Smash Hit

{{About|the 2014 video game|other uses|Smash hit (disambiguation){{!}}Smash hit}}

{{Infobox video game

| image = SmashHitappcover.png

| alt = A cracked piece of glass with a silver metal sphere in the centre

| developer = Mediocre

| publisher = Mediocre

| platforms = {{ubl|Android|iOS|Oculus Go|Oculus Rift|Samsung Gear VR}}

| released = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|6 March 2014}}|Android, iOS|6 March 2014|Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR|2015|Oculus Go|2018}}

| genre = Rail shooter

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| designer = Henrik Johansson

| programmer = Dennis Gustafsson

| artist = Henrik Johansson

| composer = Douglas Holmquist

| caption = App icon

}}

Smash Hit is a 2014 rail shooter game developed and published by the Swedish indie game studio Mediocre. Through the game's 11 levels, the player takes a first-person perspective, shooting metal balls to destroy glass obstacles. Additionally, the player can shoot up to five balls at once by smashing a consecutive sequence of crystals and gather power-ups that are activated for a limited amount of time. The game also includes a one-time in-game purchase that allows the player to start from any unlocked checkpoint.

The game's development began in 2012. Dennis Gustafsson programmed the game and created its physics engine and acoustics, while Henrik Johansson designed its levels. Douglas Holmquist was hired to compose the soundtrack and sound effects. The game was released for free on iOS and Android on 6 March 2014. A virtual reality adaptation of the game was released for platforms in 2015 and 2018. Smash Hit received positive reviews from critics, who praised its physics engine, graphics, music, and sound effects. CNET and Apple Inc. listed it as one of the best mobile games of 2014. After Mediocre closed in 2017, Gustafsson and Holmquist worked on the 2022 video game Teardown.

Gameplay

File:Smash Hit gameplay.png

Smash Hit is a first-person 3D rail shooter and endless runner video game in which the player travels forward and must shoot metal balls to destroy glass obstacles while conserving their supply, as the game ends when the player runs out of balls.{{Cite news |last=Carter |first=Chris |date=27 March 2014 |title=Smash Hit Review – Madness with Marbles |url=https://toucharcade.com/2014/03/27/smash-hit-review/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512113145/https://toucharcade.com/2014/03/27/smash-hit-review/ |archive-date=12 May 2022 |access-date=1 December 2023 |work=TouchArcade}}{{Cite news |last=Van Oirschot |first=Allison |date=26 March 2023 |title=Top 10 Hardest Mobile Games |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/best-games/hardest-mobile-games/?page=8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818203807/https://www.pocketgamer.com/best-games/hardest-mobile-games/?page=8 |archive-date=18 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=Pocket Gamer}}{{Cite news |last=Beech |first=Alex |date=11 March 2014 |title=Smash Hit Review |url=https://www.appspy.com/review/8295/smash-hit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818203807/https://www.appspy.com/review/8295/smash-hit |archive-date=18 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=AppSpy}} Colliding with an obstacle results in the loss of ten balls. The player can gain more balls by shooting at crystals, with the number of balls given depending on the crystal's shape.{{Cite news |last=Oxford |first=Nadia |date=24 March 2014 |title=Smash Hit Review |url=http://www.gamezebo.com/games/smash-hit/review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403010059/http://www.gamezebo.com/games/smash-hit/review |archive-date=3 April 2014 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=Gamezebo}} As the player advances, dynamic music plays in the background.{{cite web |last1=Starr |first1=Michelle |date=11 March 2014 |title=Smash Hit Brings the Thrill of Destruction |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/smash-hit-brings-the-thrill-of-destruction/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113162649/https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/smash-hit-brings-the-thrill-of-destruction/ |archive-date=13 November 2022 |access-date=27 June 2022 |website=CNET}}{{Cite news |last=Hamilton |first=Ian |date=9 October 2015 |title=Mobile Success Smash Hit Is Even Better in VR |url=https://uploadvr.com/smash-hit-even-better-vr/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126101402/https://uploadvr.com/smash-hit-even-better-vr/ |archive-date=26 January 2022 |access-date=26 November 2017 |work=UploadVR}}{{Cite news |last=Savov |first=Vlad |date=7 March 2014 |title=Smash Hit for iOS and Android Turns the Act of Destruction into Art |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/3/7/5480664/smash-hit-for-ios-and-android-turns-the-act-of-destruction-into-art |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818203807/https://www.theverge.com/2014/3/7/5480664/smash-hit-for-ios-and-android-turns-the-act-of-destruction-into-art |archive-date=18 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=The Verge}}

