Tetris Forever

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 107 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Tetris Forever Game Cover
The latest Gold Master goes above and beyond to tell the complete Tetris story.
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"Tetris Forever" celebrates 40 years of Tetris with over 15 playable classic games and an all-new Tetris experience, "Tetris Time Warp". This installment features games from the series' history, some available for the first time outside Japan, and includes multiplayer modes, such as "Tetris Battle Gaiden". Rich documentary featurettes explore the friendship and partnership between Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov and others. Dive into this extensive collection and relive the Tetris phenomenon.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 107 reviews
gameplay5 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • The documentary content is well-produced and provides a fascinating look at the history of Tetris, featuring interviews with key figures like Alexey Pajitnov and Henk Rogers.
  • The inclusion of various historical Tetris games, including some rare titles, offers a unique experience for fans and allows them to explore the evolution of the franchise.
  • The new Tetris Time Warp mode introduces an interesting gameplay mechanic that allows players to experience different eras of Tetris, adding a fresh twist to the classic gameplay.
  • The collection lacks many iconic Tetris titles, particularly those published by Nintendo, which significantly diminishes its appeal to long-time fans.
  • Controls are inconsistent across different games, with many lacking the ability to be remapped, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience.
  • The absence of online multiplayer and limited game variety make the collection feel incomplete and less engaging compared to other modern Tetris offerings.
  • story19 mentions

    The story of Tetris Forever provides a comprehensive and engaging narrative about the game's journey from its origins in Russia to its global impact, featuring insights from key figures like Alexey Pajitnov and Henk Rogers. While the interactive documentary format is praised for its depth, some reviewers note that it focuses heavily on the legal battles over licensing rights, leaving out significant aspects of the game's history and iterations. Overall, the storytelling is compelling, but it could benefit from a more balanced representation of Tetris's broader legacy.

    • “Tetris forever tells the entire story of Tetris and how it traveled from Russia, to Europe, to Japan, and to America, all while letting you play each iteration of the game as well as games that inspired or were inspired by it.”
    • “The creation, the complications of the licensing, the story of Henk Rogers flying to Moscow with no contacts to try to get licensing rights for Nintendo.”
    • “The story of Tetris' publication and the pinballing of the rights all around is fascinating, and a highlight for me.”
    • “The documentary itself is the same story we've heard time and time again, but it's nice to have Alexey Pajitnov, Henk Rogers, and Gilman Louie give firsthand accounts of what happened.”
    • “Sure the documentary is good but if they made a 'game section with story mode' of those 'chapters' instead of just watch and read, it would've gotten more interaction at least.”
    • “I understand focusing on the legal battle for the rights to Tetris, since that's the 'exciting' part of the story, but so many important parts of the games get a single mention, like TGM and the Guideline.”
  • gameplay12 mentions

    The gameplay of the new Tetris collection is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the nostalgic re-creation and modern mechanics, while others criticize the lack of depth and variety, particularly in the time warp mode. While the engaging nature of the gameplay can keep players hooked for hours, many feel that it falls short compared to other Tetris versions, such as Tetris Effect Connected, which offer better mechanics and music. Overall, the collection is seen as a missed opportunity to showcase more historically significant or innovative games within the franchise.

    • “The re-creation of the original Tetris is a nice one, with small touches that reflect original gameplay.”
    • “Its engaging gameplay keeps me hooked for hours, and each session feels like a new adventure that I can't get enough of.”
    • “I like the control mechanics changing based on what's being played, and the versus mode feels a bit more exciting with the twist of using the time warp as a replacement for items or piece garbage.”
    • “Steam remote is an option, but input delay is very critical on higher levels of gameplay.”
    • “I forgive the older games for being clunky and lackluster, since they are part of history, but the 'new' game should have been more gameplay-focused.”
    • “Meanwhile the new Tetris Timewarp is incredibly lackluster with a mediocre gimmick, thanks to the lack of mechanical variety represented in this collection and lack of an endless mode.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in this Tetris collection has been criticized for lacking the iconic "Korobeiniki" theme, with only "Tetris Time Warp" featuring it, while other games in the collection offer inferior soundtracks. Reviewers note that there are superior alternatives available, such as "Tetris Effect: Connected," which boasts better gameplay and music. Overall, the music aspect is seen as a significant drawback compared to other versions.

