The cafeteria, halls, classrooms – pretty much everywhere you turn you’re sure to find several students with the same colorful blocks and 8 x 8 grids on their screens. It seems as though we’ve all been sucked into the Block Blast trance – myself included. Spending hours on Block Blast has become a regular part of my week, whether it’s as a mindless way to entertain myself or a friendly competition between my friends and me to get the highest score. Like many others, this puzzle has become a key part of my daily entertainment and free time.
Although Block Blast was released by Hungry Studios in December of 2022, it did not surge to popularity until 2024. Now, with about 50 million players and 100 million downloads, it has become an integral part of many teenagers’ everyday lives.
This simple yet extremely addictive game can often be compared to Tetris due to the game’s similar pieces and design of clearing complete rows of blocks. However, unlike this classic, Block Blast’s pieces do not fall and the game is not limited by time, creating a more relaxing and laid-back experience.
Although this craze seemingly appeared out of nowhere, its popularity certainly makes sense. Not only is it the perfect time-passer or multitasking activity, as the app store’s #1 ranked Casual app, but its puzzle format can increase the production of dopamine, reinforce and create new connections between brain cells, and improve one’s concentration. Additionally, this can enhance one’s logical abilities and brain processes such as short-term memory and mental speed.
In addition to the app’s classic gaming format, it also contains an “adventure” mode with different challenges of varying difficulty that refresh every week. This prevents the game from becoming boring and repetitive and ensures there is always something new to try.
Though Block Blast is certainly the standout game of Hungry Studios, it’s not the only puzzling and entertaining game there is. With card games like Solitaire Master!, number puzzles like Sudoku Master!, and their latest release, the 3D puzzle game Match Out!, Hungry Studios’ games are the perfect way to exercise your mind.
