US teen, Michael Artiaga, who streams online under the username “dogplayingtetris�has become the first known player to beat level 255 on Tetris to achieve a rebirth. The rebirth took Artiaga 82 minutes before he went on to ama?ss 29.4 million points on the playthrough.

The whole thing was caught on stream and the streamer went on to say he would never play the game again. He was pla??ying a patched version of the Nintendo Entertainme??nt System (NES) game, which prevents a known crash from occurring at level 155.

Tetris was launched in 1985 by Soviet software engine??er Alexey Pajitnov. The title was first released on the Electronika 60 before making its way out of Soviet Russia and onto the IBM PC. Since then, it has been ported to some ??65 platforms and set the world record for the most ported game.

By the late 1980s, more than a dozen companies believed?? they owned the rights to the game and a lengthy legal battle ensued before Nintendo launched the title on the North American version of the Gameboy handheld console.

However, in 2022, Pajitnov and Henk Rogers, who discovered and was one of the firs??t to take the game to the US, formed a company called Tetris Holding and purchased all remaining rights to the game. Ever since then, the game’s original creator has retained a large portion of control over the game.

A series of the original rights battle and the fight to gain the rights to the game was made in 2023, featuring Taron Egerton as Henk Rogers and Nikita Efremov as Alexey Pajitnov. The series launched on Apple TV+ and be??came something of a success.

Today, there are more than 220 variants and versions of Tetris, found on most mobile device??s, con??soles, PCs, and even some TVs and other devices. Tetris Holding routinely contacts Google and Apple to take down unauthorized copies of the game.

An annual Classic Tetris World Championship has been held every year since 2010 with American Jonas Neubauer having won ?7 of the championships and finished runner-up in two other finals. Michael Artiaga is the second most successful entrant, having won two event??s and lost in one final. The tournament uses the original version of the game, played on the NES and using Cathode-Ray Tube displays.

The NES version is widely considered the bes?t variant of the original game, but high-ranking players have previously found that the game crashes when reaching level 155 or 157. A hacked version of the game avoids this crash and enables players to rack up higher scores.

Only a small handful of people even reached this stage of the game, previously, but teenager Michael Artiaga took it a step further by beating level 255. In doing so, he achieve?d “rebirth� which effectively means the game starts again from level 0 allowing the player to continue accumulating scores. Eventually, Artiaga reached 29.4 million points. This is likely the highest score achieved in the game.

Guinness World Records states that the? record on the original NES version is 8,952,432 which was achie??ved by Artiaga’s older brother, Andrew Artiaga in January 2024. Although this score has been beaten at least twice, both of these attempts used the hacked version of the game that enables players to bypass the known crash and allows higher point totals.

Tetris is available on Steam and Epic Games Store and can be directly downloaded on Windows. A musical beat-style version of the game, Tetris Effect: Connected can also be bought on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S while off??icial versions of the ga??me can be bought on Apple’s App Store and via Google Play.  

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Digital Eclipse has announced that they’ve got a new compilation cooking. This one is Tetris Forever, and is focused a?round the classic?? block organizing game. It’s planned for release this year.

While the Nintendo Partner Direct trailer didn't say that Tetris Forever is considered part of Digital Eclipse's Gold Masters series, Mike Mika confirms that it is. As such, you can expect the "interactive documentary" approach with behind-the-scenes artifacts and interviews with people involved. More importantly, Tetris Forever contains several flavors of Tetris. Let’s see:

• Famicom Tetris
• Hatris
• Tetris 2+Bombliss
• Super Bombliss
• Super Bombliss DX
• Tetris Battle
• Super Tetris 2+Bombliss
• Super Tetris 2+Bombliss (Limited Edition)
• Super Tetris 3

There’s also Tetris Time Warp where you jump between various Tetris gameplay styles as you play. On top of this, the NES version of Tetris will be joining the Nintendo Switch Online NES catalog. They also announced at Tetris 99 anniversary event called Maximus Cup.

Tetris Forever will be hitting Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Seri??es X|S, and? PC this year.

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When you buy the Nintendo Switch Online subscription, you get a slew of retro games through the platform's online library of older titles. Of course, the??re is a step above just the regular ole service with the higher tier, the Expansion Pack. However, you don't have to pony up for more just to play some treasured classi??cs.

For those of you looking to sample some of Nintendo's retro library, I've got some suggestions on where to ??start with the now 100-tile collection of classics. These are the best games for the base Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

The 10 best games to play on Nintendo Switch Online

Since we're excluding Expansion Pack titles, the following games are from e??ither the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Game Boy, or Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). If a game you like from th??ese catalogs and they aren't on the list, fret not �these are just the best of the best in a massive library beloved by many of us.

10. Tecmo Bowl (NES)

Sports games and Nintendo don’t go hand-in-hand now unless Mario is involved, but Tecmo Bowl is an exception. Despite being a g?ame from the l??ate �0s, this one still holds up a lot better than most modern American football games. It’s simple enough to break into even for the folks not quite so sports savvy and there's no overly convoluted set of controls just to get your players moving.

9. Metroid (NES)

The Nintendo Switch was made for sidescrolling games, namely Metroidvanias. So, why not take a trip back to the late '80s and see the game that started it all? The original NES Metroid definitely shows how dated it is, but it doesn’t mean it’s a bad game. It’s loads of fun and will have you hooked from the moment ?you discover the out-of-the-way or less obvious path forward. The movement takes some time to get familiar with, but if you stick around, it’s well worth putting that effort in.

8. Donkey Kong Country (SNES)

After being the fellow w??ho would hold Pauline captive in the 1980s, Donkey Kong would eventually get his own 2D sidescrolling adventure wher?e he’s the good guy. He’s also accompanied by Diddy Kong, who you can swap to on the fly if the situation requires it. 

Its gameplay is akin to the Super Mario games in that you can jump on enemies�heads to defeat them. You can also throw things or?? use a?? close attack to deal damage. Still, it provides its own kind of fun that shows the quality of the 16-bit era. What a glow-up, good guy story for the Kong.

7. EarthBound (SNES)

It’s wild to look back on this game and see the Mother series only started to take off in western regions after Ness and Lucas became a staple in the Smash Bros. franchise. Still, now that the '90s RPG has become popular and made available for NSO subscribers, EarthBound still holds up. So, to all of you hungry for more Mother releases, the oldest western release is at least far ?more available now than it was back ??then.

6. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)

Fans of top-down games, especially the Zelda games, have to have played this at some point. A Link to the Past is one of the better, if not the best of the games in this style. The first Legend of Zelda game was exceptional in so many ways, but A Link to the Past is ju?st mo?re memorable, more fluid, and overall more fun.

5. Tetris (Game Boy)

If you want to break away from the highly competitive nature of Tetris 99, you can always fire the OG Tetris up on the Game Boy app. It plays a lot differently than modern Tetris because pie??ces aut?omatically snap the moment they make contact on the surface. 

You’ll also be unable to see an outline of where your pieces will drop, so there’s a challenge within itself right there. Tetris on the Game Bo?y is based on classic rules, but it’s still such a fun time regardless.

4. Super Metroid (SNES)

If you want even more Metroid that’s faster-paced and has more fluid gameplay, then the third game of the series will provide just that. It’s just an overall better time than the original game, with just the right amount of difficulty that won’t have you pulling? your hair out??.

3. Kirby Super Star (SNES)

There’s something about the older Kirby games that just have more charm and character to them. They’re simple enough and follow the whole “pink blob ?eats enemies and takes their powers�aspect of the game. Then there are the minigames on the side to take a break betwe??en the main story that just feels like a good kind of padding.

Even thoug??h Kirby games are doing just fine and are still prevalent in today’s market, it’s a fun trip dow??n memory lane to see the early days of his adventures.

