Summary
- Tetris 99 is an online battle-royale variation of the classic tile-matching puzzle game available exclusively on Nintendo Switch. It pits 99 players against each other in an elimination game, with the last player standing as the winner.
- Tetris Effect: Connected is an expanded version of Tetris Effect, featuring co-op and PvP multiplayer modes. It takes players on a mesmerizing journey through various atmospheric settings.
- Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 combines the gameplay of Puyo Puyo and Tetris, offering a wide range of multiplayer content, including local and online modes, as well as a deep campaign mode and challenging skill battles.
The tile-matching game Tetris was first introduced in 1984. The game was rudimentary at its inception, but the game began to show much promise. It wasn't until Tetris relaunched on the Nintendo Game Boy, a handheld gaming device, that Tetris grew to prominence. With the Game Boy as its platform, both the system and Tetris saw explosive popularity in the late '80s and early '90s.
As it happens, Tetris is the best-selling video game franchise of all time. It's been ported countless times and received numerous spinoffs. This raises the question, what is the best Tetris game of all time? Let's take a trip down memory lane to explore the best the franchise has to offer.
Updated November 29, 2023 by Stephen LaGioia: Even while stretching back decades in gaming history, the timeless puzzler Tetris continues to go strong. This is thanks in large part to releases like Tetris 99 and its more recent "Big Block" DLC, the majestic Tetris Effect: Connected, and the colorful sequel to the hybrid puzzle game Puyo Puyo Tetris.
Thus, it seemed like an ideal time to revisit and build upon this foundation of the best, most appealing Tetris games.
15 Tetrisphere
A Spherical New Take On Tetris
- Slower-paced gameplay
- 3D layout with multiple layers and spherical stages
When it comes to this blocky puzzler, spheres are about the last thing that comes to mind. But with this N64 romp, Nintendo and H20 Entertainment set out to prove that this classic formula can be successfully shaken up with a spherical twist. Tetrisphere throws the player a curveball with its 3D perspective and its round, multi-layered layout.
Rather than simply eliminating blocks, the goal is generally to wipe out the onion-like layers of tetromino shells and gun for the field's inner core. Though not all Tetris purists were convinced by this obscure take on the established franchise, critics generally regarded it for its innovation and slew of gameplay modes.
14 Tetris Party
Solid Online Multiplayer
- Mii Support
- Balance Board Support
- Co-op Tetris
While often overlooked on account of its exclusive WiiWare release in 2008, Tetris Party provides a fun template for party gameplay. The game taps into Wii's charming style of accessible and social gameplay, which proves a great fit for the storied multiplayer romp.
In addition to the typical multiplayer matches and a 15-stage single-player marathon, Tetris Party keeps things fresh with a handful of distinct gameplay modes, including an expansive co-op game, Wii Balance Board control, and other interesting twists on the formula.
The game is also one of the stronger Wii entries when it comes to online support, even hosting a Hudson-organized tourney setup, in which gamers from across the world could compete in different Tetris Party game modes.
13 Tetris 99
Thrilling Battle Royale Action
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 92%
- Released
- February 13, 2019
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Arika
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
WHERE TO PLAY
Tetris 99 is an online battle-royale variation of the classic tile-matching puzzle game available exclusively on Nintendo Switch.
As the name suggests, the game pits 99 players against each other in an elimination game of Tetris, with the last player standing being the winner. Players can try to eliminate their opponents quicker by sending disruptive "garbage" their way.
- Franchise
- Tetris
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle
- Gripping Battle Royale matches
- 99 player support
- Big Block DLC offers four offline modes
As a free-to-play game for Nintendo Switch Online members, it isn't the first time Nintendo published a Tetris game. Tetris 99 takes a spin on the classic by breathing new life into the retro game. Tetris 99 introduces 99-player clashes, hence the numerical that follows this familiar name.
10 Unique Battle Royale Games
The Battle Royale market is oversaturated. Thankfully, developers are finding new ways to make BR gameplay interesting.
Strategy and speed are much a part of Tetris 99. One might prefer the original, but it's hard to ignore that Tetris 99 is a fun warp on the antiquated game. What's more - players who prefer a more classic-style solo Tetris can now enjoy a separate, purchasable DLC pack called Big Block, which comes loaded with offline and single-player content.
12 Tetris Twist
Simplicity And City Settings
- Various stages represented by major cities.
