The Hamster Kombat token launch and airdrop may have been a disaster. But it is hard to deny that they have ushered in a new era for Telegram crypto games. Players are now seeking fresh opportunities.
Here are seven games gaining traction, both new and established, that are working towards their own token drops.
The Era of Telegram Crypto Games
In 2024, the market for crypto games on Telegram exploded, establishing itself as a major force in the spread of cryptocurrency, especially in underdeveloped areas.
Telegram has emerged as a center for blockchain integration with gaming, taking advantage of the popularity of tap-to-earn games to facilitate user engagement with cryptocurrency ecosystems through entertaining and easy-to-understand mechanics.
Crypto games contributed significantly to the platform's user base increase to over 950 million active users, indicating the market's growth. Due to their huge numbers of mobile-first users, countries like Russia, India, and Brazil are in the forefront of this trend.
With more than 104 million downloads, India is among the top markets for blockchain games based on Telegram.
Notcoin, whose token has achieved an astounding $3 billion market cap, and Hamster Kombat, which has drawn over 300 million players worldwide, are the standout games in this arena. These games are great examples of the widespread use of "tap to earn" mechanics, in which players can win tokens and other incentives by completing easy tasks.
These games are helping people become financially included, which is a huge deal. Telegram crypto games provide an alternate means of earning and storing money through tokens in areas where conventional banking services are not widely available. For instance, 36 million people have used Catizen, a game that lets players earn cryptocurrency incentives that they can spend in-game or in real life. This concept has had a disproportionately large effect in nations where stablecoins are widely utilized as a protection against economic volatility due to factors such as inflation and uncertain local currency.
With the larger GameFi industry having reached around $15 billion and the Telegram crypto games business having grown to an estimated $1 billion in market value, there is still a lot of room for development. But there are still some problems. For example, people are worried that the tap-to-earn model won't be around for the long haul, and that it will experience the same boom-and-bust as other crypto industries.
As a response, forward-thinking initiatives like Catizen are introducing features like staking and expanding the ecosystems that their tokens can be part of. A more consistent and satisfying gaming experience is made possible, and user engagement is maintained, as a result.
Top 7 Telegram Crypto Games to Play Right Now
Let’s take a look at some of the most promising crypto games available on Telegram.
X Empire
X Empire: A financial strategy game where players develop characters and empires by mining coins and competing in challenges. The game has reached over 20 million registered players across 147 countries, with more than 72 million battles fought in-game. Players earn tokens with real-world value through tasks like negotiating deals and investing in virtual stock markets.
X Empire has announced airdrop allocation criteria. These include wallet connection, profit-per-hour, and friend referrals. Players must connect a TON wallet to be eligible.
Captain Tsubasa: Rivals
Based on the famous Japanese manga and anime series, this game offers a soccer-themed experience where players can build teams and earn crypto rewards.
The game, which launched with major hype in 2024, attracts fans of both soccer and blockchain technology by allowing them to collect and trade in-game NFTs
Flappy Bird
A nostalgic revival of the original Flappy Bird, this game now includes crypto elements, with players earning tokens through gameplay. Although it retains the same tap-to-play mechanics, players can now expect token airdrops like FLAP as rewards
A future airdrop of the FLAP token is planned.
At its peak, Flappy Bird had attracted 50 million downloads, topped the charts in 100 countries, and was allegedly raking in $50,000 from ads every single day," according to industry reports.
Farm Frens
This farming simulation game allows players to manage a virtual farm, grow crops, and earn rewards like $DIRT and $NUTS tokens. Players gradually upgrade their land and recruit helpers. The game's charm lies in its simplicity, with potential for expanded gameplay features.
With over a million early-access players, Farm Frens has gained popularity for its playful approach to farming, integrated with Web3 technology
Major
A socially-driven game where players engage in various mini-games to earn points and climb leaderboards. With token airdrops like MAJOR on the horizon, players are incentivized to participate in social activities and complete daily missions.
MemeFi
This game is centered on meme culture, allowing players to join clans and engage in PvP and PvE battles. Players can earn MemeFi tokens, with the upcoming launch expected to further drive participation. The game rewards users for strategic gameplay and collaboration
MemeFi is approaching its token listing in early October. Players fight meme-inspired enemies to accumulate coins before the airdrop.
Unlike most Telegram games, MemeFi plans to launch on Ethereum scaler Linea rather than TON.
Seed
A quirky farming game where players grow plants, collect insects, and tend to birds. Although its concept was initially vague, it has grown in popularity, especially with a planned token airdrop for active participants. Seed has been a cryptic game, but its purpose is becoming clearer with an upcoming airdrop announcement.