Game guide
NES Tetris Speed by Level and How Scoring Works
Key takeaways
- On level 0 a piece drops one row every 48 frames (0.8 s); on level 9 every 6 frames; from level 29 on, every single frame.
- We read the 30-number speed table straight out of the NES cartridge, at address $898E.
- Lines score 40, 100, 300 or 1,200 points, multiplied by the level number plus one.
- Holding A while you press Start on the level screen begins ten levels higher.
In NES Tetris a piece drops one row every 48 frames on level 0, about 0.8 seconds, and gets faster with every level: 6 frames on level 9, 3 frames on levels 16 to 18, 2 frames from level 19 and a single frame from level 29. We did not copy those numbers from a fan site. We opened the cartridge of NES Tetris and read the game’s own speed table, then checked it in the running game. Below are the speeds for every level, how scoring works, and what the numbers mean when you play.
The speed of every level
The NES draws 60 frames a second. Each level has a number of frames that a piece waits before it falls one row. Fewer frames means faster pieces.
| Level | Frames per row | Seconds per row | Top to bottom (20 rows) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 48 | 0.80 | 16.0 s |
| 1 | 43 | 0.72 | 14.3 s |
| 2 | 38 | 0.63 | 12.7 s |
| 3 | 33 | 0.55 | 11.0 s |
| 4 | 28 | 0.47 | 9.3 s |
| 5 | 23 | 0.38 | 7.7 s |
| 6 | 18 | 0.30 | 6.0 s |
| 7 | 13 | 0.22 | 4.3 s |
| 8 | 8 | 0.13 | 2.7 s |
| 9 | 6 | 0.10 | 2.0 s |
| 10 to 12 | 5 | 0.083 | 1.7 s |
| 13 to 15 | 4 | 0.067 | 1.3 s |
| 16 to 18 | 3 | 0.050 | 1.0 s |
| 19 to 28 | 2 | 0.033 | 0.67 s |
| 29 and up | 1 | 0.017 | 0.33 s |
Look at the jump between level 8 and level 9: the drop from 8 frames to 6 is small on paper, but it is the last step where most people can still move a piece across the whole well by holding the arrow. The first eight levels speed up in even steps of 5 frames. After level 9 the table changes only every few levels, which is why levels 10 to 18 feel like long plateaus.
How we read the speeds
The speeds are not calculated by a formula. The game keeps a table of 30 numbers, one per level from 0 to 29, at address $898E in its program. We found the table in the cartridge data: 48, 43, 38, 33, 28, 23, 18, 13, 8, 6, then 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, then ten 2s and a final 1. Levels above 29 keep using the last number.
To check that the game really uses that table, we patched the instruction that reads it so it always reads the level 0 entry, the same change our Slow falling cheat makes. On level 9 the pieces then fell at the level 0 speed, one row every 48 frames, while the score still counted level 9.
How scoring works
Points for clearing lines depend on how many lines you clear at once and on your level:
| Lines at once | Base points | On level 0 | On level 9 | On level 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (single) | 40 | 40 | 400 | 760 |
| 2 (double) | 100 | 100 | 1,000 | 1,900 |
| 3 (triple) | 300 | 300 | 3,000 | 5,700 |
| 4 (Tetris) | 1,200 | 1,200 | 12,000 | 22,800 |
The base points are multiplied by the level number plus one. A Tetris is worth 30 singles, so clearing four lines at a time scores more than seven times as much as clearing the same lines one by one. Holding down to push a piece faster also adds a few bonus points.
Levels and the A + Start trick
- The level goes up every 10 lines.
- If you start on a higher level, the first level-up waits longer. Start on level 9 and it comes after 100 lines, then every 10 lines again.
- On the level screen, hold A while you press Start to begin ten levels higher. Level 9 plus A becomes level 19.
- B-Type is different: you clear 25 lines on one level, with an optional height of junk blocks at the start.
Tips for the faster levels
Keep one column open
Build the stack flat and leave the left or right column empty. When the long I piece comes, drop it in for a Tetris.
Turn before you move
Turn the piece first, then slide it. On fast levels there is time for only a few moves before the piece lands.
Learn the auto-shift
Holding left or right moves the piece once, waits a moment, then repeats. From level 19 on, a held arrow is barely fast enough to reach the edge of the well before the piece lands, so top players tap the button very quickly instead, a technique called hypertapping.
Watch the next piece
The box on the right shows the next piece. Plan where it goes while the current one falls. Select hides or shows it.
Play NES Tetris on Yes This Game
Tetris runs free in your browser, with the keyboard, a gamepad or the on-screen pad on phones. X turns right, Z turns left, the arrows move and drop. The magic wand button next to full screen opens two optional cheats: Always the long piece, to practise Tetrises, and Slow falling, which keeps the level 0 speed on every level.
Frequently asked questions
How fast is level 0 in NES Tetris?
A piece drops one row every 48 frames, about 0.8 seconds, so it takes roughly 16 seconds to fall from the top of the well to the bottom.
Why is level 29 called the kill screen?
From level 29 on, pieces fall one row every frame, 60 rows a second. They reach the bottom in a third of a second, too fast to move them across the well by tapping normally.
How many points is a Tetris worth?
1,200 points times the level number plus one. On level 9 that is 12,000 points; on level 18 it is 22,800.
How do I start NES Tetris on a higher level?
On the level screen, hold A (X on a keyboard on Yes This Game) and press Start. You begin ten levels above the one you picked, up to level 19.
When does the level go up?
Every 10 lines. If you start on a higher level, the first level-up comes later: starting on level 9, it comes after 100 lines.
Can I play NES Tetris online?
Yes, free in your browser on Yes This Game, with optional cheats for the long piece and slow falling.