By default, the player shoots one ball at a time, but can shoot up to five at once by smashing a consecutive sequence of crystals; missing a crystal or sustaining damage breaks the combo mechanic and resets the number of balls to one. Regardless of the number fired, each shot only deducts one ball from the player's ammunition.{{Cite news |last=Hayward |first=Andrew |date=6 March 2014 |title=Smash Hit Review |url=http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/smash_hit_review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728201824/http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/smash_hit_review |archive-date=28 July 2014 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=MacLife}} The player can also gather power-ups and activate them for a limited amount of time.{{Cite news |last=Pugliese |first=Tommaso |date=15 March 2014 |title=Palle d'acciaio |trans-title=Steel Balls |url=https://multiplayer.it/recensioni/129536-smash-hit-palle-dacciaio.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109042229/http://multiplayer.it/recensioni/129536-smash-hit-palle-dacciaio.html |archive-date=9 January 2015 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work={{ill|Multiplayer.it|it|Multiplayer.it}} |language=it}} Each power-up gives a special effect when activated, such as providing the player an endless supply of balls, making all their balls explosive—which causes larger chunks of glass to break—or slowing down the game's speed.{{Cite news |last=Slater |first=Harry |date=11 March 2014 |title=Smash Hit |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/smash-hit/smash-hit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126102349/https://www.pocketgamer.com/smash-hit/smash-hit/ |archive-date=26 January 2022 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=Pocket Gamer}}

Smash Hit has 11 levels, each with a different appearance. As the game progresses, the levels become more difficult.{{Cite news |last=Nichols |first=Scott |date=18 March 2014 |title=Mobile Reviews: Surgeon Simulator, Smash Hit, The Perils of Man |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/a558339/mobile-reviews-surgeon-simulator-smash-hit-the-perils-of-man/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818205310/https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/a558339/mobile-reviews-surgeon-simulator-smash-hit-the-perils-of-man/ |archive-date=18 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=Digital Spy}} The game covers the player's distance as their score. By default, the player starts at the beginning of the first level; however, a one-time in-game purchase allows the player to start from the beginning of any unlocked level and sync progress via a cloud system such as iCloud.{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Charlie |date=11 March 2014 |title=Smash Hit Review |url=https://www.148apps.com/reviews/smash-hit-review-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126101337/https://www.148apps.com/reviews/smash-hit-review-2/ |archive-date=26 January 2022 |access-date=1 December 2023 |work=148Apps}}{{Cite news |last=Thomas |first=Lucas M. |date=7 March 2014 |title=App Store Update: March 7 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03/07/app-store-update-march-7-3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818203808/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03/07/app-store-update-march-7-3 |archive-date=18 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=IGN}}

After its release, Smash Hit introduced three different game modes, including a training mode, as well as two multiplayer modes: versus, where two players compete on the same device, and cooperative, where two players complete the game together on the same device.{{Cite web |date=10 July 2014 |title=Three New Game Modes Released! |url=https://www.mediocre.se/2014/07/10/three-new-game-modes-released/ |access-date=29 August 2023 |website=Mediocre |archive-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922114824/https://www.mediocre.se/2014/07/10/three-new-game-modes-released/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Bengtsson |first=Emil |date=27 November 2015 |title=Smash Hit Multiplayer Game Modes Released |url=https://www.mediocre.se/2015/11/27/smash-hit-multiplayer-game-modes-released/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818203808/https://www.mediocre.se/2015/11/27/smash-hit-multiplayer-game-modes-released/ |archive-date=18 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Mediocre}}

