It’s real and it’s here to stay. Block blast! was introduced in late 2022 and has since skyrocketed in popularity in all spheres (and cubes) of life. Not only are the commuters on the subway playing the colorful game but the conductor of the subway is also tapping away at their iPhone.

“Drag, drop, repeat” has become a popular mantra for these mindless block blasters, forcing experts to ask; When does it become an addiction? Well, we asked a few people for their thoughts.

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Joey: I used to only play it in the day but now I play it at night too.

WOW, Joey. Ok, slow down. At night too?? You’re a real rebel, Joey.

Jilly: I have hallucinations of the block blast board on my ceiling and I play it as I fall asleep like Beth Harmon in The Queen's Gambit.

Chill Jilly, you’re no Beth Harmon. She was a redhead so you don’t want that anyhow.

Josh: I ate my brother's Lego set because it reminded me of the game and I just couldn’t hold myself back.

Jesus, I hope you apologized. Really makes me feel like the kids who eat play-dough aren’t as stupid as I thought. Also, I feel like we skipped a beat between “addicted to Block Blast” to “eating plastic.” This may be a pre existing problem.

P.S. Is eating them more or less painful than stepping on them?

Jakwelin: My screen time is 25 hours a day on block blast and my mother disowned me.

I would disown you too but only because you broke the laws of the space-time continuum.

Jim Bob: I spend my days slotting blocks. At lunch, at yogurt class, at my great uncle's second funeral, I just can’t stop.

Not sure what yogurt class is. Do you make yogurt, eat it, or neither? What do you mean by second funeral? Is English not your first language? If so, perhaps Duolingo should be your app of choice over Block Blast.

Joo Lee Uh: The 3 by 3 block is tattooed onto my corneas.

I can’t tell if you mean by choice or because you’ve been staring at the game for so long. Either way, phonetically spelling your name has never and will never be in style.

Jason Derulo: I know I’m falling into the famous-person-addict lifestyle and for that, I’m truly…

And he’s started playing Block Blast. Another great one is lost to the blocks.

James, Lebron: Balling? More like block blasting!

Kevin: I hate the stupid game. I work day and night blasting endless blocks and get paid nothing. The makers of this game are ungrateful wannabes. You know that Block Puzzle was around first?? That’s the real og. Also, Block Blast always tries to make me lose. What’s up with that huh? You knew I couldn’t place that zig-zaggy block and you gave it to me anyway! You worthless piece of—

Ok Kevin, let's get you to bed.

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Well folks, it’s up to you; are these people addicted? And is it a problem?

Therapists around the world are debating these questions every second. Some say the dopamine rushes you get from clearing a row are unhealthy while others say that the wave of rage that washes over you when you know you’re about to lose cleanses your soul more thoroughly than reaching nirvana (I asked Buddha and he said so. We’re pals).

My opinion, you ask? Do what makes you happy. For some people that’s spending time with family, touching grass, and creating long-lasting memories. For other people it’s clearing 32 blocks in a single move, getting an “all clear”, and hearing an unsettling voice say “good” or “amazing.” I mean, we’re all unique beings at the end of the day, right?

Let’s even take another step back. Is being addicted to Block Blast really that bad? You can learn colors, spatial reasoning, anger mismanagement, and tons of other things from the game. You might even learn to count to a million! And even if your high score never exceeds ten thousand and your IQ drops to the lowest of lows, you’ll always have community with Joey, Jilly, Josh, Jakwelin, Jim Bob, Joo Lee uh, Jason, James (Lebron), and Kevin.

So block blast away my friends, and reach for the stars (Because you’ll never get there for real because NASA doesn’t hire people who willfully rotted their brains away—maybe SpaceX does?)