History of Tetris in Timeline
Tetris, created by Alexey Pajitnov in 1985, is a puzzle video game where players manipulate falling tetrominoes to create complete horizontal lines. Successfully completed lines disappear, awarding points and shifting remaining blocks downward. Over time, various Tetris versions have introduced new mechanics that have been widely adopted. It has appeared on PC, console and mobile platforms.
June 1984: Inspiration for Tetris
In June 1984, Alexey Pajitnov became inspired to convert pentomino tiling puzzles to the computer after he bought a pentomino puzzle set.
November 1985: Tetris Competition
In November 1985, Tetris reportedly won second place in a computer game competition in Zelenodolsk.
1985: First Version of Tetris Completed
Alexey Pajitnov completed the first version of Tetris around 1985. It lacked a scoring system and levels, but it captivated his peers.
1985: Psychological effects of Tetris recognized
Around 1985, Soviet clinical psychologist Vladimir Pokhilko first scientifically recognized the psychological and addictive effects of Tetris.
1985: Tetris Created
In 1985, Alexey Pajitnov, a Soviet software engineer, created Tetris, a puzzle video game involving moving tetrominoes to fill horizontal lines. Completed lines disappear, granting points, and blocks move down.
June 1986: Robert Stein Sees Commercial Potential
In June 1986, Robert Stein of Andromeda Software saw the commercial potential of Tetris during a visit to Hungary.
1986: Tetris Spreads Through Moscow
By 1986, nearly everyone with an IBM computer in Moscow and similar cities had played Tetris, marking its widespread popularity.
1987: Agreements Signed for European and American Rights
In 1987, Robert Stein signed agreements at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, selling the European rights to Mirrorsoft and the American rights to Spectrum HoloByte.
January 27, 1988: Mirrorsoft Version Released in Europe
On January 27, 1988, the Mirrorsoft version of Tetris was released in Europe for the IBM PC and other computer systems.
January 29, 1988: Spectrum HoloByte Version Released
On January 29, 1988, the Spectrum HoloByte version of Tetris was released.
February 24, 1988: Agreement Reached with Elorg
On February 24, 1988, Robert Stein reached an agreement with Elorg for a ten-year worldwide Tetris license.
March 1988: Tetris Wins Awards
In March 1988, Tetris won multiple awards at the Software Publishers Association's Excellence in Software Awards ceremony, including Best Entertainment Software.
November 1988: Rogers Contacts Stein for Handheld Rights
In November 1988, Henk Rogers contacted Robert Stein to obtain the handheld rights to Tetris for the Game Boy.
1988: Tetris inducted into Macworld Game Hall of Fame
In 1988, Macworld inducted Tetris into the Macworld Game Hall of Fame in the Best Strategy Game category.
1988: Commercial Success and Licensing
In 1988, Mirrorsoft and Spectrum HoloByte commercially released Tetris to great success and sold licenses to other companies. Henk Rogers, among others, obtained licenses during this time.
1988: Licensing to Other Companies
In 1988, Spectrum HoloByte and Mirrorsoft started licensing Tetris to other companies, including Henk Rogers' Bullet-Proof Software and Atari Games.
February 1989: Rogers Negotiates with Elorg
In February 1989, Henk Rogers traveled to the Soviet Union and negotiated with Elorg for the rights to Tetris for the Game Boy.
March 1989: Nintendo Sends Cease and Desist
In March 1989, Nintendo sent a cease and desist to Atari Games concerning their production of Tetris for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
June 14, 1989: Game Boy Version Released in Japan
On June 14, 1989, the Game Boy version of Tetris was released in Japan.
June 15, 1989: Legal Battle Begins
On June 15, 1989, Nintendo and Atari Games began a legal battle in the courts of San Francisco over the rights to Tetris on the NES.
June 21, 1989: Nintendo Wins Preliminary Injunction
On June 21, 1989, Judge Fern M. Smith ruled in Nintendo's favor, granting them a preliminary injunction against Atari Games, halting their sale of Tetris for the NES.
July 31, 1989: Game Boy Version Released in the US
On July 31, 1989, the Game Boy version of Tetris was released in the United States as a pack-in game.
1989: Nintendo Licenses Tetris
In 1989, Henk Rogers negotiated with Elektronorgtechnica to license Tetris to Nintendo for the Game Boy and Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
1989: Spectrum HoloByte version wins Software Publishers Association awards
In 1989, The Spectrum HoloByte version of Tetris won three Software Publishers Association Excellence in Software Awards, including Best Entertainment Program and the Critic's Choice Award for consumers. Computer Gaming World also gave Tetris the 1989 Compute! Choice Award for Arcade Game.
