The Open Network (TON) has experienced an impressive surge in on-chain metrics this year, with total value locked, trading volume, daily transactions, and active users all growing considerably. In September 2024, the daily average trading volume on the blockchain increased from $2 million to $17.2 million, corresponding to a growth of 760% year-to-date.
Tap-to-earn (T2E) games are one of the primary reasons for TON’s success. This guide explores three of the most appealing T2E projects and the best way for novices to enter the gaming niche.
As with all phenomena, malicious actors are quick to enter the ecosystem, so we will also look at the signs of subpar T2E games or outright scams.
Catizen
Catizen, a cat-themed game on TON, combines AI, metaverse elements, and GameFi. Players adopt virtual cats and perform tapping actions to earn tokens. The game became popular for its community features and appealing graphics, allowing players to care for lovely cats while interacting with each other. Catizen also offers unique rewards for taking part in events and completing tasks.
As of December 2024, Catizen had 3.27 million on-chain users, 7,908,055 channel subscribers, and 296,875 daily players. The total number of ecosystem participants comes to an impressive 45.34 million, according to information published on the official website.
Its seed round received investments not only from TON but also from Moon Capital, Mask Network, Y2Z, Web3 Ventures, EMURGO Ventures, and SecondLive.
While many T2E games have risen rapidly only to fizzle out, this one continues to show engagement from players due to its innovative mechanics, such as building a cat-themed city, leveling up characters, and earning tokens through tasks and missions. Its integration with TON and the ability to stake or exchange earned tokens for real-world value help sustain its appeal.
The game is fun for fans of casual mobile gaming and blockchain integration. Still, it has faced criticism for repetitive gameplay and high reliance on in-game purchases to progress faster.
X Empire
X Empire is a popular Telegram-based clicker game inspired by Elon Musk, where players earn tokens by tapping on their screens. The game allows players to develop and upgrade virtual versions of the hectobillionaire. It rebranded from Musk Empire to X Empire in September 2024 to distinguish itself from Musk-related content while expanding the game’s features and gameplay.
In October 2024, X Empire had almost 50 million players and integrated over 18.5 million TON wallets, as several crypto media sources reported. The T2E model has helped it attract a loyal player base. The main goal of the game, which stands out through its focus on community rewards and strategic gameplay, is to accumulate coins by tapping on the screen.
Players can choose to upgrade their Musk avatar, enhancing their earning potential. They avail of passive earnings for up to three hours, facilitating growth while taking a break from the game. They can invite friends and earn more rewards by rising to more significant in-game challenges. Daily competitions and quests provide additional earning opportunities through investments and tasks within X Empire’s stock exchange.
X Empire strives for sustainability and long-term growth. It features strategic depth, which appeals to people with an affinity for Web3 technologies who want to take part in gameplay with digital economy elements. While the game is free, the platform reliably rewards those who have invested in it.
Unfortunately, X Empire’s site uses concealed WHOIS data, which makes it hard to verify the owner, raising concerns about its transparency.
Funtico’s Lucky Funatic
Funtico, the platform behind the T2E game Lucky Funatic, is establishing itself as the golden standard for gamer-focused Web3 projects. Players own their game assets and items, which are sold in the Funtico marketplace. The upcoming Telegram-based app is implementing highly engaging mechanics in its effort to surpass leading games like Notcoin and Hamster Kombat. It provides experiences such as collectible cards, passive income generation, and quest milestones. Funtico aims to establish itself as a gaming and entertainment hub, providing different studios and developers with opportunities to publish their games.
Lucky Funatic focuses on earning FUNZ tokens, in-game ranks, and unlocking level-ups to make progress. Players climb ranks and use FUNZ to buy power-ups that help them gain even more rewards. The platform’s Telegram and Discord channels have 28,271 and 23,244 members, respectively, as well as 2,000 followers on LinkedIn. Lucky Funatic boasts almost 400,000 active monthly players.
Getting started with T2E
Beginners should start with one or two games to understand the gameplay mechanics and join social media groups or forums related to those games. Players share tips and strategies in forums, which can be extremely helpful for a novice.
Setting limits on playing time is encouraged to avoid burnout, as is visiting the official site regularly to check for developer announcements, new features, updates, or events that could affect the gameplay experience.
Most critically, T2E novices should make sure they understand the risks of investing money into any game.
How to identify less-than-stellar projects
If the project asks for upfront payment, it’s a sure sign of a scam. Legitimate projects never require payment. The odds are against any player who is asked to invest funds during or after the mining stage. The games presented here do not require anyone to pay upfront to start playing. Instead, they focus on a free-to-play, P2E model.
Finally, some projects try to gamify participation by throwing excessive tasks at players. The tasks deplete the latter’s time and effort rather than enabling them to accumulate value.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
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