The popular Telegram crypto game Hamster Kombat has sparked a surge in sales of massage guns, which players are using to enhance their gameplay by tapping their screens faster. Retailers in Russia, such as Wildberries and Ozon, have seen significant increases in sales of percussion massagers as a result of this trend. Players of Hamster Kombat are seeking to maximize their in-game coin earnings by utilizing the rapid pulsations of the massage guns to tap on the screen more quickly.
This phenomenon has caught the attention of resellers, who are now incorporating Hamster Kombat logos onto some massage gun products to capitalize on the trend. With over 239 million players in less than three months, Hamster Kombat has experienced explosive growth beyond its core crypto market users. Despite its popularity, the game has faced criticism for its use of social pressure tactics, such as requiring players to recruit friends in order to unlock certain cards and earn more in-game rewards.
Some analysts believe that the game’s mechanics may have reached a saturation point due to the constant introduction of new exchange upgrade cards and daily combo rewards. Players who are unable to recruit enough friends to unlock certain cards may find themselves at a disadvantage. Additionally, Hamster Kombat has faced backlash from an Iranian official who claimed that the game was part of a “soft war” orchestrated by the West and could distract citizens from participating in the country’s presidential election.
Hamster Kombat is just one of many tap-to-earn games on Telegram that have captured the attention of millions of players in recent months. The game’s success has led to plans for the launch of its own token on The Open Network (TON) later this month. It’s worth noting that Telegram’s TON blockchain has been outperforming Ethereum in terms of daily active addresses amid the Hamster Kombat craze. Despite facing criticism and scrutiny, Hamster Kombat continues to attract new players and drive sales of massage guns as gamers seek to maximize their earnings within the game.