2. Killer Instinct (SNES)

Killer Instinct is an awesome fighting game that acted as healthy competition against Mortal Kombat in the '90s. While not as gory, it still had great, over-the-top action, sporting a roster of ten wildly different and memorable characters. For the time, it was impressive, and so fun to play, even for those wh?o aren’t into fighting games. 

This is the? game that introduced the “c-c-c-combo breaker!�and the echoed “ultra!�sound ef?fects that we all still use from time to time. Novelties aside, it’s such a great addition to the lineup of current games on the Switch’s SNES library.

1. Super Mario World (SNES)

Super Mario World is touted as one of the best 2D Mario games of all time because of the mechanics, the music, and just how much exploration it has. This is the game that introduced the Cape Feather, which is iconic for all the wild verticality that you can perform. It also has the hilarious P Ball?oon that inflates Mario or Luigi and lets them fly in all eight directions for a short time. You can’t forget the different Yoshis with their own respective abilities, e??ither.

Most people will play this game from start to finish, but there is more than meets the eye on??ce you clear the Switch Palaces or revisit pr?evious levels with proper power-ups. If you never played this game in any way, you have to.

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Growing up, I played a lot of puzzle games, but I didn’t have much love for them. This is because my mother loves puzzle games, and I probably didn’t like them much because i?t was one of the genres she could beat me at.

However, the experiences I had playing Yoshi’s Cookie and Kirby’s Avalanche with her have left me with some nostalgia for the titles. I don’t actually play them much, but t?hey feel good to my soul, at least.

One game I used to play with her is different, however. It’s a puzzle game that I’m actually enthusiastic about and dust off every so often. It's one that I can enjoy without the sentimental attachment, even if some sentiment is still there. That is 1997’s Tetrisphere for the N64.

Phearing Change

Despite the name, Tetrisphere has very little to do with Tetris outside of falling blocks that remove other blocks. The blocks themselves aren’t even nece??ssarily tetrominoes, though a few? are.

It actually began development for the Atari Jaguar as Phear, which is a better name despite its lack of marketable brand recognition. According to the ancient tomb, Electronic Gaming Monthly, at the time, Nintendo was on the hunt for developers willing to stuff their games into a cartridge, so they scooped it up?? for their own.

It was created by H2O Entertainment, who would later create The New Tetris and Aidyn Chronicles (w??hich I can’t believe I haven’t played) for the ?N64.

The concept is that you have a sphere that is covered in various shapes of blocks, and with the power of block fission, you need to burrow to its core, at least in most of the modes. Beyond just throwing blocks at the orb, you can also grab hold of them to shift them next to other blocks. While some of the block sh??apes just have to be touching, others, like the line block and square, have to be directly aligned, so you need to be careful and set up the best combos you can.

Enraged strip mining

It works so damned well. 3D block-breaker puzzle games rarely figure out how to put the added dimension to good use, but Tetrisphere nails it. The persistent cursor that you control over the surface of the orb is ?communicative and useful, even with the You can grab blocks from beneath others and slide them up to the other layers if you’ve got the right setup. It feels good, which is extremely commendable.

Beyond that, it also has an amazing aestheti?c. While the cartoon spheroid robots that act as the cast are a bit weird, you don’t see them much. Normally, you’re just looking at a colorful sphere floating in ethereal space. The soundtrack is this amazingly atmospheric techno, and all the sound effects have this reverb to them that makes them all impactful. 

All block-breakers are about destruction, but Tetrisphere feels closest to actually destroying something. On levels with the more easy-going shapes, you’ll of??ten trigger huge combos that stretch across the surface of the sphere, popping like atomic bubble wrap. While you can peel the sphere like a clove of garlic, the best strategy is to focus on a single area and burrow into it? like an enraged strip mining operation.

And then there are the bombs (called magic for some reason) that you can pick up. While these change depending on w??hat mode you play, in the “Rescue�mode, you can upgrade them. It starts as fireworks that blast a massive crater into the sphere, but you c?an upgrade it to an Atom that completely peels the top layer away with a blastwave. Even in the versus mode, the standardized bombs are fun to use with their big echo-y booms.

Lonely Rolling Star

Singleplayer consists of rescue, hide & seek, puzzle, time trial, and vs. CPU. Rescue requires you to clear off enough tiles in an area on the core of the cube to release a little guy trapped inside. Hide & Seek, is similar, but you’re looking for a picture plastered on the core. Each level gives a bit of a variation?. Puzzle gives you a certain number of moves and drops to clear the board of preconfigured structures. Time trial is lame. Vs. CPU is essentially multipl??ayer for lonely people like me.

They’re all decent variations of block destruction, but I feel like the versus mode makes the best use of it. Any of the one-player modes tend to be laid back, but it’s versus where you really need to strategize. As is typical, big combos result in garbage blocks being dumped on your opponent, and they’re not ea??sy to get rid of. This can lead to panicked moments where you have to open a new hole to expose the last few core tiles to win the game.

In contrast, modes like rescue and hide & seek seem a little vanilla. However, there’s enough in Tetrisphere to suck up an impressive amount of your time. It does, however, lack the endlessness of something like Tetris. Unless you’ve got a ?rival to compete against, it’s likely that you’ll clear the single-player modes and move on.

The Core

It surprises me that Tetrisphere has been left on the N64. As far as I have been able to find, there has never been a sequel, Nintendo has never ported it, and I can’t even find any indie games that cop the gameplay. It’s not that I think Tetrisphere was wildly impactful, but it’s weird to see any gam?e be so forgotten about, even one with the arcane knowledge of how to make a block-buster puzzle game wor??k in 3D.

And really, I’d love a sequel. Tetrisphere already has a masterful aesthetic that would be difficult to top, but it still has potential with shinier graphics. At the very least, I would like to see it on the Nintendo Switch Online N64 service. Does Nintendo not still own the publishing rights to i??t?

I suppo??se, on? the bright side, it’s pretty cheap and easy to find on the N64.

For other retro titles you ma??y have missed, click right here!

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The true test of ergonomics returns

Another pretty special release has joined the Arcade Archives release, as publisher Hamster rolls out the intensely puzzling and bizarrely titled Tetris The Absolute Grand Master 2 Plus �now available to download on PS4 and? Nintendo Switch.

Developed by Arika and published by the last bastion of the coin-op, Psikyo, Tetris The Absolute Grand Master 2 Plus, (known in the community as simply "TGM2" or "TAP"), hit Japanese arcades in 2000, launched as a last-minute update to the original TGM2 board. Much like its predecessor, Tetris The Grand Master, TGM2 is an expert-level iteration of Alexey Pajitnov's classic block-busting puzzler, and tasks players wi??th using adaptation and forward-thinking to manage a rapidly filling playfield of Tetrominos.

Check out a bout of TGM2 T.A. Death in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber Masterjun3.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcjqNkiT8q0

TGM2 retains the complex gameplay of its predecessor but adds a casual player-friendly "Normal" mode, as well as an evolved edition of "Master" mode, which features huge acceleration after level 500. Also part of the update is the incredibly challenging "T.A. Death" mode, which features fixes 20G gravity settings, as well as a consistently high speed from the get-go. It is considered one of the most difficult challenges in Tetris history. The arrival of TGM2, (and previously TGM), on the Arcade Archives plugs a gap that has been in the collections of Tetris fans the world over for generations.

Well, at least in an official capacity... Now get droppin'!

Tetris The Absolute Grand Master 2 Plus is av?ailable to download now on PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

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The game is the story

When people talk about the ideal "video game story," they're usually talking about something like Final Fantasy VI or Metal Gear Solid. A "good story" in a video game is usually a coherent narrative with characters and events, ideally one that's augmented or enhanced by gameplay. On occasion, folks will point to something like Dwarf Fortress, a game t?hat uses the found??ations of interactivity to generate elaborate narratives.

[caption id="attachment_358665" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Kitfox Games[/caption]

I think there's another, more interesting type of video game narrative, though. It's a kind that only exists in games and one that exists in every game. It's not always wri?tten deliberately, and it often comes into view only after the game has been played.

