Gorani, also known as The Gorani Games, is a real-world treasure hunt that integrates artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency. The project is structured as an alternate reality game (ARG) where players use clues distributed online to find physical envelopes hidden in various locations. These envelopes contain rewards in the form of fiat currency and the project's native digital token, $GORA. By combining real-world exploration with a blockchain-based reward system, the game allows participants to acquire crypto assets without an initial purchase. ^{[1] [2]}

Overview

Gorani is a game that requires players to explore physical environments, with an initial focus on Seoul, South Korea. The core concept is a "hunt" where participants follow a narrative to locate hidden items. The project combines online engagement with real-world activities, operating within South Korea's highly connected digital environment. The stated goal is to achieve widespread adoption, comparable to other location-based games, while maintaining a deflationary token economy. ^[1]

The project's branding and lore are centered on the "Cyber Gorani," a digitized version of the Korean water deer, which is described as leaving a trail of treasure for players to find. The game's slogan is "Follow the Glow, Join the Hunt." The game operates on a tiered reward system, with higher levels offering larger prizes but requiring players to use the native $GORA token to access clues or participate. This system links the digital token to the real-world gameplay. The project utilizes multiple social media platforms, including KakaoTalk, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok, to disseminate clues and communicate with its user base. ^{[3] [1]}

Gameplay Mechanics

The gameplay of Gorani is designed as a three-step process that blends online clue-solving with real-world exploration. The game is structured around a tiered system that offers escalating rewards and challenges. ^[1]

Gameplay Loop

The core loop of the game follows a distinct sequence for players:

1. Find the Clues: Players begin by obtaining hints and clues about the location of a hidden treasure. These clues are distributed through various official channels, including a dedicated "Gorani Hunt Map" on the project's website, as well as its KakaoTalk chat group and other social media profiles.
2. Follow the Tusks: Based on the clues, players must physically travel to the specified real-world location. The narrative encourages players to "Follow the Glow" or the "shining tusks" of the Cyber Gorani to find the hidden envelope.
3. Scan & Claim: Once a player finds the physical envelope, it contains a unique, one-time-use QR code. The player who scans the code first successfully claims the prize, which locks the associated cash and $GORA token rewards to their account.

This gameplay loop is designed to be repeated for multiple treasure drops. ^[1]

Prize Levels

The game is structured with a tiered reward system, where higher levels offer larger prizes but may require players to use $GORA tokens to participate or receive clues. ^[1]

• Level 1: This is a free-to-access tier. Rewards typically range from ₩30,000 to ₩50,000 in cash, along with 3,000 $GORA tokens. Clues for this level are provided for free.
• Level 2: To access hints for this level, players must burn $GORA tokens. Rewards are higher, ranging from ₩70,000 to ₩100,000 and 7,000 $GORA. Each hint requires a burn of 500 $GORA.
• Level 3: This level features the largest prizes, from ₩300,000 to ₩3,000,000 and 30,000 $GORA. Access involves "split codes," and each hint requires a burn of 1,000 $GORA.

This escalating reward structure is designed to engage both casual and dedicated players. ^[1]

System Architecture and Technology

The Gorani project incorporates elements of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology to facilitate its gameplay and economic model. ^[1]

Core Components

The system is built on three main components:

• Gorani AI: An artificial intelligence system that analyzes and scores potential treasure locations based on criteria such as foot traffic, public safety, and novelty.
• Claim Service: A backend service that validates each unique QR code upon scanning and executes the on-chain transfer of $GORA tokens to the winner.
• Hint Chat: An interactive chat service available on the web and via KakaoTalk, where users can burn $GORA tokens to request additional clues for active hunts. ^[1]

Blockchain Integration

Gorani utilizes blockchain technology through its native cryptocurrency, the $GORA token, which operates on the Fraxtal blockchain. The token functions as both a reward for players and a utility instrument required for accessing certain in-game features. ^{[1] [2]}

Tokenomics

The economic model of Gorani is centered around its native utility token, $GORA. The token is designed to be integral to the game's ecosystem and features a deflationary supply mechanism. The project states, "$GORA isn't just a prize — it's your ticket to bigger hunts, exclusive clues, and community power." ^[1]

