Telegram gaming has taken the web3 gaming world by storm, and one continent, surprisingly, is emerging as the frontrunner in this growing space.
According to a recent report by Helika, a Web3 gaming analytics platform, Europe is now at the forefront of the Telegram-based gaming surge, outpacing traditionally strong regions like Southeast Asia and Latin America.
This shift, documented in Helika’s Q3 2024 report, highlights the unique characteristics of Telegram games and their growing appeal across Europe.
Why Telegram Games Are Growing Fast
The rapid growth of Telegram-based games is largely due to the platform’s ease of access and simple playability.
These mini-app games, which can be accessed directly through Telegram, don’t require downloads or extensive setup, making them highly accessible to millions of users.
Helika’s findings revealed a notable increase in player engagement. The average time spent on these games jumped from 2.8 minutes to 6.7 minutes per session in Q3 2024.
Not only are players spending more time in the games, but retention is also improving. The average daily active user (DAU) to monthly active user (MAU) ratio for Telegram-based games hit an impressive 45%, far surpassing the 20%-30% average for traditional web2 games.
This increase in engagement shows that players are not just trying the games—they’re sticking around.
Major Players in the Telegram Gaming Ecosystem
Several Telegram-based games have experienced substantial success in 2024. One standout is Catizen, which saw a massive airdrop of 150 million tokens, or 34% of its total $CATI supply.
GAMEE, another popular game, reported a 300% month-over-month increase in volume and transactions.
These successes are not isolated; the report also highlights X Empire, which has attracted 48 million players and distributed 57,000 NFT vouchers since its launch in July 2024.
Other notable games include Rocky Rabbit and Banana, with the latter attracting 10 million players in October alone.
Europe’s Surprising Dominance
Perhaps the most unexpected finding in Helika’s report is that the majority of Telegram game players are based in Europe.
Traditionally, Southeast Asia and Latin America have been hotspots for web3 and crypto-based gaming. However, the simplicity of Telegram games and the ease of accessing them through the platform’s mini-apps seem to have struck a chord with European players.
With over 3 million active wallets interacting with these games in Q3 alone, Europe’s web3 gaming scene is booming.
The Role of the TON Blockchain
Much of the success of these games is tied to the TON blockchain. As the underlying technology that powers many Telegram-based games, TON has become an essential part of the ecosystem.
Helika’s report shows that users on TON are highly active, with many engaging in both in-game transactions and NFTs.
Although owning NFTs isn’t required to play most Telegram-based games, players have shown significant interest in them, further fueling the growth of this ecosystem.
Helika’s Gaming Accelerator: Supporting Growth
To capitalize on the growing popularity of Telegram gaming, Helika has partnered with Notcoin to launch the Telegram Gaming Accelerator.
This initiative aims to support game developers in creating more engaging and successful Telegram mini-apps.
With a $50 million investment from Helika Accelerate, the venture is set to provide developers with essential tools such as data analytics, player engagement insights, and marketing support.
The Future of Telegram Gaming
Telegram’s gaming ecosystem is only just beginning to reach its potential. With developers now having access to advanced analytics and marketing tools through Helika’s accelerator, we can expect to see even more innovative games and higher levels of player engagement.
Europe’s unexpected rise as the leading region for these games highlights the broad appeal of Telegram-based gaming, and as more players discover this accessible form of web3 entertainment, the future looks bright for Telegram gaming.
As Telegram continues to expand its gaming ecosystem, it’s clear that this space will remain a key part of the growing web3 world. Keep an eye on Europe; it’s leading the charge in this exciting new trend.