After a stressful day at school, senior Arya Yadav discovered a stress-relieving game that would lessen her academic worries: Block Blast. The objective of the game is to align blocks on a grid to try and clear as many lines as possible. Block Blast does not have a time limit, ending only when the player runs out of space to place blocks, allowing players to think about their moves.
Many students and staff have gone from mindlessly scrolling through social media pages to strategically placing down colorful blocks, with the Block Blast gaining popularity due to its simplicity and ability to maintain engagement.
Yadav had already been a fan of puzzle games, but she initially downloaded the game out of curiosity after seeing a TikTok advertisement. According to Yadav, she did not have high expectations but found herself enjoying the peacefulness of Block Blast.
“I wasn’t expecting much, but once I started playing, I was hooked. It was an easy way to zone out and relax, especially since I could play it whenever I had a free moment,” Yadav said.
Junior Zedeno Lumabao also enjoys playing Block Blast whenever he has free time. He prefers playing an engaging game to avoid “doom scrolling,” the act of scrolling endlessly through social media. Lumabao explained how Block Blast quickly became one of his hobbies.
“I think it’s a pretty fun game, and it’s a good way to pass the time without doom scrolling,” Lumabao said. “The colors are super vibrant, and it isn’t just passively scrolling on Instagram or TikTok, and constantly getting a higher score gives me a rush of dopamine.”
Block Blast has become an alternative entertainment source for players who would rather avoid social media. Similar to Lumabao, social science teacher Christine Byerley appreciates how puzzle games can also benefit the players’ health, specifically by stimulating the brain.
“I think it (Block Blast) probably keeps my brain a little more functioning because, with Instagram, I can just zone out. With Block Blast, it kind of improves my spatial orientation, which I struggle with,” Byerley said.
Many students, such as sophomore Yonathan Torres, noticed some similarities between Block Blast and a classic game.
“The style reminds me kind of like Tetris,” Torres said. “The similarities are the style, the blocks, the colors, the shapes and also the concept of trying to clear the board and not getting the board full to where you can’t play some more blocks.”
According to Torres, the concept of Block Blast is easy to understand, and earning points is not difficult. For instance, he began playing in the beginning of March and has a high score of 29,0000, which is high compared to other beginners. Torres, however, believes players must focus on placement strategies in order to achieve a high score.
“It’s not that hard. If you really want to get a high score, you just have to concentrate for a bit, really think about every move that you’re taking,” Torres said.
Scores can also be used to play the single-player game competitively. Lumabao often plays against one another to see who can get a higher number.
“It (Block Blast) gives us a competition so that we can see who gets a higher score, and we get bragging rights over each other, which gives an ego boost that makes you feel better than your friends at something,” Lumabao said.
Block Blast has become a daily part of many players’ lives whenever they need to pass the time, or simply take a break. Students and staff both agreed that the simple game has provided them with an enjoyable source to avoid the hardships they may face.
“It’s a little escape, a fun challenge to beat my own records and a way to unwind when I need a break from life,” Yadav said. “It’s really funny how something so simple can end up being such a big part of your day.”