The automatic story

Human beings are really good at projecting stories onto blank canvases. When we recount ti?mes in our lives, we're very bad at viewing them discreetly. They're always a sequence of events that feed into one another, a little story whose only author is experience. Video games, very often, are an almost-blank canvas. Where life is a story we write, defined by our experiences, games are stories we come to, and stories we supplement with those experiences. They are experiences built by other humans, who have laid the groundwork for a new story.

I think that, by virtue of being an active experience, every game accidentally tells a story. I like to think of it as an "automatic story." It's not something anyone has written, and it's not something anyone is presenting, but it's something that springs up simply because of the way the human brain works. It's the detail we automatically fill in when we see broad brush strokes. It looks different for everyone, because everyone is both the author and the protagonist. I've talked through this theory with friends before, and they'll often scoff. Usually, the conversation circles around to Tetris. After all, everyone has played Tetris, but nobody can tell you the plot of Tetris. I think that's because the "plot" of a game like Tetris (or Pong, or Breakout, or?? whatever other arcade title you prefer) is entirely unique to the medium of games.

[caption id="attachment_358343" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via The Tetris Company[/caption]

Games do something very interesting without even trying: they invite you to co-author a story. Back in 1984, Alexey Pajitnov wrote the barest skeleton of a narrative without thinking. He put a bunch of bricks on a screen, he offered up the opportunity to move those bricks, and, without realizing, he wrote the first line every Tetris story. Every single Tetris player for the last thirty-odd years has come away from the game?? finishing Pajitnov's tale. The moving bricks, consciously or otherwise, become characters, or structures, or cargo. The ratcheting tension and increased speed connect with everyone for one reason or another. For Pajitnov, things get faster to keep the game from getting boring, but for the player, it's impossible to avoid imagining a reason, some kind of narrative rationale. We are humans, connecting with the work of other humans, ??and without realizing, we have turned that experience into a story. One that's very difficult to tell, and one that can only really be felt.

Okay, but what about "real" stories?

Obviously, not all video games exist in such an abstract state. Sure, it's hard to describe the plot of Tetris, but you can explain exactly what happens in The Secret of Monkey Island. That game is obsessively authored, its characters are named and defined. How do games like that fit into my t??heory of the ??automatic story?

Many of the best straightforward "narrative" games will allow for some level of emergent storytelling. They'll give a player the tools to tell their own additional story, one that might support the main plot, or one that might totally derail and contradict it - sure, Link is on a quest to save Hyrule, but I'm ?on a quest to see how many different ways there are to drop a rock on Link's head. These aren't "automatic stories," necessarily; they fill the same space, they're similarly co-authored experiences, but they're baked into the game, not just your brain.

[caption id="attachment_358664" align="alignnone" width="640"] the  Image via Nintendo[/caption]

Even in narrative games that don't allow for much experimentation, though, I find that two stories are always present. There's the story being told by the game, and there's the story being told by the player. I think the poster child for this theory is The Last of Us - just about everyone can agree that The Last of Us has a plot. In fact, the game has been accused of being too plotty, to the point that a relatively faithful HBO Max series can act as a handy replacement. But when you play The Last of Us, you cannot disappear into the role o?f Joel Miller entirely. Video games call on us, as players, to inhabit a character, but we cannot become that chara??cter.

In The Last of Us, Joel does some pretty reprehensible stuff. He hits a lot of people in the head with bricks, and the player, simply by virtue of playing, becomes complicit in that brick-hitting. The Last of Us is two stories here: there's the story of a man who hits people in the head with bricks, and there's the story of a player, who chooses to encourage those actions - whether they agree with Joel or not, the only way to roll cre?dits is to keep going.

To continue playing (and, more specifically, to continue playing well) is a narrative choice that the player makes, ?consciously or unconsciously, as the co-author of the automatic story. Simply by having the experience, by consenting to it, and by engaging with it, the player is saying something, encouraging a new story to blossom. That's not the same story as the one the game is telling; if you put the game down, both stories will stop at the same time, but they'll both mean something different. These two stories - the traditional and the automatic - complement each other. One is written, and one o?ccurs spontaneously. Simply because a game has been crafted by a person, and it has been experienced by another person, it becomes its own story. It happens in the back of our head, with our assistance, knowingly or otherwise. It can't be written; it can only be experienced.

Because, ultimately, experienc??e is a ??talented author.

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The money makers

Video games are a pretty darn profitable industry. As it turns out, a lot of people are willing to pay a lot of money to press little buttons. But only a select few button-pressing facilitators can claim to have made the most money. And? only an even more se?lect few can claim to actually be good.

High sales don't always translate into high quality. That's not a secret �there's a reason the fine folks at the British Film Institute don't factor box office take into the Sight & Sound poll (I like Avengers: Endgame, but it's not standing side-by-side with 2001: A Space Odyssey). Still, the Top 10 best-selling games in history have turned a l?ot of copies, and there's got to be some reason they connect with so many players.

So let's look at that Top 10 list and see which of these games are worth playing, and which are collecting dust on many millions of shelves. Before we get started, I'd like to clarify �there are a lot of different metrics by which one can measure the "best-selling games of all time," but for the purposes of this ranking, I'll be borrowing IGN's rigorously maintained top 10 list and backlinking to original sources.

[caption id="attachment_358334" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Blizzard Entertainment[/caption]

10. Overwatch

Per Bloomberg, Blizzard Entertainment's hero shooter Overwatch sold somewhere around 50 million units during its time on the market. By IGN's estimation, that mak?es it the seventh highest-selling game of all time. It's also tough to recommend, given that you can't actually play it?? right now.

Overwatch might be a little higher on this list if it was still playable. Unfortunately, it's been replaced by a free-to-play sequel, Overwatch 2. While the second game isn't dramatically different from the first, most of the changes made to the formula have made the game less entertaining. Pay-to-win battle pass progression, heroes locked behind heavy grinding, a team comp overhaul that feels more like a downgrade, making Overwatch 2, in its current state, less than pleasant.

[caption id="attachment_358335" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via KRAFTON, Inc.[/caption]

9. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds

According to The Verge, PUBG sold about 75 million units before going free-to-play, making it the fifth best-selling game ever. There's a good reason for that: when it came out, PUBG was a bit of a revelation. There had been battle royale mods and modes for various other games before, but a game designed from the ground up with 100-person death matches in mind was an uncommon sight. And PUBG was a solid first foray into a budding genre.

In 2023, you can't toss a twig without hitting a battle royale. They aren't all as good as PUBG, but, well, free-to-play PUBG isn't quite as good as 2017 PUBG either. If you really want to play a battle royale game, you're pretty spoiled for choice, and while PUBG isn't the worst option, it is a bit stale.

[caption id="attachment_358336" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Rockstar Games[/caption]

8. Grand Theft Auto V

Publisher Take-Two Interactive says Grand Theft Auto V has sold more than 170 million copies as of September 2022. That's a pretty hefty figure, one that makes it the third third-highest seller in the medium. To be completely fair, though, it's not like GTA fans are spoiled for choice. There hasn't been a fully new GTA game in nearly a decade, and Rockstar just keeps porting GTA V.

The game is solid! It's a Grand Theft Auto game. It's a pretty incremental series, and the incremental improvements made in V are good. The writing is decent (if a little cynical for my taste), the open world is fairly compelling, and the primal joy of ramming cars into civilians has remained potent for many years. But, well... it's not really special at this point. Once again, we've seen an awful lot of great open-world games in the last nine years, and GTA V is getting a little long in the tooth.

Le??t's?? hope the next game is worth the long, long wait.

[caption id="attachment_358337" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

7. Pokémon Red/Green(/Yellow/Blue)

The Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA), a Japanese publication that tracks the games industry, claims that the four original releases of the first Pokémon generation have sold somewhere around 45 million units, and Nintendo says we can add 1.5 million units to that figure for the 3DS re-releases. That makes the original Pokémon the ninth highest-selling game in history (even if it ha?d to be four games to earn that spot).

