Peek into a South High class during the school day. If you see a student on their phone, they are likely not paying attention to their teacher–they are on the addicting, colorful game Block Blast.
Block Blast is a mobile game played among many South students. This game was released in 2022, but started to gain popularity in mid to late 2024. Block Blast has similarities to Tetris; there are colorful blocks that you drag to make rows, which get you points. Although this game is simple and involves little to no skill, it has become addictive to South students.
Why has Block Blast gained so much attraction? Are students motivated by wanting to have a higher score than their friend? Or is it just a good way to pass time? Next year, Block Blast players will find it harder to feed their addictions with the impending cell phone ban.
One student in particular has an extreme addiction. Sophomore Paige Spector is an avid player of the game Block Blast.
“I started playing Block Blast in March of 2024. My high score is 130,000. I find the game addicting because you don’t need wifi to play it. Block Blast is also satisfying and relaxing. Occasionally I find this game distracting in school. It can also keep me up at night if I don’t manage my time with it wisely,” she said.
Sophomore Gus Kurczynski, who admitted he is addicted to Block Blast, also had a few things to say about the game.
“I started playing Block Blast around finals time last year. My high score is about 90,000. I find it addicting because I play out of spite of other people, to beat their high scores. It’s a pretty fun game, but I mostly play to show off to my friends. No, I don’t see it as a distraction because I usually finish my work before I play, or I take a little brain break, but it can be distracting in the wrong hands,” Kurczynski said.
English teacher Shannon Lesko agrees with Kurczynski that Block Blast can be a distraction for students.
“When a student is on their phone, they usually play Block Blast. Although, I don’t have a problem with it because students put their phones away in my class,¨ she said.
