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Tetris Forever

The latest Gold Master goes above and beyond to tell the complete Tetris story.
73%Game Brain Score
gameplay, emotional
story, music
67% User Score Based on 209 reviews
Critic Score 78%Based on 23 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4Playstation 5Playstation 5Steam DeckSteam DeckWindowsWindowsXbox OneXbox OneXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlayStationPlayStationXboxXbox
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About

"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.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Tetris Forever screenshot
Tetris Forever screenshot
Tetris Forever screenshot
Tetris Forever screenshot
Tetris Forever screenshot
Tetris Forever screenshot
Tetris Forever screenshot
Tetris Forever screenshot
Tetris Forever screenshot
Tetris Forever screenshot
Tetris Forever screenshot
+3

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 232 reviews
gameplay12 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • Tetris Forever offers a fascinating interactive documentary that delves into the rich history of Tetris, featuring engaging interviews and archival materials.
  • The inclusion of Tetris Time Warp introduces a new gameplay experience that adds a fun twist to the classic formula, allowing players to explore different eras of Tetris.
  • The collection features a variety of playable games, including some rare titles that were previously unavailable in the West, making it a valuable addition for Tetris enthusiasts.
  • The collection lacks many iconic Tetris games, particularly the beloved Nintendo versions, which may disappoint long-time fans expecting a comprehensive compilation.
  • There is no online multiplayer option, limiting the ability to play with friends and reducing the overall replayability of the games included.
  • Some games have inconsistent controls and lack the ability to remap keys, which can lead to a frustrating experience for players accustomed to modern Tetris gameplay.
  • story
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of the game is centered around the fascinating and complex history of Tetris, including its creation, licensing battles, and the key figures involved, such as Alexey Pajitnov and Henk Rogers. While the documentary format provides engaging insights, some players feel it lacks depth by focusing primarily on the legal struggles and omitting significant parts of Tetris's legacy. Overall, the narrative is compelling, but it could benefit from a more interactive storytelling approach and a broader representation of the game's history.

    • “The story of Tetris' publication and the pinballing of the rights all around is fascinating, and a highlight for me.”
    • “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 the game.”
    • “I was a huge fan of the Tetris movie, and the real-life story of Tetris is so fascinating!”
    • “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.”
    • “Also, the story told is not the story of Tetris as advertised: it's a subset of the story of Tetris.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is described as engaging and capable of keeping players hooked for hours, with a mix of nostalgia and modern mechanics. However, some users criticize the lack of mechanical variety and the absence of an endless mode in the new Tetris Timewarp, suggesting that it feels more like a historical collection than a fresh competitive experience. While there are enjoyable elements and control mechanics that adapt to different games, many feel that superior alternatives exist, such as Tetris Effect Connected, which offer better gameplay and music.

    • “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.”
    • “It uses all the modern rule sets and the time warp mechanic is awesome.”
    • “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.”
  • music
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in this Tetris collection has received mixed reviews, with many users noting the absence of the iconic Tetris theme "Korobeiniki" in most games, which detracts from the experience. While some titles feature catchy soundtracks, others are criticized for having inferior music, particularly in comparison to better versions like Tetris Effect: Connected. Overall, the music does not meet the expectations set by previous iterations of the franchise.

    • “Great music and a very smooth gameplay experience.”
    • “Catchy soundtracks.”
    • “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.”
    • “And speaking of licensing, 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.”
  • stability
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is significantly hampered by severe graphical glitches, particularly in the titles "Electronika 60" and "Tetris Time Warp," rendering them unplayable on certain platforms. Additionally, control issues, including inadequate keyboard support and rebinding restrictions, further detract from the overall experience. Overall, the lack of online multiplayer and challenging modes, combined with these technical problems, falls short of modern gaming standards.

    • “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 experience 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.”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The Tetris Time Warp offers limited replayability due to its small number of challenges, with only three available, which many players feel is insufficient for sustained engagement. While some users acknowledge that a lack of replay value doesn't inherently make a game bad, they suggest that the pricing should reflect this limitation.

    • “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.”
  • graphics
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are marred by significant glitches, particularly in the titles "Electronika 60" and "Tetris Time Warp," which render them unplayable on Linux despite other versions functioning well. However, players appreciate the fully customizable controls and various aesthetic settings available for each Tetris game.

    • “At the current state of the game, even with Steam Play compatibility, Electronika 60 and Tetris Time Warp get 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 issue under Linux. The others, which I guess are running on older code and emulated, run just fine.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as profoundly heartbreaking, evoking strong feelings of sadness and empathy in players.

    • “Heartbreaking.”
    • “Heartbreaking.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized 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.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Recent updates have improved user sentiment towards the game's optimization, but some players have reported performance issues, particularly during line clearing in Modern Tetris Marathon, especially on devices like the Asus ROG Ally. Overall, while there are positive changes, certain updates have negatively impacted performance for some users.

    • “After the recent updates and seeing 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.”
    • “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 recent updates have negatively impacted the game's performance on my ASUS ROG Ally, particularly during critical moments like clearing lines in Modern Tetris Marathon.”
    • “Despite previous improvements, the latest update has caused noticeable performance issues, making it difficult to enjoy the game as it lags during key gameplay moments.”

78%Critics’ scoreBased on 23 critic reviews

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