Tetris®
- January 22, 2020
- PLAYSTUDIOS INC
Tetris® is a classic puzzle game with good graphics and a wholesome story, but it can be very grinding and buggy with annoying ads. Players can enjoy the timeless block puzzle game together with others, anywhere, but may encounter optimization issues. Overall, Tetris® is a fun and hilarious game that fans of the genre should enjoy.
Reviews
- The game retains the classic Tetris gameplay, providing a nostalgic experience.
- Graphics and themes are visually appealing, with various styles to choose from.
- The game offers both marathon and level modes, catering to different play styles.
- Excessive ads interrupt gameplay, with a long ad after every level, making it frustrating to play.
- The controls are unresponsive and overly sensitive, leading to frequent mistakes during gameplay.
- The game requires an internet connection to play, even in single-player mode, which limits accessibility.
- monetization1,288 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of this Tetris adaptation has drawn significant criticism from users, primarily due to the overwhelming number of intrusive ads. Players report being bombarded with ads after nearly every level, often spending more time watching ads than actually playing the game. Additionally, the only option to remove ads is through a subscription model, which many find excessive and frustrating, as it only lasts for a limited time. Overall, the aggressive ad placement and lack of a permanent ad-free purchase option have led to a negative impact on the gaming experience.
“I would just pay for a no ads version.”
“I would pay a one-time fee for an ad-free version but that's not even an option - you can pay $3 for no ads for 30 days or $10 for no ads for 6 months.”
“That being said, I appreciate the option to pay for no ads; I just hope there's no other in-app purchases in the future.”
“The experience is severely undermined by the overwhelming number of advertisements.”
“You spend more time watching ads than playing the actual game itself!”
“The ads make this game unplayable.”
- gameplay119 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this Tetris app is generally described as smooth and enjoyable, adhering closely to the classic Tetris experience. However, it is heavily marred by intrusive and lengthy advertisements that significantly disrupt the flow of play, often resulting in more time spent watching ads than actually playing. Additionally, users have reported issues with controls, such as unresponsive mechanics and glitches, which detract from the overall experience.
“The gameplay is smooth and enjoyable, but the app has an entire 'player card' page that's supposed to be customizable with icons, frames, and backgrounds.”
“The gameplay itself is pretty good; it's hard to mess up Tetris.”
“The gameplay is the same, solid, enjoyable experience it's always been.”
“The gameplay isn't dynamic; you're only allowed to drop pieces directly down.”
“Ads are longer than gameplay.”
“The gameplay feels absolutely terrible now and it just isn't a very fun experience.”
- music110 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users expressing disappointment over the absence of the original Tetris soundtrack and the repetitive nature of the current tracks. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements, others find the remixed versions grating and poorly executed. Additionally, technical issues such as music playing despite being turned off and interruptions from ads further detract from the overall experience.
“Gorgeous music and sound design.”
“The gameplay of the marathon mode is classic, and the music slaps... when it works.”
“I love the game, and the music; why I give it 3 stars though, is because of the ads and the app itself, the ad happens every time you play it.”
“The music is actually garbage.”
“The music is headache inducing, the look of it is gaudy, the game modes are boring.”
“This is not that game, it has a lack of strategy due to its poor design and power ups, the aesthetic is off-putting (and that's saying a lot), also the music sucks, it's probably the worst rendition of the Tetris theme to date.”
- graphics59 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the vibrant and clean visuals, while others criticize them as cluttered, distracting, and poorly designed. Many players express frustration over recent updates that have negatively impacted performance and aesthetics, making the game feel unplayable for some. Overall, while there are elements of appealing design, the execution has left many feeling that the graphics detract from the gameplay experience.
“The graphics are great and the game performs as I expect it to.”
“The graphics are very nice and there's many different modes.”
“The graphics are great, the background color is vibrant enough to bring a pop of color, but not straining to the eyes and does not take attention to the gameplay.”
“The game is glitchy, and I find the new graphics to be too distracting.”
“Unfortunately, the latest update (40th anniversary update) that changed the graphics has made the game close to unplayable - the lag and slow graphics refresh that have come since this patch are just frustrating.”
“The graphics are horrible; it honestly looks like a shady rip-off game.”
