With over 250 million users, Hamster Kombat is currently the leading Telegram-based “clicker” game. However, details about the game’s origins and its creators remain scarce, fueling speculation within the crypto community, especially with the game’s first airdrop scheduled for this month.
In an email response to questions from The Block, Hamster Kombat’s founders shared insights about the game’s beginnings and future prospects. They emphasized the game’s community aspect, stating, “Hamster Kombat is more than just a game; it’s a worldwide family, and we believe in the long-term power of the community.”
In contrast to other developers who distance themselves from earlier projects, Hamster Kombat’s creators view their work as enduring. Sasha, founder of Notcoin—the first Telegram crypto game to use the clicker model—expressed skepticism about the sustainability of clicker games. “I do not expect it will have any sustainability,” Sasha said. “From my perspective, only the games that have sustainable models will survive.”
In Hamster Kombat, as in Notcoin, players accumulate rewards through clicking, assuming the role of CEO of a cryptocurrency exchange and managing a virtual business to earn in-game coins.
Unlike most crypto-based games, Hamster Kombat and Notcoin are accessible via the Telegram messaging app, which has nearly 1 billion users worldwide. Millions of players are engaging with Hamster Kombat, hoping to convert their in-game rewards into real cash after the anticipated token airdrop.
Notcoin’s airdrop of over 80 billion NOT tokens, valued at approximately $1 billion at the time, influenced the creation of Hamster Kombat. “We were inspired by Notcoin’s success and the popularity of social media games in the 2010s. We combined the best aspects of both with our philosophy of unity and educational content,” Hamster Kombat’s founders told The Block.
They also drew inspiration from meme stocks and social media, citing the GameStop and Reddit saga as a significant influence. The anonymous founders have experience in gaming and blockchain development, active in crypto since 2013.
Looking ahead, Hamster Kombat’s founders are optimistic about the game’s future beyond the initial airdrop, with plans for a second airdrop in the next two years. “The game will go on, and there will be a second season with the second airdrop. We believe the token, belonging to millions of users worldwide, holds significant value,” they said.
Hamster Kombat, like its Telegram-based counterparts Notcoin and Catizen, uses the TON blockchain. The rising popularity of these games has led to increased activity on the blockchain, with a notable rise in transactions and daily active wallets. Consequently, Toncoin has become the world’s ninth-largest token by market capitalization, currently exceeding $18 billion according to The Block Price Page.
