Tetris has always been that timeless classic you can jump into at any moment and not want to put down. This universal appeal is brilliantly captured in Digital Eclipse’s latest offering, Tetris Forever. The game takes you on a journey through Tetris’s history, starting from Alexey Pajitnov’s original idea, exploding into a Game Boy phenomenon, and evolving further. Unlike the dramatic take seen in the 2023 Tetris movie, this experience serves as an enlightening dive into a vibrant chapter of gaming history.
Tetris Forever marks the third entry in the developer’s Gold Master series, following the likes of The Making of Karateka and Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story. Visually styled like a digital museum, you’re treated to interactive timelines that guide you through the series’ progression. At each step, you’ll find high-resolution images of original documents, software, and hardware. The experience is enriched with interviews and archival footage that provide insights into the game’s development and licensing.
Tetris’s own tale mirrors the innovations and complexities in the gaming sphere of the 1980s, especially the maze-like path to discover and license new hits. Within the game’s coverage of Henk Rogers, one of the co-founders, there’s an exploration of how Japanese RPGs came to be. Rogers cleverly used his board game Go skills (shown here in its Famicom version) to build connections with Nintendo’s key figures, helping to clinch the rights for Tetris on handheld devices in Moscow. The collection presents these insights and many more, offering a rich tapestry of information.
What some may overlook is that the Gold Master series gifts us with games as well, offered through immaculate and customizable emulation. Certain titles are noticeably absent, like the iconic Game Boy version, which only gets a brief nod later in the museum experience. Due to various licensing issues, some crossover titles are also not included. However, NES and Game Boy Color games, along with several other PC and console iterations, do make an appearance. It’s a treat to dive into some lesser-known gems, like the addictive Hatris or Japan’s take with Bombliss.
There are two standout titles within this collection. First is a stunning recreation of Pajitnov’s original Electronika 60 prototype. Its wireframe visuals paired with simple sound effects create a surprisingly serene experience.
Then there’s Tetris Time Warp, a new addition that lets you journey through each epoch of the Tetris saga using unique warp blocks. To truly appreciate this 2024 rendition, take in all the parts of this collection first; only then will you fully grasp the adventurous routes where these Time Warp Tetriminos can lead you.
