The Founders of 'Notcoin' Predict a New Wave of Gaming on Telegram by Revitalizing Classic Games
Hop on Over to Not Games: The New Face of Telegram Gaming
Remember Notcoin? Last year's revolutionary Telegram game that ignited the tap-to-earn craze? Well, its creators are back with a vengeance and ready to shake up the industry once more with their newly launched Not Games platform.
Fast forward a year from the NOT token launch, and the minds behind Notcoin believe that reimagining classic video games via Not Games will spark a new Telegram gaming boom, this time focusing on the fun factor rather than complex token reward schemes.
Sasha Plotvinov, co-founder of Notcoin, shared his thoughts with Decrypt, explaining that the tap-to-earn craze didn't see a significant increase in demand after Notcoin's release, despite an explosion in the number of games available. According to Sasha, the oversaturation of the market is the primary reason for its rapid decline.
In addition to market saturation, tap-to-earn games suffered from dreary gameplay loops, consisting of endlessly tapping your screen for in-game rewards, all with the hope of receiving a future airdrop, only to be repeatedly disappointed.
Realizing the need for change, Sasha and his brother Vladimir, Notcoin's other co-founder, aim to create a sustainable economy via the Not Games platform, one that avoids the disappointment experienced by players when token prices plummeted after launch. To achieve this, the platform employs The Open Network (TON) for open trading of skins and cosmetics on its marketplace, with a commitment to avoiding pay-to-win mechanisms.
They look to the $4.2 billion CS:GO skin market as inspiration, blending classic game mechanics with a crypto economy. As proof of their intentions, the brothers look to the immense success of mobile games like Candy Crush Saga and Clash of Clans and believe that a sustainable economy is the obvious next step for the industry.
But why stick to Telegram? It’s all about convenience, says Vladimir. You don't need to navigate the App Store just to play a game. With Telegram, you can open the web app and play in seconds, all without the need to register an account.
The ease of use also opens the door for increased social virality, which played a significant role in the rise of tap-to-earn gaming. Reinvented classics can capitalize on Telegram's built-in messaging system, which encourages users to invite friends for in-game bonuses. According to Uliana Salo, head of design and product lead for Not Games, this feature can help revitalize classic games.
In 2024, WeChat boasted 500 million users playing in-app games each month. Not Games is aiming for a similar level of success on Telegram, which recently hit 1 billion active users.
To achieve gaming dominance on Telegram, Not Games will continue reinventing classic video games for the app, starting with Void, a revamped version of the classic in-browser game Agar.io. More games are in the works.
Staying true to their learnings from Notcoin's viral success, Sasha and Vladimir plan to launch good ideas swiftly and remain agile when gathering user feedback. This approach is the foundation of Not Games.
"We will move this way," Vladimir said. "Sometimes I meet with developers who are trying to build rockets, but it's really not necessary. You can make a small batch of features, launch it, see it, get feedback, and work with it."
Edited by Andrew Hayward**
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Not Games, a key component of the TON ecosystem, is shifting its focus from tap-to-earn mechanics to diverse gameplay models like explore-to-earn and skill-based experiences. This transformation is exemplified by Void, a real-time strategy game introduced in March 2025, which emphasizes strategic depth over simple tapping[1]. This shift corresponds with broader industry trends toward Web3 integration and messenger-based ecosystems, as demonstrated by projects such as Delabs Games' Boxing Star X and GigaChadBat on Telegram, which prioritize accessibility and ownership through blockchain[3][4].
The platform's future likely includes enhanced community engagement through TON's infrastructure, like the recently launched TON Factory, providing developers with modular tools for scaling decentralized apps (DApps) and games[5]. This toolset could pave the way for increased cross-game asset interoperability, such as NFTs used in games like Lost Dogs, allowing for trading or use across TON projects[1]. Telegram's commitment to making TON its exclusive blockchain provider ensures a consistent user experience, potentially attracting more developers to Not Games' ecosystem[5].
Key upcoming features include:- Skill-focused gameplay: Games like Void prioritize strategic depth over simple tapping[1].- Explore-to-earn mechanics: Incentivizing interaction with TON's vast ecosystem[1].- Web3-native ownership: Integration of NFTs and tradable tokens (e.g., vKITTY in Catizen) for cross-platform utility[4].- TON Factory support: Simplified development tools for creators to launch games more efficiently[5].
By implementing these features, Not Games sets itself up for competition with leading Telegram-based crypto projects like Hamster Kombat (300M+ users) and Major (30M+ users), which blend token rewards with immersive gameplay[4].
- Not Games, a key part of the TON ecosystem, is transitioning from tap-to-earn mechanics to diverse gameplay models like explore-to-earn and skill-based experiences, as demonstrated by Void, a real-time strategy game introduced in March 2025.
- The shift in focus of Not Games corresponds with broader industry trends toward Web3 integration and messenger-based ecosystems, such as Delabs Games' Boxing Star X and GigaChadBat on Telegram.
- The platform's future likely includes enhanced community engagement through TON's infrastructure, like TON Factory, providing developers with tools for scaling decentralized apps (DApps) and games.
- Telegram's commitment to making TON its exclusive blockchain provider ensures a consistent user experience, potentially attracting more developers to Not Games' ecosystem.
- Key upcoming features of Not Games include skill-focused gameplay, explore-to-earn mechanics, Web3-native ownership, TON Factory support, and increased cross-game asset interoperability.
- By implementing these features, Not Games positions itself for competition with leading Telegram-based crypto projects like Hamster Kombat (300M+ users) and Major (30M+ users).
- Sasha and Vladimir, the brothers behind Not Games, plan to launch good ideas swiftly and remain agile when gathering user feedback, following the approach that was the foundation of Not Games.
