--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "This is Blast!" developer_entity: "Voodoo" bundle_id: "com.kiragan.blastjam" app_store_id: "6738323233" category: "Games" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Freemium" offline_capable: true market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS & Android" app_last_updated: "2026-04-13" report_date: "2026-05-07" report_version: "3.12.0" total_reviews: 20216 overall_rating: 4.36 sentiment: "Frustrated" sentiment_score: 35 confidence: "high" confidence_score: 0.9 top_praise_theme: "Relaxing core gameplay loop provides a satisfying stress relief experience for casual players" top_complaint_theme: "Persistent progress resets force players back to the first level after recent updates" top_request_theme: "Cross-device cloud synchronization is needed to prevent progress loss and enable multi-device play" review_sample_size: 146 total_review_count: 146 analyzed_review_count: 100 data_age_days: 55 momentum_velocity: "active" intelligence_version: 3 nemesis: "Blockudoku - Block Puzzle Game" competitor_count: 8 tags: ["games", "freemium", "frustrated sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "casual", "mobile", "gamers"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/com-kiragan-blastjam" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" last_verified: "2026-05-07T18:01:34.601Z" --- # This is Blast! App Audit ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Games · Freemium - **Signal**: Rating 4.36 · Sentiment Frustrated - **Recent focus**: Persistent progress resets force players back to the first level after recent updates (top complaint) · Relaxing core gameplay loop provides a satisfying stress relief experience for casual players (top praise) · Cross-device cloud synchronization is needed to prevent progress loss and enable multi-device play (top request) > **TL;DR:** This is Blast! is a games app by Voodoo, rated 4.36/5 by 20.2K users, with Frustrated user sentiment (35/100), available on iOS & Android. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** — Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** This is Blast! faces Frustrated user sentiment (4.36/5 from 20.2K reviews), with persistent progress resets force players back to the first level after recent updates as the primary user concern. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 4.36/5 (20.2K reviews) | | **User Mood** | Frustrated | | **Category** | Games | | **Developer** | Voodoo | | **Pricing** | Freemium | | **Platforms** | iOS & Android | | **Confidence** | High (0.9/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 0d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** Voodoo - **Category:** Games - **Target Audience:** Casual mobile gamers seeking short, repetitive puzzle sessions for mental refreshment or commute-based entertainment. - **Platforms:** iOS & Android - **Version Audited:** 3.12.0 - **Audit Date:** 2026-05-07 - **Signal Count:** 146 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** High (0.9/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 6738323233 - **Bundle ID:** com.kiragan.blastjam - **Google Play ID:** com.kiragan.blastjam - **Performance Trend:** Declining - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-05-07 - **Short Description:** Blast blocks, match colors, and clear the board! ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** This is Blast! is a casual puzzle game for mobile devices that combines block-clearing mechanics with ball-blast physics. **Why users hire it:** Players hire the game for low-stakes, repetitive stress relief during short breaks, where the satisfying visual feedback loop provides a quick mental refresh. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Differentiator] Ball Blast Mechanics:** Precision-based shooting mechanics requiring timing to clear board obstacles - **[Standard] Offline Mode:** Full game functionality available without an active internet connection * *User Intent:* Users want uninterrupted access without internet dependency. - **[Standard] Seasonal Events:** Time-limited content drops and challenges updated throughout the year ## Market Position {#market-position} This is Blast! currently sits at #99 Grossing in its category, with the rank falling 3 spots this week. The discrepancy between its casual appeal and the declining grossing rank signals that monetization friction is outpacing user acquisition. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Freemium - **Tiers:** Free-to-play with optional in-app purchases - **Analysis:** Freemium model relies on IAP for power-ups and boosters to monetize a free-to-play user base. ## 🔴 User Sentiment (High Confidence: 100 of 146 reviews analyzed) {#user-sentiment} - **Overall Rating:** 4.36/5 - **Platform Split:** iOS 4.6/5 (7.6K ratings) | Android 4.2/5 (12.6K ratings) - **Overall Sentiment:** Frustrated - **Note:** The 4.36/5 store rating reflects cumulative history, while the Frustrated sentiment reflects recent user reviews analyzed by our AI pipeline. ### Top Praises - **Relaxing core gameplay loop provides a satisfying stress relief experience for casual players** - **Visual design and color palette choices create an engaging and attractive puzzle environment** ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **Persistent progress resets force players back to the first level after recent updates** - **Aggressive monetization and forced advertisement frequency degrade the overall user experience significantly** ### Top Requests (What Users Want) - **Cross-device cloud synchronization is needed to prevent progress loss and enable multi-device play** ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - High-energy visual feedback loop sustains short-session engagement - Offline-play capability removes connectivity barriers for commuters **Critical Frictions:** - Persistent progress-reset bug triggers immediate uninstalls - Aggressive ad frequency degrades long-term retention - Lack of cloud-sync prevents multi-device play **Growth Levers:** - Implementing cloud-based account syncing to reduce churn - Adding accessibility features like colorblind modes to expand addressable market **Market Threats:** - Tetris IP-based entrants siphoning search intent - Rising user