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{{Short description|Video game series and franchise}}
{{good article}}
{{About|the video game in overview|specific versions|List of Tetris variants{{!}}List of ''Tetris'' variants|other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox video game series
| title = Tetris
| image = Tetris logo.png
| caption = Official brand logo since 2019
| alt = The word "Tetris", each letter a different color, engraved on a blue, T-shaped tetromino.
| creator = [[Alexey Pajitnov]]
| platforms = [[List of Tetris variants|Various]] (Over 70 platforms)
| first release version = [[Tetris (Spectrum HoloByte)|''Tetris'' (Spectrum HoloByte)]]
| first release date = January 27, 1988
| latest release version = ''[[Tetris Forever]]''
| latest release date = November 12, 2024
| genre = {{cslist | [[Puzzle video game|Puzzle]]}}
| spinoffs = ''[[Tetris: The Grand Master]]''
}}

'''''Tetris''''' ({{langx|ru|link=no|Тетрис}}){{efn|Pronounced {{IPA|ru|ˈtʲetrʲɪs|}} or {{IPA|ru|ˈtetrʲɪs|}}}} is a [[puzzle video game]] created by [[Alexey Pajitnov]], a Soviet [[software engineer]]. In typical ''Tetris'' gameplay, falling [[tetromino]] shapes must be neatly sorted into a pile. Once a horizontal line of the game board is filled in, it disappears, granting points and preventing the pile from overflowing. Since its initial creation, this gameplay has been used in [[List of Tetris variants|over 220 versions]], released for over 70 platforms. Newer versions frequently implement additional game mechanics, some of which have become standard over time. {{As of|December 2024}}, these versions collectively serve as the [[List of best-selling video game franchises|second-best-selling video game series]] with over 520 million sales, mostly on mobile devices.

In the mid-1980s, Pajitnov worked for the [[Dorodnitsyn Computing Center of the Academy of Sciences]], where he programmed ''Tetris'' on the [[Elektronika 60]] and adapted it to the [[IBM PC]] with the help of Dmitry Pavlovsky and [[Vadim Gerasimov]]. [[Floppy disk]] copies were distributed freely throughout Moscow before spreading to Eastern Europe. Robert Stein of Andromeda Software saw the game in Hungary and contacted the Dorodnitsyn Computing Center to secure a license to release the game commercially. Stein then sub licensed to [[Mirrorsoft]] in the UK and [[Spectrum HoloByte]] in the US. [[Tetris (Spectrum HoloByte)|Both companies released the game]] in 1988 to commercial success and sub licensed to additional companies, including [[Henk Rogers]]' [[Bullet-Proof Software]]. Rogers negotiated with [[Elektronorgtechnica]], the state-owned organization in charge of licensing Soviet software, to license ''Tetris'' to [[Nintendo]] for the [[Game Boy]] and [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES); both versions were released in 1989. 

With 35 million sales as of June 2024, the [[Tetris (Game Boy)|Game Boy version]] is the best-selling version of ''Tetris'' and among the [[best-selling video games]] of all time. Its commercial success upon release contributed to the Game Boy's success and popularized ''Tetris''. At the end of 1995, Dorodnitsyn Computing Center's rights to ''Tetris'', arranged ten years prior, reverted to Pajitnov. He and Rogers subsequently formed [[the Tetris Company]] to manage licensing. Guidelines for authorized releases were established, with certain features not in the original games becoming standardized over time. Versions of ''Tetris'' were released on mobile devices starting in the 2000s, with [[Electronic Arts]] (EA) holding a license on [[Tetris (EA)|such ports]] from 2006 to 2020, to widespread commercial success. ''Tetris'' received renewed popularity in the late-2010s with the release of the critically successful ''[[Tetris Effect]]'' (2018) and ''[[Tetris 99]]'' (2019).

''Tetris'' is frequently cited as one of the [[List of video games considered the best|greatest and most influential games ever made]], and was among the inaugural class inducted into the [[World Video Game Hall of Fame]] in 2015. Its gameplay has been influential in the genre of puzzle video games, being cited as an early example of [[casual gaming]]. Furthermore, ''Tetris'' has been represented in a vast array of media such as architecture and art and been the subject of academic research, including studies of its potential for psychological intervention. A competitive culture has formed around ''Tetris'', particularly the [[Tetris (NES video game)|NES version]], with players{{snd}}typically adolescents{{snd}}competing at the annual [[Classic Tetris World Championship]]. A [[Tetris (film)|film dramatization]] of its development was released in 2023.

== Gameplay ==
[[File:Typical Tetris Game.svg|thumb|100px|A typical ''Tetris'' game screen|alt=In a black, upright rectangle bordered by gray squares, multiple tetrominoes of different colors are stacked on top one another, leaving a gap to the right that an I-shaped tetromino is about to enter vertically.]]

Across its numerous versions, ''Tetris'' generally has a consistent [[puzzle video game]] design.{{sfn|Plank|2022|p=268}} Gameplay consists of a rectangular field in which [[tetromino]] pieces,{{efn|The standard spelling in mathematics is ''tetrominoes'', while [[the Tetris Company]]'s trademarked spelling is ''tetriminoes''.{{sfn|Plank|2022|p=271}} This article uses the standard spelling for consistency.}} geometric shapes consisting of four connected squares, descend from the top-center. During the descent, the player can move the piece horizontally and rotate them until they touch the bottom of the field or another piece.<ref name=MarkWolf2012/><ref name=GameDesign>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/rulesofplaygamed0000sale/page/143/mode/2up |last1=Salen |first1=Katie |author-link1=Katie Salen |last2=Zimmerman |first2=Eric |author-link2=Eric Zimmerman |title=Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals |publisher=[[MIT Press]] |date=2003 |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0-262-24045-1 |pages=143–144 |via=[[Internet Archive]] |url-access=registration}}</ref> The player's goal is to stack the pieces in the field to create horizontal lines of blocks.<ref name=polygon-tips>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/guides/2019/2/22/18225349/tetris-strategy-tips-how-to-jonas-neubauer |last=Ramos |first=Jeff |title=''Tetris'' Tips from a Seven-Time World Champion |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=February 22, 2019 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |archive-date=January 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114154632/https://www.polygon.com/guides/2019/2/22/18225349/tetris-strategy-tips-how-to-jonas-neubauer |url-status=live }}</ref> When a line is completed, it disappears and the blocks placed above fall one row. The speed of the descending pieces increases as lines are cleared. The game ends if the accumulated pieces in the field block other pieces from entering the field, a process known as "topping out".<ref name="GameDesign" /> Common mechanics among ''Tetris'' versions include the queue (viewing the pieces that are next to appear), soft drop (increasing the descent of the piece), hard drop (instantly placing the piece as far down as it can go), and holding (reserving a piece for later use).<ref name=polygon-tips/>

The objective of ''Tetris'' is to collect as many points as possible during a gameplay session by clearing lines.<ref name=MarkWolf2012/> ''Tetris''{{'s}} scoring system has remained mostly consistent since ''[[Tetris DS]]'' (2006) with some exceptions. Points gained during gameplay increase with the descent speed. The more lines cleared at once, the higher the score for a line clear. Clearing four lines at once using an I-shaped tetromino is referred to as a "Tetris". Furthermore, the player can also gain points by using hard drops or soft drops.<ref name=polygon-tips/> Advanced techniques, often used in competitive play, include T-spins (spinning a T-shaped tetromino into a blocked gap), perfect clears (emptying the field following a line clear), and combos (clearing lines consecutively).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/guides/2019/3/6/18244590/tetris-t-spin-perfect-clear-combo-guide |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306212036/https://www.polygon.com/guides/2019/3/6/18244590/tetris-t-spin-perfect-clear-combo-guide |last=Ramos |first=Jeff |title=''Tetris'' Advanced Guide: T-spins, Perfect Clears, and Combos |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=March 6, 2019 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== History ==

=== Creation (1984–1985) ===
[[File:Alexey Pajitnov January 2008 cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Alexey Pajitnov (pictured in 2008), the creator of ''Tetris''.|alt=A man]]

[[Alexey Pajitnov]] was a [[speech recognition]] and [[artificial intelligence]] researcher for the [[Dorodnitsyn Computing Center of the Academy of Sciences]].{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=30–31}} Pajitnov developed several puzzle games on the institute's [[Elektronika 60]],{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|p=298}} an archaic Russian clone of the [[PDP-11]] computer.{{sfn|Kent|2001|p=377}} In June 1984, he became inspired to convert [[pentomino]] tiling puzzles to the computer<ref name="guardian2014"/> after he bought a pentomino puzzle set from a store and played with it in his office.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=32}}

Pajitnov programmed ''Tetris'' using [[Pascal (programming language)|Pascal]] for the [[RT-11]] operating system on the Elektronika 60{{sfn|Pajitnov|Rogers|2023|loc=1:50}} and experimented with different versions.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|p=299}} Because the Elektronika 60 had no [[Graphical user interface|graphical interface]], Pajitnov modeled the field and pieces using spaces and brackets.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|page=299}} He felt that the game would be needlessly complicated with the twelve different shapes of pentominoes, so he scaled the concept down to [[tetromino]]es, of which there are only seven shapes.<ref name="guardian2014">{{cite news |last=Hoad |first=Phil |date=June 2, 2014 |title=''Tetris'': How We Made the Addictive Computer Game |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/jun/02/how-we-made-tetris |access-date=July 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621140034/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/jun/02/how-we-made-tetris |archive-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Afterward, he programmed the basic mechanics, including the ability to flip tetrominoes as they fell in a vertical screen and the clearing of lines.<ref name="guardian2014" />{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=33–34}}{{sfn|Donovan|2010|p=200}} The name ''Tetris'' was a combination of "tetra" (meaning "four") and Pajitnov's favorite sport, [[tennis]].{{sfn|Loguidice|Barton|2009|p=293}}{{sfn|Pajitnov|Rogers|2023|loc=1:20}} Pajitnov completed the first version of ''Tetris'' {{Circa}} 1985.{{efn|[[The Tetris Company]] celebrates ''Tetris''{{'s}} anniversary based on its apparent creation date on June 6, 1984, though various sources, including copyright records, indicate that the original version was completed in 1985.<ref name="timeextension">{{cite web|url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/06/anniversary-is-tetris-really-40-this-year|work=[[Time Extension]]|title=Anniversary: Is ''Tetris'' Really 40 This Year?|last1=McFerran|first1=Damien|last2=Yarwood|first2=Jack|date=June 24, 2024|accessdate=November 18, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717140506/https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/06/anniversary-is-tetris-really-40-this-year|archivedate=July 17, 2024}}</ref>}} This version had no scoring system and no levels,<ref name="guardian020609">{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Bobbie |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=June 1, 2009 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2009/jun/02/tetris-25anniversary-alexey-pajitnov |title=How ''Tetris'' Conquered the World, Block by Block |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329135242/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2009/jun/02/tetris-25anniversary-alexey-pajitnov |archive-date=March 29, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=February 7, 2025}}</ref> but it nonetheless captivated Pajitnov's peers.{{sfn|Temple|2004|loc=6:32–7:02}}{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=35–36}}

Pajitnov sought to [[Porting|port]] ''Tetris'' to the [[IBM Personal Computer]] (IBM PC), which had a higher-quality display than the Elektronika 60. He recruited his colleague Dmitry Pavlovsky and the 16-year-old computer prodigy [[Vadim Gerasimov]].{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|page=300}}{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=54–56}} Using [[Turbo Pascal]],{{sfn|Pajitnov|Rogers|2023|loc=1:50}} the three adapted ''Tetris'' to the IBM PC over two months, with Gerasimov incorporating color and Pavlovsky incorporating a scoreboard.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|page=300}}{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=63–65}} Floppy disk copies of this version were distributed freely throughout the Dorodnitsyn Computing Center, before spreading quickly among Moscow computer circles.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|pp=300–301}} Pajitnov kept note of second-hand accounts of ''Tetris''{{'s}} spread during this time.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=70}} ''Tetris'' reportedly won second place in a [[Zelenodolsk, Republic of Tatarstan|Zelenodolsk]] computer game competition in November 1985,{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|page=300}} and by 1986, nearly everyone with an IBM computer in Moscow and several major cities had played ''Tetris''.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=89}}

=== Spread beyond the Soviet Union (1985–1988) ===
[[File:Tetris-VeryFirstVersion.png|thumb|right|The first version of ''Tetris'', completed in 1985, run on an emulator of the [[Elektronika 60]]|alt=Gameplay of ''Tetris'', represented by green ASCII text due to the system's primitive nature]]

Under Soviet law, intellectual rights were not protected, and the state-run organization [[Elektronorgtechnica]] (Elorg) had a monopoly on the import and export of software.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/11471 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304100515/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/11471 |title=Интеллектуальная собственность / Тетрис |trans-title=Intellectual Property / ''Tetris'' |website=[[Kommersant]] |language=Russian |date=September 12, 1995 |archive-date=March 4, 2014 |access-date=November 30, 2024}}</ref> Around this time, Pajitnov arranged for the Dorodnitsyn Computing Center to have the rights to ''Tetris'' for ten years to ease potential legal troubles.<ref name=cnn-history/> As a result, Pajitnov could not sell ''Tetris'' for profit. Nonetheless, Pajitnov's manager Victor Brjabrin liked ''Tetris'' and sought opportunities for success beyond the Soviet Union.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|p=301}}{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=90}}  In early 1986, Brjabrin sent a copy of ''Tetris'' to the SZKI Institute of Computer Studies in [[Budapest]].{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|p=301}}{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=90}} Robert Stein, founder of Andromeda Software who profited by licensing software from Hungary to UK companies, encountered ''Tetris'' during a visit to the SZKI Institute and found its gameplay compelling.{{sfn|Donovan|2010|pp=203–204}} Stein learned from the SZKI Institute director that they had managed to port ''Tetris'' to [[Commodore International|Commodore]] or [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] computers. He returned to [[London]] and contacted Dorodnitsyn Computing Center by [[telex]] to obtain the license rights, believing he could sell those rights to a larger UK publisher.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=95–97}} 