    • “There are far better versions of Tetris available, including Tetris Effect: Connected, which is already on Steam and has better gameplay and music than any of the games in this collection.”
    • “Not only do none of these games have the iconic Tetris song (Korobeiniki) as an in-game background song (except for Tetris Time Warp), but even the Game Boy version of Bombliss has a different (and vastly inferior) song for the fight mode.”
    • “Korobeiniki went from a Russian folk song to the Tetris theme because of the Game Boy version.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The Tetris Time Warp offers limited replayability due to its minimal content, featuring only three challenges that fail to encourage repeated play. While this lack of replay value doesn't necessarily detract from the game's quality, it suggests that the pricing should reflect its limited longevity.

    • “The Tetris time warp was fun for a bit, but I feel like they really could've added more challenges; there are only 3 challenges, which doesn't leave much room for replayability.”
    • “It has no replay value.”
    • “That's not to say that games that have no replay value are bad; it's just that the game needs to be priced accordingly.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game's stability is marred by significant visual glitches that make it unplayable, particularly in the Electronika 60 and Tetris Time Warp versions, while other titles run smoothly. Additionally, control issues arise from inadequate keyboard support and restrictive rebinding options, further detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Its lack of online multiplayer and challenging modes, on top of several visual glitches flashing on the screen throughout the game, are also disappointing by today's standards.”
    • “At the current state of the game, even with Steam Play compatibility, Electronika 60 and Tetris Time Warp have horrible graphical glitches that render the game unplayable. All other versions work just fine, which is strange because it's only the two games they developed that cause any issues under Linux; the others, which I assume are running on older code and emulated, run just fine.”
    • “The main issues are with the controls: using a keyboard for these games is below subpar. The PC games cannot be rebound at all, and there are some rebinding restrictions on the console games that can be rebound, some of which I assume are glitches.”
  • graphics2 mentions

    Users report significant graphical glitches in the games "Electronika 60" and "Tetris Time Warp" under Linux, making them unplayable, while other versions function properly. Despite these issues, players appreciate the fully customizable controls and aesthetic settings available for each Tetris game.

    • “Each Tetris game has fully customizable controls, and you can change many aesthetic settings for each game.”
    • “At the current state of the game, even with Steam Play compatibility, Electronika 60 and Tetris Time Warp have horrible graphical glitches that render the game unplayable. All other versions work just fine, which is strange because it's only the two games they developed that cause any issues under Linux. The others, which I assume are running on older code and emulated, run just fine.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as deeply heartbreaking, evoking strong feelings and resonating with players on a profound level.

    • “Heartbreaking.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Users have noted that while the game generally performs well on devices like the Asus ROG Ally, recent updates have negatively impacted optimization, particularly during high-action moments such as clearing lines in the modern Tetris marathon.

    • “After the recent updates and seeing that this game won't just be abandoned, I'm changing my review to positive. It usually works well on my ASUS ROG Ally, but the most recent update has hurt performance, mainly when clearing lines in Modern Tetris Marathon.”
    • “The optimization in this game has significantly improved my overall experience, making it run smoothly even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “I appreciate how the developers are continuously working on optimization, ensuring that the game performs well across various devices.”
    • “After the recent updates, I was hopeful that this game wouldn't be abandoned, but the latest update has significantly hurt performance, especially when clearing lines in Modern Tetris Marathon.”
    • “The optimization in this game is severely lacking; it struggles to maintain a stable frame rate even on high-end hardware.”
    • “Despite the game's potential, the optimization issues make it nearly unplayable at times, leading to frustrating lag and stuttering during critical moments.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as a cash grab, primarily aimed at capitalizing on the nostalgia of Tetris players.

    • “This game feels like a cash grab designed to exploit the nostalgia of Tetris players.”
    • “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
    • “I feel like I'm being constantly pressured to make in-game purchases just to keep up with other players.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

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