Tetris is a puzzle video game created in 1985 by Soviet software engineer Alexey Pajitnov. The game has been published by various companies on multiple platforms, notably during a rights dispute in the late 1980s. Nintendo was a major publisher, but in 1996, the rights reverted to Pajitnov. He then co-founded the Tetris Company with Henk Rogers to handle licensing.
1979: Pajitnov Joins Soviet Academy of Sciences
In 1979, Alexey Pajitnov joined the Computer Center of the Soviet Academy of Sciences as a speech recognition researcher. During his time there, he developed several puzzle games and aimed to use computers to bring happiness to people.
1984: Development of Tetris Concept
In 1984, Alexey Pajitnov conceptualized Tetris while trying to recreate a childhood puzzle game with pentominoes. He scaled down the concept to use tetrominoes, creating a game where players turn falling pieces to fill rows. He named it Tetris, combining 'tetra' and 'tennis.'
1985: First Playable Version of Tetris
Around 1985, Alexey Pajitnov completed the first playable version of Tetris. The game quickly became popular among his colleagues at the Academy of Sciences, spreading rapidly across Moscow institutes and even leading to its temporary ban at the Moscow Medical Institute to restore productivity.
1985: Creation of Tetris
In 1985, Alexey Pajitnov, a Soviet software engineer, created the puzzle video game Tetris. This game would go on to become one of the most iconic video games in history. The year 1985 marks the official birth of Tetris, created on an Electronika 60 computer.
June 1986: International Interest in Tetris
In June 1986, Robert Stein, an international software salesman, recognized the commercial potential of Tetris during a visit to Hungary. Stein's interest led to initial contact with the game's creators via fax, which inadvertently started the process of commercial licensing.
1987: Tetris at Consumer Electronics Show
In 1987, Robert Stein introduced Tetris to publishers at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Despite initial skepticism due to its Soviet origins, the game began to gain traction in the Western market.
January 1988: Spectrum HoloByte Releases Tetris in the U.S.
In January 1988, Spectrum HoloByte released Tetris for DOS PCs in the United States, featuring Russian-inspired graphics and music. This move aimed to appeal to a Western audience by embracing the game's Soviet roots.
February 24, 1988: Tetris Licensing Agreement
On February 24, 1988, Robert Stein reached an agreement with Elorg, and by May 10, he secured a ten-year worldwide license for Tetris on all computer systems. This agreement marked a critical step in the commercialization and global distribution of Tetris.
March 1988: Tetris Wins Multiple Awards
In March 1988, Tetris won several awards at the Software Publishers Association's Excellence in Software Awards ceremony, including Best Entertainment Software, Best Original Game, Best Strategy Program, and Best Consumer Software. This recognition highlighted Tetris' impact and success in the gaming industry.
November 1988: Henk Rogers Contacts Stein
In November 1988, Henk Rogers contacted Robert Stein in an attempt to secure the handheld rights for Tetris. Stein agreed to negotiate but needed to consult Elorg first.
1988: Spectrum HoloByte's Tetris Sales Success
Between 1988 and 1990, Spectrum HoloByte's PC versions of Tetris sold 150,000 copies, generating $6 million in sales, demonstrating the game's early commercial success.
1988: Dragon Magazine Reviews IBM Version of Tetris
In 1988, Dragon Magazine reviewed the IBM version of Tetris, giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars. This positive review helped elevate the game's profile among computer game enthusiasts.
1988: Macworld Reviews Macintosh Version of Tetris
In 1988, Macworld praised the Macintosh version of Tetris for its strategic gameplay and low RAM usage, describing it as 'elegant, easy to play, and challenging,' with no cons listed.
1988: Spectrum HoloByte Sells Japanese Rights
In 1988, Spectrum HoloByte sold the Japanese rights to its computer games to Bullet-Proof Software's Henk Rogers, who was searching for games for the Japanese market. The rights were subsequently sold and distributed by various companies, leading to the creation of versions for Japanese computers and the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom).
1988: Introduction of Music in Tetris Versions
In 1988, the Russian folk tune 'Korobeiniki' first appeared in Spectrum Holobyte's Macintosh and Apple IIGS versions of Tetris, and as the title screen music in Bullet-Proof Software's Japanese Famicom release. Nintendo's versions included different arrangements, including Tchaikovsky's 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy' and original compositions.
February 1989: Henk Rogers Travels to the Soviet Union
In February 1989, after suspecting a breach of contract, Henk Rogers traveled to the Soviet Union to negotiate the handheld rights for Tetris directly with Elorg.
March 1989: Nintendo's Cease and Desist to Atari Games
In March 1989, Nintendo sent a cease and desist letter to Atari Games regarding the production of the NES version of Tetris. Despite pressure from Mirrorsoft owner Robert Maxwell on Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Elorg upheld its contract with Nintendo.
