Seven Tetriminos fall from above. Arrange them into solid lines to clear the board and survive the rising speed.
What is Tetris?
Tetris is the block-stacking game created by Alexey Pajitnov in 1984. Each Tetrimino is a shape made of four connected squares. They fall one at a time, and your job is to rotate and position them to form complete rows. Full lines vanish, and the stack keeps rising.
Forty years later, the formula hasn’t changed because it doesn’t need to. No power-ups, no gimmicks-just a perfect loop of pattern recognition and quick decisions. Fans of puzzle and retro games know the appeal: it’s easy to start and nearly impossible to put down.
How to Play Tetris
Move pieces left and right with the arrow keys. Press up to rotate clockwise. Press down for a soft drop. When a row is complete, it disappears and adds to your score.
Clearing multiple lines at once scores bonus points. Four lines in one move-a “Tetris”-is the highest payoff. The speed increases every ten lines, pushing you to think faster as the blocks pile up.
Tips and Tricks for Tetris
Keep the stack even An uneven surface creates gaps. Try to avoid single-square holes in your rows.
Hold onto the I-piece The straight piece is the only one that clears four lines. Save it for the right moment.
Game Controls
| Action | Controls |
|---|---|
| Move Left | ← |
| Move Right | → |
| Rotate Clockwise | ↑ |
| Soft Drop | ↓ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tetris free to play online?
Yes. The browser version is free with no download or registration needed.
How do I control the blocks?
Use the arrow keys. Left and right move the piece, up rotates it, and down drops it faster.
Can I play Tetris on mobile?
The browser version works on mobile browsers with touch controls, though keyboard play is more precise.
Why is it called a “Tetris”?
The name combines “tetra” (Greek for four-the number of squares in each piece) with “tennis,” Pajitnov’s favorite sport.