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in: Articles containing Japanese-language text, CS1 French-language sources (fr), Articles using Infobox video game using locally defined parameters,
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Tetris 99

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Tetris 99
Tetris99-coverart
Digital artwork, featuring the game's logo
Developer(s)Arika
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Ryuichi Nakada
Akito Kitamura
Producer(s)Ichirou Mihara
Hitoshi Yamagami
Akira Kinashi
Designer(s)Akito Kitamura
Makoto Hasebe
Programmer(s)Hitoshi Hirashima
Composer(s)Teruo Taniguchi
SeriesTetris
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch
ReleaseFebruary 13, 2019
Physical Release
  • JP: August 9, 2019
  • NA: September 6, 2019
  • EU: September 20, 2019
Genre(s)Puzzle, battle royale
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Tetris 99[lower-alpha 1] is a free online multiplayer version of the tile-matching puzzle video game Tetris, developed by Arika and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch in February 2019. Incorporating elements of the battle royale genre, Tetris 99 has up to 99 players competing simultaneously to complete rows with falling tetrominoes, which in turn send attacks in the form of "garbage rows" to other players with the goal of knocking them out of the game.

Gameplay[]

See also: Gameplay of Tetris
Tetris 99 screenshot

The main gameplay screen of Tetris 99, with the boards of 98 other players seen in the background.

Tetris 99 is a multiplayer puzzle game in which 99 players play against each other at the same time, with the aim to be the last player remaining. As with the traditional Tetris formula, players rotate and drop shaped bricks known as tetrominoes onto a board. Players can clear tetrominoes by completing rows across both sides, whereas players will lose if tetrominoes overflow off the top of the board. As with normal Tetris rules, players have the option to store a tetromino piece to swap out at any time. By clearing multiple lines or performing continuous line clears in a row, players can send "garbage" to other players, which will appear on their board unless they can quickly clear lines in response. More garbage can be sent by completing combination moves in succession of making a "tetris" (matching 4 lines at once) or performing a "T-spin" (squeezing the T-shaped tetromino into a position it would otherwise not fall into by rapidly rotating it).[1]

During gameplay, small grids representing the other 98 players are displayed at the sides of the main board. Players can either choose to target individual players, or have the computer automatically target other players based on one of four criteria: random players, those who are targeting the player, those who are close to being defeated, and those who possess badges. Badges are earned by knocking out a player with garbage (or gray lines), which earns them a piece of a badge, along with any other badges or pieces that player had. The more badges a player completes and possesses, the more lines they can send to other players at a time (up to a 100% boost). At the end of a game, players will earn experience that will increase their level. The game periodically features special events;[2] one of its first such events was held in March 2019 where players with the top number of wins over a weekend play period would win rewards within the My Nintendo loyalty program.[3]

In May 2019, Nintendo released paid downloadable content (DLC) for the game, named the Big Block DLC. The DLC adds 2 offline modes: CPU Battle, where players battle 98 bot players; and Marathon, where players play an endless game of Tetris, and challenged to achieve the highest score. Nintendo plans to release more modes in the future.[4] Additionally modes will include a local offline mode, allowing multiple players to compete locally.[5]

Development[]

Tetris 99 was announced during a Nintendo Direct presentation on February 13, 2019, and made available later that day. It is available for free exclusively to players who have subscribed to the Nintendo Switch Online service.[6] Nintendo is planning a physical release of the game in late 2019, with confirmed releases in Japan on August 9, 2019 and in Europe on September 20, 2019. The physical edition will include the Big Block DLC content and a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online voucher.[7][8]

Reception[]

Upon release, Tetris 99 received "generally favourable reviews" according to the review aggregator Metacritic.[9] According to IGN Tetris 99 is a "wondrous pandemonium in a battle royale bottle" and that "the massive player count really ups the intensity."[12] The Telegraph said the game is "fiercer than Fortnite" and "as exciting and cutthroat as any video game deathmatch."[15]