I think most video game fans have at least a small soft spot for Pokémon, and the first generation is undeniably lovable. There are better JRPGs out there �hell, there are better Pokémon games out there �but yo?u can't discount the raw charm of the classics.

[caption id="attachment_358338" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

6. Super Mario Bros.

Turning once more to CESA's 2021 White Papers, Super Mario Bros. has reportedly sold around 48 million units across various platforms. That makes it the eighth best-selling game? of all ti?me. It's an undeniable platforming classic, genre-defining title that somehow still feels fresh.

When a game has been so foundational to a genre, going back to it can feel like visiting a museum �it's interesting, sure, but there's other, more fun stuff you could do. That's not the case with Super Mario Bros. The game may have laid the groundwork for 2D platformers to come, but it also mastered its?? own mechanics, with level layouts that are still fun and clever nearly 40 years later.

[caption id="attachment_358339" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

5. Wii Sports

Wii Sports was bundled with the Nintendo Wii at launch in all territories except Japan, which certainly helps its incredible Nintendo-reported 82.9 million unit sales. That figure makes it the fourth highest-selling game of all time. Honestly, though, I have a feeling that even without the pack-in numbers, Wii Sports could've made this list.

There's simply no better proof-of-concept for the Wii than Wii Sports. Every included sport demonstrates a different use for the Wiimote, and while no other game really found the same level of versatility in the device, Wii Sports was a shining reminder ?of what motion controls could be. It was the perfect pack-in game, yes, but it was also an excellent game in its own right.

[caption id="attachment_358340" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Microsoft[/caption]

4. Minecraft

The first time I played Minecraft, I probably wouldn't have guessed that it was fated to become the second highest-selling game of all time. And yet, according to Microsoft, this unassuming survival sandbox turned proto-Metaverse has sold a staggering 238 million units.

In some ways, calling Minecraft one video game is a little unfair. In addition to having nearly two dozen editions across different platforms, it's also more of a host for games than anything else. The single-player survival mode ??is still a lot of fun, and creative mode is a good way to bang out some architectural concepts, but multiplayer servers and mods are where the real party is at.

There are so many different things that can be done with the foundations of Minecraft, and that adaptabi?lity is the game's ??greatest strength.

[caption id="attachment_358341" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

3. Mario Kart 8

Nintendo's financial reports put Mario Kart 8, across its two editions, at about 57 million units sold, making it the sixth highest-selling game of all time. It seems pretty staggering that a Wii U game, of all things, could climb so high in the rankings, but I guess that's the power of the Nintendo ?Switch port.

Mario Kart rules. It's a simple fact of life that everyone on earth likes playing Mario Kart, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is probably the best entry in the franchise, period. That's reall??y all there is to s?ay.

[caption id="attachment_358342" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Rockstar Games[/caption]

2. Red Dead Redemption 2

According to Take-Two Interactive's August 2022 fin?ancial report, Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold over 45 million units (not counting individual copies of Red Dead Online). That makes it t?he 10th highest-selling game of all time, but it's number two in ??the quality rankings.

Red Dead Redemption 2 can be slow, monotonous, and long, even by AAA game standards. But that meditative quiet is in service of one of the best narratives in high-budget gaming history. Red Dead Redemption 2 is ponderous and quiet, which has left it saddled with the descriptor of "boring" by folks who prefer their action a little hotter and heavier. Regardless, it's an uncommonly?? thoughtful game in a field often dominated by bright lights and flashing colors.

[caption id="attachment_358343" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via The Tetris Company[/caption]

1. Tetris

Sometimes bright lights and flashing colors are good. Quickly, throw a stick somewhere in your room. Good money says you just hit a copy of Tetris. According to The Tetris Company, somewhere in the area of 520 million copies of Tetris have been sold, making it the highest-selling video game in history. It might also be the single best video game in his??tory.

Tetris is one of those concepts that just works. Trying to fit things together in a tight space is satisfying on a primal level, and Tetris is a masterful piece of design work. It's almost silly to praise Tetris. Because everyone already knows it's great. Because everyone has already boug??ht it.

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The Forgotten Wall

This week is a very special one for Hamster Corporation, as the publisher celebrates 300 consecutive weeks of classic arcade game reissues �And to celebrate this record-breaking moment, the Arcade Archives receives a little royalty: The Arika's never-before-re-released puzzler Tetris: The Grand Master.

Launching in Japanese arcades in 1998, Tetris: The Grand Master was the biggest challenge offered to block-dropping fans to date. While TGM, (as it is known by the Tetris community), follows the typical rules and methodology of Alexey Pajitnov's world-best puzzler, this particular edition offered up a marathon 999 levels to be conquered as well as the dazzling "20G" mechanic to truly push e??xpert players to their limits. Essentially, this difficulty option place?s the incoming Tetrominos directly on top of the stack, offering a mere split-second to place them onto the playfield.

Check out the wild action in the classic run below, courtesy of YouTuber Sega-16.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEzvyMI4I9I

This mode fast became the target for the community, eager to master the iconic title to the point that they could play it �accurately and efficiently �on a second-to-second basis. Ironically, despite being held in such high regard, the original TGM would never receive a home release, though it would be followed by several console sequels over the following years. This new Arcade Archives release marks the first official home version of TGM since its late-'90s debut. Thus, this is a very special week for the die-hard Tetris community.

TGM has been a staple of speedrun tournaments and global competitions for many years, and now players all over the world can finally sit and master the game in their own bedrooms... in a legal capacity, at the very least. If you want to check out the brain-melting action for yourself, then Tetris: The Grand Master is available to download right now on PS4 and Nintendo Swit??ch.

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Gotta Drop the Block

In a muddled set of circumstances, it appears that excellent arcade puzzler Tetris: The Grand Master is to finally receive a home port. That's according to Arika VP Ichiro Mihara, who seemingly announced the port by an??nouncing that its announcement has been delayed... Still with me?

As spotted by Nintendo Life, Mihara took to Twitter yesterday in order to apologize for the fact that the reveal of the awesome block-busting game's home port could not be revealed yet due to reasons beyond Arika's control �thus revealing the existence of the home port regardless... Well, at least they got it out there. No further information was noted by Mihara, so we still do not know Tetris: TGM's port platforms nor its release da??te. We'll find out soon enough.

Tetris: The Grand Master launched in arcades back in 1998, fast becoming one of the standout titles in the compelling series. Often used in both competitive and speedrunning scenes, Tetris: TGM would be followed in the arcade scene by numerous reworks and expanded sequels �such as Tetris: The Absolute: Grand Master 2 Plus and Tetris: The Grand Master 3 - Terror-Instinct �but surprisingly has never seen a home release. If Mihara is to be believed, then this is a grand day for the Tetris community, who will already be cleari??ng space for the incoming volley of Tetrominos.

We will?? be sure to keep you updated when any official word from Arika is fo?rthcoming.

//twitter.com/miharasan/status/1455059629835120642?s????=20

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The Tetris Effect in the palm of your hands

The new Nintendo Switch OLED model is out today, with a bright new screen to light up those handheld play sessions. And just in time for a showcase of how good that screen can look is Tetris Effect: Connected??, which also ?launched today for the Nintendo handheld.

This version includes both the original Tetris Effect and all its later-added Connected features. Alongside the main campaign and its stellar mix of visuals and music, there are also the many multiplayer modes like Connected co-op, Zone Battle, and Classic Score Attack. And already, just watching this trailer made a flood of memories come swimming back about how much I dug Tetris Effect the first time around.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=glZpE3Gib1w

The Nintendo Switch version of Tetris Effect: Connected also has cross-platform multiplayer between all platforms. This ranges from the Switch itself to PC via Steam and Epic, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and even Oculus Quest. So yeah, your VR Tetris friends can compete too.