Brjabrin received the telex and, after translating it from English to Russian, disclosed it to Pajitnov, who spent days attempting to compose, translate to English, and send a favorable yet noncommittal response by telex to Stein. Despite this attempt, Stein interpreted the response as granting him the license and proceeded to find a publisher for ''Tetris''.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=97–99}} Stein pitched ''Tetris'' to [[Jim Mackonochie]] of [[Mirrorsoft]], a UK software company founded by business magnate [[Robert Maxwell]] and Mackonochie. Though Mackonochie was skeptical about the commercial potential of ''Tetris'', he consulted Phil Adam, president of US sister company Spectrum HoloByte, for his input. During his overseas visit to Mirrorsoft, Adam played ''Tetris'' for hours and then encouraged Mackonochie to accept Stein's offer. Though still cautious, Mackonochie agreed to allow himself the licensing rights for Europe and Adam the rights for the United States and Japan.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=103–107}} Stein sold the rights to the two companies for £3,000 and royalties of 7.5–15% of sales, even though negotiations with the Dorodnitsyn Computing Center were at a standstill, with the Dorodnitsyn Computing Center being resistant to selling ''Tetris'' in the West.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|pp=304–305}}

[[Gilman Louie]], CEO of Spectrum HoloByte, sought to exoticize the game's Soviet origins, marketing it as the first Soviet product to be sold in North America, alongside implementing Soviet folk music and imagery during gameplay and using red packaging adorned with an illustration of [[Saint Basil's Cathedral]].{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=118–119}}{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|pp=305–306}} ''Tetris'' was [[Tetris (Spectrum HoloByte)|first commercially released]] in the West for the IBM PC, with ports to other computer systems planned for release in the following weeks. Mirrorsoft released the game in the United Kingdom on January 27, 1988,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-28-fi-39274-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217174932/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-28-fi-39274-story.html |title=Soviets Play Capitalist Game with New Computer Puzzle |work=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=January 28, 1988 |archive-date=December 17, 2024 |access-date=November 17, 2024 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref> and Spectrum HoloByte released it in the United States on January 29, 1988.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/29/business/new-software-game-it-comes-from-soviet.html |last=Lewis |first=Peter H. |title=New Software Game: It Comes from Soviet |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 29, 1988 |access-date=November 17, 2024 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023171204/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/29/business/new-software-game-it-comes-from-soviet.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Mirrorsoft rewrote the code of the original IBM release for systems such as the [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], and [[Commodore 64]].{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=126}} Boosted by [[word of mouth]] and positive reviews,{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=124}}{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|pp=307–308}} this ''Tetris'' release was commercially successful, selling 100 thousand copies within a year.{{sfn|Donovan|2010|p=204}} At the [[Software and Information Industry Association|Software Publishers Association]]'s Excellence in Software Awards ceremony in 1989, ''Tetris'' won across three categories.<ref name="scisco198908"/>

At the time, the only document certifying a license fee was the telex from Pajitnov and Brjabrin, meaning that Stein had sold the license for a game he did not yet own. Additionally, Alexander Alexinko, director of Elorg, discovered Stein's negotiations with Pajitnov and Dorodnitsyn Computing Center and assessed their communications with disapproval. In response, Elorg took over representing the Soviet Union in negotiations.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=130–131}} Through communications, Alexinko attempted to revoke any potential deal the Soviet Union might have had with Stein in favor of having Elorg itself sell ''Tetris'' internationally. Stein responded by threatening to create a scandal that would harm the Soviet Union's international standing, persuading Alexino to consider negotiating the rights to ''Tetris''.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|page=308}} An agreement was drafted by the end of February 1988 and finalized by May, granting Stein the rights to ''Tetris'' on computers.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=132–133}}{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|page=308}}

=== International negotiations (1988–1989) ===
[[File:Henk Rogers face crop.png|thumb|upright|Henk Rogers (pictured in 2010), representing Nintendo, negotiated with Elorg for the rights to ''Tetris''.|alt=A man]]

Following the commercial release of ''Tetris'', Spectrum HoloByte and Mirrorsoft started licensing the game to other companies for platforms that were not covered by the contract that Stein and Elorg had agreed to.{{sfn|Kent|2001|pp=378–379}} At the time, [[Henk Rogers]] had been seeking video games across the world to sell in Japan through his company [[Bullet-Proof Software]]; he discovered ''Tetris'' as a publicly displayed video game at the 1988 Winter [[Consumer Electronics Show]] (CES).{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=138–142}} Mirrorsoft sold [[Atari Games]] subsidiary [[Tengen (company)|Tengen]] the rights to sell non-computer releases of ''Tetris'' in Japan in exchange for the rights to sell computer ports of ''[[Blasteroids]]'' worldwide.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=143–145}} Afterward, Tengen sold the Japanese arcade rights to [[Sega]] and the console rights to Rogers, who received the Japanese computer rights from Spectrum HoloByte.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=163–165}}{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|pp=310–312}} Bullet-Proof Software released ''Tetris'' for Japanese computers in November 1988 and [[Nintendo]]'s [[Family Computer]] (Famicom) in December 1988, the latter of which became commercially successful, selling two million copies in Japan.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|p=312}} Despite this, Elorg was unaware of the Famicom version and was receiving no royalties from ''Tetris''{{'s}} worldwide success.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=166}}{{sfn|Temple|2004|loc=22:09–23:03}} 

Around the time of ''Tetris''{{'s}} Famicom version, Nintendo developed the [[Game Boy]], an economical handheld game console that interested Nintendo president [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]] and [[Nintendo of America]] president [[Minoru Arakawa]].{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=167–169}} Arakawa, aided by Nintendo of America vice president [[Howard Lincoln]], sought to port ''Tetris'' to the Game Boy, believing that it would be a commercial success. They were both discouraged by the convoluted nature of the game's legal rights, leading Arakawa to enlist Rogers in getting the handheld rights to ''Tetris''.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=173–175}} Rogers contacted Stein by [[fax]] in November 15, 1988, for the handheld rights, with Stein responding that he was negotiating them with Elorg. At the time, Alexinko had been replaced by the more adversarial Evgeni Belikov as director of Elorg. After failing to get the rights after multiple attempts at contacting Stein, Rogers abandoned him in favor of negotiating directly with the Soviet government.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|page=313}} In February 1989, Rogers traveled to the Soviet Union and arrived at the Elorg offices uninvited to negotiate the rights. Discussions with Rogers were scheduled the next day.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=181–184}}

While trying to persuade Elorg to grant him the handheld rights, Rogers displayed a Famicom ''Tetris'' [[Game cartridge|cartridge]] to demonstrate the game's success.  Belikov did not recognize the cartridge, believing that the rights to ''Tetris'' had only been signed for computer systems per the contract with Stein, and accused Rogers of illegal publication.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=185–187}}{{sfn|Donovan|2010|pp=206–207}} Though surprised, Rogers provided a check of over $40,000 to Elorg as to remedy this breach of contract and discussed granting him the console rights. Afterward, Belikov recognized the potential financial benefits of allying with Rogers over the other incoming negotiators: Stein and Robert's son [[Kevin Maxwell]].{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=189–190}} While Rogers was consulting Nintendo for a potential offer to Elorg, Belikov implicitly diminished Stein and Kevin's standing in subsequent meetings by coercing the former into signing an updated contract with an exclusionary definition of computers and baiting the latter into admitting that Mirrosoft did not have the console rights, unaware of the commercial Famicom release.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|page=318–320}} Rogers, alongside Arakawa and Lincoln, returned to Moscow, and after a few days of negotiation, Nintendo received both the handheld and console rights to ''Tetris'' from Elorg.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=208–210, 215}}

=== Legal battles and aftermath (1989–1996) ===
[[File:Tetris on Game Boy.jpg|thumb|upright|''Tetris'' running on a Nintendo [[Game&nbsp;Boy]]|alt=Refer to caption]]
On March 31, 1989, taking advantage of the new agreement, Lincoln sent a [[cease and desist]] fax to Hideyuki Nakajima, president of Atari Games, concerning their subsidiary [[Tengen (company)|Tengen]]'s production of ''Tetris'' for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), the North American equivalent to the Famicom.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=220}} Believing themselves to own the console rights to ''Tetris'', Tengen filed copyright applications for the game in the United States and preemptively sued Nintendo.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|pp=330–331}}{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=220}} Meanwhile, after being informed by Kevin, Robert pressured Elorg for sidestepping prior agreements with his companies by contacting ministers from both the Soviet and UK governments.{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|pp=331–333}} In an in-person meeting, Robert informed Soviet General Secretary [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] of his situation regarding ''Tetris'', to which he responded that Robert "should no longer worry about the Japanese company".{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|pp=333–334}}{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=220–221}} Despite pressure from both Robert and the Soviet government, Belikov stated his refusal to concede in a conversation with Lincoln.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=219}}

After a marketing campaign ordered by Nakajima, Tengen released [[Tetris (Tengen)|their version of ''Tetris'']] on the NES on May 17, 1989, selling tens of thousands of copies within a few weeks.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=223}} The next month, Judge [[Fern M. Smith]] of the [[US District Court for the Northern District of California]] presided over competing lawsuits from Atari Games and Nintendo over their console rights to ''Tetris''.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=224}} Both companies motioned for preliminary injunctions that would prohibit the other company from selling ''Tetris''. On June 15, 1989, in defense of its motion for injunction, Atari Games argued that the NES fell under the definition of computers under the original contract and that Elorg only excluded consoles from its definition of computers to take advantage of higher profits from Nintendo. Based on contradicting evidence, Smith rejected this argument and declared that Mirrorsoft and Spectrum HoloByte had never received explicit authorization for marketing on consoles, granting a preliminary injunction against Atari Games on June 22.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=224}} 

The next day, Atari Games withdrew its NES version from sale, and thousands of cartridges remained unsold in its warehouses. Preference for this release over Nintendo's led to Atari Games cartridges selling for up to $300 on the [[video game collecting|secondary market]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-26/page/n43/mode/2up |title=From Russia with Litigation |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=26 |date=February 1997 |page=42 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> [[Tetris (Game Boy video game)|The Game Boy version of ''Tetris'']] was released in Japan on June 14, 1989,<ref name="GameBoyJP">{{cite web|script-title=ja:ゲームボーイ |trans-title=Game Boy |language=ja |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/index.html |website=[[Nintendo]] |access-date=March 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317065341/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/index.html |archive-date=March 17, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> and as a [[pack-in game]] in the United States on July 31, 1989.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/07/27/ign-presents-the-history-of-game-boy |last=Fahs |first=Travis |title=''IGN'' Presents the History of Game Boy |website=[[IGN]] |date=July 27, 2009 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |archive-date=May 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528083411/http://retro.ign.com/articles/100/1007864p3.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=226}} [[Tetris (NES video game)|Nintendo's NES version]] was released the same year. Both releases achieved commercial success.{{sfn|Kent|2001|pp=379–380}} The Game Boy version was the primary game promoted for the Game Boy, becoming its [[killer app]],<ref name=polygon_gameboy/> generating $80 million in revenue,{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|p=343}} and popularizing both the Game Boy and the ''Tetris'' game.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=226–227}}{{sfn|Linneman|2018|loc=10:58–11:06}} The NES version quickly sold three million copies and appeared on Nintendo's most popular games list for over a year.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=226}}{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|p=339}} 

On November 13, 1989, Smith ended the legal battle between Nintendo and Atari Games regarding ''Tetris'' by [[summary judgment]], granting Nintendo the console rights to ''Tetris''.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=227}} In 1991, with Rogers' help, Pajitnov and his family emigrated to [[Seattle]], where he worked as a freelance game designer.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=241}}<ref name=entertainmentweekly>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_entertainment-weekly_1991-05-03_64/page/12/mode/2up |last=Givens |first=Ron |title=Soviet Blocks Invade America |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=May 3, 1991 |issue=64 |via=[[Internet Archive]] |url-access=registration}}</ref> During this time, Pajitnov worked on several sequels to ''Tetris''. ''[[Welltris]]'' (1990) involved adjusting geometrical pieces descending down one of four walls of a three-dimensional well, and ''[[Hatris]]'' (1990) and ''[[Faces...tris III]]'' (1991) replaced descending tetrominoes with hats and faces respectively.<ref name=retrogamer/> Though they generally received positive reviews and commercial success,<ref name=entertainmentweekly/> with ''Faces...Tris III'' winning "Best Action/Arcade Program" in the 1991 Excellence in Software Awards,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_83/page/n65/ |title=Celebrating Software |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |date=June 1991 |issue=83 |page=66 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> none replicated ''Tetris''{{'}} success.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/usa-today-tetris-inventor-gets-a-turn-at/164431581/ |last=Wlsosoczyn |first=Susan |title=''Tetris'' Inventor Gets a Turn at the Profit Game |work=[[USA Today]] |date=May 9, 1996 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/why-tetris-creator-never-made-tetris-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331184224/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/why-tetris-creator-never-made-tetris-2/ |last=Byrd |first=Matthew |title=Why ''Tetris''{{'}} Creator Never Made ''Tetris 2'' |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=March 31, 2023 |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> Other early versions and sequels of ''Tetris'' were developed without Pajitnov's involvement, including Spectrum Holobyte's ''[[Super Tetris]]'' (1991), Bullet-Proof Software's ''[[Tetris 2 + BomBliss]]'' (1991) and ''[[Tetris Battle Gaiden]]'' (1993), and Nintendo's ''[[Tetris 2 (1993 video game)|Tetris 2]]'' (1993).<ref name=retrogamer>{{cite magazine |last=Crookes |first=David |title=The History of ''Tetris'' |magazine=[[Retro Gamer]] |date=September 2018 |issue=183 |pages=20–29}}</ref>

