Cryptokitties has been on my mind recently. Not sure why. Maybe because I saw this Uniswap hook project that reminded me of the original Cryptokitties. Or because the Uniswap app is simple and somewhat joyful to use in a way that's reminiscent of it. Or because Cryptokitties launched a Telegram miniapp game that's weirdly addictive? Unsure why now, but there was something unique about what they launched back in 2017. At least for me. So what made it special?

It was novel, yet familiar. First crypto app outside of trading with a usable UI. But it was a fun combination of Tamagotchi and collectible cards like Pokemon or Magic the Gathering.

The UI had enough to get you going, but you could really dig in to the inner workings and discover cool new tricks. A vibrant ecosystem started to form around it, providing avid players with tools and richer experiences. It kept giving.

The "game" was big. You could find some really rare cryptokitties, and potentially make a decent chunk of money from them. It felt like the time you put into it was worth it.

It also felt polished. Not janky like the countless other games that came after ...