First Block Blast, now Clash Royale. First launched in 2016, this game has recently gained popularity, particularly among teenagers, including the Dubs at North. With a combination of skill and luck, this game requires quick thinking and decision-making under pressure. Not only has it become commonly played, but students are using it as a social hub. Players can battle one another and join clans with their friends. Is this game one for the ages or simply a passing trend?
Unlike some games where you have to wait a while to make any progress, the constant upgrades and updates make Clash unique. Players are constantly being rewarded, and there is always something new keeping them captivated and glued to their screens. Some are skeptical if these two factors keep their audience hooked, others aren’t. Sophomore Ansley Kirbo had a different approach and opinion on Clash. “I downloaded it at first as a joke, I didn’t understand the hype,” she said. “Now, it’s like a dopamine hit; I think it’s because they give you so many upgrades and rewards”.
Like every trend and game recently, there’s a possibility that Clash Royale’s popularity might soon be taken over by another game. Supercell not only made Clash Royale, but also other popular games such as Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars. “[Clash Royale] is definitely a passing trend, but the developers are making loads of money by cycling through games like Clash of Clans, Brawl Stars, and Clash Royale,” said freshman Oliver Iverson. “It is deeply ingrained in NAHS culture right now, but another game by Supercell will inevitably take its place.”
To some, the continuous luring of many factors is what makes Clash Royale so awful. Yes, it might be fun at first, but the constant updates and appeal can be draining. Eating a bowl of ice cream is delicious, but eating the whole tub might be too much. Similarly, playing Clash once is enjoyable, but the three-thousandth time might be overdoing it for some students. Many are angered with Clash, but whether they’re really mad at the game or themselves is the question. “It’s just addicting, it’s enraging, and I hate it so much. This game sucks,” said sophomore Patrick McCaden Moore.
Trends are…well, trends. They come and they go. Right now, Clash Royale is consuming the minds of many students at North Atlanta. While a few have been able to avoid it, some are obsessed with the constant updates and cards. The NAHS clans and battles might be epic right now, but will they last?. What will be the next game to take over the halls, classrooms, and culture of North Atlanta? Next week, Clash may end, but the battle for the next big game has just begun.