Tetris Effect: Connected is also getting a few Nintendo Switch-specific features. An additional vibration option adds an extra layer of vibration to the Tetris dropping. And there is support for any combination of Joy-Con configurations, so you can easily hav??e everyone play along even if you don't have a ton of Joy-Cons available.

For anyone who hasn't played Tetris Effect yet, this is an obvious pick-up to get. It is a simply sublime experience, and one of my favorite ways to play Tetris. And for those who are also picking up an OLED Switch today, with its bright new scr?een, this seems like a good way to put it through the paces and see how big a difference the OLED makes.

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And the beat goes on (without me)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Apple Arcade has been on a roll since early April when a selection of choice titles hit the subscription service, reminding everyone that, oh yeah, this exists. Its catalog has only grown since then, and a few weeks ago, it was announced it would receive its own Tetris title in the form of Tetris Beat. A rhythm-enhanced rendition of the classic puzzler, I was hop??ing the addition of beats would be a bold new direction for the IP. And maybe it is…for people who have rhythm.

I will be the first to admit I’m not the greatest at rhythm games. I usually stick to the normal difficulty and could never wrap my head around using all the buttons on the Guitar Hero guitar. That said, I am quite good at normal. That’s my bread and butter, and I can usually max out the stars, or whatever it is tracking your ability, to hit every note perfectly. On the recently launched Beatstar for mobile phones, I’m absolutely killi?ng it on every ??normal song I unlock. Unfortunately, that game forces you to do harder difficulty songs, and that’s when my thumbs start looking like they’re going to pop right off my hands.

With Tetris Beat, howe??ver, even on easy, I find myself struggling ??to keep in time with the rhythm.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTLgTnVre7k

The game has three main modes. First is Marathon, which is just classic Tetris. As this is an Apple Arcade game, you can play with touch controls or an actual controller, and I found out I hate playing Tetris with touch controls. Especially at higher levels. Coming off of Tetris 99, I need to be able to harness the speed ?and accuracy touch contr?ols just don’t supply.

The other two modes �Drop and Tap �ask players to focus on playing the game in time to the beat. The more complicated of the two is Drop, where players will try and do everything in time to the music, from dropping Tetronimoes to rotating them. The better you are at keeping the beat, the higher your score will be at the end of the song. Tap is a bit more up my alley. In this mode, the game will display two possible spots on the Tetris board for a Tetronimo to drop. All you need to do is tap ??the spot you want in time to the beat. Tap is probably as close as this game will get to the classic rhythm games I’m used to and I imagine I look like an idiot to outside observe??rs when I play this, nodding my head and quietly saying “dun, dun, dun�in time to the music.

And the music is excellent. It’s an eclectic mix of indie pop, dance, and rap tunes, each with its own background visualizer that really adds a layer of psychedelia to the experience. I did experience some moments where the visualizer would blend in with some of the Tetronimoes, but there are VFX options that clear this up. All of these artists are new to me, and I think I’ve found a few who I can hopefully start adding to my Spotify playlist. Every song is available from the start and you can play them in Marathon mode �just without the impetus to play to the beat. There is even a trance remix of the Tetris theme called “Korobeiniki�??by Uriel Ohm and?? it slaps.

The joy I get from the music and visuals is almost enough to make me forget that I’m absolute trash at this game. I’ve put about a dozen hours into it since it launched, and while I have yet to fail outside of high-level Marathon play, my scores on normal and hard difficulties are pathetic, especially with Drop. Even with the visual cue at the top of the screen that bounces along to the beat, I just cannot wrap my head around playing Tetris to the music. As I said, Tap is a bit more up my alley, bu??t even then, I can just feel myself struggling to keep in the rhythm.

I’m sure there are people out there this game is perfect for, like club DJs or those straight guys who listen primarily to dance music but never actually dance. Or really, anybody with any sort of musical inclination. Because outside of the infrequent crashes I’ve dealt with in the past two days, I still think the core idea at the heart of Tetris Beat is a so??und one. It’s just one that’s beyon??d my capabilities.

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It ain't broke, but they fixed it anyway

I'm not gonna lie, I'm not great at Tetris. Tetris Effect originally drew me in as a gorgeous VR experience, but once I got started I enjoyed trying my hand at beating the solo campaign. I was a bit unsure of what to expect from the new multiplayer update, Connected (which is free if you already own the base game, by the wa??y), but I can tell you, even for someone like me who lacks a certain ski??ll level, it's a blast to play.

There are four game modes in the update. The most simple of these are the Score Attack modes, of which there are two. In just plain 'ol Score Attack, you're playing head-to-head with standard Tetris Effect rules in ?place, but no Line Attacks are exchanged. Whoever has the highest combined score after two rounds wins.

Tetris Effect: Connected (Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Oculus Quest [reviewed])
Developer: Resonair, Monstars, Stage Games
Publisher: Enhance, Sony Interactive Entertainment
Released: August 17, 2021
MSRP: $39.99

Then there's Classic Score Attack, which has the same setup, only it's old-school Tetris rules: no hard dropping, no holding, only one piece shown in the queue, etc. The regular Score Attack is a good option if you're looking for "single-player competitive Tetris," while Classic is pretty brutal, and it's ??the rules players use at pro competitions.

Zone Battle is another fun addition to the traditional Tetris experience. It's another one-on-one format, but it also incorporates the time-stopping?? Zone mechanic from the s??ingle-player. If you enjoyed that part of the base game, definitely give this mode a shot.

For me, though, Connected Mode was the star of the show. You and two other players go up against AI bosses, and eve??ry so often, all three of your boards will combine into one big one, and you take turns dropping blocks, trying to clear as many lines as possible. ??That, in turn, deals damage to the boss.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2czq3SAbGw

If you "die" in this mode (the official term is "Tap Out," I learned recently), your teammates can revive you if they play well enough. I had to play online because unfortunately none of my friends have Tetris Effect (at least that I'm aware of), but I can imagine some of my buddies would love? to play Connected Mode together.

There is both local and online play with friends though, in addition to the "play with strangers" thing. Tetris Effect: Connected is also cross-platform and uses a room code to get everyone hooked up, so there are plenty of options if your squad plays Tetris together for fun.

Just when you thought that's it, there's more too. That's right, there's bonus features! This includes the highly requested Spectator Mode, which allows between four and six additional players to watch from the sidelines. PAL Mode is also a new addition, which replicates the feeling of the European PAL format from the NES Tetris game, so you get a lower framerate, faster horizontal movement, and faster dropping speed??. On the flip side, we also got a Slow Speed Mode, and that's exactly what it sounds like. Plus there are performance vs. fidelity options, so you can customize your play experience exactly how you want it.

Just like other multiplayer games, Connected also has Tiers and Skill Ratings. You get an individual SR for each mode, and then whichever Tier ??you're in is determined by all of those SRs combined. You win SR points if you win a game, you lose SR points if you lose. Bob's your uncle.

Match length depends on which mode? you're in, as well as how good you are. The Zone Battle and Score Attack modes can basically go on for as long as you and your opponent can keep from "Tapping Out," but I found the Connected mode to be a bit longer. No game went on for more than maybe twenty minutes at most, though. The wa??it times weren't bad at all to get into games either, which was another plus.

That's all of the logistics finally out of the way, so now let's talk about game feel. What do you expect? Tetris Effect felt amazing to play from the start, so the base was already ther??e to have some really compell?ing multiplayer versions.

At the end of the day, it's Tetris. We're not reinventing the wheel here, but that's not a bad thing in the slightest. If you love Tetris, you'll love this multiplayer. The sound and visuals are stunning, and the new game modes put a fresh new take on a classic that are worth trying in and of thems?elves.

It's already a given that competitive players are going to have fun with this, especially when there are multiple variations of traditional Tetris gameplay. If you're someone like me who's a ?bit more chill, though, I promise you will still have a great time with this game. I especially recommend trying out the Connected Mode if you're a more laid-back player, too, because there's?? more leeway there.

