Telegram-based Cryptocurrency games with “tap to win” mechanics are losing users quickly, even as the broader Cryptocurrency market is on a bull run.
Data from Google Trends shows an 80% drop in search interest for the term “tap to earn” from June to December 2024. This significant decline shows that players and investors may be moving into other areas of the growing Cryptocurrency market.
Declining Interest and Engagement from Tap-to-Earn Game Users
Top games on Telegram such as Hamster Kombat, Notcoin and Catizen have seen a large decline in users despite the Cryptocurrency market being booming. According to TGStatsHamster Kombat alone lost more than 3 million users in just one month, while Notcoin and Catizen lost 428K and 407K users respectively.
On-chain activity data paints a similar picture. Blockchain Ton, the basis of these games, recorded over 1 million daily active wallets in September. According to TonStats, this number dropped below 500K in December.
A Chainplay survey of 957 players reinforces these findings. While 17.8% of users churned after the first free play, 50.6% decreased their activity, indicating a decline in interest after the initial reward.
Furthermore, developers continue to struggle with user retention, as many players leave after receiving free Tokens. According to Animoca Brands, the best-performing projects are able to retain just 60% of their highest daily active users, while less successful projects retain only about 25%.
Why Tap to Win Games Lose Players
Repetitive gameplay is the main problem. Chainplay reports that over 51% of players surveyed cited monotonous missions as the main reason for quitting. Despite efforts to improve user experience, many tap-to-win games still rely on simple mechanics, leading to player fatigue.
Additionally, the large number of participants devalues the free rewards, making players feel unappreciated. More than half of surveyors expressed dissatisfaction with the small allocation.
Fraud and security concerns also contribute to user abandonment. Games like Hamster Kombat have banned millions of accounts for taking advantage of the reward system. Security risks such as hacking and fraud further reduce participation, with 21.8% of survey respondents highlighting these issues.
Finally, the difficulty in withdrawing rewards frustrated players, with 35.9% reporting difficulty withdrawing funds. As user retention issues persist, the future of tap-to-earn Cryptocurrency gaming depends on developers addressing these core issues and delivering engaging, safe, and profitable experiences. attract a wider user base.