acquisition costs in casual puzzle category - Competitor live-ops cadence outpacing current update frequency ## Recent Changes (v2 → v3) {#recent-changes} The app's competitive position has deteriorated due to critical progress-loss bugs and increased monetization friction, resulting in a negative sentiment shift and a decline in grossing rank. **Overall trend**: Declining **Compared at**: 2026-05-07 ### High-impact changes - **[Declined] Sentiment and Rating Drop** (sentiment) — Overall sentiment shifted from positive to negative, with the sentiment score falling from 62 to 35 and the rating dropping from 4.65 to 4.19. - **[Added] Critical Progress-Reset Bug** (swot) — Persistent progress-reset bugs were identified as a primary weakness and churn driver, replacing previous general technical issue concerns. - **[Declined] Grossing Rank Decline** (positioning) — Category grossing rank fell from #87 to #99, indicating a loss in market momentum. ### Medium-impact changes - **[Added] Seasonal Events** (features) — Seasonal events were introduced as a standard feature to provide time-limited content drops. - **[Added] Monetization Friction** (sentiment) — New complaints emerged regarding specific price hikes for in-game boosters and forced advertisement frequency between every level. ## Rivals Landscape {#rivals} > Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals. ### This is Blast! vs Blockudoku - Block Puzzle Game — Head to Head - **[Blockudoku - Block Puzzle Game](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/com-easybrain-blockudoku)** by Easybrain Ltd: This is the most direct rival, sharing the exact 'block puzzle' mechanics and grid-based gameplay loop as the target app. - **Moat strength:** Medium — durable but contestable - **Key differences:** - Integrates Sudoku-style grid constraints that force strategic placement beyond simple line clearing mechanics. - Maintains a minimalist, high-contrast aesthetic that reduces visual clutter compared to the target's explosive effects. - Utilizes a daily challenge system to drive long-term retention that the target app currently lacks. - **Where This is Blast! wins:** - ✅ Delivers a more high-energy, satisfying feedback loop through explosive chain reactions and visual rewards. - ✅ Offers a more accessible, casual entry point for players who prefer fast-paced arcade-style puzzle sessions. - **Where Blockudoku - Block Puzzle Game wins:** - ❌ Provides a deeper, more meditative experience through the integration of classic Sudoku logic constraints. - ❌ Features a more mature, polished UI design that appeals to players seeking a cleaner aesthetic. - **Verdict:** The target app must lean into its 'blast' identity to differentiate from the slower, logic-heavy gameplay of Blockudoku. ### Contenders (Strong Challengers) - **[Woodoku - Wood Block Puzzles](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/woodoku-wood-block-puzzles)** by Tripledot Studios [Moat: High]: A dominant force in the block puzzle genre with high update velocity and massive user scale. - Features a distinct wood-themed tactile aesthetic that creates a unique sensory experience for players. - Aggressive live-ops cadence with frequent seasonal events keeps the core loop feeling fresh and evolving. - **[1010! Block Puzzle Game](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/1010-block-puzzle-game)** by Gram Games [Moat: Medium]: The foundational title for the block puzzle genre, maintaining a massive, loyal player base. - Offers a pure, unadulterated block-placement experience without the distraction of complex meta-layers or themes. - Optimized for extremely low-friction sessions that allow for rapid, repetitive gameplay cycles. - **[Tetris® Block Blast](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/puzzle/tetris-blast)** by PlayStudios [Moat: Medium]: Directly competes for the 'Blast' and 'Tetris' search intent with a high-recognition brand. - Leverages the globally recognized Tetris IP to lower user acquisition costs and increase initial trust. - Combines classic falling-block mechanics with modern blast-style clearing to bridge two distinct puzzle audiences. ### Peers (What They Do Better) - **[Royal Match](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/royal-match)** by Dream Games: Adjacent puzzle category leader that defines the current standard for high-quality match-3 production values. - Sets the industry benchmark for smooth, high-fidelity animations and satisfying 'juice' in puzzle clearing. - Implements a highly refined meta-game loop that keeps players engaged between core puzzle sessions. - **[Toon Blast](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/toon-blast)** by Peak Games: A direct competitor in the 'blast' sub-genre, focusing on character-driven progression. - Uses a character-led narrative structure to build emotional investment in the puzzle-solving journey. - Features a robust team-based social system that drives competitive engagement through weekly tournaments. - **[Triple Tile: Match Puzzle Game](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/triple-tile-match-puzzle-game)** by Tripledot Studios: Adjacent tile-matching genre that competes for the same casual puzzle-solving time budget. - Focuses on 3D tile-matching mechanics that provide a different spatial challenge than 2D block puzzles. - Employs a 'collectible' meta-layer that encourages players to unlock various tile sets and themes. ### New Kids on the Block (What's Innovative) - **[Zen Match - Relaxing Puzzle](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/com-exoticmatch-game)** by Moon Active: Rapidly growing title that successfully pivoted the puzzle genre toward a 'relaxing' value proposition. ## What's New - **Latest (v3.12.0, 3 weeks ago):** General bug fixes and performance improvements. ## App Momentum (Active) {#momentum} - Shipped stability fixes in latest release. - Maintains seasonal content update cadence. > **Cadence:** 5 total versions · 0 majors in last 6 months · 24 days since last update · 6 days avg between updates ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} This is Blast! is a challenged games app that is free with in-app purchases. With a 4.36/5 rating from 20.2K reviews, it faces significant user friction. > **Bottom Line:** This is Blast! maintains a strong casual loop through satisfying visual feedback, but the persistent progress-reset bug and aggressive ad frequency actively erode the player base, so the PM must prioritize technical stability over new content to prevent further chart decline. **Best for:** Casual mobile gamers seeking short, repetitive puzzle sessions for mental refreshment or commute-based entertainment. