TL;DR

• Emergence and Appeal of Tap-to-Earn (T2E) Games: T2E games have gained popularity due to their simple gameplay, which requires minimal effort and time. This attracts a broader audience, including both casual gamers and crypto enthusiasts.
• Engagement and Rewards: These games offer engaging progression systems and the promise of community-driven airdrops. These incentives keep players motivated and loyal, fostering a sense of community and long-term engagement.
• Future Potential and Challenges: Despite their success, T2E games face challenges such as player retention post-airdrop. Innovations in sustainable reward systems and long-term value creation are crucial for their continued growth and mass adoption.

1. Introduction

Tap to Earn (T2E) games have recently seen a surge in the Web3 industry. Similar to the Play to Earn (P2E) genre, T2E games are characterized by a lower barrier to entry, utilizing a simpler form of mobile gaming. As the name suggests, T2E games are played by simply tapping the game screen, which contrasts with other Web3 games that have complex mechanics.

The simplicity of T2E games is a major factor in the rapid expansion of their user base. However, it is likely that a number of other complex factors also played a role. In this report, we examine the rise and impact of T2E games and analyze how these simple games were able to attract and keep users engaged.

2. What Genre Are T2E Games?

T2E games vary in structure from game to game, but they are usually intuitive, with users tapping on specific characters or icons to earn points. Their simplicity and ease of play have made them popular with many users. Additionally, T2E games provide a quick and efficient way for projects to develop and release games. Consequently, many game companies and Web3 projects have been actively releasing T2E games.

Source: Hamster Kombat (Left), Notcoin (Right)

The rapid growth of T2E games can be attributed to their extreme simplicity. While traditional game genres and Web3 games often have high barriers to entry due to complex mechanics, graphics, and storylines, T2E games are simple and accessible to people of all ages.

In addition to their simplicity, T2E games have gained popularity due to two key factors:

Play to Airdrop (P2A): The opportunity for rewards has been a strong motivator for participation in T2E games. Points earned from playing these games are often utilized to qualify for future token airdrops, driving even more user engagement. For example, players are incentivized to accumulate points that can later be exchanged for valuable cryptocurrency tokens.

Gamification Elements: T2E games go beyond simple tapping by incorporating various gamification features. These include earning points within a limited number of taps, waiting for opportunities to recharge and play again, and completing various quests. Additionally, featured items and collaborative quests with partner projects, such as following them on Twitter, offer additional rewards. These dynamic elements add depth to the gameplay and help drive further engagement.

These factors have enabled T2E games to attract and retain a large and diverse user base, contributing to their rapid growth and widespread popularity.

3. How Are T2E Games Gaining Popularity?

Source: Hamster Kombat (Left), Notcoin (Right)

T2E games are spreading at an incredible rate, using their simplicity as a key advantage. Notcoin, a TON-based T2E game, gained 40 million users in five months, and Hamster Kombat gained 22 million users in three weeks. This rapid rise in popularity can be attributed to four main factors:

3.1. Simplified Gameplay

T2E games are designed to be easy for anyone to play, allowing them to reach a broader audience. While most P2E games require complex strategies and a significant time investment, T2E games engage users with simple actions. This simplicity of gameplay allows players to quickly understand and engage with the game, effectively lowering the barrier to entry. As a result, T2E games can capture both hyper-casual gamers and the Web3 community, who are looking for simple and quick rewards.

3.2. Seamless User Experience

Source: Hamster Kombat

Another advantage of T2E games is their integration with mobile messengers like Telegram. By leveraging a platform where users already spend most of their time, T2E games can tap into the existing user base of the messenger and scale quickly. Telegram’s massive user base of 950 million users, combined with its intuitive interface and seamless user experience, makes it an ideal platform for T2E games.

3.3. Immersive Experience Beyond Simplicity

Although simple, T2E games offer an engaging and fun progression system. Players are motivated by a constant sense of accomplishment as they level up, complete tasks, and unlock new rewards. This engaging game progression keeps players coming back regularly. Games like Hamster Kombat and TapSwap have successfully implemented elements such as daily quests and card combinations to enhance the overall player experience and drive viral growth.

During the P2E craze, many critics pointed out that the gameplay of GameFi titles was less engaging compared to traditional games. However, by prioritizing simplicity and immersion, T2E games have the potential to bridge the gap between traditional gamers and the GameFi market, attracting a wider audience. Previous P2E games required significant time and specific devices, creating barriers for players. T2E games remove these barriers, offering fast and accessible gameplay. Compared to spending 15 minutes on a laptop for a single game, it’s much easier to play a T2E game in just a minute.

3.4. Community Rewards and Airdrops

One of the most attractive features of T2E games is the promise of community-driven airdrops and rewards. By participating in these games, players often have the opportunity to win airdrop tokens. Airdrops foster a sense of community and collective growth, encouraging players to remain active and engaged. For example, Notcoin has attracted over 40 million players by offering substantial airdrop rewards, averaging $200 per wallet. This promise of financial gain not only attracts players but also drives loyalty and long-term engagement.

In the future, many T2E games are likely to incorporate features that allow players to earn rewards without actively playing the game. Unlike P2E games, where players must actively participate to earn money, the potential for passive income can make T2E games even more appealing. This will be an attractive option for users looking to maximize their crypto earnings with minimal effort.

4. Conclusion

Source: OKX, Gomble Games, Delabs

With the Web3 industry currently lacking a compelling trend, T2E is bringing back interest in the market. Notably, major Asian companies are competing in T2E games, with Korean web3 game companies Delabs and Gomble launching T2E games. In addition, the Hashkey exchange has launched a Telegram game to distribute its token $HSK, and the OKX exchange has joined the T2E game race with a simple Telegram mini-app called OKX Racer.

Comments under the PIxelverse post are full of FUD and negativity. Source: Pixelverse Twitter

However, the popularity of T2E games comes with significant challenges. They can be a short-lived and consumable trend, with users often leaving the game quickly after receiving airdrops, leading to dissatisfaction. To address this, T2E games need to develop strategies to maintain and sustain their user base.

Despite these challenges, T2E games represent an interesting endeavor. By integrating with mobile messengers like Telegram, they have been able to quickly build a user base, demonstrating the power of an intuitive and seamless gaming experience. This success shows that T2E games are not just a passing trend but provide valuable insights into what other projects, including Web3 games, need to consider and strengthen to attract and retain users.

Disclaimer：

1. This article is reprinted from [Tiger Research Reports]. All copyrights belong to the original author [Chi Anh, Jay Jo, and Yoon Lee]. If there are objections to this reprint, please contact the Gate Learn team, and they will handle it promptly.

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