Even if you’ve never engaged with a Nintendo GamePad, you are likely familiar with how to play Tetris. The iconic block-dropping puzzle game holds a level of recognition akin to Mario’s question block or Pac-Man’s power pellets.
Tetris, the renowned puzzle challenge where players utilize four distinct shapes of four blocks each to form lines within a confined column, has found its way onto nearly every prominent video game platform, computer brand, and handheld device. Nearly four decades since its inception, Tetris continues to captivate audiences worldwide, from casual players to competitive esports enthusiasts.
An intriguing tale recounts how video game designer Henk Rogers and game creator Alexey Pajitnov introduced Tetris to Nintendo’s revolutionary Game Boy handheld system, transcending the barriers of Russia’s Iron Curtain.
Immersive Gamebox, an interactive gaming venue, has innovatively reimagined the Tetris experience with a dynamic full-motion throwback encounter known as Tetris 1991, now accessible at both its Deep Ellum and The Colony’s Grandscape locations.
“It’s reminiscent of the classic version,” remarked 10-year-old Sam LeBlanc, who had the opportunity to test the game at Grandscape, “but with significant enhancements.”
Immersive Gamebox offers an enclosed gaming environment where projectors project immersive games onto walls, enabling groups of players to engage with the action on life-sized screens. Equipped with hats featuring trackballs, groups of up to six players partake in various experiences, striving to achieve high scores individually and as teams.
The latest addition to Immersive Gamebox’s lineup is Tetris 1991, a nostalgic homage to the original puzzle game era, presenting players with a series of Tetris-inspired challenges set in diverse locations and styles.
Ash Cintas, the senior vice president of North American operations at Immersive Gamebox, explained, “There are five distinct mini-games within the experience, each offering a unique challenge where players can earn points collaboratively.”
In Tetris 1991, a device resembling a Game Boy inadvertently transforms the world into a massive Tetris game, tasking players with arranging falling blocks in various configurations to restore order.
Unlike the traditional Tetris gameplay of forming lines in a vertical column, Tetris 1991 introduces evolving challenges across different levels. For example, players may need to load a car with items for a journey, with all items taking the shapes familiar to Tetris. The goal is to fit as many items as possible within the space provided before the tower of blocks reaches the screen’s top.
For those accustomed to stationary Tetris gameplay, Tetris 1991 offers a more physically engaging experience. In one level set in a warehouse, players must position blocks two at a time to create lines and clear the clutter at the bottom of the screen. By running to the sides of the room and touching a wall to rotate the blocks, players can then nod their heads to slam the blocks into place.
The gameplay is accompanied by nostalgic tunes from the early ‘90s, including hits like C&C Music Factory’s “Good Vibrations,” The Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” and The La’s “There She Goes.”
“It becomes more challenging when you involve head movements,” noted Juan Quintano, who tested the game alongside his father Javier. “It’s fun, but you really have to slam the pieces down.”
To celebrate the launch of the new game, Immersive Gamebox welcomed Tetris champion Willis Gibson, a 14-year-old prodigy from Stillwater, Oklahoma, known for achieving a kill screen on the NES version of Tetris at level 157 after 38 minutes of gameplay on December 21, 2023. Gibson, the youngest competitor at the 2023 Classic Tetris World Championship, secured a third-place finish in October of that year.
“It’s more than just playing Tetris,” Gibson remarked. “While retaining the essence of Tetris, they have introduced a completely original and innovative experience, which is truly remarkable.”
Immersive Gamebox operates at two locations: 2525 Elm St. and 5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony.