Hamster Kombat’s 2024 airdrop, distributing 6 billion tokens to 50 million users, initially spiked engagement, boasting 300 million users pre-launch. Post-airdrop, however, user activity plummeted, with holders dropping to 3.8 million by early 2025. The HMSTR token crashed 77% from its peak, reflecting profit-taking over ecosystem loyalty. The launch of HamsterVerse and HamsterChain aimed to retain players, but declining participation—evidenced by a 90%+ user loss—suggests weak incentives. Compared to Tapswap’s skill-based retention efforts, Hamster Kombat’s focus on scale over utility faltered. Active user retention remains critical for its game ecosystem to recover and thrive.