Tetris Effect Remains A Truly Transcendant Experience

Gaming is easily my oldest hobby but there aren't many games I often return to. Reviewing new releases for a living means I'm often moving from one big title to the next, so finding that time can be tough. I've learned over the years where to cut my losses, you simply can't play them all no matter how hard we try to. But every so often, you find that game which keeps you coming back and never feels any less fresh. For me, Tetris Effect is one such game.

I was late to the scene and didn't jump in until 2019, having not long bought a PlayStation VR. After securing an imported physical copy from France, it's one of the earlier games I tested on Sony's ageing headset. I've been a long-time Tetris fan, played so many versions across the years and quality inevitably varies; I'd struggle to name any major highlights from Tetris Party (maybe the Wii Balance Board support?) or ​Tetris Ultimate. Upon starting Tetris Effect, I knew I'd found something special.

What struck me wasn't how the core game plays out. That's largely the same as ever, though I'll concede clearing 8 lines in two moves as 'Zone' slows down time feels incredible. No, its the sheer sensory delight that utterly captivates me. As I jump between grouped up stages in Journey Mode, each featuring its own compelling visual themes and songs, I can feel myself at peace.

It's a beautiful thing to watch in motion, improving on one of gaming’s finest puzzlers through incredible style. Hydelic's soundtrack remains on regular rotation to this day, and I'll never forget the first time I heard 'Connected (Yours Forever)'. I took off the headset feeling strangely emotional, not because I was sad but because it's so beautiful. It's a feeling I've continued chasing, Lumines Arise perhaps being the closest I've got. That feels like an odd thing to say about a falling block puzzler, yet the sheer splendour of it all gets me every time. It's why I come back at least once a year, if only for a short while.

I returned in preparation for Lumines Arise, which Lex covered for us in her fantastic 10/10 review. My own thoughts weren't quite as glowing on UploadVR, but not by much; it's a wonderful game that feels very much like a Tetris Effect spiritual successor, which again is a strange sentiment when Lumines has been its own thing for the last 21 years. The parallels are striking, Arise elevates that majestically surreal presentation even ​further, even if the core gameplay just doesn't cut it for me like Tetris does.

Tetris Effect remains a transcendent transformation of the classic 2D puzzler, which continues blowing me away even now with its incredible presentation. My first step all those years ago almost felt spiritual, and it's always got a place in my library. Whether you use flatscreen platforms or VR, it's worth it either way. Few games truly mean more to me than this.