What is Tap-to-Earn
Tap-to-earn is a subcategory of play-to-earn (P2E) within the broader GameFi sector. They usually run as mini-apps within Telegram. The core mechanic of these clicker games revolves around tapping the screen. The main goal is to accumulate as much in-game currency as possible to upgrade tapping power, participate in tournaments, or exchange earned rewards for real tokens.
Clicker games gained popularity relatively recently—only in 2024. Tap-to-earn apps continue to attract millions of users. Their success lies in their simplicity and potential to generate real income.
How Do Tap-to-Earn Games Work
As their name implies, tapping is the core mechanic of tap-to-earn games. Users just click the screen repeatedly or at specific intervals. For instance, they might click a button, a character, or an object to “mine” or “collect” in-game resources to earn a crypto award.
Some games add light variations, like tapping to complete mini-tasks (e.g., “harvest crops” or “hit a target”).
Each tap (or set of taps) earns a small amount of in-game currency or points. In crypto-based games, these might be tied to blockchain tokens that can later be traded or cashed out. Rewards often scale with time, upgrades or player effort. Tapping more frequently or consistently might yield bonuses.
To keep players engaged, these games usually include a progression system. Users can spend their earned currency to buy upgrades—like faster earning rates, auto-tappers (bots that tap for you), or multipliers—that reduce the need for constant manual tapping. Some games introduce levels or milestones, unlocking new features or higher rewards as you advance.
Many tap-to-earn games impose limits to prevent endless tapping, like an “energy” bar that depletes with each tap and refills over time or with in-game purchases. This encourages periodic check-ins rather than constant play.
How to Choose a Tap-to-Earn Game
Choosing a tap-to-earn game requires balancing potential rewards with risks, legitimacy and personal enjoyment. First, you need to decide if you are playing for entertainment or to earn crypto rewards. If it is the latter, focus on games with tangible payouts (e.g., crypto or gift cards) rather than just in-game points.
Also, consider how much time you are willing to invest. Some games demand frequent check-ins, while others reward passive play. Waiting for the token launch and airdrop, which can take many months, is another time-consuming point.
Look for games from known companies or teams with a track record. Check their website, social media or X posts for transparency and activity. Avoid games from anonymous or newly created entities. Pay attention to community feedback and do not forget to check if the chosen project has a roadmap, which would mean that the developers aim at long-term utility.
Risks Associated with Tap-to-Earn Games
While clicker games can be fun and potentially profitable, players should be aware of the following potential downsides:
- Low or No Real Earnings: Many games advertise big rewards, but the actual payout might be negligible after accounting for time spent. Token values can be volatile or crash, leaving earnings worthless, like it happened to Hamster Kombat.
- Scams and Rug Pulls: Some tap-to-earn games are outright scams. Developers might hype the game, collect user investments or ad revenue, and disappear without paying out rewards.
- Hidden Costs: While most are free-to-play, in-app purchases or “boosters” can tempt players to spend real money for marginal gains.
- Bugs or Glitches: Poorly designed games might fail to track progress or deliver promised rewards, leaving players empty-handed.
Conclusion
Tap-to-earn games on Telegram, like Notcoin, Hamster Kombat, and Catizen, became a real phenomenon in 2024. Such clicker games will remain popular in 2025 and probably will not disappear beyond that. They still attract millions of users worldwide due to their simplicity and potential for passive income.
However, to get a real crypto award for playing tap-to-earn games on Telegram, users should evaluate some associated risks. These might include low earnings, rug pulls, hidden costs, and different bugs.
Frequently asked questions
Tap-to-earn games allow players to earn crypto rewards by just clicking the screen.
Tap-to-earn games generate crypto rewards through game design, economic models and integration with blockchain technology.
Some Telegram tap-to-earn games may be profitable. After the game’s TGE, players can usually exchange the collected in-game points for real tokens.
Determining which Tap-to-Earn game offers the “highest rewards” depends on several factors: the value of the rewards (e.g., crypto token price), the time and effort required to earn them and the game’s payout reliability. Some clicker games with proven payouts include Hamster Kombat, Notcoin and Catizen.
It is technically possible to automate tap-to-earn games, but the feasibility and ethics of such games depend on their design, terms of service, and anti-bot measures.
Primarily, these games support TON.
For withdrawing your rewards, some tap-to-earn games require you to link your crypto wallets to the game.
Yes, there are risks associated with Telegram tap-to-earn games. These include low or no real payouts, rug pulls, hidden costs and different glitches that can ruin your experience.
Both Hamster Kombat and TapSwap are popular tap-to-earn games on Telegram. However, they have different mechanics, tokenomics and long-term potential. Hamster Kombat, with over 300 million users, offers a broader ecosystem where tapping simulates running a crypto exchange, yielding HMSTR tokens on TON. TapSwap, with a smaller base of 10–15 million users, focuses on straightforward tapping for TAPS tokens on Solana, providing potentially higher per-player rewards but less hype and stability.
No, you do not need to invest any money to start playing tap-to-earn games.