Beyond the numbers ; How N3MUS is redefining gamer engagement through on chain tournaments

In a world where Web3 gaming is still haunted by inflated metrics and fleeting hype cycles, N3MUS is charting a different course—one where transparency, retention, and real player engagement take center stage. In this interview with N3MUS CEO and co founder Neal Peter, we explore how N3MUS’ onchain tournament infrastructure is solving the credibility crisis in Web3 gaming

Flav’ (BGA) What does “on-chain tournament automation” really mean in practice, and how is it more transparent or trustworthy than traditional engagement tools?

Neal Peter : On-chain tournament automation means that core tournament actions, like score submission, leaderboard updates, reward distribution, and fraud checks, are executed via smart contracts on the blockchain, without needing centralized intervention.

In practice, this ensures that:

• Scores are verifiably submitted and timestamped on-chain, making manipulation or tampering impossible.
• Rewards are distributed automatically based on smart contract logic, so no one can be unfairly skipped or manually favored.
• Leaderboards are public and auditable, allowing anyone to verify results independently.

Compared to traditional systems where scores and payouts are controlled by the platform backend, N3MUS’ on-chain approach increases transparency, fairness, and trust, especially for competitive gamers and Web3-native communities who value decentralization and provable outcomes.

What role do you see N3MUS playing in solving Web3 gaming’s biggest UX and onboarding challenges?

N3MUS is tackling Web3 gaming’s biggest UX and onboarding challenges by making Web3 invisible. We believe gamers shouldn’t have to know, or care, that they’re using blockchain. That’s why our entire platform feels like a polished Web2 experience, while using Web3 under the hood where it adds real value.

We solve key friction points like:

• Instant onboarding with N3MUS ID – no wallet setup, no seed phrases. Users log in like they would with any Web2 service.
  
• Gasless interactions – players can join tournaments, submit scores, and claim prizes without ever needing to hold or manage crypto.
  
• Seamless payouts – whether it’s tokens or in-game items, we handle on-chain transfers in the background while presenting it as a simple “collect your reward” button.
  
• Cross-game inventory – players carry progress and rewards across multiple games with a unified identity, without even knowing they’re using smart contracts.
  

By abstracting the blockchain complexity and only using it for transparency, automation, and asset ownership, N3MUS provides the trust and interoperability of Web3, with the frictionless experience of Web2.

Your May report shows a 120% MoM growth and over 2.3x volume in 60 days. What specific levers did you pull to achieve this?

Our growth is no accident, it’s the result of a clear focus on helping games grow by driving fun, retention, and reach. While we like to keep some of our “secret sauce” under wraps, a few key levers include:

• Onboarding fun, replayable games that actually keep players coming back.
  
• Relentless focus on retention, with tournament systems, missions, and rewards that maximize engagement and session time.
  
• Weekly waves of new gamers, driven by platform incentives and studio partnerships.
  
• And most importantly, we treat every game like a growth partner, not just a listing. If your game is fun, we’ll make sure people play it.
  

Our platform isn’t just where gamers compete, it’s where games grow.

You’ve launched 81 tournaments and tracked over 614,000 gameplays—how do these figures compare to traditional Web2 acquisition campaigns?

Unlike traditional Web2 acquisition campaigns that often rely on paid ads, inflated metrics, or short-term spikes, N3MUS delivers real players, real gameplay, and sustainable growth.

We’ve launched 81 tournaments and tracked over 614,000 verified gameplays, all from real users, thanks to our advanced AI-powered anti-cheat system that detects bots, smurfing, and multi-account abuse in real time. No fake installs or vanity metrics, just actual engagement.

Compared to Web2 UA campaigns where $1,000 might buy you 2,000 installs and a 5–10% retention rate after 7 days, N3MUS focuses on organic, repeat gameplay and retention-driven competition. The most fun games are hitting a D7 retention rate of over 60%. Players aren’t just trying a game, they’re coming back to win, improve, and unlock rewards.

A great example is Data2073, a fun and addictive card game. Since joining N3MUS Tournaments, they’ve seen steady user growth and engagement, without spending on traditional ads. It’s not just exposure, it’s long-term community building.

In short: Web2 buys attention. We build it.

With 60%+ Day-30 retention in a top title, what do you think is driving such strong replayability?

The 60%+ Day-30 retention we’re seeing in top titles isn’t a fluke, it’s the result of combining great gameplay with a highly engaging competitive layer built by N3MUS.

What drives this replayability:

• Tournaments with real stakes – players return to climb the leaderboard, beat rivals, and earn rewards.
  
• Progression loops – missions, boosters, and score multipliers encourage players to keep improving their standing.
  
• Social motivation – players don’t want to miss out when their friends or favorite creators are competing.
  
• And most importantly, we only work with fun-to-play games, we amplify what already works.
  

N3MUS turns good games into sticky games by adding structured reasons to return, without needing push notifications or heavy ad retargeting. That’s why players stick around, and why studios see retention numbers they’d never hit with Web2 tools alone.

How do you ensure the data (game sessions, missions, quests) reflects real users, not bots, especially in an industry still battling credibility issues?

