Hamster Kombat Faces Decline as New Competitor Paws Surges in Popularity on Telegram

Once a leading tap-to-earn game on Telegram, Hamster Kombat was at the forefront of the platform’s gaming scene, boasting 300 million users as recently as August 2024. However, the game has experienced a dramatic decline in both user engagement and overall popularity, facing significant challenges from political controversies, platform bans, and the rise of new competitors.

As of November 5, the game’s active monthly users have plummeted to just 41 million—an 86% decrease in a matter of months. This sharp decline underscores the volatility that can accompany gaming ecosystems tied to social platforms like Telegram.

While Hamster Kombat’s numbers are dwindling, a new competitor has emerged: Paws, a recently launched mini app on Telegram that has taken the platform by storm. Within its first eight days, Paws reached 20.5 million users, outpacing Hamster Kombat’s user growth by a significant margin.

This rapid rise suggests that Telegram users are quickly shifting their attention to newer, more engaging experiences. With Paws making waves, it seems that the ecosystem has room for fresh contenders, even as established games falter.

Token Decline: A Reflection of Waning Interest

Hamster Kombat’s struggles are further reflected in its token performance. The HMSTR token, which once reached an all-time high of $0.01 on September 26, has seen a dramatic drop of nearly 70%. As of November 4, it is trading at just $0.0022. This sharp decline in value aligns with a significant decrease in network activity and player engagement.

According to IntoTheBlock (ITB) data, the number of active Hamster Kombat addresses peaked at 772,330 on September 27 but has since fallen by more than 36%. The token’s declining price is closely tied to this decrease in user activity, further reinforcing the negative trend.

In addition, the Active Address Ratio (AAR)—which measures the proportion of active users compared to token holders—has dropped to a 30-day low of just 0.34%, highlighting the lack of interaction with the game’s core ecosystem.

Rising Token Interest: A Trend Seen in Other Telegram Games

Hamster Kombat’s struggles are not unique. Similar patterns can be observed with other popular Telegram games. For instance, the Dogs (DOGS) token experienced a similar decline in value, dropping from $0.0014 in August to $0.0004 by November 4. The AAR for DOGS has also fallen, reaching a 30-day low of just 0.27% active users.

The decline in both token prices and user engagement across these games points to a broader trend of volatility in the Telegram gaming space.

Hamster Kombat has also been affected by political scrutiny. Iranian government officials have criticized the game, adding to the negative publicity it has faced. Rumors of a potential ban in Uzbekistan further added to the uncertainty, although these rumors have since been debunked.

Despite these setbacks, the Hamster Kombat team has stated that they plan to expand the game’s offerings. Future plans include integrating payment systems, launching new games, and incorporating non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as in-game assets.

Paws’ Meteoric Rise: A Glimpse of Hope for Telegram Gaming

In stark contrast to Hamster Kombat’s decline, Paws has seen explosive growth. The app quickly attracted 11 million users within just two days of launch. By November 4, over 10 million wallets were connected to the app, and the project had amassed over 1 million followers on its X (formerly Twitter) account.

This rapid growth showcases the potential for new, innovative apps to capture the attention of Telegram users. It seems that while one game falters, another can rise to take its place in the ever-evolving world of Telegram-based gaming.

The rise of Paws and the fall of Hamster Kombat highlight the volatile and competitive nature of the gaming ecosystem on Telegram. While Hamster Kombat’s decline can be attributed to a mix of political challenges, user disengagement, and declining token interest, Paws’ success demonstrates that there’s still plenty of room for fresh ideas and new experiences on the platform.

As the Telegram gaming landscape continues to evolve, developers will need to stay agile and responsive to market trends, user needs, and potential risks if they hope to succeed in this fast-changing environment.