=== The Tetris Company and Blue Planet Software (1996–2014) ===
[[File:Tetris on an iPod.jpg|250px|thumb|A [[iPod classic|5th generation iPod]] running ''Tetris'' (2006)|alt=Refer to caption]]

The Dorodnitsyn Computing Center's rights to ''Tetris'' expired at the end of 1995, reverting back to Pajitnov.<ref name=cnn-history>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/style/article/tetris-video-game-history/index.html |last=Prisco |first=Jacopo |title=''Tetris'': The Soviet 'Mind Game' that Took Over the World |work=[[CNN]] |date=October 31, 2019 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |archive-date=November 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101023959/https://www.cnn.com/style/article/tetris-video-game-history/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Worried that Elorg, which had become a private company under Belikov following the 1991 [[collapse of the Soviet Union]],{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=241}} would try to claim the rights, Pajitnov recruited Rogers to secure them. Rogers formed [[The Tetris Company]] as an equal partnership between Elorg and Rogers' new company, [[Blue Planet Software]]. Rogers acquired Elorg and renamed it [[Tetris Holding]] in 2005.<ref>{{cite interview |url=https://time.com/2837390/tetris-at-30-pajitnov-interview/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606141137/https://time.com/2837390/tetris-at-30-pajitnov-interview/ |last=Rogers |first=Henk |author-link=Henk Rogers |interviewer=Matt Peckham |title=Tetris at 30: An Interview with the Historic Puzzle Game's Creator |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=June 6, 2014 |archive-date=June 6, 2014 |access-date=February 7, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite interview |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/the-man-who-won-tetris |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830150307/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/the-man-who-won-tetris |last=Rogers |first=Henk |author-link=Henk Rogers |title=The Man Who Won ''Tetris'' |website=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]] |date=September 9, 2009 |archive-date=August 30, 2021 |access-date=February 7, 2025}}</ref> Since its formation, the Tetris Company has maintained guidelines for authorized versions of ''Tetris'', and Blue Planet Software has served as an agent for the ''Tetris'' brand.<ref name=retrogamer/> The Tetris Company has also enforced its copyright of the ''Tetris'' game against unauthorized clones,<ref name="iphonePurge">{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2008/10/tetris-co-strikes-again-another-iphone-app-clone-is-pulled/ |title=Tetris Co. Strikes Again: Another iPhone App Clone is Pulled |website=[[Ars Technica]] |last=Chartier |first=David |date=October 8, 2008 |access-date=April 9, 2020 |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808232640/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2008/10/tetris-co-strikes-again-another-iphone-app-clone-is-pulled/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="androidPurge">{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2010/06/google-blocks-tetris-clones-from-android-market/ |title=Google Blocks ''Tetris'' Clones from Android Market |website=[[Ars Technica]] |last=Ryan |first=Paul |date=June 2, 2010 |access-date=June 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202210616/http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2010/06/google-blocks-tetris-clones-from-android-market/ |archive-date=December 2, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> such as in the 2012 case ''[[Tetris Holding, LLC v. Xio Interactive, Inc.]]'', where a judge ruled that the iOS game ''Mino'' violated ''Tetris''{{'s}} copyright based on [[look and feel]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Brown |first=Mark |author-link=Game Maker's Toolkit |date=June 21, 2012 |title=Judge Declares iOS Tetris Clone 'Infringing' |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/06/wireduk-tetris-clone/ |access-date=January 19, 2021 |archive-date=October 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019163633/https://www.wired.com/2012/06/wireduk-tetris-clone/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Pajitnov and Rogers sought to keep ''Tetris'' versions fresh, and innovated in new directions. ''[[Tetrisphere]]'', developed by H2O Entertainment and released on August 11, 1997, was an example of this innovation.<ref name=retrogamer/><ref>{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Helen |date=July 2, 1997 |title=''Tetrisphere'' Gets Rolling |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_07/02_tetris/index.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990504104718/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_07/02_tetris/index.html |archivedate=May 4, 1999 |accessdate=February 8, 2025 |website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> Gameplay involved rotating a three-dimensional sphere to place pieces on its surface. It was the first puzzle video game on the [[Nintendo 64]] and garnered a [[cult following]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/22/the-3dss-n64-encores |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250831072220/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/22/the-3dss-n64-encores |last=Thomas |first=Lucas M. |title=The 3DS's N64 Encores |website=[[IGN]] |date=September 21, 2010 |archive-date=August 31, 2025 |access-date=February 10, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/tetris-game-spin-offs |last=Scullion |first=Chris |title=The ''Tetris'' Games No One Remembers |website=[[Red Bull Games]] |date=October 12, 2016 |access-date=February 10, 2025}}</ref> David Crookes of ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' called ''Tetrisphere'' "proof that the concept could be modernised and tweaked, while still being faithful to the original".<ref name=retrogamer/> Another version on the Nintendo 64, the Japan-exclusive ''[[Tetris 64]]'' (1998), allowed for four players and was the only game to utilize the Nintendo 64's Bio Sensor, which detected a player's pulse.<ref name=retrogamer/><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2009/06/nintendo-vitality-sensor/ |last=Kohler |first=Chris |title=Nintendo 'Vitality Sensor' Already Appeared on N64 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=June 8, 2009 |access-date=February 10, 2025 |archive-date=March 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324012445/https://www.wired.com/2009/06/nintendo-vitality-sensor/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On other platforms around this time, ''[[Tetris Plus]]'' (1996), ''[[Tetris DX]]'' (1998), and ''[[The Next Tetris]]'' (1999) added new game modes, and ''[[Tetris: The Grand Master]]'' (1998) was an arcade game targeted toward experienced players.<ref name=retrogamer/> 

According to Rogers, in order to appeal to beginner players, the Tetris Company started to incorporate features not in the original releases into the ''Tetris'' guidelines.<ref name="tftt"/> These features included the hold feature and ability to perform both soft drops and hard drops in ''[[The New Tetris]]'' in 1999,{{sfn|Linneman|2018|loc=31:11–31:34}} the easy spin and super rotation system in ''[[Tetris Worlds]]'' in 2001,{{sfn|Linneman|2018|loc=37:42–38:07}} and the scoring system introduced in ''Tetris DS'' in 2006.<ref name="polygon-tips" /> Critics panned ''Tetris Worlds'' for the easy spin mechanic, which allowed players to delay a piece's descent by continually rotating it. Despite the controversy and Pajitnov's reluctance, the mechanic was implemented into the ''Tetris'' guidelines.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Grannel |first=Craig |date=2021 |title=Queasy Spin |url=https://archive.org/details/retro-gamer-100-playstation-games-to-play-before-you-die-3nd-edition/page/78/mode/2up |magazine=[[Retro Gamer]] |via=[[Internet Archive]] |page=78}}</ref><ref name="tftt" /> ''Tetris Worlds'' also introduced the super rotation system, defining how pieces are to rotate,{{sfn|Linneman|2018|loc=37:42–38:07}} which most ''Tetris'' games have since used.<ref name="polygon-tips" />

''Tetris'' was first released on mobile devices in 2001 by [[G-Mode]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2010/jan/21/games-casual-gaming |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110013147/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2010/jan/21/games-casual-gaming |last=Stuart |first=Keith |title=''Tetris'' and ''Snake'' - The Biggest Games in the World |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=January 21, 2010 |archive-date=January 10, 2025 |access-date=February 7, 2025}}</ref> In 2002, Rogers formed Blue Lava Wireless to develop ''Tetris'' games for mobile platforms.<ref name="retrogamer" /> JAMDAT acquired Blue Lava Wireless in April 2005, granting the former a 15-year license of ''Tetris'' for mobile platforms.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/jamdat-acquires-blue-lava-wireless |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525145218/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/jamdat-acquires-blue-lava-wireless |last=Gibson |first=Ellie |title=Jamdat Acquires Blue Lava Wireless |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |date=April 22, 2005 |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> By December 2005, when [[Electronic Arts]] (EA) started its acquisition of JAMDAT, ''Tetris'' had been consistently selling well on American carrier phones.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/12/08/ea-buys-jamdat |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201043628/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/12/08/ea-buys-jamdat |last=Buchanan |first=Levi |title=EA Buys JAMDAT |website=[[IGN]] |date=December 8, 2005 |archive-date=December 1, 2016 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> EA completed its acquisition in February 2006, granting it the mobile license for ''Tetris''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/ea-officially-completes-jamdat-acquisition |last=Carless |first=Simon |title=EA Officially Completes Jamdat Acquisition |website=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]] |date=February 14, 2006 |access-date=September 25, 2024 |archive-date=September 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926062612/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/ea-officially-completes-jamdat-acquisition |url-status=live }}</ref> [[EA Mobile]] released their [[Tetris (Electronic Arts)|mobile version of ''Tetris'']] as a launch game for the [[iTunes store]] on [[iPod 5G]] on September 11, 2006,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/16/ipod-game-review-central |last=Buchanan |first=Levi |title=iPod Game Review Central |website=[[IGN]] |date=September 15, 2006 |access-date=September 23, 2024 |archive-date=September 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923064816/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/16/ipod-game-review-central |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/185577/ea-2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610075859/https://www.macworld.com/article/185577/ea-2.html |last=Cohen |first=Peter |title=EA Has Four New iPod Games in the Pipeline |magazine=[[MacWorld]] |date=May 8, 2007 |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> and on the [[Apple App Store]] on [[iOS]] on July 10, 2008.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/191429/eagames-2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205233221/https://www.macworld.com/article/191429/eagames-2.html |last=Cohen |first=Peter |title=EA Announces iPhone Game Lineup |website=[[MacWorld]] |date=July 10, 2008 |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> By January 2010, EA's mobile releases reached 100 million paid downloads, making ''Tetris'' the most popular mobile game at the time.<ref name="wired-ea" />

=== Maya Rogers' succession and resurgence of popularity (2014–present) ===
[[File:Maya Rogers.jpg|thumb|upright|Maya Rogers (pictured in 2022) succeeded her father as CEO of Blue Planet Software in January 2014.|alt=A woman]]

In January 2014, after eight years of involvement, Henk Rogers' daughter [[Maya Rogers|Maya]] succeeded him as the CEO of Blue Planet Software.{{efn|An October 2020 press release announced that Blue Planet Software was renamed to Tetris.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://tetris.com/article/241/call-us-tetris-blue-planet-software-the-sole-agent-for-the-tetris-brand-gets-new-name |title=Call Us Tetris! Blue Planet Software, the Sole Agent for the ''Tetris'' Brand Gets New Name |website=[[The Tetris Company]] |date=October 21, 2020 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |archive-date=August 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826205845/https://tetris.com/article/241/call-us-tetris-blue-planet-software-the-sole-agent-for-the-tetris-brand-gets-new-name |url-status=live }}</ref> To date, Henk is officially the president of the Tetris Company, while Maya is the president and CEO of Tetris, Inc.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tetris.com/bios |title=Corporate Bios |website=[[The Tetris Company]] |access-date=February 4, 2025 |archive-date=March 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314123813/https://tetris.com/bios |url-status=live }}</ref>}} She began by planning activities for ''Tetris''{{'s}} 30th anniversary. In an interview with ''[[VentureBeat]]'' in June 2014, Maya spoke of her desire to expand ''Tetris''{{'s}} brand, such as through merchandising, and keeping the game fresh.<ref>{{cite interview |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/after-three-decades-tetris-becomes-a-multigenerational-game/view-all/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928064546/https://venturebeat.com/games/after-three-decades-tetris-becomes-a-multigenerational-game/view-all/ |last=Rogers |first=Maya |author-link=Maya Rogers |title=After Three Decades, ''Tetris'' Becomes a Multigenerational Game |website=[[VentureBeat]] |date=June 20, 2014 |archive-date=September 28, 2023 |access-date=January 31, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Sega]] released ''[[Puyo Puyo Tetris]]'', a crossover between ''Tetris'' and ''[[Puyo Puyo]]'', in Japan on February 6, 2014, for multiple platforms.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://puyo.sega.jp/topics/2014/0206_02/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214180013/https://puyo.sega.jp/topics/2014/0206_02/index.html |title=『ぷよぷよテトリス』ダウンロードコンテンツ配信開始！ |trans-title=''Puyo Puyo Tetris'' Downloadable Content Now Available! |website=[[Sega]] |date=February 6, 2014 |archive-date=February 14, 2014 |access-date=January 31, 2025 |language=Japanese}}</ref> ''Puyo Puyo Tetris'' sold over 60,000 copies within a week, with the [[Nintendo 3DS]] port being the second-highest-selling game of the week according to ''[[4Gamer.net]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/117/G011794/20140212058/ |title=「ドラゴンクエストモンスターズ2 イルとルカの不思議なふしぎな鍵」が初登場44万3000本の「ゲームソフト週間販売ランキング＋」 |trans-title=''Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luka's Mysterious Key'' Debuts in the "Game Software Weekly Sales Ranking+" with 443,000 Copies Sold |website=[[4Gamer.net]] |date=February 12, 2014 |access-date=January 31, 2025 |archive-date=December 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206040547/https://www.4gamer.net/games/117/G011794/20140212058/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Ubisoft]]'s ''[[Tetris Ultimate]]'' was released on the [[Nintendo 3DS]] in November 2014 and the [[PlayStation 4]] and [[Xbox One]] in December 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/87463/tetris-ultimate-stacks-onto-playstation-4-and-xbox-one-next-week |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225044044/http://www.shacknews.com/article/87463/tetris-ultimate-stacks-onto-playstation-4-and-xbox-one-next-week |last=Perez |first=Daniel |title=''Tetris Ultimate'' Stacks onto PlayStation 4 and Xbox One Next Week |website=[[Shacknews]] |date=December 12, 2014 |archive-date=December 25, 2014 |access-date=January 31, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Tetris Ultimate'' received mixed reviews, though the online multiplayer was generally seen favorably.<ref>{{Cite Metacritic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216030828/https://www.metacritic.com/game/tetris-ultimate/|id=tetris-ultimate|type=game|vgtype=3ds|title=Tetris Ultimate|archive-date=December 16, 2024|access-date=January 31, 2025|publisher_hide=y}}</ref><ref name=retrogamer/>

