Tetris – Original Puzzle game on Roku plays like other versions of this popular video game that has been around since 1984. The objective of the game is to move differently shaped pieces as they drop onto the playing field so that the form complete lines across the field. As complete lines are formed, they to allow more space to maneuver the pieces. When uncleared lines reach the top of the playing field, the game ends. See screenshots below.
The buttons to maneuver pieces in this Roku version of Tetris seem counterintuitive to me. The left and right arrows on your remote are used to move the currently-dropping piece from side to side, as you would expect. But the OK button rotates the piece instead of dropping it into place - to drop the piece, the up buttons drops it immediately while the down button moves it more quickly than the default freefall speed. I had a hard time getting used to this arrangement and kept trying to rotate with the up button and drop with the OK button.
The game always shows an outline of where the active piece will end up if you were do a hard drop. This should make the game easier but I found it distracting and it can't be turned off. The game is also accompanied by annoying music, and that can't be turned off either, unless you mute your TV. But more distracting than either of those issues is that the Tetris Roku app has been updated to display a video ad in the bottom left corner of the screen while you're playing unless you pay $5/month to turn the ads off.
-- Information is current as of August 4, 2024; originally reviewed September 2022
CHANNEL STORE DESCRIPTION: The Tetris® game is one of the most popular and most distinctive video games of all time with hundreds of millions of players worldwide. This simple yet addictive game will keep both the casual and seasoned pro entertained for hours.
CHANNEL STORE CATEGORY: Games
DEVELOPER: PlayWorks Digital LTD
FEES: Free with ads; $4.99/30 days to play with no ads