- 100 distinct challenges to complete
As one may have expected, Tetris Twist is a twist on the classic game. Players adventure through different major cities while completing over 100 unique levels. Don't make the mistake of thinking Tetris Twist is just another Tetris game. Players will be pleasantly surprised by this game's addictive puzzle-solving, and its distinct campaign-style progression.
This game was released in 2016 and is one of the best variants of the popular classic. Tetris Twist can be played on websites such as miniclip.com, classicgame.com, and crazygames.com.
11 Tetris (Original)
The One That Started It All
- Minimal style
- Tetrominos represented by simple brackets
The original Tetris deserves recognition, more than any other game on this listicle. When Russian software engineer Alexey Pajitnov created this simple tile-matching game, he did not know that it would become an enormous success.
Pajitnov developed several puzzle games during his time as a video game developer, but none came close to Tetris's explosive popularity and simplistic charm. The addictive qualities of this game drew inspiration for later versions of Tetris. Players might have trouble locating this particular version, given that it was crafted and played on an Electronika 60 computer.
The entertainment value this version still has despite its basic visuals — with blocks represented by green brackets — is a testament to how appealing the gameplay is.
10 Tetris: The Grand Master 3 – Terror-Instinct
A More Expansive Brand Of Tetris
- Lots of deep content of nearly 1,000 stages
- Master mode tests gamers' skills
Tetris: The Grand Master 3 – Terror-Instinct is Tetris (almost) at its finest. The game has thrown in a few variables such as explosives and X-rays, but the gameplay is Tetris at its core. This is the third game in the Tetris: The Grand Master series, and it's undoubtedly the best version.
Progression through Tetris: The Grand Master 3 – Terror-Instinct is considered difficult. Players can reach levels exceeding level 999, and the game even features a mode with standard rules.
9 Tetris Battle Gaiden
Puzzles And Power-ups
- Crystals within certain Tetrominos that can be collected
- Features unique characters with four attacks
This variant of Tetris was released for the Super Famicom only in Japan. If a player manages to get their hands on this highly addictive variant of Tetris, they will be pleasantly surprised by its puzzle-fighter gameplay.
10 Puzzle Games Like Tetris
Tetris is a classic among puzzle games, and the following titles have a charm that's similar to its timeless formula.
It contains a multiplayer mode in which one can play against friends. With a wide array of characters to choose from, the game has more to offer than the standard Tetris game. Characters have special abilities, adding to Tetris Battle Gaiden's appeal.
8 Tetris (iOS & Android)
Battle Royale Gameplay On The Go
- Expansive 100-player online mode
- Various skins to show off
Electronic Arts having had their Tetris game removed from the Google Play store and the App Store left a power vacuum ripe for a new Tetris game. Days after that occurred, a new, and similarly gripping, Tetris game popped up on cell phone application stores.
Tetris is available for iOS and Android users, and this game is quite different than its predecessor. For starters, it's developed by N3twork, and it supports 100 players online, with BR gameplay akin to Tetris 99. Though it also offers a marathon mode and multiple skins for the playing field. This is a step up for the tile-matching video game.
7 Puyo Puyo Tetris
Fusing Two Classic Party Puzzlers
- Fusion of Tetris And Sega's Puyo Puyo (in addition to separate games)
- Anime-themed campaign mode with diverse conditions
Puyo Puyo Tetris is Sega's attempt at the global phenomenon we know colloquially as "Tetris." The game isn't as blatantly Sega-themed as certain Nintendo versions of Tetris, yet the game offers so much more than the average Tetris game.
Try a single-play adventure where players earn in-game credits or take a stab at the competitive multiplayer modes. Multiplayer allows up to four local players, both online and offline. This feature-rich game is admired for its polish; it's a must-play for Tetris enthusiasts.
6 Tetris (Atari/Tengen Version)
Classic Multiplayer Tetris At Its Finest
- Added music and features
- Co-op modes and CPU support
Before the dust settled on the mess of copyright conflicts regarding Tetris, and Nintendo locked up the rights for the property in most facets, there was the Tengen-crafted version from 1989, which also found its way to NES. Despite a slightly cruder and colorless design, many still point to this rarer NES game as the superior version. It's almost certainly the case when it comes to the multiplayer.
The game provides an even simpler design and progression system, while boasting some particularly charming music to further paint this entry-level Tetris experience. It also has it over the Nintendo counterpart in terms of features, with co-op mode along with endless split-screen multiplayer; a rather rare feature for the '80s. Two players can even team up and face off against a CPU player.