In the late 2010s, the ''Tetris'' series had a resurgence in popularity with the release of ''[[Tetris Effect]]'' and ''[[Tetris 99]]''.{{efn|Attributed to multiple sources:<ref name=gamesindustry-35th>{{cite news |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-rise-of-tetris |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006130012/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-rise-of-tetris |last=Dring |first=Christopher |title=How Everything Has Fallen into Place for ''Tetris'' |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |date=May 29, 2019 |archive-date=October 6, 2024 |access-date=February 3, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=pcmag-renaissance>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/the-tetris-renaissance-this-console-generations-most-unexpected-blessing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121121400/https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/the-tetris-renaissance-this-console-generations-most-unexpected-blessing |last=Wilson |first=Jeffrey L. |title=The ''Tetris'' Renaissance: This Console Generation's Most Unexpected Blessing |magazine=[[PCMag]] |date=February 25, 2019 |archive-date=January 21, 2025 |access-date=February 3, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/110392/ctwc-pros-offer-tips-for-getting-better-at-tetris-99 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818112735/https://www.shacknews.com/article/110392/ctwc-pros-offer-tips-for-getting-better-at-tetris-99 |last=Singletary |first=Charles |title=CTWC Pros Offer Tips for Getting Better at ''Tetris 99'' |website=[[Shacknews]] |date=March 8, 2019 |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |access-date=February 3, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-switch/2019/2/13/18224042/tetris-99-nintendo-switch-free-download-release-battle-royale/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250827200300/https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-switch/2019/2/13/18224042/tetris-99-nintendo-switch-free-download-release-battle-royale/ |last=Miller |first=Ross |title=''Tetris'' Battle Royale Is Real and Free on Nintendo Switch Today |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=February 13, 2019 |archive-date=August 27, 2025 |access-date=August 3, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/news/tetris-effect-pc-release-epic-games-store-vr-support/ |last=Singletary |first=Charles |title=''Tetris Effect'', No Longer a PS4 Exclusive, Hits Epic Games Store with VR support |website=[[Digital Trends]] |date=July 16, 2019 |access-date=August 3, 2025 |archive-date=July 22, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250722062726/https://www.digitaltrends.com/news/tetris-effect-pc-release-epic-games-store-vr-support/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/tetris-99s-biggest-fan-is-the-father-of-tetris-himself-alexey-pajitnov |last=Oxford |first=Nadia |title=''Tetris 99''{{'s}} Biggest Fan Is The Father of Tetris Himself, Alexey Pajitnov |website=[[USGamer]] |date=January 10, 2020 |access-date=August 3, 2025 |via=[[VG247]] |archive-date=September 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907001323/https://www.vg247.com/tetris-99s-biggest-fan-is-the-father-of-tetris-himself-alexey-pajitnov |url-status=live }}</ref>}} ''[[PCMag]]'' credited the resurgence to the 2017 release of ''Puyo Puyo Tetris'' in the Western world,<ref name="pcmag-renaissance" /> where it received positive reviews and sold 1.4 million copies worldwide by November 2020.<ref>{{Cite Metacritic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208032731/https://www.metacritic.com/game/puyo-puyo-tetris/ |id=puyo-puyo-tetris |type=game |vgtype=nintendo-switch |title=Puyo Puyo Tetris |archive-date=December 8, 2024 |access-date=January 31, 2025 |publisher_hide=y |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=siliconera-interview/> ''Tetris Effect'', developed by Monstars and Resonair and published by Enhance Games,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2018/11/28/tetris-becomes-even-more-addictive-tetris-effect/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128203707/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2018/11/28/tetris-becomes-even-more-addictive-tetris-effect/ |last=Byrd |first=Christopher |title=''Tetris'' Becomes Even More Addictive in ''Tetris Effect'' |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=November 28, 2018 |archive-date=November 28, 2018 |access-date=February 2, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> was released on the [[PlayStation 4]] on November 9, 2018,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018-09-17-tetris-effect-release-date.html |last=Holt |first=Kris |title=''Tetris Effect'' Drops a Color Bomb on Your PS4 November 9th |website=[[Engadget]] |date=September 17, 2018 |access-date=February 2, 2025 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109013555/https://www.engadget.com/2018-09-17-tetris-effect-release-date.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and on Windows on July 23, 2019,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/ps4/2019/7/23/20707102/tetris-effect-ps4-discount-price-sale |last=Hall |first=Charlie |title=''Tetris Effect'' for PS4 Discounted, Out Now on PC |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=July 23, 2019 |access-date=February 2, 2025 |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723160441/https://www.polygon.com/ps4/2019/7/23/20707102/tetris-effect-ps4-discount-price-sale |url-status=live }}</ref> receiving widespread critical acclaim for its visuals and emotional impact.<ref name=gamesindustry-35th/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tetris-effect-connected-coming-to-nintendo-switch-on-october-8/1100-6495048/ |last=Knezevic |first=Kevin |title=''Tetris Effect'': Connected Coming to Nintendo Switch on October 8 |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=August 11, 2021 |access-date=November 20, 2024 |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927010039/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tetris-effect-connected-coming-to-nintendo-switch-on-october-8/1100-6495048/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/news/tetris-effect-connected-comes-to-ps5-with-psvr2-compatibility/436098/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126014128/https://hardcoregamer.com/news/tetris-effect-connected-comes-to-ps5-with-psvr2-compatibility/436098/ |last=Soto |first=Fran |title=''Tetris Effect'': Connected Comes to PS5 with PSVR2 Compatibility |website=[[Valnet|Hardcore Gamer]] |date=January 20, 2023 |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |access-date=November 20, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Tetris 99'' is a [[battle royale game|battle royale]] version of ''Tetris'' made available to subscribers of [[Nintendo Switch Online]] on February 13, 2019, upon its surprise announcement during [[Nintendo Direct]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/13/18224020/tetris-99-battle-royale-nintendo-switch-fortnite |last=Alexander |first=Julia |title=''Tetris'' is Now a Battle Royale Game with ''Tetris 99'' |website=[[The Verge]] |date=February 13, 2019 |access-date=February 3, 2025 |archive-date=February 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214123830/https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/13/18224020/tetris-99-battle-royale-nintendo-switch-fortnite |url-status=live }}</ref> It received positive reviews and became Nintendo Switch Online's killer app;<ref name=gamesindustry-35th/><ref name=pcmag-renaissance/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/06/tetris_99_will_soon_have_a_tetris_battle_royale_rival |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603100705/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/06/tetris_99_will_soon_have_a_tetris_battle_royale_rival |last=Craddock |first=Ryan |title=''Tetris 99'' Will Soon Have a Tetris Battle Royale Rival |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |date=June 28, 2019 |archive-date=June 3, 2024 |access-date=February 3, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> according to President of Nintendo [[Shuntaro Furukawa]], 2.8 million Nintendo Switch Online users played ''Tetris 99'' within a few months of release.<ref name=nintendolife-tetris99>{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/04/9_8_million_switch_owners_have_signed_up_to_the_online_service_and_2_8_million_have_played_tetris_99 |last=Doolan |first=Liam |title=9.8 Million Switch Owners Have Signed Up to the Online Service and 2.8 Million Have Played ''Tetris 99'' |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |date=April 25, 2019 |access-date=December 7, 2024 |archive-date=December 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217213015/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/04/9_8_million_switch_owners_have_signed_up_to_the_online_service_and_2_8_million_have_played_tetris_99 |url-status=live }}</ref>

EA announced in January 2020 that its license for mobile releases of ''Tetris'' would expire on April 21, 2020, with the game becoming inoperable as a result.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2020-01-22-ea-tetris-mobile-game.html |title=EA is Shutting Down its Mobile ''Tetris'' Games |last=Fisher |first=Christine |website=[[Engadget]] |date=January 22, 2020 |access-date=April 29, 2020 |archive-date=January 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123144654/https://www.engadget.com/2020-01-22-ea-tetris-mobile-game.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Video game developer N3twork subsequently released authorized mobile releases on the iOS and Android on January 23, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/23/21078481/tetris-n3twork-android-ios-new-apps-ea-shutdown-puzzle-game |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250830183729/https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/23/21078481/tetris-n3twork-android-ios-new-apps-ea-shutdown-puzzle-game |last=Gartenberg |first=Chalm |title=''Tetris'' Returns to Android and iOS after EA's Version Shuts Down |website=[[The Verge]] |date=January 23, 2020 |archive-date=August 30, 2025 |access-date=August 3, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> These accumulated 30 million downloads before [[Social network game|social casino]] company PlayStudios acquired the rights to them in November 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/playstudios-exclusive-rightstetris-mobile-games/ |last=Orr |first=Aaron |title=Playstudios Acquires Exclusive Rights to Develop ''Tetris'' Mobile Games |website=[[PocketGamer.biz]] |date=November 30, 2021 |access-date=August 3, 2025 }}</ref> On March 28, 2023, Playstudios incorporated a playAwards [[loyalty program]] onto the ''Tetris'' mobile apps, allowing players to win points for playing ''Tetris'' that can be redeemed for real-life awards.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2023/03/28/playstudios-tetris-mobile-game-rewards-program/81162939007/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250901064424/https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2023/03/28/playstudios-tetris-mobile-game-rewards-program/81162939007/ |last=Broadwell |first=Josh |title=Mobile Game Maker Wants to Give You Things for Playing ''Tetris'' |work=[[USA Today]] |date=March 28, 2023 |archive-date=September 1, 2025 |access-date=August 3, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Tetris Forever]]'', a compilation of ''Tetris'' games and [[interactive documentary]] developed by [[Digital Eclipse]], was released on November 12, 2024,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/11/24291537/tetris-forever-review-ps5-switch-pc-xbox |last=Webster |first=Andrew |title=Video Game History Falls into Place in ''Tetris Forever'' |website=[[The Verge]] |date=November 11, 2024 |access-date=August 9, 2025 |archive-date=July 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250725073054/https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/11/24291537/tetris-forever-review-ps5-switch-pc-xbox |url-status=live }}</ref> to positive reviews for chronicling the history of ''Tetris''.<ref>{{Cite Metacritic|id=tetris-forever|type=game|title=Tetris Forever|access-date=August 9, 2025|publisher_hide=y}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/11/round-up-the-reviews-are-in-for-tetris-forever |last=Doolan |first=Liam |title=Round Up: The Reviews Are In for ''Tetris Forever'' |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |date=November 11, 2024 |access-date=August 9, 2025 |archive-date=June 5, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250605062300/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/11/round-up-the-reviews-are-in-for-tetris-forever |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Versions ==
{{main|List of Tetris variants|l1=List of ''Tetris'' variants}}

''Tetris'' has been released on a multitude of platforms since its initial creation. It is available on many game consoles, personal computers, smartphones, among other platforms. To date, ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' recognizes ''Tetris'' as the video game with the most ports, totaling over 220 versions across over 70 platforms.<ref>{{cite web|title=Most Variants of a Videogame|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/86503-most-official-and-unofficial-variants-in-a-videogame|website=[[Guinness World Records]]|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115121829/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/86503-most-official-and-unofficial-variants-in-a-videogame|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Most Ported Computer Game |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-ported-computer-game |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250829084832/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-ported-computer-game |access-date=July 15, 2025 |website=[[Guinness World Records]] |archive-date=August 29, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> Across its multiple versions, ''Tetris''{{'s}} core gameplay has remained consistent.{{sfn|Plank|2022|p=268}} Since 1996, the Tetris Company has maintained annual standard specifications for authorized versions of ''Tetris''.<ref name="guardian020609"/><ref name="tftt">{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/interview/11267/tetris-from-the-top-an-interview-with-henk-rogers |last=Rogers |first=Henk |author-link=Henk Rogers |title=''Tetris'' from the Top: An Interview with Henk Rogers |interviewer=Jonathan Mett |website=Nintendo World Report |date=April 6, 2006 |access-date=April 28, 2007 |archive-date=March 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311043518/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/interview/11267/tetris-from-the-top-an-interview-with-henk-rogers |url-status=live }}</ref> Pajitnov considers these guidelines a baseline for different versions and not "set in stone".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/a/e3-2014/tetris-ultimate |last=Leone |first=Matt |title=''Tetris Ultimate'': Making ''Tetris'' into a Virtual Sport |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=2014 |access-date=December 29, 2024 |archive-date=December 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241229231003/https://www.polygon.com/a/e3-2014/tetris-ultimate |url-status=live }}</ref> Several game mechanics of ''Tetris'' have been changed over time. For example, the distribution of tetrominoes was completely randomized in early versions, while modern versions use a "bag system", in which each tetromino is guaranteed to appear once in a set of seven.{{sfn|Plank|2022|pp=271–272}}{{sfn|Pajitnov|Rogers|2023|loc=6:19–6:48}} Other mechanics that have become standardized in modern versions include the ability to hold tetrominoes to swap with later pieces, introduced in ''[[The New Tetris]]'' (1999),{{sfn|Linneman|2018|loc=31:24–31:34}} and the super rotation system and infinite spin, introduced in ''[[Tetris Worlds]]'' (2001).{{sfn|Linneman|2018|loc=37:42–38:07}}

