This article is about the video game in general. For specific versions, see List of Tetris variants. For other uses, see Tetris (disambiguation).
1985 video game
Tetris
A typical Tetris game screen
Designer(s)
Alexey Pajitnov
Platform(s)
List of Tetris variants
Release
Electronika 60
USSR: 1985
IBM PC
USSR: 1986
EU: November 1987
NA: January 1988
Genre(s)
Puzzle
tile-matching
Mode(s)
Single-player
multiplayer
Tetris (Russian: Тетрис[a]) is a puzzle video game created in 1985 by Alexey Pajitnov, a Soviet software engineer.[1] It has been published by several companies for multiple platforms, most prominently during a dispute over the appropriation of the rights in the late 1980s. After a significant period of publication by Nintendo, in 1996 the rights reverted to Pajitnov, who co-founded the Tetris Company with Henk Rogers to manage licensing.
In Tetris, players complete lines by moving differently shaped pieces (tetrominoes), which descend onto the playing field. The completed lines disappear and grant the player points, and the player can proceed to fill the vacated spaces. The game ends when the uncleared lines reach the top of the playing field. The longer the player can delay this outcome, the higher their score will be. In Multiplayer games, players must last longer than their opponents; in certain versions, players can inflict penalties on opponents by completing a significant number of lines. Some versions add variations on the rules, such as three-dimensional displays or a system for reserving pieces.
Built on simple rules, Tetris established itself as one of the greatest video games ever made. By December 2011, it had sold 202million copies—approximately 70million physical units and 132million paid mobile game downloads—making it one of the best-selling video game franchises. The Game Boy version is one of the best-selling games of all time, with more than 35 million copies sold. Tetris is available on over 65 platforms, setting a Guinness world record for the most ported video game. Tetris is rooted within popular culture and its popularity extends beyond the sphere of video games; imagery from the game has influenced architecture, music, and cosplay. The game also has been the subject of various research studies that have analyzed its theoretical complexity and have shown its effect on the human brain following a session, in particular the Tetris effect.
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^"Tetris | video game | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
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