Tetris 99

' is an online version of the tile-matching video game ''Tetris'', developed by Arika, and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch in February 2019. The software is free, but only to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. Incorporating elements of the battle royale genre, ''Tetris 99'' has up to 99 players competing simultaneously to complete rows with falling tetrominoes, which in turn send attacks in the form of "garbage rows" to other players with the goal of knocking them out of the game.

Arika would later develop similar games called '' Super Mario Bros. 35'' and ''Pac-Man 99'', which instead involve the games ''Super Mario Bros.'' and ''Pac-Man'', respectively. The former also allowed up to a maximum of 35 players.

Similar games include ''Columns'' (SEGA’s 1990 attempt at competing with Tetris) and ''Super Puzzle Fighter'' (a puzzle game involving diamonds and uses the Street Fighter characters as players).

Gameplay

''Tetris 99'' is a multiplayer puzzle game in which 99 players play against each other at the same time, with the aim to be the last player remaining. As with the traditional ''Tetris'' formula, players rotate and drop shaped bricks known as tetrominoes onto a board. Players can clear tetrominoes by completing rows across both sides, whereas players will lose if tetrominoes overflow off the top of the board. As with modern ''Tetris'' rules, players have the option to store a tetromino piece to swap out at any time. By clearing multiple lines or performing continuous line clears in a row, players can send "garbage" to other players, which will appear on their board unless they can quickly clear lines in response. More garbage can be sent by completing combination moves in succession of making a "tetris" (matching 4 lines at once) or performing a "T-spin" (squeezing the T-shaped tetromino into a position it would otherwise not fall into by rapidly rotating it).

During gameplay, small grids representing the other 98 players are displayed at the sides of the main board. Players can either choose to target individual players, or have the computer automatically target other players based on one of four criteria: random players, those who are targeting the player, those who are close to being defeated, and those who possess badges. Badges are earned by knocking out a player with garbage (or gray lines), which earns them a piece of a badge, along with any other badges or pieces that player had. The more badges a player completes and possesses, the more lines they can send to other players at a time (up to a 100% boost). At the end of a game, players will earn experience that will increase their level. The game periodically features special "" events; one of the first Maximus Cups was held in March 2019 where players with the top number of wins over a weekend play period would win rewards within the My Nintendo loyalty program. Many of these events offer players the opportunity to earn special in-game themes based on other Nintendo Switch games.

In May 2019, Nintendo released paid downloadable content (DLC) for the game, named the Big Block DLC. The DLC adds 4 offline modes in total: CPU Battle, where players battle 98 bot players; Marathon, where players play an endless game of ''Tetris'', and challenged to achieve the highest score; Local Arena, where up to eight Nintendo Switch players play in the same arena via local wireless; and Two Player Share Battle, where two players share Joy-Con and play the same game in local co-op.

Development

''Tetris 99'' was announced during a Nintendo Direct presentation on February 13, 2019, and made available later that day. It is available for free exclusively to players who have subscribed to the Nintendo Switch Online service. Nintendo released a physical version of the game in Japan on August 9, 2019, in North America on September 6, 2019, and in Europe on September 20, 2019. The physical edition includes the Big Block DLC content and a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online voucher.

Reception

Upon release, ''Tetris 99'' received "generally favourable reviews" according to the review aggregator Metacritic. According to ''IGN'' Tetris 99 is a "wondrous pandemonium in a battle royale bottle" and that "the massive player count really ups the intensity." ''The Telegraph'' said the game is "fiercer than Fortnite" and "as exciting and cutthroat as any video game deathmatch."

During a financial results briefing, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa reported that ''Tetris 99'' had been played by over 2.8 million accounts as of April 2019. Furukawa also noted that the game has boosted "user engagement" with the Nintendo Switch.

Alexey Pajitnov, the creator of the original ''Tetris'', stated that he, "love the game" and called it, "one of the best games of ''Tetris'' of the last year. I really like what was done."

Awards

Notes

References

External links

*

''Tetris'' website

{{Tetris

2019 video games
Arika games
Nintendo games
Nintendo Switch games
Nintendo Switch-only games
Puzzle video games
Battle royale games
Video games developed in Japan
Tetris