This year, games built on TON, such as Notcoin, Yescoin, Hamster Kombat, brrrrr, Tomarket, and others, have gained immense popularity. Millions of users are playing these games, earning fair rewards, and further boosting TON’s recognition in the Web3 ecosystem.

At Tonstakers, we’ve observed parallels between the current state of TON games and the mobile gaming boom 10–15 years ago. Our prediction? In a short time, we’ll see a surge of innovative games launching on TON, including entries from well-known publishers. Why? TON offers two unique advantages that other platforms can’t match.

Why Are TON Games Thriving?

The Main Driver: Earning Opportunities in Web3

The key factor behind TON games' growing popularity is their earning potential. Unlike traditional Web3 games like Crypto Kitties, Gods Unchained, or Axie Infinity, TON games have no entry barriers. Users don’t need to buy expensive NFTs or pay transaction fees for every action. These games let anyone start for free and earn real rewards simply by tapping, swiping, or inviting friends.

This inclusive, low-risk model has made TON games an appealing option for crypto enthusiasts and newcomers alike. They embody the safest way to earn in crypto gaming by combining fun with fairness.

The Second Driver: TON’s Integration with Telegram

In 2007, the mobile gaming market hit $3 billion in revenue, driven by hits like Gravity Defied and Asphalt. In 2009, Apple sold a total of 33 million iPhones. That same year, Rovio launched Angry Birds, which garnered 12 million users on iOS. It’s safe to say that every third iPhone owner played Angry Birds back then.

In 2012, Google launched Google Play for most Android devices. The same year, Subway Surfers debuted and gained 140 million users in just two years, with 75% playing on Android. With 460 million Android smartphone owners at the time, almost every fourth played Subway Surfers.

In 2012, King launched Candy Crush Saga on Facebook that reached 93 million players in a year. Facebook had 1 billion users at the time, so every tenth user was swiping candies.

Now, Telegram is a platform with 900 million monthly active users. Telegram’s recently launched Mini App Store positions it as a major distribution channel for Web3 mobile games. With data extrapolated from games like Angry Birds and Subway Surfers, we can expect popular TON games to reach more than 100 million users.

In fact, TON has already surpassed those numbers. Hamster Kombat, for example, reached 250 million users, as mentioned by Pavel Durov.

Existing Games on TON

The most popular TON games today often use elements of incremental or "clicker" games, known for their simplicity and infinite progression. Here's a glimpse of standout titles in the TON ecosystem:

• SnakeTON: Combines classic Snake gameplay with Agario-style PvP, allowing users to compete for rewards in TON.

• Catizen: A merge game where players care for cats and merge them into better cats.

• TON Planets — Mars: An economic simulator where players train Marsoids to produce resources and trade them on a free market.

• TFARM: A farming game reminiscent of Stardew Valley.

• Cat Gold Miner: A casual game focused on building a gold empire with constant upgrades.

These games are early examples of what TON can offer. While their player bases may not yet rival mobile gaming giants, their unique earning mechanics and gameplay showcase the potential of TON’s platform.

The Future of TON Gaming

What Makes the Ideal TON Game?

To succeed on TON, games must:

• Be easy to learn.

• Offer consistent and infinite rewards.

• Avoid scenarios where players can lose or get stuck.

This aligns with the broader trend of casual gaming dominating mobile markets. Additionally, AI could enhance these games with endless progression and unique, dynamic content. For example:

• AI-Powered Merge Games: Players merge creatures, with AI generating unique designs for each creation.

• Procedurally Generated Endless Runners: Reward players for their reflexes with AI-generated levels.

• Dynamic Puzzle Games: AI could create infinite 3-in-a-row puzzles, with rewards and power-ups tradeable on an open market.

These AI-enhanced concepts could revolutionize gaming on TON, merging play-to-earn mechanics with endless gameplay opportunities.

How TON Games Drive Crypto Adoption

TON games aren’t just attracting players—they’re onboarding users into the broader TON ecosystem. While many join for gaming and rewards, some eventually explore staking opportunities, decentralized finance, and other on-chain benefits.

DeFi protocols can also partner with games to combine user bases and educate players about earning in Web3. For example, games can offer cosmetic items or bonuses for staking with Tonstakers or providing liquidity on DEXes. Partnerships like these have already succeeded with titles like Notcoin, Yescoin, PocketFi, and Cat Gold Miner.

Will AAA Games Come to TON?

AAA games—big-budget titles like GTA, Call of Duty, or Spiderman—are unlikely to debut on TON soon. The reason is simple: mobile gamers typically prefer quick, casual experiences over in-depth, story-driven gameplay.

However, franchised games based on popular intellectual properties could thrive on TON. With platforms like the App Store and Google Play facing increasing competition, TON and Telegram provide a unique, untapped avenue for developers.

Final Thoughts

While TON games can’t yet match mobile gaming giants in graphics or intellectual property, they offer something unique: a play-to-earn model and a fair in-game economy. Millions of players are already joining TON games to earn tokens and explore additional opportunities like staking APY, crypto staking yield, and DeFi investing.

Gaming on TON has the potential to become one of the biggest drivers of mass adoption for crypto and Web3, bringing millions of retail users into the fold. At Tonstakers, we’re committed to supporting games that help fulfill this vision.