Picture this: You've just settled in after a long day, controller in hand, ready to lose yourself in your favorite game. For millions of casual gamers, this moment of escape is a daily ritual. But as the match begins, a thought creeps in: Could I be doing something more productive with my time? Could I actually be making money doing this? Sound familiar? That tug-of-war between enjoying the game and feeling the need to be productive is real. And that's exactly where En Garde comes in.
For too long, earning money from gaming has been a privilege reserved for elite esports players, popular streamers, or those willing to risk their own money in gambling. Casual gamers, who make up the backbone of the gaming community, have been left out of this economy. As Munimur Ashrafy, co-founder of En Garde, explains: "I started feeling guilty playing these video game matches. I was like, you know, it would be better if there was a way I could monetize this... something that just earns me something."
That simple desire to earn a little extra without changing how or why you play led to the creation of En Garde, a platform designed to reward casual gamers with real cash prizes through AI-powered leaderboard challenges. You don't need professional skills or a large audience. Instead, En Garde rewards you for doing what you love with the games you already play.
In the gaming world, platforms that offer cash rewards usually rely on gambling mechanics. Players are asked to put money down, bet on outcomes, or risk their earnings to play. En Garde does none of that. As Munimur puts it: "Most companies go into the gambling route where users have to pay to play... At En Garde, there's no capability to put in your own money for anything—only withdrawals are allowed."
This distinction makes En Garde accessible and inclusive. Because it avoids gambling, the platform is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. It sidesteps restrictions that prevent traditional wagering apps from reaching a broad audience, giving more players the chance to participate.
Signing up for En Garde is simple. You log in using your Google or Apple account, and you're ready to go. From there, you can dive right into the action. Whether you play Clash Royale, Valorant, or Fortnite, the process is straightforward: play your game, sync your match data with En Garde, and watch as the platform's AI scores and validates your results.
For games like Fortnite, the AI even uses image recognition to ensure your stats are accurate and recent. No matter the game, the process is designed to be as seamless as possible, blending gameplay with the potential to earn cash.
Once your scores are in, you decide whether to compete on the hourly leaderboard, where winners earn $3, or the daily leaderboard, where the top player takes home $10. Over the course of a single day, En Garde gives away $82 per game—all to casual gamers who are simply doing what they love. Plus, even if you don't land in first place, you can still earn by accumulating XP. Uploading a match for any game earns you XP, and once you reach a certain threshold, that XP automatically converts to cash. This rewards participation and offers another route to earning beyond the leaderboards.
En Garde's first tournament, held over Thanksgiving week, was a glimpse into the platform's potential. Over the course of just 10 days, users played an astonishing 4,706 matches. Most of these users were Gen Z players aged 18 to 27, a demographic balancing school, work, and the desire to play. The platform's growth has been nothing short of remarkable, with user numbers increasing by 170–180% each month. In just 4 months, the platform has gained over 8,200 users.
En Garde's ambitions extend beyond daily leaderboards. The team envisions a full-fledged gaming league with seasonal tournaments, qualifiers, and annual championships featuring larger prize pools. They're also exploring opportunities for businesses to sponsor custom leaderboards, offering cash incentives and increasing engagement.
Munimur shares this vision: "Ultimately, I want En Garde to turn into a league... with tournaments leading to seasons, finals, and a championship held every year."
Beyond the cash incentives, En Garde is building something even more valuable: a supportive and positive gaming community. Through their Discord server, players can share feedback, connect with others, and shape the platform's evolution. En Garde is cultivating a space where players encourage and uplift each other. Melisa Ashrafy, co-founder, emphasizes this impact: "The gaming community can sometimes be challenging, so it's amazing to see how supportive and encouraging everyone is within the community we've built."
En Garde isn't just about making money—it's about changing the way we think about gaming. It shows that casual gaming can be rewarding, that you don't have to feel guilty for playing, and that anyone can get something meaningful out of their love for games, no matter their skill level.
By removing the need to "go pro" or take risky bets, En Garde opens the door for everyone. It's about turning your gaming time into something that feels valuable, supportive, and genuinely worth it. To learn more, visit www.engarde.io.
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