Once thought a dying industry, play-to-earn gaming (P2E) has re-emerged from the ashes in the form of hypercasual games. Taking the baton from traditional P2E games, hypercasual games that prioritize accessible gameplay and community over grinding and profit are bringing players back into GameFi.
Hypercasual games are defined as games which have an easy, short yet highly addictive and engaging gameplay that requires minimal skill to play. Although the genre has been around since the rise of mobile games, spearheaded by titles like Flappy Bird and Candy Crush, it only recently found its way into Web3 gaming, injecting a breath of fresh air into an industry once dominated by bulky, boring traditional P2E titles that were more like slightly gamified financial tools than games that people could actually enjoy.
This shift toward hypercasual games is not just a trend that has hit a temporary target. Data from DappRadar showed a massive resurgence in interest toward Web3 gaming, with active Web3 gaming wallets increasing by 47% in Q3 2023. Players are returning after an era of Web3 villainization, but their priorities have changed. The current pool of players have become more diversified, from old players that have familiarity with the space and want something new, to the new crypto users that have just created their first wallets. Now, more players crave games they can actually enjoy without the mental burden of strategising their way to winning and earning.
Studios like BinaryX and Valeria Studios are leading the charge in making games that cater to this new wave of players. BinaryX’s AI Hero, for example, combines AI chatbots and a popular battle royale format, tapping into two booming trends while remaining accessible. Players are taken into an arena where they control an AI chatbot that allows them to engage in real-time survival-of-the-fittest PvP battles. Valeria Studios’ Pixelmon, on the other hand, announced their first hypercasual game, Kevin The Adventurer, which has simple game mechanics and one-button control, allowing short, bite-sized gameplay sessions for players.
The impact of this shift toward hypercasual gaming goes beyond engaging existing gamers for a short life cycle. According to a study by Delphi Digital, by prioritizing fun and accessibility, hypercasual Web3 games have the potential to build a true fanbase for their games that are based on longer term indicators of success, like a strong community that gets creative and takes initiative to discover new ways of playing the game for their collective enjoyment. The combination of a dedicated project team and a loyal community makes a dream team for attracting new players and retaining old ones.
With new games being created that speaks to this new diversified group of gamers, gaming studios are finally able to break down the silos within the Web3 gaming ecosystem. BinaryX’s collaboration with DeFi giant PancakeSwap on the game Pancake Mayor demonstrates what a successful cross-pollination between a gaming platform and a diversified Web3 community actually looks like. The game’s casual and fun play style caters well to the tastes and preferences of users in PancakeSwap, proving to be a huge hit. Few traditional P2E titles have been able to achieve this feat.
With their accessible mechanics and light learning curves, hypercasual games could be the key to massive inflows of players from the traditional gaming industry, forming a slow merger of the two industries that will universalize player ownership and engagement in the gaming world.
This is already happening. According to a recent report from the Blockchain Game Alliance (BGA), 76.2% of all gamers surveyed see owning their in-game assets as a major reason to play web3 games, highlighting a fundamental shift in player priorities.
On top of that, 52.1% of all gamers expect blockchain to permeate at least 20% of the gaming industry in 2024. Mainstream adoption looks like a matter of time. Major traditional gaming studios like Ubisoft and Square Enix announced their entrance to blockchain-based gaming with their own titles, reiterating this sentiment on the supply side.
Looking ahead, the future of Web3 gaming appears promising with hypercasual games as the new frontier. Hypercasual Web3 games have the potential to put Web3 on the map of mainstream mobile and web players. Web3 gaming studios know this, and are also starting to incorporate elements of this design philosophy, tailoring their games for a wider audience. The rise of mobile P&E titles like Benji Bananas and Guild of Guardians further underscores the growing demand for accessible, fun-first experiences within Web3 gaming.
The potential for growth is significant. A 2023 DappRadar report predicts the Web3 gaming market to reach $13.2 billion by 2024, highlighting the immense opportunity for studios embracing this shift. Factors like mobile gaming advancements, traditional gaming giants adopting blockchain technology, and increasing awareness of community ownership in Web3 games will further fuel this expansion.
One hurdle remains – user experience. 55.1% of those surveyed by BGA identified onboarding and user experience as the primary barrier to entry. Games that succeed in emphasizing the need for user-friendly experiences may just be the answer to bridging the gap between traditional gaming and the complexities of blockchain.
At the core, the rise of hypercasual games is not just revitalizing Web3 gaming; it’s reimagining the future of gaming itself. By prioritizing player experience, fostering vibrant communities, and embracing collaboration, these games are building a more sustainable and accessible future for the industry. While challenges remain, the seeds of a brighter future have been sown. The question that remains is how far hypercasual games can reclaim the joy of play in Web3 gaming.
Citations:
Delphi Digital. (2023, June 6). GameFi 2023: Beyond the Hype. https://members.delphidigital.io/reports/the-year-ahead-for-gaming
DappRadar. (2023, October 26). Web3 Gaming Market Overview 2023. https://playtoearngames.com/news/web3-game-investment-stats-q1-2023-dappradar-report
Blockchain Game Alliance. (2023, November 30). BGA 2023 State of the Industry Report. Retrieved from https://www.blockchaingamealliance.org/bga-2023-industry-report/
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