I thought I had seen it all with Tetris 99, so I'm really impressed to see how the brand keeps moving forward and giving us new things to try out. I'm not sure how the hardcore Tetris masters are going ??to feel about this one, but for a casual fan like me, this is about as good as it gets.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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And everything is going to the beat

If there is one game people shouldn't have any trouble getting their hands on these days, it's Tetris. There are so many great versions of the game out there already, from the nail-biting Tetris 99 on Switch to the brilliant Tetris Effect on PS4, Xbox, PC, and Quest. Mobile platforms have seen a variety of different Tetris games over the years, and soon enough, another one will be joining the fray with Tetris Beat, coming exclusively to Apple Arcade.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=YploNGdrn80

As you can see from the trailer above, Tetris Beat places a heavy emphasis on its soundtrack, which features original 18 original tracks from musicians like GA??RZA, Cinthie, and the brilliantly named Alison Wonderland. Those 18 tracks are just the beginning as Tetris Beat will add new songs to the game every month. The game will feature three game modes, controller support, and cross-platform play with Apple TV, Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Developer N3twork is ??working on Tetris Beat. It's the same studio responsible for the officially licensed mobile version of the classic block-drop p??uzzler.

It's nice to see another original game ??coming to the platform (and yes, I know it's a stretch to con?sider any version of Tetris to be original), considering Apple Arcade has been pretty reliant on ports as of late to fill out its catalog. Re?cent additions to the service include Alto's Odyssey: The Lost City, Angry Birds Reloaded, and Game Dev Story+, all of which were previously released on other platforms. More ports are on their way to the s?ervice, including Jetpack Joyride+, Super Stickman Golf 3+, and Monster Hunter Stories+.

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It will also launch on Steam the same day

The world of Tetris Effect is becoming more connected. A free update to Tetris Effect will bring current owners into Tetris Effect: Connected on Aug. 18, coinciding with the trippy Tetris' launch on Steam.

The free update to all existing versions of Tetris Effect adds the co-op and competitive multiplayer modes highlighted in the Connected update that was, previously, on just Windows 10 and Xbox consoles. That's Connected, Zone Battle, Score Attack, and Classic Score Attack, which all sound like a pretty alright time.

Tetris Effect: Connected will also be truly connected, as in, cross-platform play will be available be?tween the Steam, PlayStation 4, Epic Games Store, Oculus Quest, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 versions of the game. There are also some bonus features coming, like a new Spectator Mode, PAL and "Slow?" speed modes. Oculus Quest 2 headsets also get a performance vs. fidelity option, and PS4 copies will be available to Remote Play.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT2TfOoNlrs

Essentially, it's a lot of Tetris that's on the way. This is a game that's quite literally stood the test of time, though 2018's Tetris Effect felt like an amazing new take on it. It's cool to see all the Connected option??s and updates finally rollin??g out to other versions of the game.

If you pick Tetris Effect: Connected up on Steam too, there are a few bonus goodies for those who have held out for so long. Some Tetris Effect-themed avatars and wallpapers will be available, as well as a seven-track soundtrack sampler by Hydelic, a previous pre-order bonus for the game on PS4 and Epic. So yes, if you're like me, reading that means you're probably already opening up the soundtrack in whatever audio streaming service you have and listening to it again.

The Tetris Effect: Connected update goes live on Aug. 18 for all ?available versions.

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Plug up that hole (in one)

Excellent multiplayer puzzler Tetris 99 is still going strong. The superb battle royale block buster will be celebrating its 22nd Maximus Cup event this weekend and will be offering participants a fun new theme based on recent Switch release Mario Golf: Super Rush.

From tomorrow, July 9, until Monday, July 12, any Tetris 99 player who earns themselves 100 points in-game will automatically unlock the Mario Golf themed package, which includes artwork, music, and custom Teromino designs based upon the new links-smashing release. Of course, a Nintendo Online account is needed in order to participate in Tetris 99 tournies, but as long as you are signed up, then you'll ??be good to go.

The Mario Golf: Super Rush event is the latest in a series of crossover events to hit the fast-paced puzzler. Previous Maximus Cup events have seen tie-ins with Splatoon, Kirby Fighters, and, most recently, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. For Nintendo, it's a neat way to offer pla????yers some freebies while doing a spot of cross-promotion.

Tetris 99 and Mario Golf: Super Rush? are both available now on Nintendo Switch. The 22nd Maximus Cup kicks off July 9 at 00:00 ?PT and will end on July 12 at 23:59 PT.

//tw??itter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/141?2577421178642443?s=20

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Not that I needed a reason to dip back into Tetris Effect, but if I did?, this would be it: a deviously hidden 1984 level that can be unlocked with a code and a keyboard.

The best bit: the secret 1984 variant has been hiding in plain sight. If you're the type of person whose YouTube feed is filled with all things Tetris, you very well might've run across it before, but otherwise, it's probably new to you too. In honor of World Tetris Day, two of Tetris Effect's secret stages got an official signal boost from The Tetris Company.

As a refresher, the secret 1989 level theme can be unlocked permanently if you rank up your Tetris Effect player profile to level 50. Yeah, ?yeah �you know. But what about 1984?

Unlocking 1984 in Tetris Effect with a controller and keyboard

To unlock this level, you'll need to enter the following inputs on the Tetris Effect title screen: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, O, X (on a PlayStation contr?oller) or Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A (on an Xbox or Oculus controller).

If you entered this iconic sequence correctly, you'll see a strange new screen?? that looks like something out of an ARG.

Next, you'll need to use a keyboard: type in?? the code "06061984" and hit enter. You should then see a notice that "1984" is unlocked �it's a one-tim??e process.

And if you ?happen to have an Xbox Chatpad, that'll work t??oo.

Here's the payoff:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OMOIaq_VMQ

As you can see from this gameplay captured by YouTube user Sar, Tetris Effect's 1984 level is lo-fi as heck �and if you play our cards right, it'll go nuts with col?ors and effects.

The secret stage is meant to be a "tribute to the original version of Tetris ?for the Electronika 60, the old Soviet PC Alexey Pajinov first created the game on."

Really cool, right? I think I can actually be bothered to untangle my keyboard from my whole desk... situation to unlock 1984 on my PS4. Wish ?me luck.

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Now go forth and puyo

Today sees Sega release its third and final free content update for its colorful and extremely compelling puzzler Puyo Puyo Tetris 2. Available now on PlayStat?ion and Xbox platforms, as well as Nintendo Switch, the cr?ossover block-buster will also drop in on PC March 23.

The new update adds four more playable characters to the Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 roster. These include warbling angel Harpy, young warrior Ragnus the Brave, dramatic knight Legamunt,  and finally the charming sorceress Rozatte. Alongside these new characters, four more tracks have been added to the game's score, including a remix of "Escape from the City" from Sonic Generations, in keeping with the blue blur's recent roster addition.

From a technical stance, the biggest news concerns cross-gen gameplay, as PS4/PS5 and Xbox One/Xbox Series X players can now battle it out with other players within the same console family. The leaderboards have been consolidated to reflect this. Speaking of online, a new Spectator Mode will allow players to sit-in on the fast and frantic action, while the new "Super Spicy" difficulty setting will challenge the muster of the most hardened Puyo Puyo Tetris aficionado.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is a great puzzle title, and well worth checking out if you've ever had a passing interest in the block-dropping genre. Packed full of content, extremely light-hearted, and available on a wide variety of formats, it's a solid way to spend a lazy afternoon, alone or?? with pals. Check it out.

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When you see it...

Battle royale block-dropper Tetris 99 is gearing up for its next Maximus Cup event, which is set to take place in-game this coming weekend, allowing players to square off against a horde of fellow Tetris fans in chaotic, non-stop action.

