In Brief:
- The Casual Degen hackathon, part of BuidlHack 2026, concluded with “Bank or Plank” claiming the top spot.
- Created on Verse8‘s AI game-making platform, the game challenges players to collect gold within a time limit.
- A total of 120 teams participated, with winners receiving a share of a $5,000 prize pool and ongoing support.
Hackathon winners announced
The Casual Degen hackathon at BuidlHack 2026 wrapped up with the announcement of “Bank or Plank” as the winner. This pirate-themed board game, developed using Verse8’s AI platform, allows players to roll dice, collect gold, and avoid sudden losses within a five-minute timeframe.
Creator Wabbs noted the game came together in just two coding sessions, with another two weeks spent refining it. “Where Verse8 really shines for me is procedural generation,” Wabbs said. “I focused on modular ships… Watching the ships evolve as they level up was much easier to implement here than in a traditional engine.”
The hackathon saw participation from 120 teams. The event was held in Seoul, with in-person demos on April 14 and a final showcase on April 18. Judges included Verse8 CEO Kevin Lee, YGG co-founder Gabby Dizon, and Solarium Fund director JC Kim.
Second place went to the idle action game “Dungeon Raising,” while other entries like “Gas Wars,” “Black Hole Survivor,” and “Attack on Idol” tied for third. Each of these titles showcased lightweight gameplay combined with embedded onchain mechanics.
Winning teams will share a $5,000 prize and gain access to Verse8’s creator ecosystem, with standout projects being considered for publishing through YGG Play.
“BuidlHack was designed to test how quickly viable games can be created when traditional bottlenecks are removed,” Lee said. “The speed and creativity on display here fundamentally change how games can be made and scaled.”
