Play-to-Earn: how cryptographic games have changed what we expect from game from why they failed

Published:

Sometimes an idea appears – and you just feel that something is there. How a plain thought: what if the game can be not only entertainment, but also a source of income? A bit of magic, a bit of pragmatism-so the concept of playback to zero was born.

At first, this Sunday market seemed. Noisy, cheerful, full of expectations. People joined the game not only to the game, but … to earn. And it’s not just points – real crypto. You sit on the couch, knock on the screen and ding! Coins appear. Like in a fairy tale, in which every tap is rewarded by the digital universe itself.

- Advertisement -

But as we know, not all fairy tales end the same.

The truth is that the roots of this story date back to 2017, when players began to sell items in the game for real money. Some of the mentioned MMORPG swords, others full of accounts – everything seemed like an senior store where the seller knew every buyer by name.

Then Blockchain came. It changed all this: she added transparency and gave players real property in the form of NFTS. The first games allow you to get tokens by fighting or performing tasks. Axie Infinity was one of the first to do it beautifully and boldly. Millions of players, real profits and this feeling – that you are part of something substantial.

I felt like spring. New, full of hope. But as we know, autumn will come after spring.

It soon became clear that this Rainbow model did not work for everyone. Many projects stopped feeling games – and began to feel like work. Their economies were a frail balance: they needed a continuous flow of up-to-date players. When it slowed down, the structure began to sway.

Imagine: you play to earn, but the drought of money and fun disappears somewhere after 14. As expecting a vacation on the beach and finishing in the office with a coffee maker and flickering ceiling airy.

Some games even forgot that they were games. Everything revolved around the earnings. The game has become monotonous, predictable mechanics. People quickly lost interest and left.

To be forthright, all telegram madness did not start with hamsters.
It started with notcoin – We “extracted” these miniature coins, tapping on the screen. Simple, amusing, mini-ring between a cup of coffee and checking the inbox.

Notcoin

Notcoin was like the first spark. He launched a boom boom – when millions of people around the world suddenly became players. It was plain, like a good meme, and it was magic. No mess – only you, the screen and the feeling that you are part of something bigger.

Then there were dozens, even hundreds of other games – similar and different. Some tried to repeat success, others added tokenomics or made a more elaborate matter. But Notcoin was a door To this up-to-date world – where the game lived in the messenger. No installation, no barriers.

In the spring of 2024, Hamster vest Launched on a telegram. And it seemed that it was everywhere. Friends talked about it. Social media were full of screenshots. Someone “updated their exchange”, someone was waiting for the tokens list. And someone else – simply tapping each day, hoping for a lighter future of cryptocurrencies.

Hamster vest

The project reportedly achieved up to 300 million users in just a few months. Incredible. People really believed: maybe it was a game that would bring both joy and income.

But that’s it. The higher the balloon, the more arduous the fall.

A real disappointment took place after a great event – $ Hmstr token. Players opened their wallets, expecting lumber, but they found … almost nothing.
After half a year of daily taps, the average user simply earned 1300 to 2000 tokens – which translated into a change of pocket. It is not enough for a cryptographic dream – not even enough for a cafe dinner.

And then the excitement began to disappear. First of all – confusion. Then – frustration. And finally – silence. By November 2024, interest in dramatically fell. Reports say The Homik Kombat has lost about 250 million users In just a few months. It’s massive.

On the surface, the reasons are clear:

  • Expectations have not been met. People thought their tokens would be worth something. They were not.
  • The economy was not balanced. It depended on up-to-date players. When the height got stuck in a deadline – there was a collapse.
  • The game was monotonous. Fun for 30 minutes. Then I felt like clicking the bank meter: a lot of sound, without substance.
  • No communication. The developers were quiet, and the players felt abandoned.

It hurt – especially for those who believed, who invested their time not only for profit, but also to be part of something up-to-date.

After such stories, it is tempting to say: we finished here. But no. The industry is evolving. Slowly, carefully – if someone goes out after ponderous rain.

Developers become smarter. They focus more on the game, creating fun – not just money. You now hear terms such as “transparency”, “security”, “sustainable development”. Hybrid models appear, where tokens are a bonus – not a target.

But even the market seems to fish. According to findmini.app, the user’s activity in telegram mini applications began to fall violently at the end of 2024, and although the number of applications increased from 1764 in September to 3150 in January 2025, the monthly boost slowed down – from 129% in July to just 9% in December. It’s like a cake that everyone spent at the beginning … and then left a few crumbs.

Or maybe this is an vital part. The game worth returning does not require promises. It just brings joy. Like a favorite book. A walk through well -known streets. Or a heated cup of cocoa on November night.

And perhaps symbolically, it was notcoin creators who seemed something that seemed to be the first forthright admission of the industry.

In May 2025, at the token2049 conference, Vladimir Plotvinov said:

“Tap-to-corn format on a telegram is probably dead. These games simply do not pay attention to long. Developers are now changing in the direction of more social, engaging formats-where the economy in the game is only a bonus, not the main goal.”

And that’s how it goes. It all starts with lightness. And ultimately we return to him – only now, without illusions.

Play-Earn is not a failure. This is full. With all mistakes, ups and painful lessons. The question is not now: “Do games offer income?” But rather – Why are you playing?

If it’s for joy – it’s still possible.
If it’s just uncomplicated money – maybe it’s time to think about it.

So for now – let’s play good things. Let’s create things that are worth remembering. Like your first favorite game. The one you returned to, not for tokens, but because it made you smile.

And if you are looking for a place to exchange crypto without noise or trouble – check Cheangerella.com. It’s plain: fair rates, an uncomplicated interface and only trusted exchangers. A silent service that simply performs work – reliably and like a good friend.

Related articles