If you’ve ever stood next to a teenager with a phone, chances are you’ve gotten a glimpse of the highly addictive hit puzzle game Block Blast. The game’s graphics are bright and instantly recognizable, similar to the classic game Tetris, with colorful blocks and an 8×8 grid.
Both games have the same premise: to clear rows (and, in Block Blast’s case, columns) of blocks to score points and make room for more blocks. Unlike Tetris, however, blocks in Block Blast are not falling from above; they appear below the grid in trios, and players can choose to put them wherever they please. The lack of a time limit and gravitational restraints eliminates the pressure-cooker stress of Tetris, making for a more relaxing gaming experience. Still, it’s not uncommon to see players anxiously gripping their phones as they calculate their next move. It seems like everyone is always chasing a new high score.
“Whenever you lose or get a new high score, you always want to beat it,” said Olivia Upbin (Form III), who boasts an impressive score of 155,300.
“Block Blast is a really well-designed game,” said Ava Resnick (Form III). “It’s addictive because … it’s not complicated, but the rewards are really triggering for your brain.” The colorful user interface and satisfying sound effects are already enough to get gamers hooked, but Block Blast also offers constant positive reinforcement, with the messages “Good!” and “Amazing!” popping up any time a player makes a strategic move or scores a combo. When a row of blocks is cleared, they first light up and then disintegrate into a trail of rainbow sparkles.
Block Blast is also extremely convenient – it’s free, doesn’t require Wi-Fi and it automatically saves players’ progress so they can start and stop playing any time. Many students said they play on the bus or in between classes; Block Blast is a way to pass time more than anything else and to get a little rush of dopamine while you’re at it.
The game’s addictiveness can also be attributed to its popularity; it seems like everyone either plays it religiously or knows someone who plays it religiously. Upbin says she loves how “many people have it, so you can challenge your friends or talk to people about [it].” Many conversations have been shared between students in hallways or classrooms, discussing high scores or winning strategies.
However, all students aren’t convinced. “I’ve never downloaded the app,” said Lily Saal (Form VI), who claims she’s afraid of getting addicted. “I’ll stick to Tetris; it’s addicting enough for me.”
Is Block Blast just another trend that will die down when a new game comes along, or is there something truly special behind all the flashing lights and bright colors?