January 1990: Pajitnov visits the Consumer Electronics Show
In January 1990, Pajitnov was invited by Spectrum HoloByte to the Consumer Electronics Show, marking his first experience with American life. He then traveled to Las Vegas, San Francisco, New York City and Boston. He engaged in interviews with several hosts, including the directors of Nintendo of America, and spoke often of his travels to his colleagues upon returning to the Soviet Union.
1990: Dr. Mario and Columns released
In 1990, Nintendo's Dr. Mario and Sega's Columns were released, influenced by Tetris.
1990: Welltris and Hatris released
In 1990, Pajitnov released Welltris, where players adjust geometrical pieces descending down one of four walls of a three-dimensional well, and Hatris, which replaced descending tetrominoes with hats.
1991: Tetris named eighth-greatest game by Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly named Tetris the eighth-greatest game available in 1991.
1991: Collapse of the Soviet Union
Following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, Elorg became a private company under Belikov.
1991: Puyo Puyo released
In 1991, Compile's Puyo Puyo was released, influenced by Tetris.
1991: Pajitnov emigrates to Seattle, Faces...Tris III and Super Tetris released
In 1991, Pajitnov and his family emigrated to Seattle, United States. Also in 1991, Faces...tris III was released, and won the "Best Action/Arcade Program" in the 1991 Excellence in Software Awards. Spectrum Holobyte's Super Tetris was also released in 1991.
1991: Ranked among best computer games by PC Format
In 1991, Tetris was ranked among the best computer games by PC Format.
1992: Tetris is statistically doomed to end
In 1992, John Brzustowski at the University of British Columbia wrote a thesis concluding that Tetris is statistically doomed to end because a sufficiently large sequence of alternating S and Z tetrominoes forces the player to leave holes, leading to the end of the game.
1992: Eurodance cover of "Korobeiniki" peaks in UK charts
In 1992, a Eurodance cover of the Russian folk song "Korobeiniki" (associated with Tetris) by Doctor Spin peaked at number six in the UK single charts.
1992: Tetris used in cognitive assessment research
Starting with the research of American psychologist Richard J. Haier in 1992, Tetris has been frequently used as a form of cognitive assessment and neuroimaging.
1993: Tetris Battle Gaiden and Tetris 2 released
In 1993, Bullet-Proof Software released Tetris Battle Gaiden, and Nintendo released Tetris 2.
1994: "Tetris effect" term coined
In 1994, Jeffrey Goldsmith coined the term "Tetris effect" in an article for Wired, comparing Tetris to an "electronic drug".
1994: Puzzle Bobble released
In 1994, Taito's Puzzle Bobble was released, influenced by Tetris.
1995: Rights to Tetris revert back to Pajitnov
At the end of 1995, the Academy of Sciences' rights to Tetris expired, reverting back to Pajitnov. Rogers was recruited to secure his rights.
1995: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Flux
In 1995, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Flux.
1996: Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo released
In 1996, Capcom's Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo was released, influenced by Tetris.
1996: Tetris Plus Release
In 1996, Tetris Plus was released, adding new game modes to the franchise.
1996: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Next Generation and ranked among best computer games by Computer Gaming World
In 1996, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Next Generation. Tetris was also ranked among the best computer games by Computer Gaming World in 1996.
1996: Pajitnov Forms the Tetris Company
In 1996, after the rights reverted to Alexey Pajitnov, he and Henk Rogers formed the Tetris Company to manage licensing of the game.
1996: The Tetris Company Maintains Standard Specifications
Since 1996, the Tetris Company maintains standard specifications for authorized versions of Tetris known as the Tetris Guidelines.
August 11, 1997: Tetrisphere Released
On August 11, 1997, Tetrisphere was released, a game where players rotate a three-dimensional sphere to place pieces on its surface. It was the first puzzle video game on the Nintendo 64 and garnered a cult following.
1997: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Electronic Gaming Monthly
In 1997, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Electronic Gaming Monthly.
1998: Tetris 64, Tetris DX, The Next Tetris, and Tetris: The Grand Master Released
In 1998, multiple new Tetris titles were released, including Tetris 64, Tetris DX, The Next Tetris, and Tetris: The Grand Master. Tetris 64 allowed for four players and utilized the Nintendo 64's Bio Sensor. Tetris: The Grand Master was an arcade game targeted toward experienced players.
1999: Inducted into the Computer Gaming World "Hall of Fame"
In 1999, Tetris was inducted into the "Hall of Fame" of Computer Gaming World.
1999: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Next Generation
In 1999, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Next Generation.
