Tetris Effect: Connected Critic Reviews

Perhaps not quite as transcendental as it is in VR, Tetris Effect: Connected remains an incredible, visionary piece of work, that you can now experience with others. With its arrival on Xbox Series X, it can be a game for a new generation.

An already spectacular game breaks free of its solo constraints to become the definitive Tetris experience.

Tetris effect: Connected reaches its true potential in the extensive multiplayer modes. You can join games hosted all over the world, each with its own theme and according graphical and sound effects. Whether you want to unwind with a relaxing puzzle, or are looking for an intense and nerve-racking challenge, the choices are nearly infinite.

Tetris Effect Connected innovates further on 2018's mesmerizing, beautiful and addictive iteration of the Tetris formula, introducing a stable of tried and true multiplayer offerings, as well as a delightful new mode.

Plain and simple, the best Tetris incarnation currently available. Now with new interesting multiplayer modes.

Tetris Effect: Connected is what Tetris Effect should have been in the first place: a fantastic puzzle mixed with an astonishing audiovisual experience that can now finally be shared with other players.

The way Tetris Effect: Connected complements its traditional yet timeless Tetris gameplay with a gorgeous, constantly evolving presentation, combined with an array of modes that now encompasses everything you can want in a Tetris package, makes it the best way to experience one of gaming’s quintessential pieces.

Arguably the definitive version of one of the most famous, and enduring, video games in history, with some very welcome new multiplayer features.

At the end of the day, Tetris Effect: Connected on Xbox is just Tetris. It’s the game we’ve all played a million times over, it’s a game we all know like the back of our hand, and it’s a game in which we can rack up the highest of high scores with our eyes closed. And that, that feel of familiarity, is quite possibly the only thing that is holding Connected back from utter greatness. Yes this version looks great, it plays brilliantly, it sounds awesome, and it could well be the best Tetris experience yet, but at the end of the day it’s still Tetris... yet it is still as stupidly addictive as it ever was.

It's a unique experience, and part of the magic of the original version. While I think multiplayer is the more approachable feature, and what I would want if forced to choose, I do wish there were a way to have both in a single package. But there's no time for regrets in Tetris. The next piece is falling and you only have a few seconds to put it in place. Then the next piece, and the one after that. Some people meditate to clear their minds. Other people cook, or build models. Tetris Effect has a similar capacity to clear your mind. In 2018, that made Tetris Effect feel special. In 2020, it feels essential.

Tetris Effect: Connected is the definitive edition of the classic puzzle game, mixing its formula with Lumines' synesthetic effect and lots of modes, including the completely new and highly engaging co-op Connected mode. A game that won't leave our consoles for many years.

Gorgeous next-gen visuals and fresh takes on Tetris multiplayer make Tetris Effect: Connected an even more transcendent version of the near-perfect puzzle game.

Tetris Effect Connected is one big psychedelic trip that Xbox owners were previously missing out on. There is such a variety in themes, music, and game modes that it is unbelievable that developers still find a way to innovate, iterate and make, ostensibly, a puzzle game from the 1980s feel new and desirable to play. There is enough depth here in the multiplayer modes to retain the attention of Tetris players beyond the relatively short Journey and Effects modes, albeit many will chase their own tail to better their rankings and high scores. At the time of writing Tetris Effect Connected is available on Game Pass Ultimate so there is no real excuse to not give this a chance.

The best Tetris game ever, with plenty of multiplayer modes and a ton of hours of playtime. It may be something that we have seen a lot of times before, but it's still awesome and extremely entertaining.

Tetris Effect evolves with fun multiplayer modes that add a new layer of fun and challenge to an already fantastic game.

Tetris Effect can be extremely relaxing, somehow easing your mind and body into a serene sense of calm; it’s fitting then that a new mechanic called the Zone capitalises on this, allowing you to slow down time and enter a state of near-nirvana. Tetris Effect can also be as stressful as hell when you’re reaching the top of your allowed play space, and that Zone mechanic will still serve the purpose of trying to remedy that. Plan your drops accordingly.

Whether alone or with others, Tetris Effect: Connected is a stunning pleasure.

Tetris Effect Connected proves once again to be a refined reinterpretation of a timeless classic, a true masterpiece that resists the passage of time without giving up, ready to conquer even the new generations.

This new Xbox edition keeps everything that made the original one of the best puzzlers in years (except the VR part, which it turns out is pretty unnecessary) and adds a heaping helping of multiplayer to the mix.

I may not be seeing tetrominos during my day job, but I do have a newfound obsession with Tetris. Since starting this game, I've gone down YouTube rabbit holes learning about t-spins, tips, and tricks to improve my Tetris game. I've replayed modes to beat my previous high score, which I don't normally do in games. Even after this review, I'm eager to jump back into Journey mode to hear some of my favorite songs before booting up another title. As an added bonus, the multiplayer options make for a solid package that should offer players tons of hours of Tetris.