Originally released on IBM computers in the Soviet Union in 1985,Tetrislater found its way to international audiences in 1988 on PCs and arcade machines. A year later, following a legal dispute with Atari Games, Nintendo published its versions of Tetris on the NES and Game Boy in North America and Europe. Although various iterations ofTetrishave since launched on multiple platforms, the 1989 NES version remains a cult classic due to its fast-paced gameplay. In late 2023, 13-year-oldTetrisplayerBlue Scuti was the first to reach level 157and trigger the game’s “Kill screen,” which marked a historic moment inTetrisfranchise history.
Nintendo Switch Online Adds Two Classic Tetris Games
With the addition of two iconicTetrisgames, theNintendo Switch Online service remains among the best ways to play retro games. Only time will tell if the Switch’s successor will keep the momentum going.
Tetris (1984)
Tetris® is the addictive puzzle game that started it all, embracing our universal desire to create order out of chaos. The Tetris game was created by Alexey Pajitnov in 1984—the product of Alexey’s computer programming experience and his love of puzzles. In the decades to follow, Tetris became one of the most successful and recognizable video games, appearing on nearly every gaming platform available.The goal of Tetris is to score as many points as possible by clearing horizontal lines of Blocks. The player must rotate, move, and drop the falling Tetriminos inside the Matrix (playing field). Lines are cleared when they are filled with Blocks and have no empty spaces. As lines are cleared, the level increases and Tetriminos fall faster, making the game progressively more challenging. If the Blocks land above the top of the playing field, the game is over.
