Imagine earning cryptocurrency just by tapping your screen! In 2024, tap-to-earn games like Notcoin and Hamster Kombat have made this a reality for millions. We’ll take you through the mechanics, reward systems, and community impacts of these top games, showing why they’ve become such a hit.
What Are Tap-to-Earn Games?
“Tap to earn” games are a type of mobile game where players can earn real-world rewards, often in the form of cash, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, by performing simple in-game actions. These actions typically involve repetitive tasks such as tapping the screen, watching ads, completing surveys, or participating in mini-games. The primary goal of these games is to keep users engaged and generate revenue through advertisements or microtransactions, a portion of which is then shared with the players as rewards.
In essence, these games represent the next generation of play-to-earn experiences. They combine the thrill of gaming with the opportunity to earn real rewards in a playful manner. Let’s take a closer look at what makes these games so special and why they’ve captured the attention of so many players.
Key Features of Tap to Earn Games:
- Simple Gameplay: These games usually have easy-to-understand mechanics that require minimal effort, such as tapping, swiping, or performing basic actions.
- Reward System: Players accumulate points, coins, or other in-game currencies that can be exchanged for real-world rewards.
- Ad-Based Monetization: Revenue is often generated through in-game advertisements, which players watch to earn rewards.
- Microtransactions: Some games offer in-app purchases that allow players to buy boosts or skip certain tasks, increasing their earnings potential.
- Variety of Rewards: Rewards can include cash (usually through PayPal), gift cards (from popular retailers or services), or cryptocurrency (like Bitcoin).
- Engagement Incentives: Many games use daily login bonuses, referral bonuses, and other incentives to keep players engaged and ensure they return regularly.
Best Tap-to-Earn Games of 2024
In 2024, several tap-to-earn games emerged as the most popular in the space, attracting millions of users with their simple, engaging mechanics and potential for earning cryptocurrency.
Notcoin
Notcoin was truly the sensation of 2024. It brought the Telegram platform to the mainstream and set the tone for all future tap-to-earn (T2E) games. With a massive following, it was a standout success.
Launch Date
Notcoin was launched as a tap-to-earn game on Telegram in November 2023.
Userbase
Notcoin attracted over 35 million players, with a peak of six million daily active users.
Game Mechanics
Notcoin was a Telegram-based tap-to-earn game where players tapped on an animated coin to earn in-game currency. The game featured quests, leaderboards, and boosts to increase earning potential.
Rewards Distribution
Players converted in-game currency to NOT tokens at a ratio of 1,000 in-game coins to 1 NOT token. Tokens were distributed via airdrops and staking reward campaigns on exchanges like Binance and OKX.
Airdrops
Over 80 billion tokens were distributed to 35 million players, with pre-market NFT vouchers offered to high-balance players.
Cryptocurrency and Listings
The NOT token is built on The Open Network (TON) blockchain; it was listed on Binance, OKX, and Bybit on May 16, 2024. The token saw significant trading volume and volatility upon launch.
The success of Notcoin is attributed to its engaging mechanics and seamless integration with Telegram, making it a popular entry point into the Web3 ecosystem.
Hamster Kombat
Hamster Kombat’s rapid growth and the planned airdrop have generated significant interest in the crypto and gaming communities. While the game’s simple, engaging mechanics and the promise of substantial rewards through the airdrop can’t take all the credit for its success, they’re absolutely worth a mention.
Launch Date
Hamster Kombat launched in March 2024.
Userbase
The game rapidly grew to over 300 million users five months after its launch. It had achieved 100 million users in just two months, setting a record for the fastest product to reach this milestone.
Game Mechanics
Hamster Kombat is a tap-to-earn game where players tap on cartoon hamsters to earn in-game coins. These coins can be invested in a fictional crypto exchange within the game. The game includes features such as leaderboards, daily quests, and boosts that enhance earning potential.
Rewards Distribution
The primary method of reward distribution in Hamster Kombat is through the HMSTR token airdrop. The game plans to allocate 60% of its tokens to players as part of what it claims to be the largest airdrop in crypto history. The remaining tokens are reserved for market liquidity, ecosystem partnerships, grants, and rewards for squads.
Airdrops
The airdrop was initially planned for July 2024 but has faced delays due to technical challenges. The team has been working closely with the TON blockchain to ensure the airdrop is executed smoothly. Players can increase their airdrop allocations by participating in various in-game activities and linking their TON wallets.
Cryptocurrency and Listings
As of August 2024, the HMSTR token is set for forthcoming listing on multiple exchanges. Pre-market trading options for the HMSTR token have already been announced, with platforms like OKX launching futures trading starting August 1, 2024. The exact conversion rate from in-game coins to HMSTR tokens has yet to be made public.
TapSwap
Though less mainstream-popular than the games I mentioned earlier, TapSwap has gained considerable popularity due to its simple and engaging gameplay, substantial community engagement features, and the promise of reaъl-world crypto rewards through its airdrop and token integration.
Launch Date
TapSwap launched in February 2024.
Userbase
Since its launch, TapSwap has rapidly grown to over 55 million users globally, with 18 million daily active users.
Game Mechanics
TapSwap is a tap-to-earn game integrated with Telegram. Players earn TAPS coins by tapping a gold coin icon on the screen. The game features an energy bar: it limits how long you can tap and gets refilled over time. Players can boost their earnings by completing tasks, referring friends, and using daily or premium boosters. Key boosters include “Tapping Guru,” which increases points per tap, and “Full Tank,” which refills the energy bar. Additionally, a “Tap Bot” allows for passive earnings when players are not actively tapping, provided they check in every 12 hours.
Rewards Distribution
Rewards in TapSwap are distributed through TAPS tokens. Players earn these tokens by participating in in-game activities, completing tasks, and referring friends. In what can be deemed quite a substantial airdrop, the developers have allocated 50% of the total TAPS supply for the community. Players need to link their crypto wallets to the TapSwap dashboard to manage and withdraw their TAPS tokens.
Airdrops
The TAPS token airdrop is a significant aspect of TapSwap, aimed at rewarding active players. Although the exact details and dates of the airdrop were initially unclear, the airdrop began alongside the official token launch in July 2024. Players need to participate in the game actively and complete specific tasks to maximize their airdrop rewards.
Cryptocurrency and Listings
The original plan was to have the TON-based (The Open Network) TAPS token listed in early July 2024, but current expectations revolve around Q3 2024.
Final Thoughts
The success of games like Hamster Kombat and Notcoin has spurred the creation of numerous tap-to-earn (T2E) games, attracting millions of users to the crypto gaming space. However, this boom has also led to the rise of many scam projects looking to exploit the trend. Players must conduct thorough research (DYOR) to distinguish between legitimate opportunities and potential scams. Always verify the credibility of the project before investing time or money.
Disclaimer: Please note that the contents of this article are not financial or investing advice. The information provided in this article is the author’s opinion only and should not be considered as offering trading or investing recommendations. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. The cryptocurrency market suffers from high volatility and occasional arbitrary movements. Any investor, trader, or regular crypto users should research multiple viewpoints and be familiar with all local regulations before committing to an investment.
