Tetris

Tetris needs no introduction: pieces made of four blocks fall into a well, and you turn and slide them so they fill whole lines. A full line disappears, the stack drops, and the game speeds up as you go. Clear four lines with one long piece and you score a Tetris. This is the 1989 NES version published by Nintendo, the one still played at classic Tetris championships, and it plays right here in your browser with no download.

How to play

1. Press Play under the title picture, then Start (Enter) on the title screen.
2. Choose A-Type (play as long as you can) or B-Type (clear 25 lines) and the music, then press Start.
3. Pick a level from 0 to 9 with the arrow keys and press Start. Higher levels fall faster and score more.
4. Move the falling piece with left and right, turn it with X or Z, and hold down to drop it faster.
5. Fill complete lines to clear them. The game is over when the stack reaches the top of the well.

Controls

Computer: left and right arrows move the piece, down drops it faster, X turns it to the right, Z turns it to the left, Enter is Start and pauses, V (Select) shows or hides the next piece. Move the mouse over the game to show the bar with pause, restart, sound, save state, load state and full screen buttons.

Phone and tablet: an on-screen pad appears under the game, with a cross, A and B to turn, Start and Select.

A USB or Bluetooth gamepad also works.

Cheats

Press the magic wand button next to the full screen button above the game. A small panel opens over the game, and the game waits until you close it.

• Always the long piece: every next piece is the straight I piece, perfect for practising Tetrises.
• Slow falling: pieces fall at the level 0 speed, one row every 48 frames, on every level. The score still counts your real level.

Reloading the page turns the cheats off again.

Scoring

Points for clearing lines are multiplied by the level number plus one:

• 1 line: 40 points
• 2 lines: 100 points
• 3 lines: 300 points
• 4 lines (a Tetris): 1,200 points

So a Tetris on level 9 is worth 12,000 points. Pieces fall one row every 48 frames on level 0 and every 6 frames on level 9, and the speed keeps rising after that. On the level screen, hold A (X on a keyboard) while you press Start to begin ten levels higher.

About NES Tetris

Tetris was created by Alexey Pajitnov in Moscow in 1984. Nintendo’s NES version came out in North America in 1989 and became the standard for competitive classic Tetris. Its A-Type music, the Russian folk song Korobeiniki, is one of the most recognised tunes in gaming.

Frequently asked questions

Is Tetris free to play here?

Yes. You can play it free in your browser on Yes This Game, with no download and no sign-up.

What is a Tetris?

Clearing four lines at once with the long I piece. It is worth 1,200 points times the level plus one.

What is the difference between A-Type and B-Type?

A-Type goes on until the stack reaches the top. B-Type asks you to clear 25 lines, optionally starting with a messy stack of blocks.

Can I play Tetris on my phone?

Yes. On a phone or tablet an on-screen pad appears under the game.

Can I save my game?

Yes. The bar under the game has save state and load state buttons that keep the game in your browser on this device.