The original Elektronica 60 version of ''Tetris'' had no music.{{sfn|Pajitnov|Rogers|2023|loc=3:10}} Spectrum Holobyte's version of ''Tetris'' in the United States exoticized the Soviet origins through elements such as Russian music, including [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky]]'s "[[Trepak (The Nutcracker)|Trepak]]" from ''[[The Nutcracker]]'' and [[Reinhold Glière]]'s "[[Russian Sailor Dance]]" from ''[[The Red Poppy]]''. This approach differed from other versions of ''Tetris'' from other countries at the time: Mirrorsoft's Commodore 64 versions in Europe used an atmospheric soundtrack, and Sega's arcade version in Japan used a synthesized pop-influenced soundtrack.<ref name=soundtrack>{{cite journal |url=https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/st.8.1-2.7_1 |last=Plank-Blasko |first=Dana |title='From Russia with Fun!': ''Tetris'', Korobeiniki and the Ludic Soviet |journal=The Soundtrack |volume=8 |issue=1–2 |date=October 2015 |pages=7–24 |doi=10.1386/st.8.1-2.7_1 |access-date=November 15, 2024 |archive-date=July 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710081002/https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/st.8.1-2.7_1 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Nintendo's versions for NES and Game Boy continued the pattern of using Russian music. The NES version uses Tchaikovsky's "[[Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy]]" from ''The Nutcracker'' as Music A, with the Russian-influenced Music B and the mellow Music C having unclear origins.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/musimoviimag.2.1.0040 |last=Gibbons |first=William |title=Blip, Bloop, Bach? Some Uses of Classical Music on the Nintendo Entertainment System |journal=Music and the Moving Image |date=Spring 2009 |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=40–52 |doi=10.5406/musimoviimag.2.1.0040 |jstor=10.5406/musimoviimag.2.1.0040 |access-date=November 15, 2024 |archive-date=January 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107053446/https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/musimoviimag.2.1.0040 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The Game Boy version has the 1860s Russian folk tune "[[Korobeiniki]]" for Music A, an original composition by [[Hirokazu Tanaka]] for Music B, and the Menuet of [[Johann Sebastian Bach]]'s ''[[French Suites (Bach)|French Suite no. 3]]'' for Music C.{{sfn|Plank|2022|p=269}} "Korobeiniki" has become primarily associated with ''Tetris'' as its main theme and would be used in most significant versions within the series,{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=97}}<ref name=soundtrack/> as mandated by the Tetris Company guidelines.<ref name=guardian020609/>

== Reception ==

=== Sales ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders mw-collapsible floatright"
|+ Sales of selected versions of ''Tetris''
|-
! scope="col"|Year
! scope="col"|Game
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
! scope="col"|Sales
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | 1988
! scope="row" | [[Tetris (Spectrum HoloByte)|''Tetris'' (Spectrum HoloByte)]]
| PC
| 1 million<ref>{{cite book |last1=McGowan |first1=Chris |last2=McCullaugh |first2=Jim |title=Entertainment in the Cyber Zone |date=1995 |location=New York |publisher=[[Random House]] |isbn=978-0-679-75804-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/bwb_P5-BRC-671/page/84/mode/2up |page=84 |via=[[Internet Archive]] |url-access=registration}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |''Tetris'' (Famicom)
| Famicom
| 2 million{{sfn|Sheff|Eddy|1999|p=312}}
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | 1989
! scope="row" | [[Tetris (Game Boy video game)|''Tetris'' (Game Boy)]]
| Game Boy
| 35 million<ref name=tetris-numbers>{{cite web |url=https://tetris.com/by-the-numbers |title=''Tetris'' By The Numbers |website=[[The Tetris Company]] |access-date=December 5, 2024 |archive-date=December 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206233755/https://tetris.com/by-the-numbers |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[Tetris (NES video game)|''Tetris'' (NES)]]
| NES
| 8 million{{sfn|Temple|2004|loc=51:23}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1996
! scope="row" | ''[[Tetris Plus]]''
| PlayStation
| 1.53 million<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml |title=US Platinum Game Chart |website=The Magic Box |access-date=December 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070421003854/http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml |archive-date=April 21, 2007 }}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1997
! scope="row" | ''[[Tetrisphere]]''
| Nintendo 64
| 430,000<ref>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000304054215/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_05/14_sphere/index.html | url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_05/14_sphere/index.html | title=H2O Announces ''Tetrisphere'' Sales | work=[[GameSpot]] | date=May 14, 1998 | archive-date=March 4, 2000 | url-status=dead |access-date=February 7, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2001
! scope="row" | ''[[Tetris Worlds]]''
| Multi-platform
| 1.81 million{{efn|''Tetris Worlds'' sold 960,000 copies for Game Boy Advance<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3557&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010052300/http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3557&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=0 |last=Keiser |first=Joe |title=The Century's Top 50 Handheld Games |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |date=August 2, 2006 |archive-date=October 10, 2007 |access-date=December 5, 2024}}</ref> and 850,000 for PlayStation 2.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3537&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028115051/http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3537&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=1 |last1=Campbell |first1=Colin |last2=Keiser |first2=Joe |title=The Top 100 Games of the 21st Century |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |date=July 29, 2006 |archive-date=October 28, 2007 |access-date=December 5, 2024}}</ref>}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2006
! scope="row" | ''[[Tetris DS]]''
| Nintendo DS
| 2.05 million<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/07/25/nintendo-sales-update |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |title=Nintendo Sales Update |website=[[IGN]] |date=July 25, 2007 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |archive-date=September 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922174058/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/07/25/nintendo-sales-update |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2014
! scope="row" | ''[[Puyo Puyo Tetris]]''
| Multi-platform
| 1.4 million<ref name=siliconera-interview>{{cite interview |url=https://www.siliconera.com/puyo-puyo-tetris-2-interview-producer-mizuki-hosoyamada-on-sequels-manzai-demos-and-more/ |last=Hosoyamada |first=Mizuki |interviewer=Graham Russel |title=''Puyo Puyo Tetris 2'' Interview: Producer Mizuki Hosoyamada on Sequels, 'Manzai Demos' and More |website=[[Siliconera]] |date=November 19, 2020 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |archive-date=May 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504052024/http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2014/02/12/japanese-sales-charts-ps-vita-terraria-debuts-on-vita/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2020
! scope="row" | ''[[Puyo Puyo Tetris 2]]''
| Multi-platform
| 293,000{{efn|''Puyo Puyo Tetris 2'' sold 93,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/02/famitsu-sales-2-15-21-2-21-21 |last=Romano |first=Sal |title=Famitsu Sales: 10/14/24 – 10/20/24 [Update] |website=Gematsu |date=February 25, 2021 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225174134/https://www.gematsu.com/2021/02/famitsu-sales-2-15-21-2-21-21 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Puyo Puyo Tetris 2: Special Price'' sold 200,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/10/famitsu-sales-10-14-24-10-20-24 |last=Romano |first=Sal |title=Famitsu Sales: 10/14/24 – 10/20/24 [Update] |website=Gematsu |date=October 24, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110111203/https://www.gematsu.com/2024/10/famitsu-sales-10-14-24-10-20-24 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|}

In January 2010, EA Mobile and Blue Planet Software announced that the mobile versions of ''Tetris'' released 2005 had reached 100 million paid downloads, making it most-downloaded mobile game at the time.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/tetris-is-the-most-popular-mobile-game-ever-100-million-paid-downloads-since-2005/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121002046/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/tetris-is-the-most-popular-mobile-game-ever-100-million-paid-downloads-since-2005/ |last=Spencer |first=Spanner |title=''Tetris'' is the Most Popular Mobile Game Ever: 100 million Paid Downloads since 2005 |work=[[PocketGamer.biz]] |date=January 21, 2010 |archive-date=January 21, 2025 |access-date=December 14, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=wired-ea>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/01/tetris-100-million-sold/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121003903/https://www.wired.com/2010/01/tetris-100-million-sold/ |last=Meyer |first=John |title=With 100M Downloads, ''Tetris'' is World's Hottest Mobile Game |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=January 22, 2010 |archive-date=January 21, 2025 |access-date=December 14, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2014, Rogers announced in an interview with ''[[VentureBeat]]'' that ''Tetris'' totaled 425 million paid mobile downloads and 70 million physical copies.<ref>{{cite interview |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/mr-tetris-explains-why-the-puzzle-game-is-still-popular-after-three-decades-interview/ |last=Rogers |first=Henk |author-link=Henk Rogers |title='Mr. Tetris' Explains Why the Puzzle Game is Still Popular after Three Decades |interviewer=Dean Takahashi |website=[[VentureBeat]] |date=April 7, 2014 |access-date=August 25, 2024 |archive-date=October 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026020856/https://venturebeat.com/games/mr-tetris-explains-why-the-puzzle-game-is-still-popular-after-three-decades-interview/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=polygon-sales/> To date, all versions of ''Tetris'' collectively serve as the [[List of best-selling video game franchises|second-best-selling video game series of all time]], totaling 520 million sales according to The Tetris Company.<ref name=bbc-sales>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67105983 |last=Gerken |first=Tom |title=''Minecraft'' Becomes First Video Game to Hit 300m Sales |work=[[BBC]] |date=October 16, 2023 |access-date=August 25, 2024 |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823203213/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67105983 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=forbes-sales>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/britneynguyen/2023/10/16/minecraft-just-surpassed-300-million-sales-heres-the-only-video-game-still-beating-it/ |last=Nguyen |first=Britney |title=''Minecraft'' Just Surpassed 300 Million Sales—Here's the Only Video Game Still Beating it |magazine=[[Forbes]] |date=October 16, 2023 |access-date=August 25, 2024 |archive-date=August 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826003655/https://www.forbes.com/sites/britneynguyen/2023/10/16/minecraft-just-surpassed-300-million-sales-heres-the-only-video-game-still-beating-it/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The majority originate from paid mobile downloads, based on Rogers' figure from the 2014 interview.<ref name=polygon-sales>{{cite news |url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/4/8/5594314/tetris-has-passed-425-million-downloads-on-mobile-not-including-free |last=Corriea |first=Alexa Ray |title=''Tetris'' has Passed 425 Million Downloads on Mobile, Not Including Free-to-Play |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=April 8, 2014 |access-date=August 25, 2024 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308145726/https://www.polygon.com/2014/4/8/5594314/tetris-has-passed-425-million-downloads-on-mobile-not-including-free |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://gizmodo.com/minecraft-highest-selling-game-all-time-behind-tetris-1850929214 |last=Barr |first=Kyle |title=''Minecraft'' is the Highest-Selling Game of All Time, Behind ''Tetris'' |website=[[Gizmondo]] |date=October 16, 2023 |access-date=August 25, 2024 |archive-date=October 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007222403/https://gizmodo.com/minecraft-highest-selling-game-all-time-behind-tetris-1850929214 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some publications consider ''Tetris'' the [[best-selling video game of all time]] due to these figures,<ref name=forbes-sales/> though [[BBC]] disputes this claim due to differences between the versions, including on mobile platforms.<ref name=bbc-sales/> The most commercially successful version is the Game Boy version,{{sfn|Linneman|2018|loc=11:10–11:13}} which at 35 million copies is among the best-selling video games of all time.<ref name=tetris-numbers/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/06/anniversary-the-most-famous-version-of-tetris-is-35-today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218204612/https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/06/anniversary-the-most-famous-version-of-tetris-is-35-today |last=McFerran |first=Damien |title=The Most Famous Version of ''Tetris'' Is 35 Today |website=TimeExtension |date=June 14, 2024 |archive-date=December 18, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024}}</ref> By 1996, the original had sold nearly 40 million copies.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lynch |first=Stephen |date=14 April 1996 |title=A bevy of new video games follow an old lesson: Keep it simple, stupid. |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-ana-orange-county-register-apr-14-1996-p-216/ |work=Santa Ana Orange County Register |pages=216}}</ref> 

=== Accolades ===
''Tetris'' has garnered accolades and awards since its initial commercial release. The Spectrum HoloByte version won three [[Software Publishers Association]] Excellence in Software awards in 1989, including Best Entertainment Program and the Critic's Choice Award for consumers.<ref name="scisco198908">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1989-08-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_111_1989_Aug#page/n7/mode/2up | title=The Envelope, Please | work=[[Compute!]] | date=August 1989 | access-date=November 11, 2013 | author=Scisco, Peter | page=6 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316211940/https://archive.org/stream/1989-08-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_111_1989_Aug#page/n7/mode/2up | archive-date=March 16, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> ''Macworld'' inducted ''Tetris'' into the 1988 [[Macworld#Game Hall of Fame|''Macworld'' Game Hall of Fame]] in the Best Strategy Game category. ''Macworld'' praised "the addictive quality" and said its "simplicity is bewitching",<ref>{{cite magazine| last = Levy| first = Steven | date = December 1988 | title = The Game Hall of Fame | url = https://archive.org/details/MacWorld_8812_December_1988/page/n127/mode/2up | magazine = [[Macworld]] | volume = 5 | number = 12 | page = 124 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> and ''[[Compute!]]'' gave ''Tetris'' the 1989 Choice Award for Arcade Game, describing it as "by far, the most addictive game ever".<ref name="compute198901">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1989-01-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_104_1989_Jan#page/n25/mode/2up | title=The 1989 ''Compute!'' Choice Awards | work=[[Compute!]] | date=January 1989 | access-date=November 10, 2013 | page=24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316200847/https://archive.org/stream/1989-01-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_104_1989_Jan#page/n25/mode/2up | archive-date=March 16, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' named the NES version the eighth-greatest game available for sale in 1991, saying: "Thanks to Nintendo's endless promotion, ''Tetris'' has become one of the most popular video games."<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1991/11/22/video-games-guide/ |last=Strauss |first=Bob |title=Video Games Guide |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=November 22, 1991 |access-date=September 9, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219184932/http://ew.com/article/1991/11/22/video-games-guide/ | archive-date=February 19, 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref>

