- Become Blackhole what to do first: Start as dust, smash small objects, absorb mass relentlessly
- Core loop: SMASH, ABSORB, then UPGRADE BETWEEN RUNS to grow stronger each attempt
- Progression path: Dust → Asteroid → Planet → Star → Black Hole
- Biggest early mistake: Chasing targets that are too large before you have the mass to absorb them
- Best habit: Bank upgrades between runs so every restart pushes you further
Understand the Core Loop Before Anything Else
Become Blackhole is a run-based arcade progression game available on Steam. Every run follows the same rhythm the launch trailer spells out: SMASH. ABSORB. UPGRADE BETWEEN RUNS. Your goal is to begin as a speck of dust and devour your way up the cosmic food chain — Dust, Asteroid, Planet, Star, and finally Black Hole — with an Extra Mode waiting once you conquer the base game.
The single most important thing to internalize on day one is that failure is designed into the loop. A run that ends early still earns you resources you can spend on permanent upgrades, so nothing is truly wasted.
Video Highlights:
- Official launch trailer showing the full Dust → Black Hole journey
- Confirms the smash, absorb, upgrade loop as the core mechanic
- Highlights Extra Mode as post-campaign content
- Available now on Steam
Do not try to reach Black Hole in your first session. Treat early runs as farming trips — the upgrades you buy between them are what make later runs fast and satisfying.
| Growth Stage | What You Start As | Early Targets | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dust | Speck of dust | Small debris, tiny particles | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Asteroid | Rock mass | Asteroids, comets, small wrecks | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Planet | Planetary body | Moons, planets, debris fields | ★★★☆☆ |
| Star | Burning giant | Large planets, star clusters | ★★★★☆ |
| Black Hole | Gravity well | Everything that gets close | ★★★★★ |
Become Blackhole What to Do First: Step-by-Step Opening Moves
Your first ten minutes set the tone for the whole game. Follow this sequence and you will avoid the classic beginner stalls.
Absorb Everything Small
As dust, your only valid targets are tiny particles and debris. Absorb relentlessly — mass is both your health and your progression currency in the moment.
Resist Oversized Targets
Objects larger than you cannot be absorbed efficiently and may slow or damage your run. Check relative size before committing to a chase.
Chain Dense Areas
Clustered fields of small objects beat sparse big ones for early mass gain. Route through density, not toward distant prizes.
End the Run Intentionally
When gains slow to a crawl, finish the run and collect your earned upgrade resources instead of grinding a stale run.
Spend Upgrades, Restart Smarter
Between runs, invest in permanent upgrades, then launch again — each cycle starts stronger and reaches a new stage.
New players often chase one large planet for minutes at a time. That time is better spent absorbing dozens of smaller objects — mass accumulation compounds faster than a single lucky catch.
Upgrade Priority Between Runs
The between-run upgrade screen is where Become Blackhole is actually won. Since upgrade options and costs may shift with patches, treat this as a priority framework rather than fixed shopping list.
Absorption Speed
- Faster mass gain per object
- Shortens every early-run phase
- Top early-game priority
Movement & Control
- Better turning and acceleration
- Helps escape threats and chase clusters
- Quality-of-life that compounds
Starting Mass
- Begin each run at a larger stage
- Skips the slowest dust phase
- Strong pick once basics are covered
| Upgrade Category | Benefit | When to Prioritize |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption rate | Faster mass per target | First few runs |
| Speed/control | Mobility, evasion | When chases feel sluggish |
| Starting mass | Skip early stages | After core stats are solid |
| Defensive options | Survive mistakes | If runs end abruptly |
| Extra Mode unlocks | Post-game content | After reaching Black Hole once |
Spreading early points across absorption and mobility usually outperforms dumping everything into one stat. A fast, hungry dust speck clears the early game far quicker than a slow, greedy one.
Common Beginner Mistakes to Skip
Most early frustration in Become Blackhole comes from a handful of repeatable errors. Recognize them now and your first hours will be dramatically smoother.
| Mistake | Why It Hurts | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Chasing oversized targets | Wastes time, low or zero mass gain | Only engage targets clearly smaller than you |
| Ignoring the upgrade screen | Each run starts from scratch | Always spend resources before relaunching |
| Roaming empty space | No mass, no progress | Stay in dense debris fields |
| Skipping the tutorial pacing | Misses core mechanic teaching | Complete early stages at natural pace |
| Tunnel vision on one object | Misses nearby clusters | Scan around after every absorption |
After every few absorptions, glance at the wider field. The best target is rarely the one you are currently chasing — it is usually the dense cluster just off-screen.
Your First Sessions: Milestone Checklist
Track your opening progress with these concrete goals. Reaching Black Hole for the first time unlocks the road to Extra Mode, the game's post-launch challenge layer.
Early Milestones:
- Complete a full run from dust to asteroid stage
- Buy your first three permanent upgrades
- Reach the Planet stage in a single run
- Absorb your first Star-class object
- Become a Black Hole once and unlock Extra Mode
There is no leaderboard pressure in the early game. Runs are short by design, so experiment with routes and upgrade mixes to find the style that clicks for you.
FAQ
Q: In Become Blackhole, what should I do first in my very first run?
Absorb the smallest objects around you as dust and ignore anything larger. Your first run is about learning the smash-absorb rhythm and banking upgrade resources, not reaching the final stage.
Q: Is progress lost when a run ends?
No. The upgrade-between-runs system converts your run performance into permanent improvements, so each restart begins stronger than the last.
Q: What order should I grow through: dust to black hole?
The intended progression is Dust, then Asteroid, then Planet, then Star, and finally Black Hole. Each stage unlocks larger absorbable targets.
Q: What is Extra Mode?
Extra Mode is post-launch content highlighted in the official trailer, unlocked after conquering the base progression to Black Hole. It offers additional challenge beyond the main campaign.