Tetris 99

Tetris 99 took the most famous puzzle game of all time and combined it with the trend that moved games the most in 2019 - battle royale. Instead of a one-on-one duel, ninety-nine players compete at once, each on their own playing field shown in miniature along the sides of the screen, and the goal is to be the last one standing, while cleared lines send so-called "garbage" blocks to selected opponents.

What sets it apart from classic Tetris is precisely this social layer - the player must watch not only their own field but also who is attacking them, whom they're attacking, and when it's more advantageous to target weak opponents right before elimination or, conversely, those who are currently attacking them. Developer Arika, which has a long history with the Tetris puzzle series, added an optional "badge" ability system on top of this, gradually unlocking further tactical options for attack and defense. The game was also released as a free title available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, making it one of the most accessible entry points into the battle royale genre and quickly helping it become a short-lived gaming phenomenon. The whole match also follows the same logic as major battle royale shooters - a counter of remaining players runs on screen, the camera automatically switches to whoever eliminated the player at the moment of their own elimination, and the winner of the final duel enjoys a short victory scene similar to the celebratory animations from the genre's models. For Nintendo, it was also a clever way to show new Switch players the power of the Nintendo Switch Online service right after its launch, and for Tetris itself, proof that a decades-old formula can still be reshaped into new forms.

Why play: Tetris 99 is ideal for anyone who loves classic Tetris but wants the tension of a mass battle added to it - fast matches, clear rules, and free access make it an easy, low-commitment entry into the battle royale genre.