April 15, 1989: Sega Cancels Genesis Version of Tetris
On April 15, 1989, Sega canceled the release of its Genesis version of Tetris amid the legal battle between Nintendo and Atari Games. Fewer than ten copies were manufactured.
June 15, 1989: Nintendo vs. Atari Games Legal Battle
On June 15, 1989, Nintendo and Atari Games began a legal battle in San Francisco courts. Atari Games argued that the Famicom was a computer to justify their release of Tetris, but this argument was rejected.
June 1989: Zzap!64 Awards High Score to Commodore 64 Version of Tetris
In June 1989, Zzap!64 awarded the Commodore 64 version of Tetris a score of 98%, marking one of the highest scores in the magazine's history and highlighting the game's exceptional quality.
June 21, 1989: Court Ruling in Favor of Nintendo
On June 21, 1989, Judge Fern M. Smith ruled in favor of Nintendo, granting them a preliminary injunction against Atari Games. The next day, Atari Games withdrew its NES version of Tetris from sale.
September 1989: Tetris Tops Japanese Sales Charts
In September 1989, Tetris topped the Japanese sales charts, driven by the success of Nintendo's NES and Game Boy versions, significantly boosting the game's popularity.
December 1989: Tetris Continues to Dominate Japanese Sales
In December 1989, Tetris maintained its position at the top of the Japanese sales charts, reflecting its continued popularity.
1989: Sega's Tetris Arcade Success in Japan
In 1989, Sega's arcade version of Tetris became the highest-grossing arcade game in Japan, marking a significant achievement for the franchise.
1989: Tetris Wins Compute! Choice Award
In 1989, Tetris won the Compute! Choice Award for Arcade Game from Computer Gaming World, being described as 'the most addictive game ever.' It also won three Software Publishers Association Excellence in Software Awards, including Best Entertainment Program and Critic's Choice Award.
1989: Dragon Magazine Reviews Macintosh Version of Tetris
In 1989, Dragon Magazine reviewed the Macintosh version of Tetris by Spectrum HoloByte, awarding it 5 out of 5 stars, further cementing Tetris' reputation as a top-tier game.
January 1990: Pajitnov Visits the United States
In January 1990, Pajitnov was invited to the Consumer Electronics Show by Spectrum HoloByte, marking his first immersion in American life. He explored several cities and realized there was no market in Russia for their programs. Meanwhile, sales of the Game Boy with Tetris exceeded forecasts.
January 1990: Tetris Success in Japan Continues
In January 1990, Tetris continued to dominate the Japanese sales charts, highlighting the game's sustained success.
1990: Tetris Becomes Nintendo's Top Seller
In 1990, Tetris became Nintendo's top-selling game, with the NES and Game Boy versions achieving significant commercial success.
1991: Pajitnov and Pokhilko Emigrate to the United States
In 1991, Pajitnov and Pokhilko emigrated to the United States. Pajitnov settled in Seattle and produced games for Spectrum HoloByte.
1991: PC Format ranking
In 1991, PC Format named Tetris one of the 50 best computer games ever, praising its addictive nature and timeless appeal.
1991: Entertainment Weekly Ranks Tetris
In 1991, Entertainment Weekly picked Tetris as the #8 greatest game available, highlighting its popularity due to Nintendo's extensive promotion.
1992: Tetris Sales in the US
By 1992, Nintendo's versions of Tetris had sold 7.5 million copies in the United States, highlighting the game's widespread popularity.
1992: Doctor Spin's Eurodance Cover of 'Korobeiniki'
In 1992, Doctor Spin's Eurodance cover of 'Korobeiniki', titled 'Tetris', reached #6 on the UK singles chart. The Tetris Company later required that a version of 'Korobeiniki' be available in all licensed versions of the game.
1992: Thesis on Tetris' Theoretical Limits
In 1992, John Brzustowski wrote a thesis exploring whether one could theoretically play Tetris forever. He concluded that the game is statistically doomed to end if a player receives a long sequence of alternating S and Z tetrominoes, which will eventually lead to a game over.
1992: Richard Haier's Study on Tetris and Brain Efficiency
In 1992, American psychologist Richard Haier discovered that regular Tetris playing allowed the brain to perform more optimally, increasing the thickness of the cerebral cortex and reducing cerebral energy consumption as gaming skills improved.
1993: ZX Spectrum Version of Tetris Voted in Top 100
In 1993, the ZX Spectrum version of Tetris was voted number 49 in the 'Your Sinclair Official Top 100 Games of All Time,' reflecting its lasting impact.
