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Block N Load

A habit-forming FPS for its strategic possibilities and tactical depth, but the lack of matchmaking is especially worrisome.
Block N Load Game Cover
73%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
story, grinding
76% User Score Based on 7,161 reviews
Critic Score 68%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
Block N Load Game Cover

About

Block N Load is a single player and multiplayer shooter game. It was developed by Artplant and was released on April 30, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Block N Load" is a free-to-play, massively multiplayer shooter game with single-player options, featuring unique and humorous characters and creative building mechanics. Every match is different, as players construct and destroy their way to victory in this tactical and strategic FPS. The game offers a variety of roles and requires both intelligent planning and shooter skills.

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76%
Audience ScoreBased on 7,161 reviews
gameplay190 positive mentions
story6 negative mentions

  • Block N Load offers a unique blend of building mechanics and team-based shooter gameplay, making each match feel fresh and engaging.
  • The game encourages creativity and strategic thinking, allowing players to build defenses and attack in various ways.
  • Despite its current low player base, the game has a dedicated community that appreciates its fun mechanics and character diversity.
  • The player base has significantly dwindled, leading to long matchmaking times and difficulty finding games.
  • Many players report issues with balance, particularly with certain characters being overpowered, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • The game has been criticized for its microtransaction model, which some players feel creates a pay-to-win environment.
  • gameplay
    484 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Block n Load" is characterized by a unique blend of team-based first-person shooting and strategic block-building mechanics, reminiscent of both Minecraft and Team Fortress 2. Players appreciate the fast-paced, dynamic nature of matches, where constructing defenses and traps adds depth to combat, although some find the learning curve steep and matchmaking inconsistent. Overall, while the gameplay is engaging and offers a variety of tactics, it is marred by issues such as balance problems and a dwindling player base, which can detract from the experience.

    • “The core gameplay is a fantastic blend of team-based combat and block-building.”
    • “The block-building mechanics allow you to create defensive structures, traps, and even offensive weaponry, adding an extra layer of strategy that sets Block N Load apart from other shooters.”
    • “Whether you're laying down mines, building walls, or launching rockets, the gameplay is fast-paced and rewarding.”
    • “The gameplay itself is rather boring and tends to drag on.”
    • “The finished product should be a fun game, even funnier played with friends, but less fun after reaching level 10 or so (where you begin to get overwhelmed by the pros and matches last up to an hour), with a broken matchmaking that will take 1 to 5 minutes to get into a game and even then you'll be encountering 2 vs 6 situations.”
    • “Gameplay is also repetitive and extremely unbalanced.”
  • graphics
    229 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally described as colorful and cartoonish, contributing to a lighthearted and engaging atmosphere. While some players appreciate the vibrant art style and find it well-suited to the gameplay, others criticize it for being reminiscent of lower-quality voxel graphics, often comparing it unfavorably to Minecraft. Overall, opinions are mixed, with many acknowledging the graphics as charming yet not groundbreaking, and some expressing a desire for improvements.

    • “The graphics and art style of Block N Load are charming and vibrant, creating a visually appealing world that complements the fast-paced nature of the gameplay.”
    • “The graphics are colorful and cartoony, which gives the game a lighthearted vibe that makes it easy to pick up and enjoy, without losing any of the depth.”
    • “This game is amazing because of its addictive gameplay and amazing graphics.”
    • “The graphics aren't great, a blend of Minecraft ripoff voxel 'art' and a bunch of skinnable characters, making it feel like a lazy attempt to capitalize on Minecraft's success.”
    • “This game has bad graphics, bad sound, bad server lag, bad teams, a bad concept, and a bad pay-to-win system.”
    • “Used to love this game but quit because of the graphics now.”
  • humor
    109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying its funny characters, witty dialogue, and light-hearted approach that fosters a fun community atmosphere. Many reviews highlight the game's comedic elements, such as humorous voice lines and creative gameplay mechanics, which contribute to a playful experience, especially when played with friends. Overall, the game is described as a blend of humor and strategy, making it entertaining and enjoyable for those with a good sense of humor.

    • “It's great to have an FPS game where you can also get creative and build traps, forts, etc. On top of that, I can appreciate the humorous heroes and a light-hearted approach, which results in a community devoid of elitism or toxicity and mostly comprised of people who just want to have fun.”
    • “The music is amazing and the amount of hilarious voice acting is Deadpool-worthy.”
    • “This game has a lot of humor and it is really fun because it's like Ace of Spades but better, as it's basically attack and defend but there are a variety of characters.”
  • story
    53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The consensus among users is that the game lacks a meaningful story, with many reviewers stating there is essentially no narrative to engage with. Instead, gameplay focuses on mechanics like daily missions and multiplayer interactions, which some players find enjoyable despite the absence of a traditional storyline. Overall, the game's structure and community interactions are highlighted as more significant than any narrative elements.

