Crypto enthusiasts have discovered a new game to test their luck on, leading to a surge in a Solana meme coin’s market cap to almost $20 million.
Noodle.gg is a crypto adaptation of the popular browser game Slither.io, where players maneuver cartoonish snakes that grow larger as they consume other snakes.
Noodle brings a blockchain element by requiring players to pay an entry fee in Solana. When a player eliminates another snake, they not only grow in size but also claim the defeated player’s stake. However, if a player dies, they lose everything they’ve wagered.
Creator, Alex Leiman, expressed excitement about the game’s premise, stating, “This should be fun. Eat other snake = take their money,” along with a Solana contract address. The post quickly gained viral traction, garnering over a million views in less than a day.
This should be fun. Eat other snake = take their money
Live now.
CA: 7cEgQdp8JTXvBrpjSzji7bLEeCHWENRwX62B2Ep97k5P pic.twitter.com/V22ORG2hYO
— Alex Leiman (@alex_leiman) May 12, 2025
The Noodle (NOODLE) token currently lacks utility, essentially functioning as a meme coin without inherent value. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, NOODLE surged to a peak market cap of $19.43 million within 14 hours of its launch as the game gained popularity. It has since stabilized at $14.4 million, as reported by DEX Screener.
Leiman hinted at the potential for NOODLE to transition into the in-game currency, replacing SOL.
The game attracted 1,000 active accounts within two hours of its release, with Leiman noting that it was only accessible in 75% of U.S. states due to “regulatory reasons.” In its debut day, the official Noodle X account revealed that the game had facilitated over $75,000 in crypto transactions.
Online reception varied, with some enjoying the opportunity to potentially earn while playing a nostalgic and addictive game. Conversely, critics criticized Leiman for replicating Slither.io rather than innovating a unique game.
fuck trenching honestly https://t.co/UdeAbYpToy pic.twitter.com/p1wlj3UyF7
— Amanda (@solqueennn) May 12, 2025
To cash out, players must press Enter for three seconds without dying, leading to a game over screen displaying their earnings. Players can then withdraw funds by providing a Solana address and specifying the desired amount of SOL.
Notably, the platform retains the right to impose restrictions on cash-outs, such as time-based limits, playtime prerequisites, or temporary holds at Noodle’s discretion. Additionally, cheating results in the forfeiture of the player’s entire balance.
This isn’t the first instance of a crypto game gaining traction for its profit potential.
Last month, Bigcoin, an Abstract-based crypto mining simulation game, captivated enthusiasts. Players purchased in-game miners to earn BIG tokens, akin to real-world Bitcoin mining, to enhance their rigs and increase earnings.
While Bigcoin briefly soared to a $66 million market cap in three days, it plummeted by 83%, labeled a “Ponzi game” reliant on new player investments, according to DEX Screener.
Instead of heeding caution, some eager enthusiasts persist in seeking the next profitable game to engage in.
Various non-Ponzi games have integrated crypto for earning opportunities. The previous year witnessed the tap-to-earn trend on Telegram, attracting millions of players tapping for valuable token airdrops.
However, many users lamented the airdrop sizes, and the frenzy subsided after a few months.
Edited by Andrew Hayward