Packed in with the original Nintendo Game Boy, Tetris has come to be a symbol of handheld gaming. At the time of its Game Boy port, it was proof that compelling gameplay and design could be had in a portable experience – even if the tech of the day made it a bit of a compromise. Incredibly simple, and yet impossibly deep, Tetris is a formula that has stood the test of time because of its near universal appeal, and ability to have its formula ever-so-slightly tweaked to open up a whole new world of gameplay possibilities.
This isn’t meant to be anything of a definitive list, but rather just my favorite ways to enjoy the Tetris formula. Down to the TI-83 graphing calculator I used in high school geometry, I think it’s likely that I’ve played some version of Tetris on every single console I’ve ever owned. What other series can you really say that about?
Without its existence, who knows what the handheld hobby would even look like today. Would Game Boy have ever taken off without it? Would I be writing about the great history of Columns? Who knows, but here’s a rundown of my Tetris games from over the years, as seen on the modern emulation handhelds.
The College Reunion – Tetris DS
Tetris DS celebrated its 20th birthday earlier this year, and thanks to the Anbernic RG DS, I have a new and vibrant way to experience this dual-screen take on everyone’s favorite puzzler. I sat down for a session this week, and it felt just as fresh and fun as it did back in the aughts.
I was fresh out of college in 2006, and with some working bucks in my pocket, and any school stigmas associated with gaming out the window years before, I picked up a Nintendo DS Lite. The first game purchase that I made for the system, and the game that probably commanded the most use over the console’s lifecycle, was Tetris DS.
The dual-screen design wasn’t the biggest selling point of this version of Tetris. It makes for a nice presentation, but the real appeal here was in the features and overall design. Painted with a healthy coat of Nintendo paint, this version of Tetris is littered with characters from all of the Big N’s most famous franchises. Tetris DS wasn’t the first game to introduce a hold piece feature, but it was implemented in a way that would stay with the series through today.
A bevy of fun game modes and twists on the formula were included in Tetris DS, beyond your standard Marathon run, but the biggest addition that this version brought to the table was online play. The ability to sync up with friends for Tetris battles every night was the perfect way to enjoy casual gaming on the couch, while still competing in a fun way. It might be standard for handhelds now, but it was a big deal at the time.
Anbernic RG DS
The Modern Multiplayer – Tetris 99
If Tetris DS brought the series online, Tetris 99 took it to its logical extreme – a battle royale! Subscribers to Nintendo’s Online service can download the game for free and compete with 98 other stackers in a battle to remain as the last still clearin’ lines.
Many a night I’ve sat down with my Switch with the intention of playing something else, and thought to myself, “Maybe just a quick round of Tetris 99 first”. Cut to two hours later, and I’m still convincing myself that this next round will be the one. It’s addictive.
The Digital Xanax – Tetris Effect
Per studies from Oxford University and elsewhere, Tetris can be used in a clinical setting to assist patients with post-traumatic stress symptoms. For those on the outside looking in, this assertion might trigger a roll of the eyes, but Tetris Effect made me a believer.
Tetris Effect gameplay is really Tetris in its most basic modern form. What makes it such a special entry in the franchise is its use of clever visuals and audio design to lift the core Tetris experience into an otherworldly journey through space.
If I’ve had an especially trying work day or something else is grinding my gears, a couple rounds of Tetris Effect can really clear my head. Whether it’s just incredibly successful at detaching you from the thoughts swirling in your brain because of the visuals, gameplay, music, or a combination of all of the above is anyone’s guess, but it works. It certainly won’t solve real-world problems for you, but it can be a great tool to relax and bring down the old blood pressure once in a while.
AYN Odin 3 (Pro)
The FOSS Alt – Apotris
This community-maintained version of Tetris is a favorite in the emulation community. The game’s low performance requirements, sharp controls, and extensive customization options make it an undeniable entry for any homebrew collection.
Apotris is one of the games that gets loaded onto any new handheld that shows up in the mail. It’s a standard part of my GBA library that I demand be with me on any device. Given its platform-agnostic development, that shouldn’t be an issue. Apotris is available in Windows, Mac, Linux, Switch, 3DS, and GBA flavors.
Retroid Pocket Classic
The Unauthorized Edition – Tetris NES (Tengen)
In 1988, Tengen refused to bend the knee to Nintendo’s brutal licensing terms and decided to operate outside the rules. By reverse engineering Nintendo’s cartridge lockout chip, the developers were able to bring their own version of Tetris to the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Now, this isn’t to say that this is better than the Nintendo-produced version of NES Tetris. It’s not. The block rotation can feel different from what you might be used to, the music is unquestionably inferior, and the color palette can feel drably appropriate for the Soviet era.
The reason that I have such a connection to it is simple. I never had an NES as a kid, but my neighbors did, and this is the version that they had. Thus, this is the version of Tetris that I knew. Tengen’s edition is a slightly clunky, but still wonderful, way to play the game.
Anbernic RG CubeXX
The Bonus – McDonald’s Nugget
Sometimes all you need is a single dedicated gaming device. Years of sleepy legs after too long on the throne with an LCD slots game from the dirt-mall were enough to teach me that.
And supposing you’re a huge Tetris fan out on the town, who also happens to love McDonald’s nuggets, boy, have I got the system for you.
The Last Line
And there you have, at least for now, my favorite ways to play the Tetris series. If you ask me again in a month, my answers might change. That’s the wonderful part of this series: there are almost as many versions as there are consoles to play them on.
The emulation hobby depends a lot on the power of nostalgia. Reconnecting with those long-lost games from happier times. Tetris certainly rings these bells, but it’s hard to feel nostalgia for something that has been omnipresent throughout much of the history of the entire medium. Tetris will always have a place in my gaming heart, and I can’t wait to see what comes next. For now, I’ve got some lines to clear.