The Web3 gaming space has struggled with fake users, inflated metrics, and bot-driven campaigns. That’s why N3MUS is built with credibility and verification at its core. Here’s how we ensure our data reflects real players, not bots:

• Advanced AI anti-cheat systems continuously analyze player behavior across sessions, flagging patterns like impossible scores, time-to-completion anomalies, or coordinated multi-account activity.
  
• Wallet-based identity with session fingerprinting ensures one account truly means one user. No VPN-based abuse, no farmed installs.
  
• Missions often require on-chain actions and social tasks (like wallet-based verifications, in-game progression, and unique social logins), which are much harder to spoof.
  
• Manual moderation + machine learning combo, suspicious players are flagged for review, while our systems learn and evolve from every detection.
  

A real-world example: in a recent tournament, we proactively disqualified users caught matchmaking with their own secondary accounts, before the community even flagged it. That’s the level of control and integrity we bring.

We don’t just count gameplays, we verify them. That’s how we’ve earned trust from both studios and players.

How do you see N3MUS contributing to the vision of “real player engagement” that the BGA report emphasizes as critical to industry credibility?

N3MUS is directly aligned with the BGA’s vision of “real player engagement” by focusing on what actually matters: real users, consistent gameplay, and meaningful interaction, not inflated metrics or one-time clicks.

Our contribution is threefold:

1. Verified Players, Not Bots
   We use AI-powered anti-cheat systems, wallet-based identities, and behavior tracking to ensure that every tournament, quest, and gameplay session is driven by a real person, not scripts or click farms.
   
2. Retention Over Installs
   Traditional campaigns measure success in installs. We measure it in Day-7 and Day-30 retention, with some titles seeing over 60% D30. That’s real engagement, players returning because they enjoy the experience, not because they were paid to click.
   
3. Gameplay-Centric Engagement Loops
   Our tournaments and missions give players a reason to dive deeper into games—competing, progressing, and socializing in ways that drive long-term connection with the game world.
   

N3MUS doesn’t just bring players, we keep them. And in a space where credibility is tied to authentic usage, that’s exactly what the industry needs more of.

How do partner games measure growth (in user acquisition, engagement metrics, etc.) and quantify revenue uplift after integrating N3MUS tournaments?

Partner games measure growth through new user acquisition, engagement, and revenue uplift. After integrating N3MUS:

• Games often see a 3–5x boost in new users through tournaments.
  
• Engagement increases by 30–70%, driven by missions and leaderboard competition.
  
• Revenue jumps by 20–40%, thanks to buy-ins, quest passes, and better retention.
  

We believe in-game revenue is critical, and our core focus is helping games maximize monetization while building long-term player loyalty. A great example is Olderfall, which saw consistent growth across all fronts.

Beyond powering tournament mechanics, do you support other engagement features? (kinda matches with yours: How do you see N3MUS contributing to the vision of “real player engagement” that the BGA report emphasizes as critical to industry credibility?)

Absolutely. While tournaments are central, N3MUS offers a full engagement layer beyond just competitive play.

We support interactive missions, in-game, social, and on-chain, that drive retention and exploration. And we’re actively expanding these into broader community-driven activations like stream-integrated challenges, social tasks, and creator-led campaigns.

We’re also building KOL tracking and referral systems, enabling influencers and creators to bring in players and get rewarded based on actual performance, driving real, measurable growth.

All of this feeds into our mission to deliver authentic, long-term engagement, not just short-term spikes, exactly what the BGA identifies as critical for credibility in Web3 gaming.

How flexible is your platform in terms of pricing, scalability, and customization for different game types (from indie titles to AAA)? 

N3MUS is built with flexibility and ROI at the core, whether you’re an indie developer or a AAA studio.

• Pricing models are tailored to your goals: from revenue share to flat or hybrid setups, always structured to ensure a positive ROI for the studio.
  
• Scalability is baked in. Whether you’re running a single tournament or operating at global esports scale, our infrastructure grows with you.
  
• Customization goes deep, from tournament mechanics to missions and UI, everything can be adapted to fit your game’s style and player journey.
  

We always approach partnerships with one goal: maximize engagement and revenue for your game, while keeping the integration smooth and low-lift.

How does running on‐chain tournaments compare to traditional influencer/KOL campaigns (e.g., just paying KOLs) in terms of cost‐effectiveness, user engagement quality, and ROI? 

Traditional influencer/KOL campaigns often result in high spend with low retention—you pay upfront for reach, not results. In contrast, on-chain tournaments through N3MUS are performance-based, engagement-driven, and ROI-focused.

Here’s how they compare:

• Cost-Effectiveness:
  KOLs get paid whether users play or not. With N3MUS tournaments, you only reward actual player actions, playing, competing, and returning.
  
• User Quality:
  KOL campaigns often attract passive traffic. N3MUS tournaments bring in active gamers, creating deeper engagement and stronger monetization potential.
  
• ROI:
  Tournaments generate ongoing gameplay, repeat sessions, and purchases, giving long-term value, not just impressions. Plus, if studios still want to use KOLs, we provide advanced referral tracking, not based on clicks, but on how many users they actually drive into real tournament participation.
  

Bottom line: on-chain tournaments turn engagement into measurable growth, not guesswork.