Tetris was invented by Russian programmer Alexey Pajitnov on June 6, 1984, while working at the Soviet Academy of Sciences Computer Center. The game was inspired by Pentomino, a puzzle game Pajitnov enjoyed as a child. He digitized this classic puzzle concept, creating what would become a globally popular video game.
The name "Tetris" comes from the Greek numerical prefix "tetra" (meaning "four"), since all pieces in the game are made of four squares, combined with the suffix from Pajitnov's favorite sport, "tennis." Together, they form "Tetris."
Initially, Tetris spread rapidly among computer scientists and programmers in the Soviet Union. During the Cold War era, the game spread through floppy disk copying to Eastern European countries. In 1985, the game was ported to IBM PC and subsequently reached Western countries.
1989 was a pivotal year in Tetris history. Nintendo acquired handheld rights and included it as a launch title for the Game Boy. This decision became one of the most successful marketing strategies in gaming history - Tetris and Game Boy mutually elevated each other to phenomenal status. In the US alone, the Game Boy version sold over 35 million copies.
Due to the Soviet political system at the time, copyright issues were extremely complex. Multiple companies claimed distribution rights, triggering a series of legal disputes. Eventually, ELORG, the Soviet state software export agency, obtained the copyright and licensed it to various international game companies. Pajitnov himself didn't begin profiting from the game until 1996.
Entering the 21st century, Tetris continued launching new versions across various platforms, including mobile devices, social networks, VR devices, and more. In 2019, Apple prominently featured "Tetris Beat" at an iPhone launch event, once again demonstrating the classic game's enduring appeal.
In 2023, the film "Tetris" was released, telling the legendary story of the game's copyright battles and bringing this game's history to a wider audience.
Tetris is one of the best-selling video games of all time, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide (across all platforms). It has been translated into over 50 languages and has hundreds of millions of players globally.
The game has attracted widespread interest from psychologists and neuroscientists. Research findings include:
Tetris has evolved into an official esports discipline. Tetris championships are regularly held worldwide, with professional players demonstrating incredible speed and skill. In 2018, a player became the first to reach the "kill screen" (game's extreme level) on the classic NES version of Tetris, a feat that stunned the gaming community.
The game's music, particularly the Type A theme (adapted from the Russian folk song "Korobeiniki"), has become part of popular culture, being remixed and performed countless times. The game's block elements have been widely used in various artistic creations, architectural designs, and fashion designs.
Simple, intuitive rules allow players of any age to quickly start playing without complex tutorials.
While rules are simple, achieving high scores requires precise strategy and quick reflexes.
As levels increase, game pace continuously accelerates, providing ever-growing challenges.
Each game is a unique experience, with randomly generated block sequences ensuring no repetition.
Perfectly compatible with computers, phones, tablets and other devices - play anytime, anywhere.
Clean interface design and comfortable color scheme provide an excellent visual experience.
We provide a completely free online Tetris game with no software or app downloads required. Just open your browser and start playing immediately. No in-app purchases, no ad interruptions - pure gaming experience.
We faithfully recreate the core gameplay of classic Tetris, including:
Whether you use a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or phone, you'll get the optimal gaming experience. We've optimized for different screen sizes:
The website offers both Chinese and English versions for players of different languages. Easily switch using the language toggle button in the bottom right corner of any page.
The game interface clearly displays current score, level, lines cleared, and other key data. It also previews the next block to help you develop better strategies.
Tetris isn't just entertainment - it's an excellent brain training tool. Regular play can:
From 6-year-old children to 80-year-old seniors, Tetris is suitable for all ages. It's one of the few games that truly achieves "easy to learn, hard to master."
Waiting for the bus, taking a break, work intervals... Just a few minutes is enough to complete a game, relaxing your mind while exercising your brain.
40 years have passed, and Tetris still maintains vigorous vitality. Its success proves that excellent game design can transcend eras, cross borders, and stand the test of time.
💡 Fun Fact: Tetris was the first video game in space! In 1993, Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Serebrov brought a Game Boy with Tetris to the Mir space station and played it in zero gravity.
If you encounter any issues or have suggestions and comments, please contact us through the following methods:
This website is a non-commercial online version of Tetris, aiming to let more people experience this classic game. The game concept and gameplay belong to the public domain, and our code is an original implementation.
Now that you understand Tetris's history and appeal, don't hesitate! Start playing immediately, join hundreds of millions of players worldwide, push your limits, and create your own high score records!