1999: The New Tetris introduces the Hold Feature
In 1999, The New Tetris introduced the hold feature, which allows players to hold tetrominoes to swap with later pieces.
2000: Bejeweled released
In 2000, PopCap Games' Bejeweled was released, influenced by Tetris.
2000: Inducted into the GameSpy "Hall of Fame"
In 2000, Tetris was inducted into the "Hall of Fame" of GameSpy.
2000: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by GameSpot
In 2000, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by GameSpot.
2001: Tetris Worlds introduces Easy Spin and Super Rotation System
In 2001, Tetris Worlds introduced the easy spin and the super rotation system, which defines how pieces rotate.
2001: Tetris first ported to mobile devices
In 2001, Tetris was first ported to mobile devices by G-Mode.
2001: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Game Informer
In 2001, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Game Informer.
2001: Offline Tetris objectives are NP-complete
In 2001, a group of MIT researchers proved that for the "offline" version of Tetris (where the player knows the complete sequence of pieces), achieving certain objectives are NP-complete.
2001: Tetris Worlds Introduces Super Rotation System and Infinite Spin
In 2001, the super rotation system and infinite spin were introduced in Tetris Worlds.
2002: Rogers Forms Blue Lava Wireless
In 2002, Rogers formed Blue Lava Wireless to develop Tetris games for mobile platforms.
2003: Inducted into the GameSpot "Hall of Fame"
In 2003, Tetris was inducted into the "Hall of Fame" of GameSpot.
April 2005: JAMDAT acquires Blue Lava Wireless
In April 2005, JAMDAT acquired Blue Lava Wireless, granting them a 15-year license of Tetris for mobile platforms.
December 2005: Electronic Arts starts acquisition of JAMDAT
In December 2005, Electronic Arts started its acquisition of JAMDAT, as Tetris consistently sold well on American carrier phones.
2005: Rogers acquires Elorg and renames it Tetris Holding
In 2005, Rogers acquired Elorg and renamed it Tetris Holding, solidifying control over the Tetris brand.
2005: Mobile versions of Tetris reach 100 million downloads since 2005
In January 2010, it was announced that mobile versions of Tetris since 2005 had reached 100 million paid downloads.
February 2006: EA completes acquisition of JAMDAT
In February 2006, Electronic Arts completed its acquisition of JAMDAT, granting it the mobile license for Tetris.
September 11, 2006: EA Mobile releases first Tetris game for iPod 5G
On September 11, 2006, EA Mobile released their first Tetris game as a launch title for the iTunes store on iPod 5G.
2006: Tetris DS introduces new scoring system
In 2006, Tetris DS introduced a new scoring system to the game.
2006: Ranked among the best video game franchises by IGN
In 2006, Tetris was ranked among the best video game franchises by IGN.
2006: Tetris DS Release
Since the release of Tetris DS in 2006, the scoring system has remained mostly consistent with some exceptions.
2007: Inducted into the IGN "Hall of Fame" and included in the game canon by Stanford University
In 2007, Tetris was inducted into the "Hall of Fame" of IGN and listed as part of the game canon by Henry Lowood of Stanford University, for preservation by the Library of Congress.
2007: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by IGN and most influential by GamePro and IGN
In 2007, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by IGN and among the most influential games of all time by GamePro and IGN.
July 10, 2008: EA releases Tetris on the Apple App Store
On July 10, 2008, EA released their version of Tetris on the Apple App Store on iOS.
2009: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Game Informer
In 2009, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Game Informer.
January 2010: EA's Mobile Versions Reach 100 Million Paid Downloads
By January 2010, EA's mobile versions of Tetris reached 100 million paid downloads, making Tetris the most popular mobile game of all time.
January 2010: Mobile versions of Tetris reach 100 million downloads
In January 2010, EA Mobile and Blue Planet Software announced that mobile versions of Tetris since 2005 had reached 100 million paid downloads, making it most-downloaded mobile game at the time.
October 2010: Tetris recognized as the most ported video game
In October 2010, Guinness World Records recognized Tetris as the most ported video game in history, with over 200 variants on over 65 platforms.
2010: Ranked among the most influential games of all time by 1Up.com
In 2010, Tetris was ranked among the most influential games of all time by 1Up.com.
2010: Inaugural Classic Tetris World Championship (CTWC)
In 2010, the inaugural Classic Tetris World Championship (CTWC) was held, and Jonas Neubauer won, which helped popularize competitive gameplay of Tetris.
2011: Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters documentary release
In 2011, the documentary Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters, was released, featuring Jonas Neubauer's 2010 CTWC victory and helped popularize competitive gameplay of Tetris.
