These Tetris-Inspired Games Put a Fresh Spin on the Classic Formula

Many consider Tetris to be the quintessential game—and it’s easy to see why. Launched back in 1985, it has not only survived but thrived across generations and a myriad of platforms. Almost every device you can think of has hosted this game at some point. Its charm lies in its simplicity and timeless appeal, where players guide descending blocks—ranging from L-shaped pieces to squares—to fill horizontal rows and clear them, making way for new ones.

Tetris caters to a wide array of gaming moods. Some enjoy it as a relaxing escape, while for others, it becomes an exhilarating challenge. Excitingly, certain iterations expand on its basic premise, adding layers of complexity.

Take Tetris 99 on the Nintendo Switch—it’s Tetris with a battle royale twist. Players are thrust into their own games, which ramp up in speed and heaps of tension until one emerges victorious. As if juggling rapid blocks wasn’t enough, opponents send surplus pieces your way, turning strategy into chaos just when you think you’ve found your rhythm. Only rarely have I eked out a win in Tetris 99, each achievement hard-won and deeply satisfying.

Classic Tetris challenges players with its increasing speed, leading eventually to game over. But in a shocking twist of triumph this January 2024, a young 13-year-old player conquered NES Tetris, achieving what many believed unattainable. This simplicity is brilliant, allowing developers to infuse their diverse and inventive ideas into the gameplay.

Consider Stephen Lavelle’s intriguingly named Schwerkraftprojektiongerät, a Tetris fan game that’s as brain-bending as the name suggests. Here, four simultaneous games play out at different angles, with the quirk that gravity shifts, causing blocks to spill from one game to another. In a similar experimental spirit, another developer concocted Terrible Tetris Tuesday, crafting chaotic versions each week—like a version where blocks stick together or enveloping the playfield in fog.

Reaktor, launched in October 2024, initially appears to follow this genre. However, it spins its own twist—literally. This game simulates Tetris, but with gravity rotating like a windmill, and instead of rows, you build a cube in the center. Watching the central cube morph and potentially unravel feels daunting, but slowly untangling the challenge into a successful build becomes a fascinating puzzle.

Playing Tetris felt like interacting with old friends, yet Reaktor threw me for a loop, compelling me to rethink even the trusty L-block that I thought I knew so well. It’s always thrilling to see developers revisit a classic, finding new dimensions to enhance and complicate the initial formula. If you’re looking to stimulate your brain with a creative twist on the cherished Tetris experience, Reaktor delivers a perfect playground. Thankfully, as long as games are made, we will never be short of new Tetris experiences. Whether it’s the harmonious adventures of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, the artistic journey of Tetris Effect, or bold solo projects that challenge the norm, this iconic puzzle game continuously evolves, keeping us engaged—and entertained.