Tetris Link: Venerable Video Game Leaps Into Real Life

Tetris is probably one of the most recognizable games in the world (yes, even moreso than Angry Birds). It’s been around since 1984 and has made an appearance on dozens of gaming platforms from consoles to handhelds to computers and now smart phones. But now that game is going through yet another evolution, this time stepping out of the digital realm into the real world.

Tetris Link by Techno Source takes the game’s basic elements and transforms them into an intriguing multiplayer strategy game. The rules are simple. Each player drops the familiar-shaped Tetris pieces into the vertical gameboard in a manner similar to Connect Four. A roll of dice determines which pice you can play. And the object is to connect as many of your color (red, blue, green, or yellow) as possible while also keeping your opponents from making too many connections of their own. Each time you connect two or more pieces, you get a point. Make a negative space and you lose a point. Once the gameboard is full, whoever has the most points wins.

It’s interesting that in a year when many physical game makers are transforming their existing properties to apps and other virtual games, a digital stalwart like Tetris is making the transition in the opposite direction. I like that Tetris Link allows up to four people to play together, and it’s a lot more challenging than Connect Four, so it should hold a kid’s interest for longer.

The game will be available this Spring for $19.99.