ByteBlast

A BlockBlast clone and solver in PyGame

About

ByteBlast is a BlockBlast clone using PyGame that includes an auto solver that uses a backtracking algorithm to find solutions. BlockBlast is a puzzle game where players place blocks on a grid to clear rows and columns much like Tetris.

Features

• Block movement and placement: use the keyboard keys to move and place blocks on the grid.
• Line clear: clear entire rows and columns when they are filled.
• Random solvable block generation: generates new blocks that can always be solved.
• Score tracking: track the users score as they place blocks and clear lines.
• Auto-solve: an algorithm that automatically solves the puzzle indefinitely using backtracking.

Installation

1. Clone the repo

   git clone https://github.com/andrianllmm/byteblast.git
   cd byteblast

2. Create and activate a virtual environment

   python -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate  # or venv\Scripts\activate for Windows

3. Install the dependencies

   pip install -r requirements.txt

4. Start the game

   python src/main.py

Usage

Gameplay Rules

• Blocks can only be placed if they fully fit within the grid and do not overlap existing tiles.

• Completing a full row or columnclears it and awards bonus points.

• Your score increases based on:

  • The number of tiles placed.
  • The number of rows and columns cleared.

• New blocks are generated only when all current blocks are placed.

• Generated blocks are guaranteed to be solvable.

Game Over

The game ends when none of the available blocks can be placed anywhere on the grid.

Controls

Block Selection

• A: Select first block
• S: Select second block
• D: Select third block
• TAB: Cycle through available blocks

Block Movement

• Arrow Keys: Move the selected block around the grid

Placement

• SPACE: Place the currently selected block

Auto Solver

• ENTER: Toggle auto-solve mode

  • When enabled, the solver will automatically place blocks using a backtracking algorithm.
  • The game will continue indefinitely until no valid solution exists.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! To get started:

1. Fork the project
2. Create your feature branch (git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/AmazingFeature)
5. Open a pull request

Issues

Found a bug or issue? Report it on the issues page.