# Understanding Leaderboards

## How Rankings Work and How to Earn Rewards

Leaderboards are the heart of 8-Bit Arcade's reward system. Understanding how they work is essential to maximizing your crypto earnings.

## Leaderboard Basics

### What Are Leaderboards?

**Leaderboards** rank players by their highest scores in each game:

* Each game has its own separate leaderboard
* Top 10 players earn daily rewards
* Updated in real-time as players submit scores
* Reset every 24 hours at 00:00 UTC

### Per-Game Leaderboards

**Every game has independent rankings:**

* 🚀 **Space Rocks** → Top 10 earn rewards
* 🍒 **Chomper** → Top 10 earn rewards
* 🧱 **Block Drop** → Top 10 earn rewards
* 🎾 **Brick Breaker** → Top 10 earn rewards
* ... and all other games

**Key Point:** You can rank in multiple games simultaneously and earn rewards from each!

## Daily Reward Structure

### Top 10 Earnings Per Game

Every 24 hours, **50,000 8BIT** is distributed across all game leaderboards:

| Rank           | % of Pool | Daily Reward    | Monthly Potential |
| -------------- | --------- | --------------- | ----------------- |
| **1st Place**  | 25%       | **12,500 8BIT** | **375,000 8BIT**  |
| **2nd Place**  | 12.5%     | **6,250 8BIT**  | **187,500 8BIT**  |
| **3rd Place**  | 12.5%     | **6,250 8BIT**  | **187,500 8BIT**  |
| **4th Place**  | 12.5%     | **6,250 8BIT**  | **187,500 8BIT**  |
| **5th Place**  | 12.5%     | **6,250 8BIT**  | **187,500 8BIT**  |
| **6th Place**  | 5%        | **2,500 8BIT**  | **75,000 8BIT**   |
| **7th Place**  | 5%        | **2,500 8BIT**  | **75,000 8BIT**   |
| **8th Place**  | 5%        | **2,500 8BIT**  | **75,000 8BIT**   |
| **9th Place**  | 5%        | **2,500 8BIT**  | **75,000 8BIT**   |
| **10th Place** | 5%        | **2,500 8BIT**  | **75,000 8BIT**   |

### What This Means in USD

At a $10M market cap ($0.0325 per token):

* **1st Place:** $406/day = **$12,187/month** 🔥
* **2nd-5th Place:** $203/day = **$6,093/month**
* **6th-10th Place:** $81/day = **$2,437/month**

*See* [*Market Cap Scenarios*](https://docs.8bitarcade.games/tokenomics/market-scenarios) *for other valuations*

## How Leaderboards Work

### Viewing Leaderboards

1. Visit [**play.8bitarcade.games**](https://play.8bitarcade.games)
2. Click on any game
3. Leaderboard displays on the right side:

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│  TODAY'S LEADERBOARD - SPACE ROCKS  │
├──────┬────────────────┬─────────────┤
│ Rank │ Player         │ Score       │
├──────┼────────────────┼─────────────┤
│ 🥇 1 │ PixelKing      │ 18,500      │
│ 🥈 2 │ ArcadeMaster   │ 17,200      │
│ 🥉 3 │ CryptoGamer    │ 16,800      │
│  4   │ RetroChamp     │ 15,900      │
│  5   │ 8BitWhale      │ 15,400      │
│  6   │ SnakePro       │ 14,750      │
│  7   │ BlockKing      │ 14,200      │
│  8   │ ChomperGod     │ 13,850      │
│  9   │ PixelHunter    │ 13,400      │
│  10  │ ScoreChaser    │ 12,900      │
└──────┴────────────────┴─────────────┘

