Tetris is one of the most well-regarded games ever created for good reason. Its brilliant simplicity and addictive nature has captured casual and hardcore players throughout many decades. The game is easy to understand, hard to master, and shockingly complex all at the same time. Overall, one would be hard-pressed to find a game more well-known than Tetris.
Of course, with such a beloved and long-lasting title comes many different versions and iterations of said title. Tetris has had many re-releases and recreations over the years. While most of these have been simple updates to the established formula, some of these titles have given the core gameplay creative and innovative twists.
While many find comfort in replaying the regular iteration of the game, many of Tetris' unique spinoffs have provided new and intriguing ways to experience a beloved classic. Here are some of the best versions of Tetris out there!
Puyo Puyo Tetris
Puyo Puyo Tetris takes the core idea of "stacking blocks" and chooses to spice it up. The best version of the title is the most recent one, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2. However, all the Puyo Puyo games offer the very familiar concept of matching up falling objects, although Puyo Puyo is focused on matching colors rather than filling up an entire row. On the surface, it may sound very similar to regular Tetris, but as one improves at the game, they begin to recognize how different Puyo Puyo is played. Many players even seem to prefer Puyo Puyo over other Tetris games. It's worth a shot for those who wish to play a "Tetris-like" game without the traditional blocks.
Tetris Effect
Tetris Effect's captivating presentation grabs the player's eye from the second the game is turned on. The beautiful lights and colorful "space-like" motifs in the game give it a look all its own. Hilariously enough, the visuals of Tetris Effect are only secondary to the changes it offers in its gameplay. Effect's spin on the core Tetris gameplay comes from the satisfaction of dropping blocks to the beat of some truly catchy musical tracks. It has more of a focus on the rhythmic nature of the game rather than the actual action. Due to this, it can be shockingly relaxing. Of course, like any other Tetris game, it is also intensely addictive and fun. Tetris Effect has it's own unique "vibe" which makes it a title worth playing for any puzzle game fan.
Tetris 99
With popular battle royale games such as Fortnite becoming huge successes, Tetris 99 decides to take an honest crack at integrating similar elements into its gameplay. Tetris 99 is perhaps the strangest version of Tetris on this list. Shockingly, Tetris's core formula is so adaptable, it even makes for a fantastic battle royale game. In Tetris 99, players stack up blocks as fast as they can to sabotage other player's boards. The blocks drop faster and faster as the game goes on, and the last player standing wins the game.
The core gameplay in Tetris 99 is virtually the same as its source material. However, the stakes of competing against other people force players to think fast on their feet. Overall, Tetris 99 is a testament to how flexible Tetris' core gameplay is. One wouldn't think one of the best Tetris game ever created would be a battle royale game. However, Tetris 99 proves the naysayers wrong with its addictive and competitive nature.