1995: Spectrum HoloByte's Tetris Sales Milestone
By 1995, Spectrum HoloByte's PC versions of Tetris had sold over 1 million copies, with women accounting for nearly half of Tetris players, a notable contrast to other PC games.
1995: Ranked by Flux magazine
In 1995, Flux magazine ranked Tetris 30th on their Top 100 Video Games list, recognizing its significant impact on the gaming world.
April 1996: Tetris Rights Revert to Pajitnov
In April 1996, the rights to Tetris reverted to Pajitnov following an agreement with Rogers and the Academy, allowing him to receive royalties for each Tetris game sold.
June 1996: Founding of the Tetris Company
In June 1996, Pajitnov and Rogers founded the Tetris Company to manage the rights to Tetris on all platforms, ensuring Pajitnov received royalties for each sale.
1996: Tetris Company Guidelines
Since 1996, the Tetris Company has established internal specifications and guidelines for publishers to adhere to in order to be granted a Tetris license. These guidelines cover various elements, including button actions, field size, and the rotation system.
1996: Multiple accolades
In 1996, Tetris received multiple accolades, including being ranked 14th on Computer Gaming World's list of the most innovative computer games and 2nd on Next Generation's 'Top 100 Games of All Time'. Both rankings highlight the game's lasting appeal and innovative design.
1996: Rights Revert to Pajitnov
In 1996, the rights to Tetris reverted to its creator, Alexey Pajitnov. This significant shift allowed Pajitnov to co-found the Tetris Company with Henk Rogers to manage licensing. The year 1996 was a pivotal moment in the career of Pajitnov and the history of Tetris.
1996: Tetris Pro Ranked by Amiga Power
In 1996, Tetris Pro was ranked the 38th best game of all time by Amiga Power, further cementing its legacy in gaming history.
1996: Global Sales of Tetris
By 1996, Tetris had sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, with Nintendo eventually selling 35 million copies for the Game Boy and 8 million for the NES.
1999: Next Generation ranking
In 1999, Next Generation ranked Tetris as number 2 on their 'Top 50 Games of All Time', emphasizing its fundamental gameplay elements and enduring popularity.
1999: Introduction of Easy Spin
In 1999, the 'Easy Spin' feature, allowing players to suspend a tetromino momentarily after movement or rotation, was introduced in the game 'The Next Tetris.' This feature drew mixed reactions, especially in reviews of the 2001 game 'Tetris Worlds.'
2000: Robert Stickgold and the Tetris Effect
In 2000, Harvard researcher Robert Stickgold found that 60% of users reported seeing Tetris pieces as they fell asleep after playing, coining the term 'Tetris effect' to describe this phenomenon. His research built on Richard Haier's previous work on brain efficiency.
2001: Game Informer ranking
In 2001, Game Informer staff placed Tetris third on their list of the 100 best games ever, highlighting the game's timeless appeal.
2001: Rogers Founds Mobile Game Company
In 2001, Henk Rogers founded a company to manage the Tetris license on mobile platforms, which was later acquired by Jamdat.
2001: Introduction of Bag-Style Randomizer
In 2001, modern versions of Tetris adopted a 'bag-style' randomizer. This system ensures players never receive more than four S and Z pieces in a row by shuffling tetrominoes of all types for each set of seven pieces, enhancing gameplay fairness.
2001: Criticism of Easy Spin in Tetris Worlds
In 2001, the 'Easy Spin' feature drew criticism in reviews of 'Tetris Worlds.' This mechanic, initially introduced in 1999, allowed players to suspend a tetromino while deciding its placement, which some felt disrupted the traditional gameplay experience.
2002: Founding of Tetris Holding
In 2002, Pajitnov and Rogers founded Tetris Holding after purchasing the remaining rights from Elorg. The Tetris Company now owns all rights to the Tetris brand, focusing on removing unlicensed clones from the market.
December 2005: Electronic Arts Acquires Jamdat
In December 2005, Electronic Arts acquired Jamdat, gaining a 15-year license for all mobile phone releases of Tetris.
2006: Initial Findings on Casual Games and Stress
In 2006, initial studies began identifying the stress-reducing benefits of casual games, including Tetris, laying the groundwork for future research into their therapeutic applications.
March 12, 2007: Named to game canon
On March 12, 2007, The New York Times reported that Tetris was named to a list of the ten most important video games of all time, known as the game canon. This announcement was made at the 2007 Game Developers Conference, and the Library of Congress began preserving these games, including Tetris.
2007: Electronic Gaming Monthly and IGN rankings
In 2007, Tetris was ranked first in Electronic Gaming Monthly's '100 Best Games of All Time' and second in IGN's '100 Greatest Video Games of All Time', reflecting its pure gameplay and enduring appeal.