Time to reset: 6h 42m 13s
Your rank: #14 (keep playing!)
Your best score: 11,200
```

### How Rankings Are Determined

**Highest score wins:**

* Only your BEST score counts (not total/average)
* Unlimited attempts per day
* Play as many times as you want
* Score improves = ranking improves

**Tiebreakers:**

* If two players have same score
* Player who achieved score first ranks higher
* Encourages playing early and often

### Score Verification

All scores are verified on-chain:

* ✅ Submitted to blockchain
* ✅ Anti-cheat validation
* ✅ Timestamped and immutable
* ✅ Publicly verifiable

**Invalid scores are rejected:**

* Impossible scores (exceeds game limits)
* Modified game clients
* Automated bots
* Replay attacks

*See* [*Anti-Cheat System*](https://docs.8bitarcade.games/games/anti-cheat) *for details*

## Daily Reset Cycle

### Reset Time: 00:00 UTC Daily

**What happens at reset:**

1. **Final rankings locked** for previous day
2. **Rewards calculated** for top 10 in each game
3. **Payouts distributed** automatically to wallets
4. **Leaderboards clear** for new day
5. **New competition begins** immediately

### Understanding UTC Time

* **UTC** = Coordinated Universal Time
* **00:00 UTC** = Midnight in London
* Convert to your timezone:
  * New York: 00:00 UTC = 8:00 PM (previous day)
  * Los Angeles: 00:00 UTC = 4:00 PM (previous day)
  * Tokyo: 00:00 UTC = 9:00 AM
  * Sydney: 00:00 UTC = 11:00 AM (next day)

**Check current UTC time:** [time.is/UTC](https://time.is/UTC)

### Reset Strategy

**Play near reset time:**

* Less time for others to beat you
* Reduces competition
* Strategic for securing top 10

**Play early in cycle:**

* Set the pace
* See what score to beat
* Multiple attempts throughout day

## Multi-Game Earnings

### Playing Multiple Games = Multiple Rewards

**Example: Rank in 3 games daily**

| Game        | Your Rank | Daily Reward    | Monthly     |
| ----------- | --------- | --------------- | ----------- |
| Space Rocks | 6th       | 2,500 8BIT      | 75,000      |
| Chomper     | 4th       | 6,250 8BIT      | 187,500     |
| Block Drop  | 8th       | 2,500 8BIT      | 75,000      |
| **TOTAL**   | -         | **11,250 8BIT** | **337,500** |

**At $1M market cap:** $1,096/month **At $10M market cap:** $10,968/month

### Diversification Strategy

**Pros:**

* Multiple income streams
* Less dependent on one game
* More total earnings potential
* Spreads out competition

**Cons:**

* Requires skill in multiple games
* More time investment
* Divided focus

### Focus Strategy

**Master ONE game to rank #1 consistently:**

* 12,500 8BIT daily = 375,000 monthly
* At $1M mcap = $1,218/month
* At $10M mcap = $12,187/month
* Simpler, more focused approach

## Leaderboard Features

### Real-Time Updates

* Scores update immediately upon submission
* Rankings adjust in real-time
* See competitors' scores live
* Know exactly what to beat

### Historical Leaderboards

View past leaderboards:

* Yesterday's winners
* Last week's top performers
* Monthly hall of fame
* All-time high scores

### Player Profiles

Click any player to see:

* Total earnings
* Games played
* Best ranks
* Win streak
* Achievement badges

### Filters & Sorting

**Filter by:**

* Time period (today, week, month, all-time)
* Game type
* Your friends
* Top earners

**Sort by:**

* Score (default)
* Earnings
* Games played
* Win rate

## Competitive Strategies

### Strategy 1: Off-Peak Playing

**Play during low-traffic hours:**

* Early morning UTC (fewer players)
* Weekday afternoons
* Less competition = easier to rank

**Benefits:**

* Lower score thresholds
* Easier top 10 qualification
* More consistent earnings

### Strategy 2: Last-Minute Push

**Play right before reset:**

* See what score you need to beat
* Less time for others to overtake you
* Clutch performance under pressure

**Risks:**

* High stress
* Connection issues near deadline
* May not have time for multiple attempts

### Strategy 3: Early Dominance

**Set high score early in cycle:**

* Psychological advantage
* Forces others to chase your score
* More attempts throughout day
* Can defend position if threatened

### Strategy 4: Score Tracking

**Monitor leaderboard throughout day:**

* Track #10 score (minimum to earn)
* Track #1 score (goal to beat)
* Play only when you can improve
* Save energy for when needed

## Rewards Distribution

### Automatic Payouts

**How you receive rewards:**

1. **00:00 UTC** - Daily reset occurs
2. **Smart contract calculates** final rankings
3. **Rewards minted** for top 10 in each game
4. **Sent directly to wallet** (2-5 minutes)
5. **No claim needed** - fully automatic

### Viewing Your Rewards

**Check your earnings:**

1. Go to **Profile** page
2. Click **"Rewards History"**
3. See all daily payouts
4. Filter by game, date, amount
5. Export CSV for tax records

### Reward Notifications

Enable notifications to get alerts:

* 🔔 "You ranked #3 in Chomper! Earned 6,250 8BIT"
* 🔔 "Daily payout received: 11,250 8BIT"
* 🔔 "You're currently #11 - play more to earn!"

## Common Questions

### Can I rank in multiple games?

**Yes!** Each game has separate leaderboards. You can rank top 10 in all games and earn from each.

### What if I tie with someone?

**Tiebreaker:** Player who achieved the score first ranks higher.

### How often can I play?

**Unlimited!** Play as many times as you want. Only your highest score counts.

### Do I need to play every day?

**No.** Leaderboards reset daily, but you can play only when you want. You only earn rewards for days you rank top 10.

### Can I lose a rank after earning it?

**Yes.** If someone beats your score, they take your rank. Rankings update in real-time until reset.

### What happens if fewer than 10 players play a game?

All rewards still distributed proportionally to players who did play that game.

### Are tournament scores included?

**No.** Tournament scores are separate. Leaderboards are free-to-play only.

## Tips for Success

### 🎯 Practice Makes Perfect

* Play games in practice mode first
* Learn mechanics and patterns
* Master controls
* Find optimal strategies

### 📊 Study Top Players

* Watch how #1 players score high
* Learn their techniques
* Identify patterns they exploit
* Adapt strategies to your style

### ⏰ Time Your Sessions

* Play during your peak performance hours
* Avoid playing when tired
* Take breaks between attempts
* Fresh mind = better scores

### 🎮 Choose Your Games Wisely

* Focus on games you enjoy
* Pick games you're naturally good at
* Consider competition levels
* Balance difficulty and reward

### 📈 Track Your Progress

* Record your best scores
* Note what strategies work
* Identify improvement areas
* Set realistic goals

## Leaderboard Ethics

### Fair Play Rules

✅ **Allowed:**

* Multiple attempts
* Practicing before competing
* Studying other players' strategies
* Playing on multiple games

❌ **Prohibited:**

* Cheating or exploiting bugs
* Using bots or automation
* Manipulating game code
* Colluding with other players

**Violations result in:**

* Score deletion
* Leaderboard ban
* Wallet blacklist
* Forfeiture of rewards

## Next Steps

Ready to compete?

1. [**Choose Your Game**](https://docs.8bitarcade.games/games/game-library)
2. [**Learn Controls**](https://docs.8bitarcade.games/games/controls)
3. [**Start Playing**](https://play.8bitarcade.games)
4. [**Claim Your Spot in Top 10!**](https://docs.8bitarcade.games/earning-crypto/daily-rewards)

***

*Leaderboards update in real-time. All scores are verified on-chain for transparency and fairness.*