Development and release

Smash Hit was developed and published by the Swedish indie studio Mediocre, co-founded by Dennis Gustafsson and Henrik Johansson in 2010.{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Patrick |date=5 November 2019 |title=Teardown Tasks Players with Planning the Perfect Destruction-Filled Heist |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/in-teardown-you-can-but-shouldnt-demolish-entire-levels/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241012110254/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/all-yakuza-games-ranked-from-worst-to-best/ |archive-date=12 October 2024 |access-date=12 October 2024 |work=The Escapist}} The studio previously developed the Sprinkle video game series and Granny Smith.{{Cite news |last=Jordan |first=Jon |date=May 29, 2012 |title=Mediocre Takes a Bite Out of Platform Racers With Physics-Heavy Granny Smith |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/granny-smith/mediocre-takes-a-bite-out-of-platform-racers-with-physics-heavy-granny-smith/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241021102744/https://www.pocketgamer.com/granny-smith/mediocre-takes-a-bite-out-of-platform-racers-with-physics-heavy-granny-smith/ |archive-date=21 October 2024 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Pocket Gamer}} Gustafsson programmed the game, while Johansson was its artist and level designer.{{Cite video game|title=Smash Hit|developer=Mediocre|publisher=Mediocre|platform=iOS|scene=Credits|date=6 March 2014}} Douglas Holmquist composed the game's soundtrack and produced its sound effects.{{Cite news |last=Holmquist |first=Douglas |date=19 September 2014 |title=Writing the Music for Smash Hit |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/writing-the-music-for-smash-hit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818205309/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/writing-the-music-for-smash-hit |archive-date=18 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=Gamasutra}}

Gustafsson and Johansson began developing the game in 2012, and Holmquist joined the team in January 2013. Mediocre tasked Holmquist with creating an electronic soundtrack and listed Gold Panda's Fifth Ave, Shigeto's Look at all the Smiling Faces, and Robot Koch's Water and Solutions as reference tracks. Gustafsson helped Holmquist by working on the game's acoustics. Instead of using OpenAL or OpenSL audio application programming interfaces, he opted for creating a custom mixer to fully control the game's surrounding effects and audio processing. Gustafsson implemented the game's reverberation and echoing systems,{{Cite news |last=Gustafsson |first=Dennis |date=28 May 2014 |title=Hail to the Hall – Environmental Acoustics |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/hail-to-the-hall---environmental-acoustics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922114827/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/hail-to-the-hall---environmental-acoustics |archive-date=22 September 2024 |access-date=15 September 2024 |work=Gamasutra}} and the game's camera is harmonised with the dynamic music.

Gustafsson also worked on creating the game's physics engine, wanting the glass shattering system to be "fully procedural" and reliable. He was satisfied with the end result but admitted that it was not realistic, considering that the glass shatters at the point where it is hit instead of shattering at its most unsteady point.{{Cite web |last=Gustafsson |first=Dennis |date=3 April 2014 |title=Smashing Tech |url=https://blog.voxagon.se/2014/04/03/smashing-tech.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426071106/https://blog.voxagon.se/2014/04/03/smashing-tech.html |archive-date=26 April 2022 |access-date=1 October 2024 |website=Voxagon}}{{Cite news |last=Gustafsson |first=Dennis |date=13 May 2014 |title=Cracking Destruction |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/programming/cracking-destruction |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922114826/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/programming/cracking-destruction |archive-date=22 September 2024 |access-date=15 September 2024 |work=Gamasutra}} The game's obstacles are procedurally generated and were written with the Lua programming language, while shadows were based on the ambient occlusion rendering technique.

