7 Things You Didn’t Know About Tetris, the Nintendo Classic
No matter how complicated video games have gotten the last 40+ years, one fact remains true: you can’t go wrong with simplicity, as long as it’s fun. Way back in June 1984, a Soviet software engineer named Alexey Pajitnov created a series of puzzle games he called Tetris, based around the challenge of maneuvering falling tetromino shapes into piles. Once a horizontal line of the game board is completely filled in, it disappears, preventing the pile from overflowing into the top of the screen. Who knew that such a simple premise could be so challenging, tense, and – most of all – fun?
With more than 200 versions of Tetris created for 65 different standard and mobile platforms over the years, Tetris is the second-best-selling video game franchise of all time (right behind Mario!), eclipsing an astonishing $520 million in sales with no signs of slowing down. Let’s celebrate 41 years of fun with seven things you probably didn’t know about Tetris!
1The name of the game
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What does the name Tetris mean? Is it a deep reference to something from Pajitnov’s past? Or perhaps an archaic Russian word that carries the perfect meaning for the journey that a player experiences while playing the game?
As it turns out, it’s actually not that deep: the word Tetris is simply a blend of the Greek prefix “tetra” (which means “four”, since every piece in the game is made up of four blocks) and “tennis,” which was Pajitnov’s favorite sport. The name stuck, and it’s now one of the most iconic titles in video game history. Go figure!
2The first version had no graphics
The original Tetris was built on the Elektronika 60, a Soviet computer that had no graphical display. Instead of visual blocks, the game used text characters like brackets to simulate the tetromino shapes. Players had to use their imagination to interpret the falling shapes. It was a basic interface, but the gameplay was compelling enough that it spread quickly among engineers and programmers, laying the foundation for one of the most visually recognizable games ever made.
3Tetris was smuggled out of the USSR
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Because the Soviet Union didn’t have a commercial software industry in 1985, Tetris was unofficially distributed at first. Copies of the game were shared via floppy disks and eventually reached Hungary (albeit illegally), where it caught the attention of Western developers.
Without formal permission from the Soviet authorities, the game’s underground popularity led to a complicated legal and licensing situation. After intense negotiations and legal wrangling, Nintendo emerged victorious and secured the rights for home console and handheld versions, and the rest is history.
4Tetris helped sell millions of Game Boys
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When Nintendo launched the Game Boy in 1989, they chose to bundle it with Tetris instead of a typical action game; a bold, strategic move designed to make the new system appeal to both gamers and non-gamers alike. The decision was wildly successful— millions of Game Boys were sold, largely because of the game’s universal appeal to people of all ages. Not only did Tetris help legitimize portable gaming, but it is often credited with expanding the overall demographics of video game players far and wide. Not bad for a bunch of blocks!
5Tetris is used in psychological research
Believe it or not, Tetris has become an unexpected tool in mental health research. Psychologists have curiously studied the game’s effects on the brain, especially its potential to reduce intrusive thoughts and cravings. One study found that playing regularly could lessen cravings for food, drugs, and even cigarettes, while another showed that playing it shortly after a traumatic event could help disrupt the formation of PTSD-related memories.
6Tetris was one of the first games to travel to outer space
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In 1993, Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr A. Serebrov brought a Game Boy with Tetris aboard the Mir space station, making it one of the first video games played in outer space, and furthering its status as a cultural and technological game-changer. Dare we say that this distinction is proof that Tetris is, in fact, out of this world? (Nah, we didn’t think so.)
7There’s even a Tetris World Championship Tournament
Since 2010, the Classic Tetris World Championship (CTWC) has been held annually, attracting top players from around the globe. Players compete on the original Nintendo version of the game, using original hardware. Held over three days each year, the CTWC has grown in popularity to become a hugely important event on the calendar of esports fans, drawing thousands of viewers online.
If you’re interested in checking out this year’s version of the event, you’re in luck – it takes place this weekend – June 6-8th in Pasadena, CA ( and you can learn all about it at thectwc.com!)
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