''Tetris'' is widely considered among the [[greatest video games of all time]],{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=6}} being ranked as such by ''[[Flux (magazine)|Flux]]'' (1995),<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 1995 |title=Top 100 Video Games |url=https://archive.org/details/flux-issue-4/page/n27/mode/2up |magazine=[[Flux (magazine)|Flux]] |issue=4 |pages=28 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' (1996 and 1999),<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Games of All Time |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=21 |date=September 1996|page=71}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 50 Games of All Time |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=50 |date=February 1999|page=81}}</ref> ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' (1997),<ref>{{cite magazine |title=100 Best Games of All Time |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=100 |date=November 1997 |page=160}}</ref> ''[[GameSpot]]'' (2000),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.co.uk/pc.gamespot/features/gotm_uk/39.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000612005703/http://www.gamespot.co.uk/pc.gamespot/features/gotm_uk/39.html |title=The 100 Games of the Millennium - 39. ''Tetris'' |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=January 2, 2000 |archive-date=June 12, 2000 |access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref> ''[[Game Informer]]'' (2001 and 2009),<ref>{{cite magazine |title=''Game Informer''{{'s}} Top 100 Games of All Time (Circa Issue 100) |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/11/16/game-informer-s-top-100-games-of-all-time-circa-issue-100.aspx |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |last=Cork |first=Jeff |date=November 16, 2009 |access-date=December 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408113757/http://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/11/16/game-informer-s-top-100-games-of-all-time-circa-issue-100.aspx |archive-date=April 8, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="gi_best">{{cite magazine|author=The ''Game Informer'' staff|title=The Top 200 Games of All Time|pages=44–79|issue=200|date=December 2009|magazine=Game Informer}}</ref> ''[[IGN]]'' (2007 and 2021),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_2.html |title=''IGN'' Top 100 Games of All Time|website=[[IGN]] |access-date=November 22, 2012|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107133844/http://top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_2.html|archive-date=November 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-100-video-games-of-all-time |last=Sullivan |first=Meghan |title=The Top 100 Video Games of All Time - 28. ''Tetris'' |website=[[IGN]] |date=December 31, 2021 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |archive-date=December 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231162533/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-100-video-games-of-all-time |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' (2012 and 2016),<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://techland.time.com/2012/11/15/all-time-100-video-games/slide/tetris-1984/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313221840/http://techland.time.com/2012/11/15/all-time-100-video-games/slide/tetris-1984/ |title=All-Time 100 Video Games - ''Tetris'' |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=November 15, 2012 |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/4458554/best-video-games-all-time/ |title=The 50 Best Video Games of All Time |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=August 23, 2016 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |archive-date=September 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924045255/http://time.com/4458554/best-video-games-all-time/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[GamesRadar+]]'' (2015 and 2021),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/best-games-ever/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319223433/http://www.gamesradar.com/best-games-ever/ |title=The 100 Best Games Ever |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |date=February 25, 2015 |archive-date=March 19, 2015 |access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/best-games-of-all-time/ |title=The 50 Best Games of All Time |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |date=November 23, 2021 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |archive-date=November 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124001852/https://www.gamesradar.com/best-games-of-all-time/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' (2017),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/12/1/16707720/the-500-best-games-of-all-time-100-1 |title=The 500 Best Games of All Time: 100–1 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=December 1, 2017 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201191206/https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/12/1/16707720/the-500-best-games-of-all-time-100-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[USA Today]]'' (2022 and 2024),<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/best-video-games |title=The 100 Best Video Games of All Time, Ranked |work=[[USA Today]] |date=September 10, 2022 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |archive-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910130936/https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/best-video-games |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/best-video-games-all-time-list-zelda-mario |title=A Definitive Ranking of the Top 30 Video Games of All Time |work=[[USA Today]] |date=January 26, 2024 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128103906/https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/best-video-games-all-time-list-zelda-mario |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Times]]'' (2023),<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/20-best-video-games-of-all-time-ranked-by-an-expert-jury-l5zgrxmw8 |last=Pebble |first=Lucy |title=20 Best Video Games of All Time — 4. ''Tetris'' |work=[[The Times]] |date=February 26, 2023 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |archive-date=October 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009184503/https://www.thetimes.com/article/20-best-video-games-of-all-time-ranked-by-an-expert-jury-l5zgrxmw8 |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[GQ]]'' (2023).<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2023 |title=The 100 Greatest Video Games of All Time, Ranked by Experts |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/best-video-games-all-time |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=[[GQ]] |archive-date=May 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510142624/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/best-video-games-all-time |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Tetris'' has also been ranked as among the best computer games by ''[[PC Format]]'' (1991)<ref name=pcformat50>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[PC Format]] | title=The 50 Best Games Ever! |date=October 1991 | issue=1 | pages=109–111 }}</ref> and ''Computer Gaming World'' (1996),<ref name="cgw199611mostinnovative">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=148 | title=The 15 Most Innovative Computer Games | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | date=November 1996 | access-date=March 25, 2016 | pages=102 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408023915/http://cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=148 | archive-date=April 8, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> among the best video game franchises by ''IGN'' (2006)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/05/the-top-25-videogame-franchises |title=The Top 25 Videogame Franchises |website=[[IGN]] |date=December 4, 2006 |access-date=January 2, 2024 |archive-date=February 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226223358/http://ps3.ign.com/articles/749/749069p4.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Den of Geek]]'' (2024),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/35-best-video-game-franchises-ever/ |last=Jasper |first=Gavin |title=35 Best Video Game Franchises Ever: 22. ''Tetris'' |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=May 27, 2024 |access-date=January 2, 2024}}</ref> and among the most influential games of all time by ''[[GamePro]]'' (2007),<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/110068/the-52-most-important-video-games-of-all-time-page-4-of-8/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913085022/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/110068/the-52-most-important-video-games-of-all-time-page-4-of-8/ |last=Fatt |first=Boba |title=The 52 Most Important Video Games of All Time (Page 4 of 8) |magazine=[[GamePro]] |date=April 25, 2007 |archive-date=September 13, 2008 |access-date=December 3, 2024}}</ref> ''IGN'' (2007),<ref name=ign-importance>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/12/11/igns-top-10-most-influential-games |last1=Geddes |first1=Ryan |last2=Hatfield |first2=Daemon |title=''IGN''{{'s}} Top 10 Most Influential Games |website=[[IGN]] |date=December 10, 2007 |access-date=December 3, 2024}}</ref> ''[[1Up.com]]'' (2010),<ref name=1up-importance>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-tetris |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104160239/http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-tetris  |last=Parish |first=Jeremy |title=Essential 50: ''Tetris'' |website=[[1Up.com]] |date=2010 |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=December 3, 2024}}</ref> ''GamesRadar+'' (2013),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/50-most-important-games-all-time/3/ |last=Loveridge |first=Sam |title=The 50 Most Important Games of All Time |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |date=April 12, 2013 |access-date=December 3, 2024 |archive-date=December 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204102214/https://www.gamesradar.com/50-most-important-games-all-time/3/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[The Guardian]]'' (2017).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gallery/2017/may/16/the-10-most-influential-video-games-of-all-time |last=Stuart |first=Keith |title=The 10 Most Influential Video Games of All Time – In Pictures |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=May 16, 2017 |access-date=December 3, 2024}}</ref>

''Tetris'' has been inducted into the "Hall of Fame" of the following publications: ''Computer Gaming World'' (1999),<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_177/ |title=Hall of Fame — New Inductees: ''Tetris'' (Spectrum Holobyte 1988) |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |date=April 1999 |issue=177 |page=237 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> ''[[GameSpy]]'' (2000),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/halloffame/tetris_a.shtm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040706010318/http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/halloffame/tetris_a.shtm |title=The ''Gamespy'' Hall of Fame - ''Tetris'' |website=[[Gamespy]] |date=July 2000 |archive-date=July 6, 2004 |access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref> ''GameSpot'' (2003),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-8.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209081517/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-8.html |title=They'll Keep Playing It Long After All of Us Are Dead |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=July 2, 2003 |archive-date=December 9, 2008 |access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref> and ''IGN'' (2007).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://games.ign.com/halloffame/tetris.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506042038/http://games.ign.com/halloffame/tetris.html |title=''IGN'' Hall of Fame - ''Tetris'' |date=2007 |archive-date=May 6, 2011 |access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref> At the 2007 [[Game Developers Choice Awards]], Pajitnov won the First Penguin Award, known afterward as the Pioneer Award, for pioneering casual gaming through ''Tetris''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/45731/gdca-to-honor-miyamoto-pajitnov |last=Remo |first=Chris |title=GDCA to Honor Miyamoto, Pajitnov, 'The Fat Man' Sanger, Costikyan |website=[[Shacknews]] |date=February 13, 2007 |access-date=August 1, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://gamechoiceawards.com/archive-gdca-2007/ |title=Archive: 7th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards |website=[[Game Developers Choice Award]] |access-date=August 1, 2025 |archive-date=June 22, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250622181021/https://gamechoiceawards.com/archive-gdca-2007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Tetris'' was listed as part of the [[game canon]], announced at the 2007 [[Game Developers Conference]] by Henry Lowood of [[Stanford University]] as a list of ten games to be considered for preservation by the [[Library of Congress]], modeled after the [[National Film Preservation Board]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/arts/design/12vide.html?ex=1331352000&en=380fc9bb18694da5&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink|title=Is That Just Some Game? No, It's a Cultural Artifact|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Heather|last=Chaplin|date=March 12, 2007|access-date=November 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204212137/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/arts/design/12vide.html?ex=1331352000&en=380fc9bb18694da5&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink|archive-date=December 4, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Joystiq">{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/10-most-important-video-games-of-all-time-as-judged-by-2-design/ |title=10 Most Important Video Games of All Time, As Judged By 2 Designers, 2 Academics, and 1 Lowly Blogger |last=Ransom-Wiley |first=James |website=[[Joystiq]] |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422035847/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/10-most-important-video-games-of-all-time-as-judged-by-2-design/ |archive-date=April 22, 2014 }}</ref> In November 2012, the [[Museum of Modern Art]] acquired ''Tetris'', along with thirteen other video games, to display.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2013/05/moma-video-games/ |last=Moore |first=Bo |title='All Hell Broke Loose': Why MoMA Is Exhibiting ''Tetris'' and ''Pac-Man'' |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=May 30, 2013 |access-date=December 3, 2024 |archive-date=September 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908160501/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2013/mar/01/video-games-art-moma-exhibition |url-status=live }}</ref> As part of the 2015 inaugural class, [[The Strong National Museum of Play]] inducted ''Tetris'' into the [[World Video Game Hall of Fame]] for its iconic nature.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-33005297 |title=''Pong'' and ''Doom'' Enter First Video Game Hall of Fame |work=[[BBC]] |date=June 4, 2015 |access-date=December 2, 2024 |archive-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703135721/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-33005297 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Legacy ==