November 2012: Acquired by the Museum of Modern Art
In November 2012, the Museum of Modern Art acquired Tetris, along with thirteen other video games, to display.
2012: Development of Tetris Effect Begins
Around 2012, development began on Tetris Effect following a discussion between Henk Rogers and Tetsuya Mizuguchi about creating a Tetris game set to music using virtual reality.
2012: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Time
In 2012, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Time.
2012: Tetris Holding, LLC v. Xio Interactive, Inc.
In 2012, The Tetris Company enforced its copyright of Tetris against unauthorized clones in the Tetris Holding, LLC v. Xio Interactive, Inc. case, where a judge ruled that Mino violated Tetris's copyright based on look and feel.
2013: Ranked among the most influential games of all time by GamesRadar+
In 2013, Tetris was ranked among the most influential games of all time by GamesRadar+.
January 2014: Maya Rogers succeeds Henk Rogers as CEO of Blue Planet Software
In January 2014, Maya Rogers succeeded Henk Rogers as the CEO of Blue Planet Software, planning activities for Tetris's 30th anniversary.
February 6, 2014: Puyo Puyo Tetris Released in Japan
On February 6, 2014, Sega released Puyo Puyo Tetris, a crossover between Tetris and Puyo Puyo, in Japan for multiple platforms. It sold over 60,000 copies within a week.
April 2014: Total mobile downloads and physical copies announced
In April 2014, Rogers announced that Tetris totaled 425 million paid mobile downloads and 70 million physical copies.
April 2014: Largest architectural video game display
In April 2014, Tetris earned a Guinness World Record for the "largest architectural video game display", hosted on the side of the 29-story Cira Center.
June 2014: Maya Rogers discusses the future of Tetris
In an interview in June 2014, Maya Rogers spoke of her desire to expand Tetris's brand, such as through merchandising, and keeping the game fresh.
December 2014: Tetris Ultimate released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
In December 2014, Ubisoft's Tetris Ultimate was released on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
2014: Tetris film adaptation announced
In 2014, Threshold Entertainment announced that it was developing a Tetris film adaptation, described as an epic sci-fi adventure and the first part of a trilogy.
December 2015: PC port of Tetris Ultimate released
In December 2015, a PC port of Tetris Ultimate was released, receiving mixed reviews.
2015: Inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame
As part of the 2015 inaugural class, The Strong National Museum of Play inducted Tetris into the World Video Game Hall of Fame.
2015: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by GamesRadar+
In 2015, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by GamesRadar+.
2016: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Time
In 2016, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Time.
2017: Number of Tetris variants increases
By 2017, the number of official Tetris variants had increased to 220.
2017: Puyo Puyo Tetris released in the Western world
In 2017, Puyo Puyo Tetris was released in the Western world, receiving positive reviews.
2017: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Polygon and ranked among the most influential games of all time by The Guardian
In 2017, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by Polygon and ranked among the most influential games of all time by The Guardian.
November 9, 2018: Tetris Effect Released on PlayStation 4
On November 9, 2018, Tetris Effect was released on the PlayStation 4, receiving widespread critical acclaim.
February 13, 2019: Tetris 99 Released
On February 13, 2019, Tetris 99, a battle royale variant of Tetris, was released for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. It received positive reviews and became Nintendo Switch Online's killer app.
July 23, 2019: Tetris Effect Released on Windows
On July 23, 2019, Tetris Effect was released on Windows, receiving widespread critical acclaim.
April 21, 2020: EA's Tetris License Expires
On April 21, 2020, EA's mobile license for Tetris expired, and the game became inoperable.
November 2020: Puyo Puyo Tetris sales
By November 2020, Puyo Puyo Tetris sold 1.4 million copies worldwide.
2021: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by IGN and GamesRadar+
In 2021, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by IGN and GamesRadar+.
2022: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by USA Today
In 2022, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by USA Today.
March 31, 2023: Tetris film premiere on Apple TV+
On March 31, 2023, the film Tetris, a biographical drama about the Tetris legal battles, premiered on Apple TV+ and received positive reviews and a viewership of 88,000 people.
2023: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by The Times and GQ
In 2023, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by The Times and GQ.
2023: Tetris Film Release
In 2023, a film dramatizing the development of Tetris was released.
January 2024: Willis Gibson "beats" Tetris
In January 2024, Willis Gibson received significant media coverage for "beating" NES Tetris by playing until it crashed during a 40-minute livestream.
2024: Ranked among the greatest video games of all time by USA Today and among the best video game franchises by Den of Geek
In 2024, Tetris was ranked among the greatest video games of all time by USA Today and among the best video game franchises by Den of Geek.