There's also extra incentive to jump into battle for Mario fans, as all players who accumulate 100 event points will receive a free theme, based on smash-selling Switch release Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. As per usual, the theme comes complete with background art, as well as unique sounds and Tetrimino shapes inspired by the Wii-U remake. Launching on Switch in early February, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury saw immediate success, and is currently the best-selling new gam?e of 2021.

The new Tetris Maximus Cup event will begin Thursday, March 4 at 23:00 PT and Frid??ay, March 5 at 02:00 ET / 07:00 GMT and will end at?? the same time on Monday, March 8 and Tuesday, March 9 as applicable.

Good luck!

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Dropping in today on all platforms

Sega continues to roll out cool free content for its great puzzle title Puyo Puyo Tetris 2. Today sees a new update arrive on PlayStation, Xbox, and?? Nintendo Switch platforms that adds a handful of extra characters, new challenges rules, and accessibility options.

Once downloaded, players will be able to step into battle as gothic weirdo Strange Klug, cute mermaid Serilly, magic gal Rafisol, and ghostly troublemakers Yu & Rei. The Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 s??oundtrack will also be expanded with three new tunes, which include Rafisol and Strange Klug's personal themes.

Challenge mode receives a total of six new Multiplayer rulesets: Endless Fever, Endless Puyo, Tiny Puyo, Sp??rint, Marathon, and finally Ultra, all of which can be played in online and offline Vs. battles. Most importantly, new settings have been added for color blind players, with new trichromat, protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia adjustments.

You can check out a trailer for the new update below. Don't forget that Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 will be ??hitting PC on March 23. It's a really great time - alone or with friends - and if you haven't checked it out, I suggest you do. Puyo!

The post Free Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 update adds char??acters, challenges, and color blind?? options appeared first on Destructoid.

LYMYMI

It's been a little over three weeks since Jonas Neubauer, arguably the greatest DAS Tetris player of all time and more importantly a wonderful human being, was taken from this Earth. Speaking as someone who was welcomed into his Twitch community for the past few years, it hasn't been easy since then for those ??who enjoyed his streams. I thought I was doing a bit better this week and could stand to go back on Twitch, then I watche?d AGameScouts' tribute video, and now I'm back to being sad again.

While in the current context it has a sad connotation, it is amazing to look back on what Jonas managed to accomplish in his 39 short years on this Earth. Not just the seven Classic Tetris World Championships, but also the mark he has left on the Tetris community as a whole through his positive?? demeanor.

It's an odd feeling to be sad over the death of someone I never met, but I guess this is the stark reality of living in an age when communication has few barriers. For those who are willing, a memorial fund is still being crowd-sourced in Jonas' memory an?d to help his family through the horrible time they find themselves in.

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Gotta Build Fast

In an awesome bit of news for block-busting fans, Sega has announced a free update for its colorful puzzle title Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, addi?ng new modes and stages alongside four playable characters including the blue blur himself – Sonic the Hedgehog.

The update, which will go live on all platforms today, will see Sonic join the roster alongside characters Lidelle, Ms. Accord, and Ocean Prince. Each character brings with them their own stage music, while a selection of Sonic-themed Item Cards fe?ature famous franchise elements such as rin?gs, the shield, and a spiky ball.

A new mode "Boss Battle with Everyone" will also be added to Puyo Puyo Tetris 2's online options. This co-op mode allows up to four players to work together in order to defeat powerful boss characters, with exclusive Item Cards and other bonuses on the line as a reward for successful teams. Think of it as a raid, Puyo Puyo-style.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 &ndash??; already available on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch – was also recently made available for next-gen platforms PS5 and Xbox Series X. A PC port is still in the works, expected to launch sometime in early 2021.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 update add?s four playable characters [Gematsu]

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Forever a champion

The gaming world lost one of its greats last week. Jonas Neubauer, known for extraordinary skill in Tetris, passed away on January 4. He was just 39.

Neubauer is the most accomplished classic Tetris player in history. During his competitive career, he won seven Classic Tetris World Championships, winning four years in a row from 2010 to 2013 and securing a threepeat from 2015 to 2017. He also set multiple records, including in 2018 when he cleared 100 lines in three minutes and nine seconds. That time now stands as the second-fastest in the world.

It’s with a heavy heart that we deliver the terrible news that Jonas has passed away from a sudden medical emergency.
He was the absolute best. We are devastated, overwhelmed with grief, and we already miss him dearly.
Information to follow when it becomes available.

— Jonas Neubauer (@neubsauce) January 9, 2021

Following news of his passing, many took to Twitter to share their memories of Neubauer.

If you want to see this master at work, Neubauer's Twitch channel has hours of him showing the world exactly why he's considered the face of competitive Tetris. We at Destructoid offer our sincere condo??lences to Mr. Neubau??er's family and friends for their loss.

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Pulse-pounding hybrid-puzzler returns!

If you're a fan of classic games, fast-thinking and, well, tidying up, then you might want to take note that Sega has finally launched Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 on consoles in ??the west. The ca??rtoonish puzzle sequel is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch.

For the uninitiated, Puyo Puyo Tetris combines two of the greatest tile-shifting titles of all time, namely Puyo Puyo and Tetris - funnily enough. Gameplay is a well-fitting hybrid of both titles, as players mix-and-match modes across a selection of exhibition, Vs. and online battles, as well as a cutesy story campaign featurin??g a cast of adorable and colorful charact??????????????????????????ers.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is a nicely feature-packed release, offering fun for up to four players as well as a variety of online leagues and events. The new Skill Battle Mode allows players to form their own bespoke squad of avatars - chosen from a roster of 28 uniquely skilled characters - in order to form the ultimate Puyo Puyo Tetris team. Check out the action in the launch trailer bel?ow.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 will follow on PC via Steam in early 2021.

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Brickin' It

Two classics of the Nintendo scene will collide this week, as Super Mario Bros. invades the world of Tetris 99 for the latter's latest limited-time Grand Prix - the 18th of such events since Tetris 99 first launched back in February 2019.

From tomorrow, December 4, Tetris 99 players will be able to use their hard-earned in-game currency to purchase a colorful theme based on the 1993 SNES compendium Super Mario All-Stars, complete with the classic Super Mario Bros. theme tune when th??ings are going great, as well as Bowser's theme for when the playfield gets a little too hot to hand??le. Be quick, as this theme will only be made available until Tuesday, December 8.

The Super Mario Bros. x Tetris 99 crossover is one of a number of events celebrating 35 years of Nintendo's iconic and genre-defining platforming franchise. Other releases Switch compendium Super Mario 3D All-Stars, and Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. Away from the digital realm, Nintendo has worked with other companies to produce products such as LEGO Super Mario, as well as apparel from clothing bra?nds Uniqlo, Levi and P??uma.

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Block-Buster

Following on from video game adaptations such as Mortal Kombat, Super Mario Bros., Street Fighter, Bloodrayne, Alone in the Dark - and more recently Monster Hunter and Uncharted - Apple has officially confirmed pre-production has started on a film retelling the incredible story of one of the most iconic video games of all-time: Tetris.

As reported by Deadline, Tetris: The Movie (surely they can't be running with that title) will tell the incredible story of the classic puzzle games conception, as well as the flammable legal battles fought by Russian creator Alexey Pajitnov, a?nd Dutch designer Henk Rogers, who ultimately secured the console rights to the multi-million dollar franchise.

Directed by Stan & Ollie's Jon S. Baird, Tetris will star Taron Egerton as Rogers, with several other roles yet to be cast, including the all-important role of Pajitnov himself. Egerton, of course, won worldwide acclaim for his portrayal of musician Elton John in 2019 biopic Rocketman. A joint collaboration between Apple and production studios Marv Films and AI Film, Tetris is expected to begin shooting in December.

Apple boards Taron Eg?erton-starring "Tetris" movie [Deadline]

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Three-player co-op boss fights are the highlight

Whether you're a first-time Tetris Effect player or you're showing up for the new timed-exclusive multiplayer modes, Tetris Effect: Connected is worth checking out – especially with Xbox Game Pass.