During a financial results briefing, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa reported that Tetris 99 had been played by over 2.8 million accounts as of April 2019. Furukawa also noted that the game has boosted "user engagement" with the Nintendo Switch.[16]

Alexey Pajitnov, the creator of the original Tetris, stated that he "love[s] the game" and called it "one of the best games of Tetris of the last year. I really like what was done."[17]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ Japanese: テトリス99, Hepburn: Tetorisu 99

References[]

  1. ↑ Kim, Matt (February 20, 2019). "Insane Tetris 99 Highlights From Players Better Than You'll Ever Be". USGamer. Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  2. ↑ Gach, Ethan (February 14, 2019). "Tetris 99 Has No Tutorial, So Here's What You Need To Know". Kotaku. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  3. ↑ Phillips, Tom (March 6, 2019). "Tetris 99's first tournament has an enticing Nintendo Point prize pool". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  4. ↑ Romano, Sal (May 9, 2019). "Tetris 99 DLC 'Big Block' now available, '3rd Maximus Cup' online event begins May 17". Gematsu. Retrieved May 9, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  5. ↑ Wales, Matt (July 8, 2019). "Tetris 99 is getting offline multiplayer later this year on Switch". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 9, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  6. ↑ Alexander, Julia (February 13, 2019). "Tetris is now a battle royale game with Tetris 99". The Verge. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  7. ↑ Watts, Steve (July 9, 2019). "Tetris 99 Getting Nintendo Switch Physical Release This Fall". GameSpot. Retrieved July 9, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  8. ↑ Jenni (July 9, 2019). "Tetris 99 Physical Copies Will Be Released In Europe And Japan". Siliconera. Retrieved July 9, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Tetris 99". Metacritic. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  10. ↑ Hilliard, Kyle (February 18, 2019). "Tetris 99 Review – Winner Winner, Tetris Dinner". Game Informer. Archived from the original on February 19, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  11. ↑ Brown, Peter (February 21, 2019). "Tetris 99 Review - Embrace The Chaos". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Petite, Steven (February 19, 2019). "Tetris 99 Review". IGN. Retrieved February 20, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  13. ↑ Anagund (February 19, 2019). "Test : Tetris 99 : Plus intense que le plus intense des Battle Royale !". Jeuxvideo . Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  14. ↑ Craddock, Ryan (February 15, 2019). "Tetris 99 Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  15. ↑ Hoggins, Tom (February 24, 2019). "Tetris 99 review: Classic puzzler battle royale is fiercer than Fortnite". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on March 4, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  16. ↑ Doolan, Liam (April 25, 2019). "9.8 Million Switch Owners Have Signed Up To The Online Service And 2.8 Million Have Played Tetris 99". Nintendo Life. Retrieved April 26, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  17. ↑ Lopez, Alan (June 17, 2019). "Feature: Tetris Creator Alexey Pajitnov On Tetris 99, Tetris Comics And His Favourite Tetris Piece". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 17, 2019. {{cite web}}:

External links[]

Tetris Tetrominoes IJLO STZ Worlds
Main games Tetris (Atari) • Tetris (NES) • Battle Gaiden • Tetris & Dr. Mario • Plus • The Grand Master • Magical Tetris Challenge • 64 • The New Tetris • Worlds • Evolution • Zone • Splash • Friends • Party • Ultimate • Puyo Puyo Tetris • Puyo Puyo Tetris 2
Portable games Tetris (Game Boy) • 3D • DS • EA Tetris • Axis
Variant games Blockout • Welltris • Hatris • Faces • Wordtris • Tetris 2 • Tetris Attack • TetriNET • Tetrisphere • BreakThru! • Pokémon Tetris • Tetris Giant • Tetris Effect • Tetris 99
Related Alexey Pajitnov • Tetris effect • Tetromino • The Tetris Company • Tetris Online, Inc. • Classic Tetris World Championship • Korobeiniki • Tetris (film)
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