    • “Nice game, awesome announcer, has a good community, and has a really different plot than other games.”
    • “This game tells the story of a group of psychopathic idiots with an addiction for cube-shaped objects.”
    • “Moral of the story: you will most likely get your ass kicked when you first play, but after the first five matches, you begin to kick ass of your own, eventually becoming a very good player and learning the maps, tactics, and strategies in order to win the match(es).”
    • “The developer gambled that other players would be an acceptable substitute for adding storytelling, level design, etc. to the game.”
    • “Block n Load really has no story to speak of.”
    • “If you were expecting a story, you're out of luck.”
  • grinding
    45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized, with many players noting that it requires an excessive amount of time to unlock characters and achievements, often likening it to a second job. While some players find the grind rewarding, the general consensus is that the time investment needed to progress is disproportionately high, leading to frustration and a sense of tedium. Additionally, the game's monetization strategies exacerbate the grind, making it feel pay-to-win for those unwilling to invest significant time.

    • “It's not that grindy as well!”
    • “Nice mix of characters to play as and not too grindy.”
    • “Teamwork matters and there are balancing issues, but it is free-to-play and not too grindy.”
    • “Very grindy achievements; also, the developer gave too little time with the announcement about the server shutdown, so it's impossible to reach level 100 with around 15 classes in such a short time.”
    • “The gameplay might have been good, but the actual process of obtaining characters takes way too much grinding.”
    • “What it really is, is a horrifyingly grindy system that gives you gold in occasional 20-50 gold snippets. At first, this may seem reasonable until you realize that most things in the shop range from 60,000 to 200,000 gold.”
  • monetization
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, primarily due to its reliance on microtransactions, which many players feel detracts from the overall experience and creates a pay-to-win environment. While some users acknowledge that certain microtransactions are cosmetic and not essential for gameplay, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game has become a cash grab, alienating its player base and diminishing its potential. Overall, the combination of aggressive monetization tactics and a lack of effective advertising has contributed to a decline in player engagement and satisfaction.

    • “Although I, along with many people on the internet, hate microtransactions, this game manages to implement them in a way that doesn't really give people who pay a large advantage.”
    • “The microtransactions can be a bit annoying, but if you enjoy the game, you can successfully grind your way to classes and perks, and the game has a MOBA-style class rotation so that you can still play a variety of classes.”
    • “The only other microtransactions consist of cosmetic skins, which you can't complain about, to be fair.”
    • “As mentioned, this isn't really free as the game is infested with mobile app store-like microtransactions.”
    • “In short, I think the massive amount of microtransactions and putting heroes behind insurmountable paywalls has led to this game's demise, which is common for Jagex.”
    • “This game is pay-to-win, meaning that it has in-app purchases.”
  • optimization
    43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly on lower-end PCs, and citing poor CPU utilization. While some users appreciate the smooth gameplay and minimal bugs, others express frustration over the game's demanding requirements and lack of stability, especially during competitive play. Overall, while there are positive remarks about performance improvements since beta, many still feel that further optimization is necessary for a better experience.

    • “And I also personally like very much that this game has rarely bugs and good performance.”
    • “The game runs smoothly and has no lag issues, very well constructed.”
    • “Despite taking on many genres, Block N Load actually performs very well in terms of balanced gameplay and performance.”
    • “As far as I know, Unity is supposedly not the best engine to code a game in, and BNL only runs on one processor core, making the performance horrible for many people.”
    • “The devs bit off more than they could chew, ignored community feedback, and generally made poor decisions with changes/updates, as well as the game just generally having awful performance and being poorly optimized.”
    • “I feel that the game is poorly optimized (in terms of smoothness and fps rate), but of course, it is a beta.”
  • music
    41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy and energetic soundtrack, enhancing the overall atmosphere and excitement during gameplay. Players appreciate the variety, including unique themes for different zones and the ability to unlock additional tracks through gameplay. However, some users have noted issues with repetitive or annoying menu music, and a few expressed dissatisfaction with the limited representation of music from handheld titles.

    • “The game's soundtrack also adds to the overall atmosphere, enhancing the sense of excitement during intense battles.”
    • “Better yet, all of the music you collect through the challenge gates and red rings can be used for the music for whatever act or boss fight before you begin.”
    • “The music is upbeat and gets you pumped up to attack and/or defend.”
    • “The music is annoying and voice lines feel forced.”
    • “Finally, the menu has annoying 'music' that won't stop, even if you set every sound to 0.”
    • “Aside from the main theme and menu music, the game features no noteworthy music.”
  • stability
    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent freezes, lag, and connection issues, particularly when joining games or changing settings. While some users noted that the game runs well and is mostly bug-free, others experienced significant glitches and server problems that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the game is considered fun but suffers from stability issues, especially given its beta status.

