Block Blast has become one of the biggest mobile games in the world, but a new investigation is raising questions about whether players are actually being given a fair chance to succeed. Despite its enormous popularity, the title has faced criticism over its in-game ads. Now, one developer claims to have discovered something considerably more concerning: an algorithm that allegedly manipulates the game to make players lose at specific moments.
The allegations come as Block Blast continues to generate enormous revenue through advertising, with estimates suggesting it has made hundreds of millions of ads during key phases of its life. In some estimates, it has far exceeded other major mobile games on the market. With so many people playing Block Blast, even relatively small changes to how advertisements are presented could have a significant impact on the game’s earnings.
Block Blast Accused of Rigging Game for Ads
Developer and content creator Ayomide Omolewa recently investigated Block Blast by decompiling its Android software and examining how the game operates behind the scenes. As reported by Inc., Omolewa claims to have discovered systems that deliberately influence which blocks players receive based on their performance and advertising history. According to his findings, the game allegedly considers information such as a player’s country, phone model (Android vs. Apple & beyond), and previous advertising revenue when determining their experience. Omolewa summarized his findings in a viral Instagram video, stating:
“It turns out, how well you do in the game has less to do with your skill, and more to do with how much you’re worth to them in ads.”
One of the most concerning allegations involves what Omolewa describes as a Block Blast “death algorithm,” which he claims can generate impossible combinations of pieces to force players into losing. According to his analysis, one particular rule activates when three conditions are met: the player has completed three rewarded advertisements, another available advertisement is worth at least 3.5 times the previous one, and their current score exceeds their personal best by 1,000 points. The alleged system would then create a situation where players lose and are offered another advertisement to continue playing.
Omolewa also claims that Block Blast can manipulate game difficulty in the opposite direction, giving struggling players easier pieces to encourage them to keep playing. Other alleged systems reportedly adjust the experience based on how quickly someone plays or whether they’re approaching a new high score. However, these findings remain allegations based on Omolewa’s investigation, not independently verified proof of deliberate manipulation. Hungry Studio has previously discussed its extensive testing systems, revealing that it conducted more than 10,000 A/B tests during 2025, but the company did not respond to Inc.’s request for comment on the allegations.
The controversy raises some uncomfortable questions about Block Blast and the broader mobile gaming industry, especially when advertisements are tied directly to a player’s ability to continue playing. Difficulty adjustments aren’t necessarily unusual in games, but deliberately creating impossible situations to encourage advertising engagement would be a different matter.