=== Industry impact ===
Due to Rogers and Nintendo's belief in its potential for mass appeal, ''Tetris'' was the pack-in game and the primary game promoted for the Game Boy in the United States. The resulting public anticipation led ''Tetris'' to become the Game Boy's main draw,<ref name=polygon_gameboy>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/4/19/18295061/game-boy-history-timeline-tetris-pokemon-nintendo |last=Moss |first=Richard |title=How Nintendo Introduced the Game Boy, ''Tetris'', and ''Pokémon'' to the West |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=April 19, 2019 |access-date=December 3, 2024 |archive-date=April 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419200933/https://www.polygon.com/2019/4/19/18295061/game-boy-history-timeline-tetris-pokemon-nintendo |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/thirty-years-ago-game-boy-changed-way-america-played-video-games-180972743/ |last=Kindy |first=David |title=Thirty Years Ago, Game Boy Changed the Way America Played Video Games |website=[[Smithsonian Magazine]] |date=July 29, 2019 |access-date=December 3, 2024 |archive-date=December 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203235816/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/thirty-years-ago-game-boy-changed-way-america-played-video-games-180972743/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Goldberg|2011|p=87}} with many, including non-gamers, buying the Game Boy specifically to play ''Tetris''. This release simultaneously contributed to both the popularity of the ''Tetris'' game and the Game Boy,{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=226–228}}{{sfn|Linneman|2018|loc=10:58–11:06}}<ref name=latimes-expert>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-03-31/tetris-apple-tv-movie-game-perfect-addictive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250830003735/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-03-31/tetris-apple-tv-movie-game-perfect-addictive |last=Brown |first=Tracy |title=What Makes ''Tetris'' 'The Perfect Game'? Experts Break Down an Addictive Classic |work=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 31, 2023 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |archive-date=August 30, 2025}}</ref> with the bundle selling out its initial run of a million copies shortly after release.<ref name=polygon_gameboy/> This success established Nintendo's dominant position in the [[handheld gaming]] market, setting a standard that competitors struggled to replicate.<ref name=1up-importance/><ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/goldenageofvideo0000dill/ |last=Dillon |first=Roberto |title=The Golden Age of Video Games: The Birth of a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry |publisher=[[CRC Press]] |date=2011 |pages=164–165|isbn=978-1-4398-7323-6 |via=[[Internet Archive]] |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref name=venturebeat-125>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/entrepreneur/after-25-years-tetris-has-sold-125-million-copies/ |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |author-link=Dean Takahashi |title=After 25 Years, ''Tetris'' Has Sold 125 million Copies |website=[[Venture Beat]] |date=June 1, 2009 |access-date=December 3, 2024 |archive-date=June 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621144138/https://venturebeat.com/entrepreneur/after-25-years-tetris-has-sold-125-million-copies/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Several writers credit ''Tetris'' and ''[[Pokémon Red and Blue]]'' (1996) for the Game Boy's longevity, as it would not be discontinued until 2003.<ref name=latimes-expert/><ref name=polygon_gameboy/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/games-that-defined-the-nintendo-game-boy/ |last=Byrd |first=Matthew |title=The Games That Defined the Nintendo Game Boy |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=April 26, 2024 |access-date=July 30, 2025 |archive-date=July 23, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723112023/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/games-that-defined-the-nintendo-game-boy/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Tetris'' is influential in the genre of [[puzzle video games]].<ref name=ign-importance/><ref name=retrogamer-2013>{{cite magazine |last=Crookes |first=David |title=Brain Strain: A Bluffler's Guide to Puzzle Games |magazine=[[Retro Gamer]] |issue=119 |date=September 2013 |pages=38–45}}</ref> Commentators have considered ''Tetris'' an early example of a [[casual game]].{{efn|Attributed to multiple sources:<ref name=ign-importance/><ref name=financialtimes>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3c6d8cae-d22b-465d-982d-981c6477582f |last=Faber |first=Tom |title=Tetris — How a Game of Logic Took Over Our Minds |magazine=[[Financial Times]] |date=September 7, 2021 |access-date=December 4, 2024}}</ref><ref name=wired-addictive>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2009/06/tetris/ |last=Kohler |first=Chris |title=''Tetris'' Turns 25, and It's Still an Addictive Pleasure |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=June 4, 2009 |access-date=December 4, 2024 |archive-date=April 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430061158/https://www.wired.com/2009/06/tetris/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/casualrevolution0000juul/ |last=Juul |first=Jesper |title=A Casual Revolution: Reinventing Video Games and Their Players |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |publisher=[[MIT Press]] |date=2010 |isbn=9780262013376 |pages=27 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>{{sfn|Loguidice|Barton|2009|p=291}}}} ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' deemed ''Tetris'' unique for its time, given its appeal to players regardless of gender and age,<ref name=wired-addictive/> and ''1Up.com'' credits ''Tetris'' for establishing a market for puzzle video games with universal appeal.<ref name=1up-importance/> Various common elements of puzzle games, such as managing pieces over a fixed screen, originated from ''Tetris'',<ref name=ign-importance/> and multiple clones have been created to replicate ''Tetris''{{'s}} popularity.{{sfn|Loguidice|Barton|2009|p=296}} Video games influenced by ''Tetris'' include Nintendo's ''[[Dr. Mario]]'' (1990), Sega's ''[[Columns (video game)|Columns]]'' (1990), [[Compile (company)|Compile]]'s ''[[Puyo Puyo (video game)|Puyo Puyo]]'' (1991), [[Taito]]'s ''[[Puzzle Bobble]]'' (1994), and [[Capcom]]'s ''[[Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo]]'' (1996).{{efn|Attributed to multiple sources:<ref name=ign-importance/><ref name=1up-importance/><ref name=retrogamer-2013/>{{sfn|Loguidice|Barton|2009|p=296–297}}}}

=== Cultural impact ===
[[File:Jonas Neubauer crop 1.jpg|thumb|upright|Jonas Neubauer (pictured in 2010) won the inaugural Classic Tetris World Championship.|alt=A man holding a trophy]]

''Tetris''{{'s}} cultural impact and recognition is widespread, being represented in a vast array of video game platforms, among other media such as architecture, art, and merchandise.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=242–243}}<ref name="guardian020609"/><ref name=retrogamer/> ''Tetris'' has been frequently referenced in pop culture, such as in ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'',<ref name=retrogamer/> ''[[Family Guy]]'', ''[[Futurama]]'', ''[[Office Space]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/06/tetris-is-30-years-old-today/372356/ |last=Garber |first=Megan |title=''Tetris'' Is 30 Years Old Today |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |date=June 6, 2014 |access-date=July 25, 2025 |archive-date=March 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327053620/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/06/tetris-is-30-years-old-today/372356/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Muppet Babies (1984 TV series)|Muppet Babies]]'', and [[Monty Python]].{{sfn|Goldberg|2011|p=88}} The game has also earned multiple Guinness records, such as the record for "largest architectural video game display", granted to a game of ''Tetris'' hosted on the side of the 29-story [[Cira Center]] in April 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/tetris-back-in-the-record-books-for-29-story-game/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626013556/https://venturebeat.com/games/tetris-back-in-the-record-books-for-29-story-game/ |last=Minotti |first=Mike |title=''Tetris'' Back in the Record Books for 29-Story Game |website=[[VentureBeat]] |date=June 24, 2014 |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |access-date=December 2, 2024}}</ref> "Korobeiniki", a Russian folk song, has become widely associated with ''Tetris'' following its inclusion in the Game Boy version.<ref name=soundtrack/> A 1992 [[Tetris (Doctor Spin song)|Eurodance cover of "Korobeiniki"]] by Doctor Spin peaked at number six on the UK singles charts.<ref name="guardian020609"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/revisiting-nintendos-novelty-pop-hit |last=Diver |first=Mike |title=Revisiting Nintendo's Novelty Pop Hit |website=[[Eurogamer]] |date=November 12, 2017 |access-date=December 2, 2024 |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111224706/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-11-12-revisiting-nintendos-novelty-pop-hit |url-status=live }}</ref>  The "[[Tetris effect|''Tetris'' effect]]" refers to the phenomena of perceiving certain patterns in dreams and mental images following engagement in a repetitive activity such as playing ''Tetris.''{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=73}}<ref name=time-movie>{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/6266810/tetris-movie-apple-tv-true-story/ |last=McCluskey |first=Megan |title=The Complicated True Story Behind Apple TV+'s ''Tetris'' Movie |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=March 31, 2023 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227090730/https://time.com/6266810/tetris-movie-apple-tv-true-story/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The term was coined by Jeffrey Goldsmith in a 1994 article for ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'',<ref name="wired/1994/05/tetris">{{cite magazine |last1=Goldsmith |first1=Jeffrey |date=1994-05-01 |title=This Is Your Brain on ''Tetris'' |url=https://www.wired.com/1994/05/tetris-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122022558/https://www.wired.com/1994/05/tetris-2/ |archive-date=November 22, 2022 |access-date=22 November 2022 |magazine=Wired}}</ref> in which he compared ''Tetris'' to an "electronic drug".{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=77–78}}

The background of ''Tetris'', including its creation and legal battles in the late 1980s, has been documented multiple times.<ref name=polygon-lawsuit>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/23825607/tetris-movie-apple-dan-ackerman-lawsuit |last=Welsh |first=Oli |title=Tech Writer Sues Apple, Claiming ''Tetris'' Movie Ripped Off His 'Cold War Thriller' Book |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=August 9, 2023 |access-date=July 21, 2025}}</ref> [[David Sheff]] provided a comprehensive overview in his influential Nintendo history book ''[[Game Over (Sheff book)|Game Over]]'' (1994). Subsequent books that covered this topic include the non-fiction books [[Steven L. Kent]]'s ''[[The Ultimate History of Video Games]]'' (2001), Tristan Donovan's ''[[Replay: The History of Video Games]]'' (2010), [[Dan Ackerman]]'s ''The Tetris Effect'' (2016), and the graphic novel [[Box Brown]]'s ''[[Tetris: The Games People Play]]'' (2016).{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=247–249}}<ref name=polygon-lawsuit/> ''Tetris'' has also been the subject of documentaries including [[BBC]]'s ''Tetris: From Russia with Love'' (2004) and the independent ''[[Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters]]'' (2010).{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=247–249}}<ref name=polygon-lawsuit/> ''[[Tetris (film)|Tetris]]'', a film dramatization of the legal battles starring [[Taron Egerton]] as Rogers, premiered on [[Apple TV+]] on March 31, 2023,<ref name=time-movie/> to positive reviews, according to [[Metacritic]], and a viewership of 88,000 people, according to [[Samba TV]].<ref>{{Cite Metacritic |id=tetris |type=movie |title=Tetris |access-date=December 5, 2024 |publisher_hide=y}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/chris-evans-ana-de-armas-ghosted-viewership-apple-tv-record-1235338734/ |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |title=Chris Evans & Ana de Armas Skydance Spy Action Pic ''Ghosted'' Earns Record Movie Debut for Apple TV+ |magazine=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=April 26, 2023 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |archive-date=September 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921103522/https://deadline.com/2023/04/chris-evans-ana-de-armas-ghosted-viewership-apple-tv-record-1235338734/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Henk Rogers' memoir, ''The Perfect Game—Tetris: From Russia With Love'', was published on April 1, 2025, to provide his perspective on ''Tetris''{{'s}} history following the film's release.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/the-original-tetris-was-a-survival-game-the-man-who-prised-tetris-out-of-the-soviet-system-recalls-how-different-it-once-was/ |last=Stanton |first=Rich |title='The Original ''Tetris'' Was a Survival game': The Man who Prised ''Tetris'' Out of the Soviet System Recalls How Different It Once Was |magazine=[[PC Magazine]] |date=April 1, 2025 |access-date=July 21, 2025 |archive-date=April 19, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250419115229/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/the-original-tetris-was-a-survival-game-the-man-who-prised-tetris-out-of-the-soviet-system-recalls-how-different-it-once-was/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite interview |url=https://gamesbeat.com/the-life-story-behind-tetris-the-perfect-game-henk-rogers-interview/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250401143047/https://venturebeat.com/games/the-life-story-behind-tetris-the-perfect-game-henk-rogers-interview/ |last=Rogers |first=Henk |author-link=Henk Rogers |title=The Life Story Behind ''Tetris, The Perfect Game'' |website=[[Venture Beat]] |date=April 1, 2025 |access-date=July 21, 2025 |archive-date=April 1, 2025}}</ref>

''Tetris'' is part of the competitive gaming scene, especially around the [[Tetris (NES video game)|NES version]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/news/489871/nes-tetris-nintendo-switch-online-announcement |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250811035308/https://www.polygon.com/news/489871/nes-tetris-nintendo-switch-online-announcement/ |last=Welsh |first=Oli |title=A Missing Piece of NES History Is Finally Coming to Switch |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=December 3, 2024 |archive-date=August 11, 2025 |access-date=December 4, 2024}}</ref> Competitor [[Jonas Neubauer]] and his victory in the inaugural [[Classic Tetris World Championship]] (CTWC) in 2010 were the subjects of ''Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters'',<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/28/sports/tetris-game.html |last=Schonbrun |first=Zach |title=A New Generation Stacks Up Championships in an Old Game: ''Tetris'' |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 28, 2021 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |archive-date=January 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117023131/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/28/sports/tetris-game.html |url-status=live }}</ref> which helped popularized competitive gameplay of ''Tetris''.<ref name=financialtimes/> Competitors at the CTWC, typically adolescents, have used the CTWC to demonstrate advancements in the gameplay of the NES version. For example, gameplay techniques such as [[Tetris (NES video game)#Speed techniques|"hypertapping" and "rolling"]] have been used to help competitors to maximize their scores beyond level 29, which was previously deemed impossible to complete due to its speed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/23269073/competitive-classic-tetris-ctwc-jonas-neubauer-andy-michael-artiaga |last=Karnadi |first=Chris |title=Teens are Rewriting What is Possible in the World of Competitive ''Tetris'' |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=June 21, 2022 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |archive-date=January 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115233118/https://www.polygon.com/23269073/competitive-classic-tetris-ctwc-jonas-neubauer-andy-michael-artiaga |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=nytimes-2023>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/movies/tetris-game-boy-nintendo.html |last=Shaver |first=Morgan |title=Why ''Tetris'' Consumed Your Brain |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 31, 2023 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |archive-date=April 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409075702/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/movies/tetris-game-boy-nintendo.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Willis Gibson]] "beat" Tetris by playing NES ''Tetris'' [[Tetris (NES video game)#Technical problems at very high levels|until it crashed]] in a 40-minute livestream in January 2024, receiving significant media coverage for his achievement.<ref name="cnn-2024">{{cite news |last=Korn |first=Jennifer |date=January 3, 2024 |title=Oklahoma Teenager Finally Defeats the Unbeatable Game: ''Tetris'' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/03/tech/oklahoma-teenager-defeats-tetris/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709011234/https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/03/tech/oklahoma-teenager-defeats-tetris/index.html |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/story/why-everyone-is-obsessed-with-the-kid-who-beat-tetris/ |last=Water cutter |first=Angela |title=Why Everyone Is Obsessed with the Kid Who Beat ''Tetris'' |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=January 5, 2024 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |archive-date=January 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111042426/https://www.wired.com/story/why-everyone-is-obsessed-with-the-kid-who-beat-tetris/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Research ===
{{See also|Tetris effect}}