- stability36 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- -6 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent freezes, glitches, and unresponsive controls that disrupt gameplay. Many players experience issues with ads causing the game to crash or freeze, particularly in offline mode, leading to frustration and a lack of enjoyment. Overall, the game is described as buggy and not ready for a smooth gaming experience, with calls for significant improvements to address these stability issues.
“Everything went well, no lags, no glitches, just pure gameplay.”
“The game runs smoothly without any interruptions, making for a seamless experience.”
“I experienced no crashes or bugs, which really enhanced my enjoyment of the game.”
“I mainly play offline mode, but the problem is that every minute or so the game seemingly freezes for a few seconds.”
“It's fun when it works, but it almost never does because of the countless bugs and glitches that are keeping you from playing your game.”
“Very buggy, sound stops working after playing an ad (which happens after every ~30 second level) and only comes back if you close and restart the app.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, while the game initially runs smoothly, recent updates have introduced performance issues, making controls feel clunky and unresponsive. Users have noted that unoptimized settings and the presence of ads negatively impact performance, particularly on mobile devices, despite previously smooth gameplay on older models.
“The game is good, runs smoothly.”
“This shouldn't be a performance issue (using a Galaxy S20 currently, and was using an iPhone 6s which had smooth controls in this game). Otherwise, the presentation is nice and there's a decent variety of modes.”
“However, they keep adding stuff to it, changing it, and filling it with useless content that reduces the performance of the game, making controls clunky.”
“What happened to this app's performance?”
“So annoyingly hard because the game isn't optimized for mobile for some reason.”
- story7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's story mode is criticized for its repetitive and simplistic quest structure, which involves clearing lines and completing minor tasks, but is heavily marred by an overwhelming number of intrusive ads that disrupt gameplay. Players express frustration with the app crashing after ads, leading to a tedious cycle of restarting levels, ultimately detracting from the overall enjoyment and engagement with the story.
“Riddled with obnoxious ads, controls terribly, super slippery without the clarity of a d-pad, practically impossible not to slide an incorrect distance or touch the screen, completely demolishing what you're doing. The main mode consists of tiny little missions that suck the fun directly out of it.”
“Too many ads, and whenever I try to play one of the 'story' type levels, I get an ad right after it which crashes the app and makes me need to play that level again.”
“You can't play forever since this game gives you quests every level like Candy Crush.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express significant frustration with the emotional impact of intrusive ads and unresponsive controls in the game, describing the experience as "heartbreaking" and nearly unplayable. The combination of technical issues and aggressive monetization strategies detracts from the enjoyment, leading to feelings of disappointment and annoyance.
“This is just heartbreaking.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, particularly for those familiar with faster-paced gameplay. Many express a desire for reduced grinding, fewer ads, and more accessible collectible items and game modes, as the current system feels overly drawn out and reminiscent of mobile games that prioritize monetization over enjoyment.
“It is a pretty game with appealing features, but it is extremely tedious and not very fun for a professional Tetris player familiar with rolling to sit here going through levels of extreme easiness with no way to jump forward. I just want to skip all this, but I'll end up pressing delete.”
“Overkill and makes the game very tedious.”
“This is Tetris that got the Candy Crush treatment; full of things that are tedious at best.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from its quirky visuals and the absurdity of its ad placement, which players find both frustrating and amusing. Many users highlight the irony of the game's controls seemingly malfunctioning at critical moments, leading to a comical yet aggravating experience. Overall, while the game has potential for humor, the overwhelming presence of ads detracts from its enjoyment.
“The background is darker and the pieces look funny.”
“Funny fact at my old job where I'd have to organize the freezer.”
“Still no reply from devs after weeks... how hilariously sad.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Users express mixed feelings about replayability, noting improvements such as shorter ads that enhance playability, but also highlighting frustrations with the app's functionality across devices. Some recommend exploring lesser-known alternatives that offer a more engaging experience.
“The game seems more playable now; ads are shorter, and I think I'll go from 2 to 3 stars actually.”
“Much more playable alternatives in the Google Store are worth checking out.”
“Why try to make it flashier instead of more playable?”
“Terrible app, better off checking reviews for the less well known, but much more playable, alternatives in the Google Store.”