Paul Osadchuk
Crypto gaming never made it to global gaming – despite having it embedded in the term. It didn’t resonate with crypto enthusiasts either.
Even the most renowned GameFi projects were eventually forgotten, usually in quite a short span. Their speculative potential shrank, while their gameplay was bombarded by dedicated gamers.
But now, things seem to turn around, as the latest crypto games received community’s appeal, and GameDev giants casted eye on blockchain – once again.
Will this success endure, and what has changed so far? Find out below.
Crypto gaming sought its rise with The Open Network (TON) – a chain that managed to switch the perspective of decentralized products. Not only does it offer a facilitated framework for their development, but accesses them into a Telegram-based community.
As one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, Telegram helps dApps access a broad, built-in audience. The messenger provides a unique platform for direct engagement, helping TON-based games access a broad, built-in audience. Result: projects on TON now have the advantage of immediate, community-centered reach
Even more importantly, TON acts as a shortcut for the applications.
While traditionally decentralized services of any kind require a pile of the intermediary actions to set up, TON-based applications utterly simplified this user experience, putting self right at users’ fingertips.
Clearly, TON’s utility gigs alone did not make the difference. What put The Open Network in the spotlight is its successful pioneers.
One of the most notable ones – Notcoin – has not only turned out to be an overwhelming success among users, but brought the attention back to GameFi and community-centred projects – like memecoins.
What’s more important about Notcoin, though, is its straightforward “clicking” gameplay. This very simplicity transformed from a functional necessity to a game-changing hallmark.
TON-based games have gained traction not only within the crypto community but also among casual gamers – thanks largely to their simplicity and user-friendly design.
Bringing up simplicity once again, unlike many blockchain games that require players to navigate complex wallets, gas fees, and token swaps, TON-based dApps streamline the gaming experience, making it intuitive even for those with no prior crypto knowledge.
As many latest crypto games tried hard to enrich the gaming process with ornate logic, this consequently did not resonate with the community. By contrast, latest TON-clickers are putting simplicity as a cornerstone, which eventually brings an interaction – essential quality for a game.
While this complicity used to be an outcome of blockchain’s natural structure, TON made progress there as well. Rather than confronting complex protocols, TON users can enjoy real-time, low-fee trades within the game, making the “play-to-earn” model more approachable and less intimidating.
Crucially, TON tapped a financial aspect as well.
Apart from poor gameplay outputs, crypto games suffered criticism from dedicated enthusiasts, who advocated so-ironically-called “play to have fun” and “play to contribute games”. There is a solid reason for this.
Early GameFi models placed heavy emphasis on "play-to-earn" mechanics that centred around generating profits. This was one of the main grounds for the opposition towards the sector.
Conversely, TON-based projects moved away from financial incentives as the primary draw and instead focused on creating a more engaging and community-driven experience.
Taking a closer look at the latest games makes this statement clearer. Namely, Bybit’s “Coinsweeper” game did not limit itself on the purely commercial elements, but concentrates on enjoyability and uniqueness.
The gameplay of Coinsweeper is literally a tribute to Minesweeper – a classic Windows-based game and an item of pop-cultural value. This game reflects a deeper understanding of what gamers truly value: compelling experiences and the opportunity to feel part of something bigger.
Specifically, such an approach sought itself with WhiteBIT’s "Bull Run" game as well. In this game, you should successfully predict the next Bitcoin price’s micromovement on the chart.
The gameplay itself is visualised as a race. Hence, if your Bitcoin prediction comes to life, your in-game character will run faster.
Both aforementioned games are a genuine reflection of the latest tendencies in the field. As Coinsweeper brings nostalgic enjoyability at the forefront, Bull Run gamifies trading for the enthusiasts – and opens trading to the newcomers.
Besides gaming experiences, TON-based projects shaped a whole new market as well, with its intersection with a commercial side.
Many TON games are developed by major crypto exchanges or blockchain-related companies with certain marketing objectives. The aforementioned Coinsweeper and Bull Run, as well as Binance’s “Moonbix” are the reflection of the latest crypto marketing tendencies: strategically prioritising consistent and qualitative community building instead of farming engagement.
This approach combines entertainment with brand strategy, creating a new avenue for reaching audiences while driving awareness and adoption of crypto products.
As players progress, they’re indirectly familiarising themselves with the exchange’s ecosystem, learning about its tokenomics, or even receiving incentives to open accounts or try new features.
Such a strategy was pioneered by the Telegram-based crypto exchange Blum. It became one of the first to release a clicker as a promotional tool, rewarding its dedicated players with Blum Points.
While Blum seems way more plain and simple than the other games mentioned here, it comprehensively highlights the commercial side of gaming, which should not be neglected. And does this smartly.
GameFi has transformed dramatically. Its enhanced focus on the gaming experience and long-term community building definitely does the trick.
According to Global Market Insights’ “Web3 Gaming Market Size” report, the GameFi industry was valued at $26.38 billion in 2023 and is expected to register nearly 20% growth in the next 8 years.
However, while the industry’s share is demonstrating exponential growth, the debate about crypto games’ initial nature remains as heated. While the games become more entertaining, they keep a commercial interest.
Both qualities have their place, and perhaps the future of GameFi lies in a balance between the two – just like in a traditional gaming industry.
Only time will tell which approach will ultimately take the crown – but perhaps, in the end, it won’t be about one winning over the other, but about their mutual evolution into something entirely new.
Originally published on 36crypto on November 21, 2024