2025 warning: Tap-to-Earn projects risk regulatory backlash after user losses
The phenomenon of HK has influenced the gaming industry
From the perspective of the GameFi industry, 2024 will go down in history as the "Year of the Hamster."
However, some skeptics believe the creators of Hamster Kombat have triggered a user trust crisis that could threaten not only clicker games but the entire game development sector.
The success of Hamster Kombat—which at its peak attracted over 350 million users in 190 countries—has set a dangerous precedent for the gaming industry. Unlike classic play-to-earn games requiring initial investments and understanding of mechanics, tap games offered a deceptively simple formula: tap the screen, perform simple actions, and earn money. The zero-entry barrier and primitive gameplay ensured these games achieved unprecedented popularity.
However, as noted by BeInCrypto, the apparent simplicity masked a flawed reward system. Hamster Kombat, where millions of people tirelessly "tapped the hamster" hoping to get rich, vividly illustrated the risks of this model.
Tap games alter player psychology, accustoming them to monetary rewards for in-game actions, and diminishing the appeal of games as mere entertainment. Traditional game mechanics aimed at creating engaging experiences are no longer as compelling without financial incentives.
Tap games threaten GameFi's reputation
Currently, the market is flooded with hundreds of tap game clones, many of which are either fraudulent or unsustainable. The proliferation of these projects has seriously damaged the reputation of GameFi. Developers of traditional games are increasingly forced to incorporate tap game elements to retain their audience.
The impact extends beyond the gaming industry
According to developers of the blockchain game Rooster Fights, the user acquisition tools popularized by tap game creators may trickle down to scammers, who could use them to target other audiences. This raises the risk of a market inundated with low-quality projects, where players are at risk of losing their money.
Moreover, tap games undermine trust in monetization and could negatively affect not only the gaming industry but also crypto startups.
A worst-case scenario predicts the collapse of several high-profile tap-to-earn projects in 2025, triggering regulatory crackdowns and bans in countries whose citizens have been most affected. Major publishers might distance themselves from integrating crypto elements into their games, viewing them as discredited, while global user groups could emerge advocating for pure gaming experiences devoid of financial mechanics.
What lies ahead for tap games?
A more likely scenario is that tap games will retain a niche in the gaming ecosystem but gradually decline in number as developers adopt more cautious approaches to monetization.
As a result, tap games may increasingly be used by traditional banks and retail chains to attract attention to their services and apps. Serious crypto projects, however, are likely to steer clear of associations with hamster clones.
The HMSTR token, associated with the gaming phenomenon Hamster Kombat, has skyrocketed by 88% over the past week, signaling renewed investor enthusiasm as the game gears up for its second season.