In November 2013, the developers announced the game to the public.{{Cite web |date=1 November 2013 |title=Announcing Smash Hit |url=https://www.mediocre.se/2013/11/01/announcing-smash-hit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922114826/https://www.mediocre.se/2013/11/01/announcing-smash-hit/ |archive-date=22 September 2024 |access-date=5 September 2024 |website=Mediocre}} It was released for free on iOS and Android on 6 March 2014.{{Cite news |date=18 March 2014 |title=Reviews: Smash Hit, Castlevania, Calculords, and Threes! |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/arts/video-games/video-game-reviews-smash-hit-castlevania-calculords-and-threes.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126101505/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/arts/video-games/video-game-reviews-smash-hit-castlevania-calculords-and-threes.html |archive-date=26 January 2022 |access-date=12 March 2017 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}} The game's music initially had 33 tracks that were combined in various ways; Holmquist composed seven more in May 2014 and three after the introduction of new game modes in July 2014. Smash Hit was the most downloaded video game on iOS in March 2014, while on Android devices, it was the sixth most downloaded.{{Cite news |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=30 April 2014 |title=Supercell, GungHo, King Dominate March Mobile Game Revenue. What Else Is New? (Lots) |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/supercell-gungho-king-dominate-march-mobile-game-revenue-what-else-is-new-lots/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818203807/https://venturebeat.com/games/supercell-gungho-king-dominate-march-mobile-game-revenue-what-else-is-new-lots/ |archive-date=18 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=VentureBeat}}{{Cite news |date=30 April 2014 |title=App Annie Index: Games – Smash Hit Lives Up to Its Name |url=http://blog.appannie.com/app-annie-index-games-march-2014/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826165021/http://blog.appannie.com/app-annie-index-games-march-2014/ |archive-date=26 August 2014 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=App Annie}} The game was downloaded more than 280 million times by October 2024.{{Cite news |last=Botadkar |first=Tanish |date=4 October 2024 |title=Smash Hit+ Is a New Iteration of the Popular Title on Apple Arcade |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/smash-hit/apple-arcade-launch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004151920/https://www.pocketgamer.com/smash-hit/apple-arcade-launch/ |archive-date=4 October 2024 |access-date=4 October 2024 |work=Pocket Gamer}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 80/100

| PG = 3/5

| TA = 4.5/5

| ML = 4/5

| Gamezebo = 4/5

| rev1 = 148Apps

| rev1Score = 4.5/5

| rev2 = AppSpy

| rev2Score = 4/5

| rev3 = Common Sense Media

| rev3Score = 5/5

| rev4 = {{ill|Multiplayer.it|it|Multiplayer.it|italic=y}}

| rev4Score = 8/10

| rev5 = {{ill|Shpil (magazine)|lt=Shpil|ru|Шпиль!|italic=y}}

| rev5Score = 9.5/10

}}

Smash Hit has received "generally favourable" reviews, according to the review aggregator Metacritic.{{Cite web |title=Smash Hit |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/smash-hit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129173715/https://www.metacritic.com/game/smash-hit/ |archive-date=29 November 2023 |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=Metacritic}} CNET and Apple Inc. rated Smash Hit as one of the best mobile video games of 2014.{{Cite news |last=Starr |first=Michelle |date=21 December 2014 |title=Best Mobile Games of 2014 |url=https://www.cnet.com/pictures/best-mobile-games-of-2014/5/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818203807/https://www.cnet.com/pictures/best-mobile-games-of-2014/5/ |archive-date=18 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=CNET}}{{Cite magazine |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Alex |date=8 December 2014 |title=Apple Says These Are the Best Apps of 2014 |url=https://time.com/3623190/apple-best-apps-iphone/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919231630/https://time.com/3623190/apple-best-apps-iphone/ |archive-date=19 September 2020 |access-date=18 August 2024 |magazine=Time |issn=0040-781X}} Smash Hit received honourable mentions for the Independent Games Festival's 2015 Main Competition.{{Cite news |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=7 January 2015 |title=IGF Announces the 2015 Main Competition Finalists |url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/1/7/7508689/igf-2015-finalists-gdc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818203807/https://www.polygon.com/2015/1/7/7508689/igf-2015-finalists-gdc |archive-date=18 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=Polygon}}

