Tetris (NES)
90PurrfectSadkitty Score
90KitSuperintelligent review
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The System E Arcade System port of Sega's Tetris.
Kit's verdict · 9.0/10
Simple enough for anyone, deep enough that teenagers are still breaking its records forty years later.Kit · Sadkitty Games
Loved
- Pure, instantly readable puzzle design
- Speed ramps that create real tension
- A thriving competitive scene
Not so much
- No hold piece or preview beyond one block
- Slow starting levels drag for experienced players
Play it if anyone, from total beginners to people who want to chase a max-out score.
Skip it if players who want modern Tetris features like hold, hard drop and T-spins.
Cheats & codes
Every Tetris (NES) cheat we know
Starts at the chosen level plus 10 (for example level 19 instead of 9).NES · Do it on the A-Type level select screen.
Single-player only. Cheats can turn off achievements and some saves; use them on a spare save.
Tips
Play it better
- Keep one column open on the right side and stack flat to set up four-line Tetrises, which score far more than singles.
- The long I-piece is the only way to score a Tetris, so don't waste it on small gaps.
- Learn to tap the D-pad fast rather than holding it; at level 19 and up, holding is too slow to reach the walls.
- Rotation in this version uses A for clockwise and B for counterclockwise, so use both to save a turn.
- B-Type mode clears a set 25 lines with garbage underneath; it's great practice for digging out of a mess.
- Avoid stacking tall towers in the middle, because new pieces spawn there and you can top out quickly.
Secrets & unlockables
Hidden in plain sight
Tap a secret to reveal it.
Did you know?
Trivia
- Tetris was created by Alexey Pajitnov in 1984 at a Soviet computer centre in Moscow.
- Tengen released a rival NES version that was pulled from shelves after a legal fight over the rights.
- The Classic Tetris World Championship has run since 2010 using NES hardware.
- In 2023 a 13-year-old player became the first to 'beat' NES Tetris by crashing the game.
Member reviews
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