Once a powerhouse in Telegram’s tap-to-earn gaming world, Hamster Kombat has experienced a dramatic fall from grace, losing 86% of its user base since August. Originally boasting 300 million active users, the game now only engages around 41 million as of November 5. The rapid drop in popularity aligns with political scrutiny, alleged bans, and the launch of new, competing apps.

In stark contrast, Telegram’s newly launched Paws Mini App is skyrocketing. Within its first eight days, Paws attracted 20.5 million users, eclipsing Hamster Kombat’s growth trajectory. On November 4, Paws announced that it had reached 10 million connected wallets and amassed one million followers on its social media account.

Hamster Kombat’s struggles extend to its in-game token, HMSTR, which saw a nearly 70% price drop since its all-time high on September 26. Falling from $0.01 to just $0.0022, the token’s decline mirrors the decrease in user engagement, with daily active addresses down by 36% over the past week. The active address ratio, which measures user engagement, hit a 30-day low of 0.34%, signaling dwindling interest.

Adding to the turmoil, rumors circulated about potential bans in regions like Uzbekistan, though these were eventually debunked. Meanwhile, Hamster Kombat’s developers aim to recover by integrating new payment features, launching additional games, and incorporating NFTs as in-game assets.

As Hamster Kombat’s dominance wanes, Paws’ rapid rise highlights a shift in Telegram’s gaming landscape. Whether Hamster Kombat can rebound from its setbacks remains uncertain as user preferences shift and competition intensifies.