The game's physics engine and gameplay were praised by reviewers.{{efn|Attributed to the following reviews:}} They have, however, commented that the game does not offer much beyond its shooting mechanics, which Tommaso Pugliese of {{ill|Multiplayer.it|it|Multiplayer.it|italic=y}} considered a negative aspect of the game. Denis Zaichenko of {{Ill|Shpil (magazine)|lt=Shpil|ru|Шпиль!|italic=yes}} described the physics engine as flawless and noted that the game differs from other rail shooters because of the engine and rate of fire mechanics.{{Cite news |last=Zaichenko |first=Denis |date=8 November 2015 |title=Рецензия на Smash Hit |trans-title=Smash Hit Review |url=http://shpil.com/2015/11/smash-hit-review/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430183643/http://shpil.com/2015/11/smash-hit-review/ |archive-date=30 April 2018 |access-date=18 September 2024 |work={{ill|Shpil (magazine)|lt=Shpil|ru|Шпиль!}}|language=ru}} Common Sense Media praised the game as mesmerising with "a therapeutic experience".{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Chris |title=Smash Hit |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/smash-hit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113162650/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/smash-hit |archive-date=13 November 2022 |access-date=13 November 2022 |website=Common Sense Media}} Pocket Gamer named Smash Hit as one of the hardest mobile video games. Writing for Gamezebo, Nadia Oxford also said that the player's hitbox could be hard to track down. Harry Slater of Pocket Gamer saw the game as entertaining but irritating; according to Alex Beech of AppSpy, the checkpoint system ultimately undermined the endless mode scoreboard idea. In a review for MacLife, Andrew Hayward added that initial levels could be toiling to players without the in-game purchase when constantly replaying the game.

Reviewers also commended the game's visuals, music, and sound effects.{{efn|Attributed to the following reviews:}} Michelle Starr of CNET described the glass-shattering visual effect as impressive, while Pugliese viewed them as detailed and naturalistic. Hayward commended the game's minimalist looks as well as the glass-shattering effects. Starr also said that the game's graphics and mechanics were refined in contrast to Sprinkle and Granny Smith. Chris Carter of TouchArcade hailed the game's graphics as fable-looking. Charlie Miller of 148Apps saw the shattering sounds as pleasing while describing the game's music as fitting its ambience. Pugliese also noted that the game's music was well adapted to its graphics.

Legacy

Mediocre released an adaptation of the game for Samsung Gear VR, titled Smash Hit VR, for free in 2015.{{Cite news |last=Suckley |first=Matt |date=1 December 2015 |title=Mediocre's Henrik Johansson on Not Worrying About Asia, Keeping Faith in Premium, and Shunning Indie Elitism |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/henrik-johansson-ngdc15-interview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930112427/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/henrik-johansson-ngdc15-interview/ |archive-date=30 September 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=Pocket Gamer}}{{Cite news |last=Priestman |first=Chris |date=25 September 2015 |title=Have a Look at the Range of Games Heading to Samsung Gear VR |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/upcoming/have-a-look-at-the-range-of-games-heading-to-samsung-gear-vr/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819142124/https://www.pocketgamer.com/upcoming/have-a-look-at-the-range-of-games-heading-to-samsung-gear-vr/ |archive-date=19 August 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=Pocket Gamer}} Gustafsson commented that the idea for a VR version was brought up before the game was initially released for mobile; once the virtual reality headset gained popularity, the developers thought it was a "good fit". He also revealed that the levels had to be partially redesigned due to the revamped shooting system. Ian Hamilton of UploadVR said that the virtual reality adaptation of the game is an enjoyable presentation to virtual reality. The game was also later released for Oculus Rift and Oculus Go headsets in 2015 and 2018, respectively.{{Cite news |date=24 September 2015 |title=Oculus Rift Is Taking Minecraft and Classic Games to a Whole New Level |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/wearables/oculus-rift-minecraft-1305052 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819142124/https://www.techradar.com/news/wearables/oculus-rift-minecraft-1305052 |archive-date=19 August 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=TechRadar}}{{Cite news |last=Hamilton |first=Ian |date=8 May 2018 |title=Smash Hit: One of Gear VR's Best Games Comes to Oculus Go |url=https://www.uploadvr.com/smash-hit-one-of-gear-vrs-best-games-comes-to-oculus-go/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819142124/https://www.uploadvr.com/smash-hit-one-of-gear-vrs-best-games-comes-to-oculus-go/ |archive-date=19 August 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=UploadVR}} Computer scientists Margherita Antona and Constantine Stephanidis reported that no differences in difficulty were seen between the mobile and virtual reality versions of Smash Hit.{{Cite book |last1=Antona |first1=Margherita |title=Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction. Virtual, Augmented, and Intelligent Environments |last2=Stephanidis |first2=Constantine |date=9 July 2018 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-92052-8 |pages=95}}