Allocation and Vesting

• Prize Pool: 20%
• Play to Earn: 45%, released exclusively through in-game hunts.
• Liquidity and Listings: 20%
• Team: 10% with a one-year cliff and a subsequent two-year vesting schedule.
• Community Grants: 5%

The token allocation is structured to support the game's reward system and long-term growth. ^[1]

Utility

The $GORA token has several defined functions within the Gorani ecosystem:

• Access to Premium Hunts: Players are required to hold and burn $GORA to participate in the higher-reward Level 2 and Level 3 treasure hunts.
• Purchase of Exclusive Clues: For advanced hunts, players must spend $GORA to receive hints that help them locate the treasure.
• Community Governance: The token is intended to grant holders a voice in the project's development and community decisions.
• Voting on Future Drops: Holders can use their tokens to vote on the locations or themes of future treasure drops, directly influencing the game's evolution.

These utilities are intended to create use cases for the token within the game's ecosystem. ^[1]

Burn Mechanics

The $GORA token is designed with a deflationary model to manage its total supply. This is achieved through a "burn" mechanism, where tokens used for certain in-game transactions are permanently removed from circulation. Activities that trigger a token burn include:

• Hint Requests: Players burn $GORA to receive clues for higher-level hunts. For Level 2 hunts, a hint costs 500 $GORA, and for Level 3 hunts, the cost is 1,000 $GORA per hint.
• Big Pots: To unlock premium envelopes, players may need to combine two half-codes and burn 5 $GORA.
• Difficulty Voting: Staked tokens can be used to vote on parameters for future hunts, such as envelope frequency and value, which also involves a burn mechanism.

According to the project, "Every hint, premium envelope, and future-drop vote burns $GORA — driving a healthy, deflationary economy." This mechanism is intended to reduce the overall supply of $GORA over time. ^[1]

Governance

A lightweight decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) is planned for Q1 2026. Through this DAO, token holders will be able to vote on key operational aspects of the game, including prize budgets, expansion to new cities, and economic parameters such as the token burn cost for hints. The governance structure will also include a guardian function that can pause the claim service for up to one week in the event of an emergency or security exploit. ^[1]

Security and Anti-Cheat

The project has implemented several measures to ensure fair play and secure the game's assets:

• QR Codes: Each QR code found in an envelope is for one-time use and is encrypted to prevent duplication or unauthorized claims.
• Bot Limits: The system uses rate-limiting and CAPTCHAs to deter automated bots from farming rewards.
• Audits: The smart contracts governing the token and claim service will undergo security audits before the mainnet launch. ^[1]

Roadmap

The project has outlined a multi-phase roadmap for its development and expansion. ^[1]

• Q3 2025: The roadmap for the third quarter of 2025 includes the launch of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in Seoul and the submission of a listing application to the Upbit cryptocurrency exchange.
• Q4 2025: In the fourth quarter of 2025, the project plans to release version 2 of its "burn-for-hint" feature and expand its operations to the cities of Busan and Incheon.
• Q1 2026: The first quarter of 2026 is scheduled for the launch of the project's Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO), along with the first international treasure drops in Tokyo and Taipei.
• Q2 2026: Plans for the second quarter of 2026 include the development of an optional augmented reality (AR) overlay application and the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) beacons.

This roadmap outlines the project's plans for technical development, geographic expansion, and community governance. ^[1]

Risk and Compliance

The project has identified several potential risks and has outlined compliance strategies to address them. ^[1]

• Lottery Laws: To comply with regulations, entry into the game is free, and puzzles are designed to require skill rather than chance. The project states that it conducts legal reviews in advance of launching in new jurisdictions.
• Crowd Control: To manage public safety and prevent overcrowding, the game limits the number of active drops to a maximum of ten per district. Clues are also staggered, and the project coordinates with local police when necessary.
• Price Swings: The token's economic model, which includes a fixed supply and burn mechanisms, is designed to reduce sell pressure and mitigate price volatility.
• Theft of Envelopes: Security measures to prevent the theft of physical prize envelopes include requiring the placement crew to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and using a GPS tracker on the supply box.

These measures are intended to ensure the game operates safely, securely, and in compliance with local laws. ^[1]