Bitcoin's meteoric rise continues, hitting a 19-month high at $39,000 last Friday, marking a significant leap from its value just a year ago. For enthusiasts looking to accumulate more Bitcoin without spending a dime, the gaming world has an intriguing proposition – earning Bitcoin by playing free games. As the value of Bitcoin soars, these games offer an entertaining and potentially lucrative way to stack satoshis.

The popular free-to-play PC shooter, Splitgate, has joined the Bitcoin trend. Payments startup ZBD has collaborated with game studio 1047 Games to integrate Bitcoin's Lightning Network into the game. Players now have the opportunity to earn Bitcoin through specific competitions and on designated servers. The Splitgate Winter Invitational, an online team competition launching this December, promises a substantial reward of 0.5 Bitcoin (over $19,000). Ian Proulx, CEO, and co-founder of 1047 Games, expressed enthusiasm for ZBD's innovative solution, stating, "Splitgate continues to have a loyal and engaged player base. We're always interested in exploring inventive ways to reward our players, such as what ZBD has done and the upcoming tournament they plan to hold."

If card games are more your style, two iOS and Android solitaire games – Club Bitcoin: Solitaire (by THNDR Games) and Bitcoin Solitaire (by Bling Financial) – allow players to earn Bitcoin while stacking digital cards. Additionally, Viker Games' take on Solitaire is another example, but not quite as streamlined as the other two. A double tap is required on any card to send it to its rightful destination, which makes the flow a bit less speedy than in the other games, and the interface (which includes a banner ad) isn’t quite as captivating. 

For fans of bubble-matching puzzle games, Bitcoin Pop (by Bling Financial) and Bitcoin Bay (by THNDR Games) offer a unique twist by allowing players to earn Bitcoin as they play. Additionally, mobile puzzle games Sweet Bitcoin and Ethereum Blast bring Bitcoin earnings into the realm of block-clearing and candy-matching adventures. These web3 games are similar in essence to smash hit Cany Crush Saga the free-to-play tile-matching video game released by King back in 2012. Thanks to a collaboration between ZBD and advertising platform AdInMo, over 100 Android games, including popular titles like Match Masters and Dragon City, now offer Bitcoin rewards. Players can earn satoshis by playing through the ZBD Android app and watching ads between games.

The sMiles mobile app takes a unique approach by rewarding users with Bitcoin for staying active. The recently launched Bitcoinverse feature turns walking into a game, offering BTC incentives for reaching preset destinations on the map. Powered by Bitcoin's Lightning Network, sMiles aims to motivate users to explore their surroundings through cryptocurrency rewards. This web3 game takes inspiration from Pokémon Go, the smash hit 2016 augmented reality mobile game, part of the Pokémon franchise, developed and published by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, now available on iOS and Android devices.  Lastly, the player-run Satlantis server in the PC version of Minecraft rewarded players with Bitcoin throughout 2023. However, Microsoft and developer Mojang intervened, sending a cease-and-desist letter to the server operators, leading to the removal of the crypto-powered feature.

These findings underscore the evolving relationship between crypto, web3, and the traditional gaming industry. As blockchain technology continues to reshape the landscape, the integration of Bitcoin rewards into popular games highlights the potential for a new era of immersive and financially rewarding gaming experiences. Whether through shooters, card games, or virtual worlds like Minecraft, the convergence of gaming and web3 is poised to redefine the future of interactive entertainment.