photo credit: Taylor Guzek
High school hallways are prone to catching on to trends quickly. Typically, it’s a new fashion fad or new TikTok slang word on everyone’s lips, but recently it’s hit mobile games buzzing up students’ phones.
Apps like Clash Royale, Clash of Clans, Brawl Stars or Block Blast have gained a sudden uproar among high school students who are constantly balancing schoolwork, extracurriculars and social lives. These casual competitive time-killers turned into a shared experience that connects students despite the grade or friend group.
“There are both positive and negative impacts. I mean, it’s a good outlet for kids to reduce stress and promote thinking skills. Improper time management has a negative impact, especially during school hours,” Personal Finance Teacher Christian Hipsher said.
When boredom strikes, the majority might find themselves tapping away on Tiktok and Instagram, where bed-rotting and doom-scrolling were just the beginning of teenage procrastination. Now, many students are thriving on competing with one another on Clash Royale. Players can battle each other in real time and climb those leaderboards. These fast-paced matches are perfectly fitting for those short breaks between classes or downtime after completing assignments in class.
“In general, gaming is okay, it is really tough when that temptation follows you everywhere you go when it’s so easy to access on your phone. It could be hard to manage that temptation, but devices can be used for other great things but everything is a distraction nowadays, and not just for students,” AP Statistics Teacher Andrew Bachmann said.
Forewarning, don’t get near the berserk behavior of someone trying to beat their high score on Block Blast. What should be a cute and fun little puzzle game, quickly turned students scarily infatuated. Released in late 2022, and gaining large recognition in 2024, emulating a well-known game like Tetris, Block Blast requires lightning-fast reactions to strategize each move, according to Block Blast.io. Puzzle-perfect for students in study halls or who are simply looking for a stimulating brain-teaser.
“I like the fact that I can listen to music while playing, and not focus on the stress and ignore the world around me,“ senior Alyssa Yuschak said.
Block Blast is thought to improve brain efficiency and visuospatial intelligence. The satisfying dopamine relief can lead to an addictive behavior, according to The Neuro Times.
Released in 2018, free-to-play Brawl Stars is flooding phones with its character customization and battle arenas. Players team up in a 3v3 or 5v5 to compete in various game modes like “Bounty”, where gamers can collect stars when taking out other opponents-or “Heist”, protecting one’s team’s safe while attacking an opponent’s, according to Brawl Stars Supercell.
Players can choose to update their character that they call “Brawlers”. Each character possesses a powerful ability and various gadgets. The game’s multiplayer features create a strong sense of camaraderie and team-building among players, allowing them to bond and spend time together virtually and in person.
“It’s a really fun game to play when I’m bored, and I enjoy playing it with other friends,” senior Thrihan Ramani said.
Video games have been a cultural obsession for decades; the rise in games is randomized every year. For high school students in the 2000s, consoles and PCs often defined social circles. Whether teens played epic first-person shooter Halo:Combat Evolved or the sandbox freedom of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City told a lot about how they used their time after school. Popular real-life simulator The Sims, took up many hours of the day for some when it was released in early 2000.
“When I went to school, Clash of Clans was also popular. A lot of people played Fruit Ninja and Doodle Jump. Angry Birds was more popular when I was in middle school,” Hipsher said.
Since the end of the last school year, apps like Clash Royale and Clash of Clans have gained more and more players. Tapping away on a quick free-to-play mini-game helps fill that feeling of boredom, pertaining more to teenagers and young adults.
Mobile games have always had their place in students’ lives, from Pokemon Go! and Minecraft, to now Brawl Stars and Block Blast. Ultimately, phones have transformed into a gaming landscape, making it a universal pastime to enjoy anywhere, anytime.
