Surprisingly, the simplest of games is sweeping the Mount this year, being played on iPads left and right. And that game is called Block Blast!
History of the Game and its Rise to Fame
Block Blast was inspired by the 1984 game Tetris, involving a 8×8 grid and a variety of multicolored blocks. These blocks are maneuvered with a goal of eliminating a row, causing you to receive points toward your final score.
While the game came out in September 2022, there was very little success and popularity until mid 2024, thanks to Gen Z’s heavy use of social media. Platforms such as Tik Tok and Instagram greatly contributed to the success.
Regarding the Block Blast phenomenon at school, it was more than just social media influencing Mounties.
“I think everyone plays it because they see others play it on their iPads during their free time,” Ava Smith ‘26 said.
When Mounties see their friends play Block Blast, it creates an automatic sense of curiosity and excitement. In addition, people see others have positive experiences with the game, so they naturally want to join in the trend and experience it for themselves.
The Science Behind the Blocks
While we do know about the outside surface of the wildly growing trend, let’s dig a little deeper and find out the science behind why Block Blast is so entertaining.
“Clearing the board is so satisfying and makes me so happy,” Natalie Albertelli ‘28 said.
There’s science behind why the satisfying action for clearing rows, or even the whole board, makes us feel good.
For example, say you clear a row of blocks. When this action is done, you see the visual effects of the reward (i.e. the high score increasing) on your screen. In response this makes your dopamine levels spike.
Dopamine is a group of neurological structures that is responsible for the pleasant feelings that we get. Because of this, it encourages us to keep going back for more, and repeat the same actions that produce the rewarding feelings.
“Right after you finish a level, it just doesn’t give you the option to stop!” Grace Mongelluzzo ‘28 said.
This is an example of your brain going into a “Flow state.” This is a mental state in which a person is completely focused on a single task or activity. More commonly, this can be referred to as being “in the zone.”
When immersed in Block Blast, players are hooked because of the endless stream of puzzles, making it feel like there’s no natural stopping point to end with. With the flow state, you feel as if the rounds are infinite.
Ultimately, Block Blast activates the reward systems of the brain, keeping players coming back for more. While these processes make the game fun and satisfying, it can clearly explain why the game can be difficult to put down.
The Block-tastic Benefits
While Block Blast may have somewhat of a compelling nature, there are many wonderful benefits of these blocks.
“The reason I like Block Blast is because It’s a really good brain break for me, and it’s just something I can sit down and play for ten or fifteen minutes to get my mind off of school.” Ally Demeter ‘26 said.
Research shows that while brain breaks provide valuable downtime, they also produce other positive factors. These short breaks can help students focus, increase their productivity, and reduce stress.
Taking a few minutes to play a game, or do something other than your school work, allows your brain to feel refreshed and ready to focus with a clearer mind.
“I can’t believe that people can be so passionate about a little game on their iPads!” Kelly McDonald ‘26 said.