Aside from the original Tetris Effect story campaign and the objective-based Effect modes that I've been raving about for two years now, with Connected, you're also getting a multiplayer suite. The new package is $40 on Windows 10 and Xbox consoles (including Xbox Series X/S), and Enhance has committed to a free update in "summer 2021" for Tetris Effect owners on PS4, PC, and Oculus Quest.

So, what are the modes? There are three head-to-head modes – Zone Battle, Score Attack, and Classic Score Attack – along with the namesake Connected mode, a three-player-vs.-one-AI-boss mode.

Out of those versus modes, Zone Battle feels the freshest – it's all about clearing lines to build up attacks and then either strategically defending against or negating your foe's attacks as much as possible by knowing when to enter the Zone to clear out junk. Score Attack is a one-on-one high-score battle, and once a player taps out, the other player has tw??o extra minutes to cement their score.

Classic Score Attack works much the same way, albeit with a retro visual style, "stiffer" controls/rules, and a more back-to-basics approach to Tetris. You can't do Hard Drops and there isn't a ?H?old Queue.

I'm not so sure I'll stick with any of these long-term – I'm not that cut out for them – but I am very invested in Connected mode. In short, you'll fight a series of (progressively harder) AI-controlled Zodiac Bosses with an assist from two other (human or AI) players. At first, your team's play fields are totally separate, but as you clear lines and build up your shared meter, the three fields will temporarily merge into one. At that point, it's an all-out race. You'll take turns rapidly dropping pieces one after another in hopes of clearing as many lines as possible to send an avalanche hurtling toward the boss.

Connected mode is definitely chaotic and even stressful at first, but with practice, I started to feel more comfortable with the flow. (The music cues help.) In an attempt to make co-op Tetris fun and not maddening, you'll get occasional pu?rple pieces that can push down and? "correct" bad placements.

It wasn't live for testing yet, but there's also a Connected Vs. mode in which a human player can stand in for the AI boss. That'll be playable during 24-hour "Full Moon" events during weekends.

The multiplayer modes have their own fancy-looking space hub that feels right at home in Tetris Effect (take a minute to fly around and explore it) and player progression uses a tier system "based on an aggregate of your skill rating in all the different modes" as it rises and falls with each win or ?loss.

Curiously, the game hints that "as you mov??e up tiers, you'll also move ever closer to the mysterious obelisk radiating from the center of the galaxy: the Tetrimid?ion." As for me? I just wanna unlock avatars.

If you're super competitive, there's a Ranked match option; otherwise, you can stick with Friend matches or Local matches against the AI. That goes for all multiplayer modes, too. You can set the AI's competency, so if you're strugglin??g against the tougher Zodiac fights, you can crank up the AI partners.

I don't necessarily think the new Connected content exceeds anything that was already in Tetris Effect, but after a couple of hours (with the Windows 10 version), the multiplayer modes do live up to expectations. This is an all-around excellent package for new players, and it'll be a fantastic free update for returning PS4 and Steam Tetris Effect players next summer. We're all together in this life.

_{[These impressions are based on a retail build of the game played via Xbox Game Pass on PC.]}

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Another Brick in the Wall

Xbox-owning fans of the mind-trippin' Tetris Effect will have reasons to be cheerful today, as publishe??r Enhance Games has launched a brand new edit??ion of the PS5 VR puzzler, which is available to purchase on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC via Xbox Game Pass.

Tetris Effect: Connected is described as a "robust multiplayer expansion" which takes single-player modes such as Tetris Zone and re-imagines them for head-to-head multiplayer action. The titular "Connected" mode allows for three players to connect their individual Tetris playfields and work as? a team to brings down the blocks in pe??rfect synchronicity.

Unfortunately, it seems that other platforms will have to wait a little longer, as the Connected multiplayer expansion will not launch on PS4, PS5, Oculus Quest, or PC via Steam until the summer of 2021. It will, however, arrive as a free download for all Tetris Effect owners.

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Popular hybrid-puzzler returns

At Tokyo Games Show this past weekend, Sega released a new trailer for frantic puzzler Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, which will bring ?its block-and-blob-busting hybrid gameplay to PC and consoles this winter.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 will feature another goofy Adventure Mode, bringing together a cast of delightful and charming characters who find themselves befuddled by the collision of two all-time favourite franchises: Puyo Puyo and Tetris, naturally. The all-new "Skill Battle" mode will utilise character's specific abilities to give them an edge on the battlefield, while in-game Item Cards will offer various buffs and perks to help you out when things start gettin??g a little too "busy" for comfort.

When you're ready to challenge the world, then a selection of online VS. modes will allow you to take on players from across the globe. League Battles and Ranking modes will be available for the hardcore, while Free Play offers a slightly less sweat-inducing challenge. There will also be modes such as Party, Big Bang, Sw?ap, and Fusion which all feature four-player support, so you might not be the best in the world, but you can be the best on your block... Maybe.

I have a friend who is excellent at both standard Tetris and Puyo Puyo Tetris. Watching him, his lightning reactions, and forward-planning abilities at work is a mind-blowing experience. Puyo Puyo Tetris is a fun and wildly addictive game. This sequel looks set to improve up??on that ex??perience in every way.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 launches December 8 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, ??Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch. It will follow on PC in early 2021.

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Here's a quick look

In case you missed it, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, a sequel to the incredibly fun puzzle mashup game from 2017 (in the US, at least) was quietly announced as part of a packed surprise Nintendo Direct Mini stream a few weeks ago. Due out in December, this thing is hitting basically every platform known to man: PC (this is the only version not coming this year), P?S4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch.

Before then, Sega is content giving us another quick glimpse into the world of the second game, confirming today that Ringo and Tee are returning for another go in adventure mode. The sequel will feature a new map and the Dimensional Parasite antagonist, who merges both the Puyo and Tetris worlds togeth?er. Mystery and intrigue are promised on top of the normal puzzle-solving gameplay.

This time around there's a bigger variety of missions, including skill battles (EXP can level up your stats): with the addition of more RPG elements as a whole like extra optional stages vi??a the world map and more items. Sega re-iterates that the game will support the Smart Delivery initiative on Xbox One -> Series X, with a vague "PS4 to PS5 upgrade path "at no extra cost when the game launches," if you buy it "from the PlayStation Store or a physical version from a retailer."

Sony's lack of an easy solution for cross-buy must be pissing off a? lot of studios!

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Cblogs Recap: Week 31

-Shoggoth2588 responds to this month's Band of Bloggers prompt by focusing on the few water levels in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

-Toothpick2600 reports on Nintendo?? restocking?? their supply of NES Mini and SNES Mini consoles.

-Black Red Gaming reviews Destroy All Humans! on the PC.

-Dinoracha shares his thoughts on playing DOOM: Eternal.

-Rabid Walrus thinks we can learn much from even the worst Dark Souls boss.

-PocketCiabatta wonders what is the Tetris-like game in each genre.

-LaTerry responds to this month's Band of Bloggers prompt by looking at the water levels in Spyro.

-Virtua Kazuma discusses the legacy of Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown.

-My Enormous Hairy Downstairs Kitchen shares his thoughts regarding Eliza and the visual novel genre.

-Julc3 is thinking of getting ??the Xbox Series X in the coming round of console wars??.

-Black Red Gaming shares his thoughts on his most anticipated games to? be re?leased in August 2020.

-PhilsPhindings discusses the similarities between the soundtrack of Radical Dreamers and some popular music tunes.

-Exber discusses how a game, Galerians, really got him into writing about games.

-PhilsPhindings discusses the similarities between the soundtrack of Zelda II and some new wave music.

-EricWeichhart reveals some more community sh??irts that you can order.

Thanks to Lord Spencer for the Cblog Recap and to our community for another week of great content! If you'd like to see your gaming thoughts recapped on our front page, then head on over to the Community Blogs and share with us.

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