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a16z Games
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Later, mobile messaging apps on Line and KakaoTalk integrated social games.
Historical context. Messaging apps have a history of integrating games, evolving from simple experiences to more complex social integrations.
This document explores the historical development and future potential of games distributed through messaging applications. It argues that while such games have often been ephemeral, recent technological advancements and platform investments suggest a potential breakthrough moment for more sustainable and complex experiences. The analysis spans from early internet chat rooms and instant messengers like MSN Messenger (2003, featuring Minesweeper and Tic-Tac-Toe) to modern "superapps" like Line and KakaoTalk in the 2010s, which integrated social features for mobile games like Anipang.
The modern era of messaging app games began around 2016 with Apple's iOS 10 supporting iMessage games like GamePigeon, followed by Facebook Messenger's Instant Games. Notably, China's WeChat introduced HTML5-powered "Mini Games" in 2017, with Tiao yi tiao ("Jump Jump") reaching 100 million daily players within weeks and attracting significant advertising revenue from brands like Nike and McDonald's.
The document identifies two key future pathways. First, next-generation "web" games, exemplified by Bloxd.io (6 million monthly active players) and Smash Karts (3 million monthly active players), are leveraging web technology for cross-platform distribution across browsers and messaging apps like Discord Activities. Developers like Nick Baker of Bloxd.io and Paul O’Donnell of Tall Team are bullish on the resurgence of web games, anticipating more advanced and engaging experiences. Second, Telegram is highlighted for its potential to support deeper, more sustainable games, particularly due to its built-in premium currency ("stars") and native cryptocurrency (TON). Taehoon “TK” Kim of Spekter Games believes that by focusing on player desires and mid-core genres, developers can build more robust businesses on Telegram, moving beyond the play-to-earn community's preference for less challenging games.
Future growth for messaging app games is expected to be driven by easier distribution via single links, deeper integration between games and community platforms like Discord, and cross-app premium currencies with portable wallets to streamline in-app purchases. The document also includes an insight from Discord CEO Jason Citron, who explains Discord's initial success by addressing the underserved needs of tech-savvy gamers who faced security and privacy issues with older communication platforms like Skype.
a16z Games · 2026
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