AI-Built Web3 Games Take Off as BuidlHack Seoul Crowns ‘Bank or Plank’ Champion

YGG Play and Verse8 have crowned Bank or Plank as the winner of BuidlHack 2026’s Casual Degen track, after 120 teams used AI tools to build playable crypto-native games in Seoul.

The hackathon ran during Korea BUIDL Week and focused on fast, accessible Web3 games built with Verse8’s generative AI creation tools. 

Organisers said leading teams moved from concept to functional prototypes in under a month, compressing work that usually requires traditional game-engine pipelines. The final showcase took place on April 18 after an in-person Builder Day on April 14, where teams refined mechanics with Verse8, YGG Play and industry operators. 

Winners shared a US$5,000 (AU$7,150) prize pool and will receive ongoing support through Verse8’s creator ecosystem, with standout projects considered for YGG Play publishing.

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Bank Or Plank Wins

Bank or Plank took first place with a pirate-themed 3D multiplayer board game built by solo creator Wabbs, who competed online. The game asks players to gather and bank gold before a 5-minute limit or adverse events cause them to lose their loot.

The judges also recognised Dungeon Raising, an idle action game, in second place. Gas Wars, Black Hole Survivor and Attack on Idol tied for third after demonstrating lightweight gameplay with embedded onchain features.

YGG Play has positioned Casual Degen games as a faster, simpler category of Web3 entertainment built around repeatable loops and crypto-native monetisation. 

The BuidlHack results gave the publisher a live test of whether AI-assisted teams can produce enough quality and retention to feed that pipeline.

Gabby Dizon, co-founder of Yield Guild Games and one of the judges, said demand for Casual Degen experiences is real, especially among people who do not think of themselves as gamers. He said the quality and creativity of the entries showed the model could be repeatable and sustainable for Web3 games over the long term.

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