Getting his start as an intern in the Soviet Academy of Sciences, Alexey Pajitnov would experiment with the Dorodnitsyn Computing Centre's equipment in order to channel his passion for puzzles and problem solving. It was from here that he used his childhood memories of playing with pentominoes to create the first version of his masterpiece, Tetris.
Teaming up with Russian entrepreneur Vladimir Pokhilko and Dutch video game designer Henk Rogers, Pajitnov formed The Tetris Company, which would license the brand to several developers who aimed to bring their own spin on the formula. There are hundreds of versions of Tetris, but some stand out as the very best ways to enjoy Pajitnov's timeless classic.
Updated on September 9th, 2022 by Casey Lawrence: This list has been updated to include more information and to adapt the content to CBR's current style.
10 Tengen's NES Tetris Actually Outclassed Nintendo's
Release Date: May 1989
Dubbed TETЯIS: The Soviet Mind Game, Atari's take on the formula was originally released in arcades and granted a port to the Nintendo Entertainment System. This version actually outclassed the version developed by Nintendo with its additional modes that allowed two people to play competitively or cooperatively.
Unfortunately, Tengen lost the console rights to the game, leading this version to be recalled after a short time on store shelves. Approximately 100,000 copies were distributed before the publisher was ordered to destroy what remained. Because of this, the game became a very rare and valuable collector's item.
9 Magical Tetris Challenge Puts A Whimsical Twist On An Old Formula
Release Date: November 20th, 1998
Magical Tetris Challenge featured a whimsical Disney touch on an old formula. New to this version was the addition of "Magical" Pentomino pieces that could sabotage opponents. While it didn't make the most of its Disney license, the magical piece gimmick proved a nice twist and the game sported a lively and upbeat soundtrack.
Both the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color versions are well worth a look, but players may be more inclined to check out the latter. The Game Boy Color version proved more portable nature, featured a more developed single-player mode, and included retro 8-bit remixes from Bionic Commando and Mega Man 3 composer Harumi Fujita.
8 The New Tetris Provided Some New Features And 4 Player Action
Release Date: July 31st, 1999
The competition for Tetris games on the Nintendo 64 was surprisingly steep, especially since two efforts came courtesy of Capcom. Nonetheless, The New Tetris offered some solid content that made it stand out among the crowd.
The New Tetris became one of the first versions to give players a "ghost" of the descending piece that indicated where it would land, and it was one of the first to offer a competitive four-player mode. The game also sported some sleek background visuals and an electronic techno soundtrack from award-winning composer Neil Voss.
7 Tetris Party Utilized The Hardware Gimmicks Of The Wii
Release Date: October 14th, 2008
Tetris Party sought to take the tried-and-true block falling puzzle formula and make it more social by utilizing Nintendo's motion-based console. Developed by Hudson Soft, the game incorporated the Wii balance board and allowed players to use their Miis.
Unfortunately, with the shutdown of WiiWare, Tetris Party became unavailable. Thankfully, an updated retail version of the game called Tetris Party Deluxe was released in 2010, so Tetris fans who still have a Wii and a balance board lying around might want to check it out.
6 Tetris Friends Let Players Invite Their Buddies
Release Date: Available 2008
Developed by Tetris Online, Inc, Tetris Friends was a web browser title that allowed players to invite their friends to online matches with their own custom rules. The game boasted a multitude of single and multiplayer modes, including survival, marathon, and eight-player competitive matches.
Tetris Friends became notable for being the only officially released version to be supported by Adobe Flash. Sadly, when news broke out that the software wouldn't be supported, Tetris Friends' days were numbered. Like Tetris Party, Tetris Friends became unavailable to play and shut down in 2019.
5 The Game Boy Version Of Tetris Put The Series On The Map
Release Date: June 14th, 1989
The version that made Tetris a household name remained one of the best versions. While there were versions on the market that sported more content, Nintendo's portable device allowed players to take this engrossing game on the go. The title became so successful that Nintendo elected to have it packaged with the Game Boy instead of the planned Super Mario Land.
Tetris was also the first version to have the famous variation of the Russian folk song "Korobeiniki." Composed by Hirokazu Tanaka, this reoccurring tune would make its way into many subsequent versions.
4 Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 Adds The Blue Blur To An Already Great Hybrid
Release Date: December 8th, 2020
Much like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Puyo Puyo Tetris mixed two good things that went great together. Originally released in Japan by Compile, Puyo Puyo made its Western debut as Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, so it seemed fitting that the Sonic Team would eventually receive the keys to the franchise.
Puyo Puyo Tetris allowed players to choose between Tetris, Puyo Puyo, a hybrid, or even a mode that constantly swapped between the two. The sequel added a more robust story, new modes, new characters, and even threw Sonic the Hedgehog in for good measure.
3 Tetris DS Provides Some New Modes And A Bunch Of Nostalgia
Release Date: March 20th, 2006
With a lively presentation, new features, and a hefty dose of 8-bit nostalgia, Nintendo outdid their previous portable effort with Tetris DS. One handy new feature in this game was the ability to save a piece for later use, which proved to be very useful in the Endless Tetris Mode.
Tetris DS also incorporates themes, sprites, and locations from Nintendo's most beloved franchises such as Mario, Zelda, and Metroid. Rather than just being part of the background, Tetris DS cleverly worked these franchises into the gameplay with a Zelda-themed mission mode and a Metroid-themed Catch mode.
2 Tetris 99 Goes Battle Royale
Release Date: February 13th, 2019
With Tetris 99, Japanese developer Akira incorporated a Battle Royale twist on a beloved classic. Much like Fortnite, Tetris 99 was an elimination-based multiplayer game where players faced off against 98 online opponents and leveled up.
Anyone who's played Tetris competitively will be familiar with the gameplay of clearing blocks and strategically sending garbage to hinder other challengers. Depending on how players eliminate their opponents, they can earn badges that allow them to send lines to other players. Tetris 99 is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch and free to play for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.
1 Tetris Effect Presented Something Innovative
Release Date: November 9th, 2018
Named after a cognitive sensation of the same name, Tetris Effect is an audio and visual splendor that breathes new life into a tried-and-true game. The basic gameplay remains the same, but it boasts a wide variety of visual backgrounds and music that dynamically change based on how well the player performs.
Its score by Noboru Mutoh was widely lauded, winning best music at the 15th British Academy Games Awards, the D.I.C.E. Awards, and the SXSW Gaming Awards. The game also received massive acclaim for its use of VR. Tetris Effect did what many prior versions had failed to do for years: surprise gamers.