    • “Overall 7/10, mostly because it's not buggy and it runs well.”
    • “The game looks good and seems rather bug-free, so it has that going for it.”
    • “Awesome game, really fun with friends, and it runs and plays great.”
    • “You can't have more than 2 players in a squad and the game freezes after 2 minutes; verifying files didn't fix anything.”
    • “It took me at least 15 minutes to join 1 game, and when I finally did, it was extremely laggy and buggy.”
    • “The game freezes and crashes when changing graphics settings on both my laptop with a dual-core Intel i5 3GHz processor and 6GB of RAM, and my beefy 4th gen Intel i7 quad-core desktop with GTX 970 and 8GB of RAM.”
  • replayability
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    "Block N Load" offers a mix of diverse characters and unique gameplay mechanics that contribute to its replayability, with many players enjoying the variety in matches and daily challenges. However, some users feel that the limited building time and map design can lead to a quick sense of boredom, suggesting that the game's replay value may heavily depend on playing with friends. Overall, while it has potential for replayability, it may not be as engaging for solo players or those seeking more content.

    • “The diverse cast of characters, each with unique abilities and playstyles, adds to the game's depth and replayability.”
    • “I think the game also has quite some replay value, since every match you play is different.”
    • “Block n Load takes two ideas that have already been done (Minecraft and Team Fortress 2) but mixes them in a beautiful symphony of game design, creating its own original style that I've never seen done before, with replayability beyond my initial expectations.”
    • “Now all in all this game is enjoyable for a few hours but from what my friends and I have noticed is that it gets very boring very fast, and you'd expect a lot of replayability from a game that you build your own defenses, but with the maps being developed the way they are and the fact of only having 5 minutes to build kills the possibilities.”
    • “Great game, don't get me wrong, but I just don't see that much replay value in it unless you have friends to play it with.”
    • “I would like to see more block types and more playable characters.”
  • character development
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is marked by a diverse range of character designs and abilities that enhance strategic gameplay, allowing for experimentation with different combinations. While some players appreciate the art style and level balance, others criticize certain character designs and voice acting as cringeworthy or outdated. Overall, despite mixed opinions on aesthetics, the engaging gameplay often compensates for these shortcomings.

    • “The variety in character design and abilities keeps the matches interesting, and experimenting with different combinations adds an extra layer of strategy.”
    • “I enjoy the art style, the strategy with additional construction and destruction elements not common in other similar games, the character designs and generally level balance, and a lack of pervasive micro-transactions.”
    • “For a blocky game, the graphics are quite good, but what really sold this game to me was the character design.”
    • “The real downside to the game, in my opinion, is the somewhat cringeworthy character design and voice acting.”
    • “Though nowhere near as bad as Paladins (god, that game's character design was awful), some of the design choices might seem a bit archaic or mildly offensive.”
    • “The character design doesn't go with the scenery at all; it looks like the characters are all toys.”
  • atmosphere
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is described as a mix of lightheartedness and strategic depth, with a soundtrack that enhances excitement during battles. While some players miss the friendlier vibe of its initial release, many appreciate the enjoyable and creative environment that encourages both casual play and tactical teamwork. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as fun and engaging, reminiscent of a blend between Minecraft and Team Fortress 2.

    • “The game's soundtrack also adds to the overall atmosphere, enhancing the sense of excitement during intense battles.”
    • “Love this game, incorporates a surprisingly detailed and strategic foundation for such a simple looking game; the atmosphere is light and not too serious yet it caters towards thinking, not mindless point and clicking.”
    • “Creating a fun atmosphere where you can choose to run and gun, or work tactically with your team for a better chance of winning.”
    • “All of that said, I came into this game under the impression that other reviewers generalized it to be a mix between Minecraft and Team Fortress 2, where ostensibly the fort-building part and main aesthetic comes from Minecraft, whereas the classes and overall atmosphere felt like Team Fortress 2.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, feeling heartbroken over its potential being undermined by dwindling player numbers. The frustration of gameplay mechanics, such as blocks not falling as expected, adds to the emotional weight, highlighting the challenges of teamwork and strategy in a world that feels alive yet precarious.

    • “It's heartbreaking to see a great game with so much potential die off because there's not enough people playing it.”
    • “Maybe you'll build a bridge in the sky above their defenses, put a bomb down, and then destroy the block under it so it falls; maybe they'll dig out whatever's supporting your skybridge before that happens (blocks can't just float like in Minecraft, they'll basically ragdoll if they're not attached to the ground at least through some other blocks touching it).”
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18h Median play time
91h Average play time
5-106h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 27 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Block N Load is a shooter game.

Block N Load is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 91 hours playing Block N Load.

Block N Load was released on April 30, 2015.

Block N Load was developed by Artplant.

Block N Load has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Block N Load is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Awesomenauts - the 2D moba, Dirty Bomb, Ace of Spades: Battle Builder, Awesomenauts, ArcheBlade and others.