The classic title, known to many for its iconic shapes, Tetris has lasted in the hearts and minds of gamers worldwide for nearly 34 years, with good reason. Many games boast a powerful and moving storyline. Others may detail an immersive role playing experience. Some rely on complex game mechanics. Not Tetris. This classic video game’s simplistic design examples the effectiveness of simplicity. Some players may view simplicity as a bad quality, however Tetris is far from inane.

Beginning with the name, Tetris, ‘tetra’ is the prefix for four which is an important digit in the game. The gameplay consists of orienting and placing blocks called Tetrominoes into a space to form rows. Each block consists of four small squares, and so the most rows that can be formed in one move is four. Thus, Tetris. This gameplay may seem boring; however, it accelerates with the player, keeping gameplay interesting.

Aesthetically, the game appeals in more than one way. The game is colorful–each Tetromino can be recognized by a consistent color. They also lie against a dark background, keeping the focus centered on the action.

Tetris can be found on a multitude of platforms including most smartphones, the Game Boy, computer browsers, Playstations, etc. Not only is the original tetris found on many platforms, but new games often take a page from the Tetris book. The stacking blocks can be found in games like Dr. Mario for the NES in 1990 to Tricky Towers from 2016 on ps4.

Tetris is a classic and has been a beloved game for decades. I’d highly recommend fitting this title in.