During the rise of hundreds of apps, Block Blast has managed to be one that climbed to the top. The game released in 2022 and say among the top apps by the end of 2024. It is especially popular with students. Although it may seem like another silly game, it has captured the attention of millions globally.

This addictive game has quickly become a favorite to gamers and non-gamers alike. It has millions of downloads and is discussed across numerous social media platforms.

At Del Val, the dopamine rush of clearing the blocks and achieving combos drove students to play the game on school devices. Teachers quickly grew frustrated with the distraction from class, so Block Blast was blocked on Del Val iPads.

Just because teachers dislike the app being used in class, doesn’t mean they are anti Block Blast. English teacher Michael Fortino admitted that he plays it frequently.

“I don’t keep track of how much I play the game because time flies when you are playing it,” Fortino said. “However, I have played the game not only when I’m bored, but when I’m cooking or doing household chores.”

Many people love Block Blast because it doesn’t require Wi-Fi. It averages about 40 million players daily with the average time in the app being about two and a half hours.

Freshmen Olivia Pelican recently discovered Block Blast through her peers.

“I play the game on average about two and a half hours a day,” Pelican said. “I saw students in school playing it in the hallways and saw my friend playing the game, so I downloaded it. We started challenging each other with the highest scores.”

Block Blast is similar to Tetris, a game that came out in the 1980’s. Overtime, Tetris players began to feel that their surroundings were like the blocks from the game, even when they were sleeping. In 1994, Jeffrey Goldsmith, named this “The Tetris Effect.”

Only time will tell, as the app continues to steal hearts across the world, whether individuals will begin to experience a “Block Blast Effect.”