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [PIVOT] [HIGH IMPACT] Rebuild save-state logic because progress-reset reports are the top churn driver → stabilize retention — *Multiple user reviews cite progress loss as the primary reason for immediate uninstalls.* _(trade-off: deprioritize Pause all new seasonal content development for one sprint — retention stability is the immediate priority.)_ - [ ] [INVEST] [MEDIUM IMPACT] Implement cloud-sync because cross-device play is the top-requested feature → increase long-term LTV — *Users explicitly request account connectivity to prevent data loss and enable multi-device play.* _(trade-off: deprioritize Deprioritize the new level-pack release — data security is a higher-value retention lever.)_ ### Feature Gaps vs Competitors - Daily challenge system (available in Blockudoku but missing here) - Sudoku-style grid constraints (available in Blockudoku but missing here) - Home-decorating meta-elements (available in Zen Match but missing here) ### Outlook: Declining Casual block-puzzle traffic is consolidating around fresh entrants, and the lack of robust meta-layers leaves This is Blast! exposed to competitors with higher live-ops velocity. The current technical instability will erode the user base before the next major content drop can recover the lost chart position. - 🔴 Persistent progress-reset bugs in the latest release trigger immediate uninstalls, which compounds the rating drag already visible on the Android platform. - 🔴 Aggressive ad frequency and difficulty spikes in later levels force reliance on paid boosters, which alienates the core casual audience and compresses long-term retention. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 4.36/5 | | Total Reviews | 20.2K | | Sentiment | Frustrated (35/100) | | Confidence | High | | Pricing Model | Freemium | | Platforms | iOS & Android | | Key Features | 3 analyzed | | Trend | Declining | | Outlook | Declining | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **This is Blast!** (this app) | 4.36/5 | Frustrated | Voodoo | | [Zen Match - Relaxing Puzzle](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/com-exoticmatch-game) | 4.6/5 | Frustrated | Moon Active | | [Royal Match](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/royal-match) | 4.7/5 | Frustrated | Dream Games | | [Toon Blast](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/toon-blast) | 4.7/5 | Excited | Peak Games | | [Woodoku - Wood Block Puzzles](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/woodoku-wood-block-puzzles) | 4.7/5 | Frustrated | Tripledot Studios | | [Triple Tile: Match Puzzle Game](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/triple-tile-match-puzzle-game) | 4.9/5 | Mixed | Tripledot Studios | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** Voodoo - **Website:** [https://www.voodoo.io](https://www.voodoo.io) - **Social:** [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/voodoo.io) · [X/Twitter](https://twitter.com/voodooplatform) · [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/voodoo) ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/this-is-blast/id6738323233?uo=2) - **Google Play:** [View on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kiragan.blastjam&hl=en&gl=us) - **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://www.voodoo.io) - **Sources:** Developer website content, About us / company information, App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*Zen Match - Relaxing Puzzle*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/com-exoticmatch-game) (Moon Active) — 4.6/5 Rating | Negative Sentiment - [*Royal Match*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/royal-match) (Dream Games) — 4.7/5 Rating | Negative Sentiment - [*Toon Blast*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/toon-blast) (Peak Games) — 4.7/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*Woodoku - Wood Block Puzzles*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/woodoku-wood-block-puzzles) (Tripledot Studios) — 4.7/5 Rating | Negative Sentiment - [*Triple Tile: Match Puzzle Game*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/triple-tile-match-puzzle-game) (Tripledot Studios) — 4.9/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*1010! Block Puzzle Game*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/1010-block-puzzle-game) (Gram Games) — 4.3/5 Rating | Negative Sentiment - [*Tetris® Blast*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/puzzle/tetris-blast) (PLAYSTUDIOS US, LLC) — 4.8/5 Rating | Negative Sentiment - [*Blockudoku - Block Puzzle Game*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/com-easybrain-blockudoku) (Easybrain Ltd) — 4.6/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*Temple Run*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/temple-run) (Imangi Studios, LLC) — 4.3/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*Stumble Guys*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/stumble-guys) (Scopely, Inc.) — 4.5/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** — Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps. 2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** — Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks. 3. **User Sentiment Analysis** — Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction and evidence quoting. 4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** — Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category. 5. **Intelligence Synthesis** — Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.9/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 146 - **Data Sources:** user reviews, developer website, company about page, App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 0 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/com-kiragan-blastjam) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.