. The team is working to overcome challenges related to accurately counting unique users amid the prevalence of bot accounts.

Kardan stated, “Nobody knows what the percentage of bots is; we also don’t know that.” Despite postponing its TGE due to technical challenges, Hamster Kombat plans the largest airdrop in crypto history, allocating 60% of its tokens to players as per their whitepaper.

Kardan remains optimistic about Hamster Kombat’s capacity to build a sustainable ecosystem given its large user base, suggesting that it can convert casual gamers into players of more intricate games, enhancing revenue through in-app purchases.

Future of Gaming on Telegram

Mid-core games, which are more complex than casual offerings and not as convoluted as console games, are anticipated to play a pivotal role in the advancement of gaming on the TON blockchain and Telegram. Kardan pointed out that a mid-core game named Gatto, akin to Tamagotchi where players interact with virtual pets, has gained popularity and revenue.

Kardan expects to see more mid-core games like Gatto launching on TON and Telegram in the upcoming six months.