2007: GameFAQs Character Battle and IGN ranking
In 2007, the L-shaped Tetris piece won GameFAQs' sixth annual 'Character Battle', a popularity contest for video game characters. Additionally, Tetris was ranked second on IGN's '100 Greatest Video Games of All Time'.
January 2009: Oxford University Study on Tetris and Trauma
In January 2009, an Oxford University research group led by Emily Holmes reported that playing Tetris soon after viewing traumatic material reduced the number of flashbacks in the following week, suggesting potential for PTSD intervention.
June 6, 2009: Google Doodle
On June 6, 2009, Google celebrated Tetris' 25-year anniversary by changing its logo to one made of Tetris blocks, with the 'l' letter represented by a long Tetris block.
2009: Mind Research Network Study on Tetris and Brain Function
In 2009, a study by the Mind Research Network found that girls who played Tetris for 30 minutes over three months showed higher brain efficiency and increased cortical thickness, indicating significant cognitive improvement.
January 2010: Tetris Franchise Sales Milestone
By January 2010, the Tetris franchise had sold over 170 million copies, including 70 million physical copies and 100 million mobile downloads, making it one of the best-selling video game franchises ever.
October 2010: Tetris Recognized by Guinness World Records
In October 2010, Guinness World Records recognized Tetris as the most ported video game in history, with over 200 variants on more than 65 different platforms.
2010: Appearance in Pixels short film
In 2010, Tetris appeared in the short animated film Pixels, showcasing its cultural influence beyond just gaming.
December 2011: Tetris Mobile Sales Achievement
By December 2011, Tetris had sold 132 million paid mobile game downloads, showcasing its enduring popularity in the mobile gaming market.
December 2011: Tetris Sales Milestone
By December 2011, Tetris had sold an impressive 202 million copies worldwide, consisting of approximately 70 million physical units and 132 million paid mobile game downloads. This milestone solidified Tetris as one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time.
2012: Tetris Holding Defends Copyright
In 2012, Tetris Holding defended its copyright against an iOS clone in the case Tetris Holding, LLC v. Xio Interactive, Inc., establishing a new stance on video game clone infringements.
April 2013: Canadian Study on Tetris Treating Amblyopia
In April 2013, a Canadian study found that playing Tetris effectively treated amblyopia (lazy eye) in older adolescents, outperforming traditional patching methods. The study also showed positive results when tested on children in the United Kingdom.
2014: Film adaptation announcement
In 2014, Threshold Entertainment and the Tetris Company announced plans for a film adaptation of Tetris, described as an epic sci-fi adventure and the first part of a trilogy.
2015: Appearance in Pixels movie
In 2015, Tetris featured in the movie Pixels, inspired by the 2010 short film, further cementing its place in popular culture.
2015: World Video Game Hall of Fame
In 2015, The Strong National Museum of Play inducted Tetris into its World Video Game Hall of Fame, recognizing the game's global impact and lasting legacy.
2016: False press release
In 2016, a press release falsely claimed that the Tetris film would be shot in China in 2017 with an $80 million budget, creating buzz and speculation about the project.
2017: Tetris Variants Increase
By 2017, the number of Tetris variants had increased to 220 official versions.
2017: Study on Tetris Reducing Intrusive Memories
In 2017, a study found that people who played Tetris or similar games while waiting for treatment after traffic accidents had fewer intrusive memories the following week.
February 2019: Tetris Manual Hoax Circulates
In February 2019, a hoax circulated claiming the original NES instruction manual for Tetris named the tetrominoes with quirky names like 'Orange Ricky' and 'Smashboy.' This was later disproven by video game historians but mentioned in an October 7 Jeopardy! question.
September 2019: Tetris on Sega Genesis Mini
In September 2019, a new port of the arcade version of Tetris by M2 was included in the Sega Genesis Mini microconsole.
April 21, 2020: Expiration of EA's Tetris License
On April 21, 2020, Electronic Arts' 15-year license for all mobile phone releases of Tetris expired.
2020: Blue Planet Software and Tetris Company
As of 2020, Blue Planet Software, a successor company to Bullet-Proof Software founded by Henk Rogers, owns a 50% stake of The Tetris Company, with Tetris Holding holding the other half.
2021: Study on Casual Games and Stress Reduction
In 2021, a meta-analysis of 28 studies conducted between 2006 and 2021 found that playing casual games like Tetris was positively correlated with reduced stress and was considered a relaxation tool for anxiety sufferers.
March 31, 2023: Tetris movie premiere
On March 31, 2023, the movie Tetris, detailing the legal battles surrounding the game in the late 1980s and starring Taron Egerton as Henk Rogers, premiered on Apple TV+.
2023: GQ ranking
In 2023, a GQ poll of video game journalists ranked Tetris as the third best video game of all time, reaffirming its status as a classic.