The ''Tetris'' game has frequently been featured in academic research, including in [[psychology]], [[computer science]], and [[game studies]].<ref name="MarkWolf2012"/> By 2014, John K. Lindstedt and [[Wayne D. Gray]], cognitive scientists of the [[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]], had traced 133 scholarly papers across a variety of academic fields that utilized ''Tetris'' in their research.<ref name=behaviorresearchmethods/> Soviet clinical psychologist [[Vladimir Pokhilko]] was the first to use ''Tetris'' in clinical experiments, conducting them {{circa}} 1985 at the Moscow Medical Center.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=73}}<ref name="MarkWolf2012">{{cite book |first=Mark J. P. |last=Wolf | title=Encyclopedia of Video Games: The Culture, Technology, and Art of Gaming |chapter=''Tetris'' |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780313379369_2/page/640/mode/2up | date=August 31, 2012 |location=Santa Barbara, CA| publisher=[[Greenwood Press]] | isbn=978-0-313-37936-9 | pages=640–642 | chapter-url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]] }}</ref> Prior to studying them, Pokhilko observed that distributed copies of ''Tetris'' to his colleagues impaired medical research due to their constant gameplay. Although he initially destroyed these copies, after new copies were reintroduced to his facility, Pokhilko used ''Tetris'' in psychological tests of his patients.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=69–70}}

In psychology, starting with the research of American psychologist [[Richard J. Haier]] in 1992,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Haier |first1=R.J. |last2=Siegel |first2=B.V. |last3=MacLachlan |first3=A. |last4=Soderling |first4=E. |last5=Lottenberg |first5=S. |last6=Buchsbaum |first6=M.S. |title=Regional Glucose Metabolic Changes after Learning a Complex Visuospatial/Motor Task: A Positron Emission Tomographic Study|journal=[[Brain Research]]|volume=570|issue=1–2|pages=134–43|date=January 1992|pmid=1617405|doi=10.1016/0006-8993(92)90573-R|s2cid=21725897}}</ref>{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=81–82}}<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Latham |first1=Andrew J. |last2=Patson |first2=Lucy L. M. |last3=Tippette |first3=Lynette J. |title=The Virtual Brain: 30 Years of Video-game Play and Cognitive Abilities |journal=[[Frontiers in Psychology]] |date=September 13, 2013 |volume=4 |page=629 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00629|doi-access=free |pmid=24062712 |pmc=3772618 }}</ref> ''Tetris'' has been frequently used in [[neuroimaging]] studies testing how gameplay affects the human brain.<ref name=currentpsychology-2021>{{cite journal |last1=Agren |first1=Thomas |last2=Hoppe |first2=Johanna M. |last3=Singh |first3=Laura |last4=Holmes |first4=Emily A. |last5=Rosén |first5=Jörgen |title=The Neural Basis of ''Tetris'' Gameplay: Implicating the Role of Visuospatial Processing |journal=Current Psychology |date=August 2, 2021 |volume=42 |issue=10 |pages=8156–8163 |doi=10.1007/s12144-021-02081-z |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=behaviorresearchmethods>{{cite journal |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13428-014-0547-y#Fn3 |last1=Lindstedt |first1=John K. |last2=Gray |first2=Wayne D. |author-link2=Wayne D. Gray |title=Meta-T: ''Tetris'' as an Experimental Paradigm for Cognitive Skills Research |journal=[[Behavior Research Methods]] |date=March 12, 2015 |volume=47 |issue=4 |pages=945–965 |doi=10.3758/s13428-014-0547-y |pmid=25761389 |access-date=November 14, 2024 |archive-date=January 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122090625/https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758%2Fs13428-014-0547-y#Fn3 |url-status=live }}</ref> For example, the [[cognitive training|near-transfer effects]] of ''Tetris'' on [[mental rotation]] is frequently researched, though research methods have varied widely and results have been contradictory.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Timm |first1=J. David |last2=Huff |first2=Markus |last3=Schwan |first3=Stephan |last4=Papenmeier |first4=Frank |title=Short-term Transfer Effects of ''Tetris'' on Mental Rotation: Review and Registered Report — A Bayesian Approach |journal=[[Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics]] |volume=86 |date=February 22, 2024 |issue=3 |pages=1056–1064 |doi=10.3758/s13414-024-02855-0 |pmid=38383915 |pmc=11062957 }}</ref> Furthermore, ''Tetris'' has been studied as a potential form of psychological intervention, particularly regarding [[post-traumatic stress disorder]] (PTSD).<ref name=currentpsychology-2021/> To date, playing ''Tetris'' as a valid form of imagery treatment for symptoms of PTSD is in an experimental stage and in need of further research. Nonetheless, several systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies have demonstrated some evidence supporting its effectiveness in reducing intrusive memories, especially when combined with other interventions.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Craig |first1=Victoria Elizabeth Mabel |last2=McLaughlin |first2=Derek Francis |last3=Devlin |first3=Karen P. |last4=Higgins |first4=Aiveen |last5=Boyle |first5=Breidge |title=Potential for Use of ''Tetris'' in the Neonatal Unit – A Scoping Review |journal=[[BioMed Central|BMC Digital Health]] |volume=2 |number=34 |date=June 11, 2024 |article-number=34 |doi=10.1186/s44247-024-00086-9 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Varma |first1=Mohith M. |last2=Zeng |first2=Shengzi |last3=Singh |first3=Laura |last4=Holmes |first4=Emily A. |author-link4=Emily A. Holmes |last5=Huang |first5=Jingyun |last6=Chiu |first6=Man Hey |last7=Hu |first7=Xiaoqing |title=A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Experimental Methods for Modulating Intrusive Memories following Lab-analogue Trauma Exposure in Non-clinical Populations |journal=[[Nature Human Behaviour]] |volume=8 |pages=1968–1987 |date=August 21, 2024 |issue=10 |doi=10.1038/s41562-024-01956-y |pmid=39169230 |pmc=11493681 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Highfield |first1=Julie |last2=Iyadurai |first2=Lalitha |last3=Holmes |first3=Emily A. |author-link3=Emily A. Holmes |title=A Summary Review of the Development of Using a Brief Imagery-competing Task Intervention (ICTI) for Reducing Intrusive Memories of Psychological Trauma: Applications in Healthcare Settings for Both Staff and Patients |journal=Discover Mental Health |volume=5 |issue=78 |date=May 27, 2025 |article-number=78 |doi=10.1007/s44192-025-00205-6 |pmid=40425895 |pmc=12116969 }}</ref>

In computer science, the ''Tetris'' game has been the subject of research papers analyzing how the tetrominoes affect gameplay.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=153}} Most analyze a traditional game of ''Tetris'' and do not account for features such as lookahead.{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=155–156}} In 1992, John Brzustowski argued in his [[master's thesis]] for the [[University of Waterloo]] that it is impossible to play a traditional game of ''Tetris'' indefinitely,<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Brzustowski |first=John |title=Can You Win at ''Tetris''? |date=March 1992 |degree=[[Master of Science]] |publisher=[[University of British Columbia]] |url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/media/stream/pdf/831/1.0079748 |format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318064558/https://open.library.ubc.ca/media/stream/pdf/831/1.0079748 |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |access-date=October 16, 2013 |url-status=live |doi=10.14288/1.0079748}} </ref>{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=156}} a conclusion affirmed by Heidi Burgiel of the [[University of Minnesota]] in 1997, who attributed the inevitable end to the game's Z-shaped tetrominoes and calculated a hard cap of seventy thousand tetrominoes.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Burgiel |first1=Heidi |title=How to Lose at ''Tetris'' |journal=[[The Mathematical Gazette]] |date=July 1997 |volume=81 |issue=491 |pages=194–200 |doi=10.2307/3619195 |jstor=3619195 |url=http://www.geom.umn.edu/%7Eburgiel/Tetris/tetris.PS |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030513033006/http://www.geom.umn.edu/~burgiel/Tetris/tetris.PS |archivedate=May 13, 2003}}</ref>{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|pp=153–154}} Partly accounting for the lookahead feature, in 2003 a trio of [[MIT]] students proved that the optimal strategy for playing a game of ''Tetris'' is [[NP-complete]], meaning it is difficult to be solved by an algorithm within a reasonable time due to the [[computational complexity theory|game's complexity]]. This is true even if the player knew the complete sequence of incoming pieces.<ref>{{cite conference|url=http://erikdemaine.org/papers/Tetris_COCOON2003/paper.pdf|title=''Tetris'' Is Hard, Even to Approximate|last1=Demaine|first1=Erik D.|last2=Hohenberger|first2=Susan|last3=Liben-Nowell|first3=David|date=July 25–28, 2003|conference=Proceedings of the 9th International Computing and Combinatorics Conference (COCOON 2003)|conference-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105042734/http://www.cs.montana.edu/bhz/cocoon03.html|location=Big Sky, Montana|access-date=December 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613201613/http://erikdemaine.org/papers/Tetris_COCOON2003/paper.pdf|archive-date=June 13, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/powerupunlocking0000lane/ |last=Lane |first=Matthew |title=Power-up: Unlocking the Hidden Mathematics in Video Games |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |date=2017 |pages=165–166 |isbn=9780691161518 |via=[[Internet Archive]] |url-access=registration}}</ref>{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=159}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Video Games|1980s|1990s|Soviet Union|Russia}}
* ''[[Brain Wall]]'' and ''[[Blokken]]'', game shows based on ''Tetris''

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
{{external media| float = right| video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?414688-1/the-tetris-effect Presentation by Dan Ackerman on ''The Tetris Effect'', September 12, 2016], [[C-SPAN]]}} 
* {{Cite book |last=Ackerman |first=Dan |author-link=Dan Ackerman |url=https://archive.org/details/tetriseffectgame0000acke |title=The Tetris Effect: The Game that Hypnotized the World |date=2016 |publisher=[[PublicAffairs]] |isbn=978-1-61039-611-0 |location=New York |oclc=943694339 |url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}
* {{Cite book |last=Donovan |first=Tristan |chapter=A Plane to Moscow |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/replayhistoryofv0000dono/page/198/mode/2up |title=[[Replay: The History of Video Games]] |publisher=Yellow Ant |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-9565072-0-4 |location=East Sussex |pages=199–211 |chapter-url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}
* {{Cite book |last=Goldberg |first=Harold |chapter=Falling Blocks, Rising Fortunes |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/allyourbasearebe00gold_0/page/74/mode/2up |title=All Your Base are Belong to Us |date=2011 |location=New York |publisher=[[Three Rivers Press]] |pages=74–89 |isbn=978-0-307-46355-5 |chapter-url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}
* {{Cite book |last=Kent |first=Steven L. |author-link=Steven L. Kent |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/ultimatehistoryo0000kent/page/377 |chapter=''Tetris'' |title=[[The Ultimate History of Video Games: From Pong to Pokémon and Beyond—The Story Behind the Craze That Touched Our Lives and Changed the World]] |publisher=[[Three Rivers Press]] |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-7615-3643-7 |location=New York |pages=377–381 |oclc=47254175 |chapter-url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Loguidice |first1=Bill |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/vintagegamesinsi0000logu/page/290 |chapter=''Tetris'' (1985): Casual Gaming Falls Into Place |title=Vintage Games: An Insider Look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the Most Influential Games of All Time |last2=Barton |first2=Matt |publisher=[[Focal Press]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-240-81146-8 |location=Amsterdam |pages=291–301 |chapter-url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}
* {{cite book |last=Plank |first=Dana |chapter=''Tetris'' |editor-last1=Perron |editor-first1=Bernard |editor-last2=Boudreau |editor-first2=Kelly |editor-last3=Wolf |editor-first3=Mark J.P. |editor-last4=Arsenault |editor-first4=Dominic |title=Fifty Key Video Games |publisher=[[Routledge]] |location=New York |date=July 25, 2022 |pages=268–274 |edition=First |doi=10.4324/9781003199205 |isbn=978-1-003-19920-5}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Sheff |first1=David |author-link1=David Sheff |last2=Eddy |first2=Andy |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/0966961706/page/295 |chapter=From Russia With Love |title=[[Game Over: Press Start to Continue]]  |publisher=GamePress |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-966-96170-6 |location=Wilton, CT |pages=295–348 |oclc=1190934258 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}

=== Video documentaries ===
* {{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUeaanfiXmo&t=0 |last=Linneman |first=John |title=DF Retro: Tetris! |publisher=[[Digital Foundry]] |date=November 14, 2018 |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=December 7, 2024}}
* {{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YhkkyXydNI&t=0 |last1=Pajitnov |first1=Alexey |author-link1=Alexey Pajitnov |last2=Rogers |first2=Henk |author-link2=Henk Rogers |title=Unsolved Tetris Mysteries With Creator Alexy Pajitnov & Designer Henk Rogers |publisher=[[Ars Technica]] |date=April 26, 2023 |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=December 7, 2024}}
* {{cite AV media |title=Tetris: From Russia with Love |last=Temple |first=Magnus |date=2004 |publisher=[[BBC]]}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite web | url = https://vadim.oversigma.com/Tetris.htm | title = Tetris Story | last = Gerasimov | first = Vadim | website = [[Vadim Gerasimov|OverSigma]]}}
* {{cite AV media |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00mdqf8 |title=The Creation of Tetris |date=December 29, 2012 |website=[[BBC World Service]] |publisher=[[BBC]]}}

== External links ==
{{commons}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IAg|tetris_1987|Tetris|MS-DOS}}

{{Tetris|state=expanded}}
{{Polyforms}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Tetris| ]]
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[[Category:Mirrorsoft games]]
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[[Category:Soviet brands]]
[[Category:Soviet games]]
[[Category:Soviet inventions]]
[[Category:1985 in the Soviet Union]]
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[[Category:Video game franchises introduced in 1985]]
[[Category:Video games adapted into films]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the Soviet Union]]
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