Tap-to-earn (T2E) games, also known as tap-2-earn or tap-to-earn, represent a new and rapidly growing subset of play-to-earn (P2E) crypto games. These games are characterized by their simplicity and accessibility, allowing players to earn crypto rewards through basic screen-tapping mechanics.
Unlike traditional play-to-earn alternatives that often require complex gameplay and a deep understanding of blockchain technology, tap-to-earn games are designed to be extremely intuitive and easy to play.
They typically involve repetitive tapping actions on a mobile device screen with additional layers of engagement such as storylines and upgrades to enhance the player’s experience.
For users, the chance to earn real money by playing simple games on their mobile phones is what makes them so attractive. Some players have already seen big rewards after getting in early with airdrops. But are these games really worth playing? Let’s take a closer look to find out.
How Do Tap-to-Earn (T2E) Games Work?
Tap-to-earn games have been enabled by the fusion of various technologies and platforms. They operate primarily on Telegram, the popular messaging app, and mostly rely on The Open Network (TON) blockchain to function.
Telegram is one of the world’s most messaging and broadcast apps people worldwide, boasting nearly 1 billion users. The app’s massive size has contributed to the rise in popularity of this type of game and it has proven to be a fertile ground for their proliferation.
Tap-to-earn games have been widely embraced by the crypto community primarily due to their simplicity. We all tap our screens every day so why not make some money while we are at it?
Also read: Best Crypto Games — 6 Blockchain Games to Earn Rewards
Meanwhile, there’s no lengthy or time-consuming registration process. All a user has to do is download the app, subscribe to the channel, and connect their wallet to start playing and earning coins, rewards, points, bonuses, or whatever the game offers in exchange for tapping.
Although it takes time and effort, the promise of financial incentives is what sets these games apart from other alternatives at the moment.
One notable example of how popular these games have become is Notcoin, one of the first T2E games. In a short period, the game has amassed over 40 million players while it recently launched its own token, NOT.
The airdrop consisted of 80 billion NOT tokens. Their total market cap quickly rose to over $2.7 billion and it attracted a large crowd of new developers and investors to the T2E space.
How to Play Tap-to-Earn (T2E) Games
Getting started with T2E games is quite simple. In theory, it should not take more than a few minutes to start tapping your brains out.
The first step is to download the Telegram Mobile App, which you can get for both Android and iOS devices. Many mini-games are designed for this messaging app. Next, you need to create a compatible crypto wallet. This is required to qualify for any future airdrops and to collect the rewards for your tapping.
Then comes the fun part – which is tapping. Most games provide on-screen instructions about what needs to be done to start earning. Some also offer other activities like engaging with fellow community members, participating in special events, completing quests, etc. All of these adventures typically result in special rewards once completed.
Finally, users should stay informed about the latest developments and updates to the game they like by following the developing team and the official social media accounts of these T2E games.
Top 3 Tap-to-Earn Games
Based on the size of their Telegram groups, here are three of the most popular tap-to-earn games:
1. Hamster Kombat (42.73M Telegram members)
Hamster Kombat takes tapping to a new level by introducing a theme – you are a hamster – and a purpose – you are the CEO of an up-and-coming crypto exchange. This role-playing side of the game makes it even more fun than its pure-play tapping counterparts.
Players are allowed to upgrade their respective exchanges to generate passive income and they can, of course, earn rewards by being the most efficient tapping hamster in the realm.
This additional layer has contributed to the popularity of Hamster Kombat. The game claims to have more than 300 million players and it is reportedly planning to launch an airdrop soon following an unexpected delay in July.
2. TapSwap (22.69M Telegram members)
TapSwap is essentially the same thing as Notcoin as it insists on the core feature of the latter, which is to tap a gold coin endlessly to earn rewards. However, since Notcoin was temporarily paused during its airdrop phase, TapSwap became the obvious replacement for those who are addicted to the tapping business.
Players can also perform upgrades to their profiles to increase their rewards or earn passive income. Recently, the game launched a city-building mode called Tappy Town. Players can use their rewards to perform upgrades and enhance their virtual towns. TapSwap’s airdrop is expected to take place in the third quarter of this year.
3. Pixelverse (7.32M Telegram members)
Pixelverse is a blend of tapping and fighting. It resembles arcade video games in the sense that users battle each other by tapping the screen. Whoever taps more efficiently ultimately wins.
The rewards obtained for tapping can be used to perform upgrades and acquire in-game new abilities that can help during battle.
The developing team launched its PIXFI token in July on the Ethereum network and plans to expand to the TON blockchain soon.
The Future of Tap-to-Earn Games
Are tap-to-earn (T2E) games a fad or are they here to stay? The success of these games is unquestionable as they mix two things that this tech-savvy generation loves – simplified registration procedures and being rewarded for doing something fun.
However, developers still have to overcome the challenge that players may get bored over time of just tapping. This will demand the creation of ecosystems and experiences that further engage these growing audiences and keep them coming back for more.
Regulators may also be concerned about the transparency of these tapping rewards. Considering that most of these games are now launching airdrops, the fairness with which these crypto assets are distributed and the weight allocated to the community and developers would probably be scrutinized to make sure that a large number of users are not being exploited for the benefit of a small group.
Despite these challenges, the tap-to-earn phenomenon has undoubtedly opened up a new world of possibilities in the intersection between mobile gaming and cryptocurrency. By lowering the barriers to entry to earn crypto, these games have the potential to introduce blockchain technology to a wider uninitiated audience.