Tetris Forever
| Tetris Forever | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Digital Eclipse |
| Publisher(s) | Digital Eclipse[1] |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | November 12, 2024 |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Tetris Forever is a 2024 video game compilation and interactive documentary developed by Digital Eclipse. Released in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Tetris, the compilation includes over fifteen different versions of Tetris, including the new game Tetris Time Warp. It released for the Atari VCS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on November 12, 2024.
The game is part of Digital Eclipse's Gold Master Series of interactive documentaries, which are presented as a historical timeline, featuring interviews with key people in the development of Tetris such as Alexey Pajitnov and Henk Rogers, alongside several playable games.
Content
[edit]Tetris Forever is third entry in Digital Eclipse's Gold Master Series of documentary video game hybrid releases, following The Making of Karateka (2023) and Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story (2024).[2][3] As with other releases, the games are presented in a digital museum format, divided into five distinct timelines.[3][4][5] These feature photographs, interviews, scans of original advertisements, and 90 minutes of documentary footage about the history of Tetris and the key players involved such as Alexey Pajitnov and Henk Rogers.[3][4][5]
Tetris Forever includes several different Tetris games. These include a recreation of Alexey Pajitnov's version of Tetris for the Electronika 60, the 1988 Apple II version developed by Spectrum Holobyte, and several other Tetris titles developed by Bullet-Proof Software between 1988 and 1998, some of which have never been released outside of Japan.[3][6][7] A new game included in the compilation is Tetris Time Warp, which supports up to four players, alternating between gameplay styles across the series in real time as they complete each board.[4]
Games
[edit]The following games are included in Tetris Forever:[6][8][9][10]
| Title | Electronika 60 | MS-DOS | Apple II | Famicom | NES | Game Boy | Super Famicom | Game Boy Color | Other | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tetris | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
|
| Tetris | — | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
|
| Igo: Kyuu Roban Taikyoku | — | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tetris | — | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | — |
|
| Tetris | — | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Hatris | — | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | |
| Tetris 2 + BomBliss | — | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Super Tetris 2 + BomBliss | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | — | — | |
| Super Tetris 2 + BomBliss Genteiban | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | — | — | |
| Tetris Battle Gaiden | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | — | — | |
| Super Tetris 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | — | — | |
| Super Bombliss | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | Yes | — | — | |
| Super Bombliss DX | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | — | |
| Tetris Time Warp | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | Original game created for Tetris Forever |
Development
[edit]Tetris Forever was developed by Digital Eclipse.[3][4][5] It was first announced during a Nintendo Direct stream on August 27, 2024.[4] In October, Digital Eclipse revealed that the MS-DOS versions of Tetris by AcademySoft and Spectrum HoloByte would be included in the release. Chris Kohler, the games editorial director, said these additions involved "a lot of work went into being able to make this simple announcement."[9]
Release and reception
[edit]| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (NS) 84/100[11] (PS5) 82/100[11] (PC) 81/100[11] (XBXS) 91/100[11] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Eurogamer | 4/5[12] |
| Nintendo Life | 8/10[5] |
| Nintendo World Report | 9.5/10[13] |
| Push Square | 9/10[14] |
| Video Games Chronicle | 5/5[1] |
Tetris Forever released on November 12, 2024 for the Atari VCS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and for PC through Steam and GOG.[3][15][16][17] The release is in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the original Tetris.[15]
Critics commented on the documentary portion of the Tetris Forever, with Ollie Reynolds of NintendoLife saying it was "certainly the best breakdown of the franchise's creation and evolution so far."[5] Christian Donlan of Eurogamer wrote that the best parts of Tetris Forever was when its documentary "steps away from the familiar story, the familiar falling shapes, the familiar talking heads and talking points, and makes Tetris feel really weird again."[12]
Willem Hilhorst of Nintendo World Report complimented the emulation of the games, noting that they even captured the slow down of the original versions.[13] Critics generally found the game lacked some key titles to play, such as Tetris (1989) for the Game Boy.[12][13][14]
In December 2024, Tetris Forever was nominated for a 2025 British Academy Games Award for Game Beyond Entertainment, an award for video games which "raise awareness through empathy and emotional impact, to engage with real world problems, or to make the world a better place."[18]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Scullion 2024b.
- ^ Scullion 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Romano 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Axon 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Reynolds 2024c.
- ^ a b Romano 2024b.
- ^ Reynolds 2024.
- ^ Reynolds 2024b.
- ^ a b Hagues 2024.
- ^ Franzese 2024.
- ^ a b c d Metacritic.
- ^ a b c Donlan 2024.
- ^ a b c Hilhorst 2024.
- ^ a b Talbot 2024.
- ^ a b Purslow 2024.
- ^ Tailby 2024b.
- ^ White 2024.
- ^ DeSena 2024.
Sources
[edit]- "Tetris Forever". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- Axon, Samuel (August 27, 2024). "Tetris Forever includes 15 Classic Versions Alongside Documentary Footage". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- DeSena, Gabby (December 11, 2024). "The 2025 BAFTA Games Awards: All Nominations". ESports Illustrated. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
- Donlan, Christian (November 11, 2024). "Tetris Forever Review - The History and Spirit of the Eternal Game". Eurogamer. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- Franzese, Tomas (November 11, 2024). "Tetris Forever is an Excellent Documentary, but a Disjointed Game Collection". Digital Trends. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- Hagues, Alana (October 30, 2024). "Digital Eclipse's 'Tetris Forever' to Include 2 MS-DOS Games". NintendoLife. Archived from the original on October 31, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024 – via Archive.today.
- Hilhorst, Willem (November 11, 2024). "Tetris Forever (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- Purslow, Matt (August 27, 2024). "Tetris Forever, a Collection of Tetris History, Announced for Nintendo Switch". IGN. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- Reynolds, Ollie (August 27, 2024). "'Tetris Forever' Compiles More Than 15 Titles in a New Interactive Documentary". NintendoLife. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- Reynolds, Ollie (October 10, 2024). "14 Games in the Upcoming 'Tetris Forever' Compilation Have Been Confirmed". NintendoLife. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
- Reynolds, Ollie (November 11, 2024). "Tetris Forever Review (Switch eShop)". NintendoLife. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- Romano, Sal (August 27, 2024). "Tetris Forever Announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- Romano, Sal (October 10, 2024). "Tetris Forever Games List Announced". Gematsu. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
- Scullion, Chris (August 27, 2024). "Digital Eclipse is Releasing a Tetris Collection Called Tetris Forever". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- Scullion, Chris (November 11, 2024). "Tetris Forever is a Masterful Celebration of One of the Medium's Most Seminal Series". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- Tailby, Stephen (August 27, 2024). "Tetris Forever Brings Over 15 Versions Together in PS5, PS4 Retro Collection". Push Square. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- Tailby, Stephen (October 15, 2024). "Retro Collection Tetris Forever Fast Drops onto PS5, PS4 in November". Push Square. Gamer Network. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- Talbot, Ken (November 11, 2024). "Mini Review: Tetris Forever (PS5) - Explore 40 Years of Tetris in Digital Eclipse's Best Collection Yet". Push Square. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- White, Lucas (November 11, 2024). "Tetris Forever Review: A Story 40 Years in the Making". Shacknews. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
