A clicker game on Steam has recently gained significant attention for its NFT-like rewards, sparking a debate within the crypto community about the state of crypto and web3 gaming. ‘Banana’, the indie game in question, involves clicking on a banana image to earn rewards, ranging from common bananas worth pennies to rare bananas that can fetch up to $1,300 when sold on Steam’s marketplace.
Despite its simplistic gameplay, Banana has surpassed popular titles like Elder Ring and Baldur’s Gate 3 on Steam’s most-played games list, coming in second only to Counter-Strike 2. With over 344,000 current players and a peak of 578,000 in the last 24 hours, the game achieved an all-time high of 917,000 players earlier this month.
While some gamers raised concerns about potential malware or scam elements in the game, one of Banana’s developers, Hery, clarified that it was just a “stupid game” with bananas and not a malicious scheme. Speculation about the game’s connection to NFTs and cryptocurrencies arose, although the Banana team made it clear that they had no plans to integrate crypto into the game due to compatibility issues with Steam.
Despite Banana’s stance on crypto integration, the game’s success brought forth discussions within the community about web3 gaming. Some users highlighted the popularity of simple games like Banana, emphasizing that not all games need to be ‘AAA’ to make an impact in the industry. The notion that web3 gaming should focus more on fun and engagement rather than complexity was widely supported.
In a recent segment on Avalanche Gaming’s Gamified Show, game developer Paul Bettner suggested that Banana could serve as a gateway to broader adoption of crypto gaming. He observed that many users engaging with the game were unknowingly exhibiting behavior typical of crypto enthusiasts, hinting at the universal appeal of web3 concepts.
As the crypto and NFT industry continues to evolve, games like Banana offer valuable insights into the potential for broader adoption and engagement. While some may overlook simplistic games, they can serve as valuable entry points for users to explore the world of crypto and blockchain technology on a larger scale.