Mediocre developed another video game involving balls, PinOut, and released it in October 2016.{{Cite news |last=Amaris |first=Lian |date=2 November 2016 |title=PinOut Review: Play This Silver Ball |url=https://www.gamezebo.com/the-best/pinout-review-play-this-silver-ball/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818203807/https://www.gamezebo.com/the-best/pinout-review-play-this-silver-ball/ |archive-date=18 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=Gamezebo}}{{Cite news |last=Funnell |first=Rob |date=27 October 2016 |title=Endless Neon Pinball Game PinOut from the Developers of Smash Hit Is Finally Available Worldwide |url=https://toucharcade.com/2016/10/27/pinout-worldwide-launch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818203807/https://toucharcade.com/2016/10/27/pinout-worldwide-launch/ |archive-date=18 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=TouchArcade}} The studio was closed in 2017, after which Gustafsson began working on creating a game using destructible environments with voxels.{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Patrick |date=10 September 2019 |title=Looking into the Future of Game Physics with an Indie Dev at Its Forefront |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/next-gen-video-game-physics-dennis-gustafsson-interview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107192504/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/next-gen-video-game-physics-dennis-gustafsson-interview/ |archive-date=7 November 2020 |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=The Escapist}} He hired Mediocre's additional designer, Emil Bengtsson, to work on his game, Teardown.{{cite web |last=Wiltshire |first=Alex |date=6 January 2021 |title=How Teardown Made a Great Game from Destruction |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2021/01/06/how-teardown-made-a-great-game-from-destruction/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106202258/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2021/01/06/how-teardown-made-a-great-game-from-destruction/ |archive-date=6 January 2021 |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun}} Like Smash Hit, the gameplay of Teardown was modelled around the game's technology.{{cite web |last=Gustafsson |first=Dennis |date=5 November 2020 |title=Teardown Design Notes |url=https://blog.voxagon.se/2020/11/05/teardown-design-notes.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410104112/https://blog.voxagon.se/2020/11/05/teardown-design-notes.html |archive-date=10 April 2022 |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Voxagon}} Holmquist composed its music and sound effects, while unused sounds from Smash Hit were used as placeholders during the development.{{cite web |last=Holmquist |first=Douglas |date=27 November 2020 |title=Teardown |url=https://www.tonalitet.com/project/teardown/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130120843/https://www.tonalitet.com/project/teardown/ |archive-date=30 November 2020 |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Holmquist Tonalitet}} Teardown was released in 2022.{{Cite news |last=Volk |first=Pete |date=5 April 2022 |title=Destruction Simulator Teardown Smashes Its Way to a Full Release This Month |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/23011309/teardown-game-full-release-date-steam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405151352/https://www.polygon.com/gaming/23011309/teardown-game-full-release-date-steam |archive-date=5 April 2022 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=Polygon}}

An Apple Arcade version of the game, titled Smash Hit+, was released by Mediocre on 3 October 2024. The version removed the in-game purchase option and ads from the game and made all game modes available to the player from the beginning.