Guideline compliant game differences
The following table lists differences in game rules among games believed to follow the Tetris Guideline published by The Tetris Company.
A blank cell denotes a yet unchecked element.
| Tetris Journey | Tetris (N3TWORK) | Tetris 99 | Tetris Effect | Tetris Ultimate | Tetris (tetris.com) | Puyo Puyo Tetris | Tetris (2011, Electronic Arts) | Tetris: Axis | Tetris (PlayStation 3) | Tetris Battle (Facebook) | Tetris Party | Tetris Friends | Tetris Splash | Tetris Online (Japan) | Tetris Evolution | Tetris Zone | Tetris: New Century | iPod Tetris | Tetris Gold | Tetris DS | Tetris Black | Tetris Deluxe | Tetris The Grand Master Ace | Tetris The Grand Master 3 | Tetris Advance | Tetris Kiwamemichi | Tetris Worlds (PS2, Xbox, GCN, PC) | Tetris Worlds (GBA) | The New Tetris | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hold piece | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Next pieces shown | 3-5 | 3 | 6 | 1-4 | 1-4 | 3 | 3-5 | 3 | 5 | 1-4 | 1-5 | 3-6 | 1-5 | 6 | 2-6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 or 1 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Lock delay cancel using down key / button | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ||
| Maximum soft drop speed | Native * 20 | Native * 20 | Native * 20 | Native * 20 | Native * 20 (variable) | Native * 20 | Native * 20 | Native * 20 | Native * 20 | Native * 20 | Native * 20 | Native * 20 | Native * 20 | Native * 20 | 0.5G | Native + Value | Native + Value | 0.5G | 0.5G | Native + Value | 0.5G | 1G | 0.5G | Native * 20 | Native * 20 | |||||
| Togglable hold piece | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (multiplayer only) | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (unlockable) | No | No | No | Yes (by changing control settings) | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Arcade mode only | Yes | No | |
| Toggleable Infinite move reset | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | Infinite, Extended, Classic (Single Player only) | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes (GC, Xbox) / No (PS2, PC) | No | ||
| Toggleable ghost piece | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (unlockable) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Togglable hard drop | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (multiplayer only) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
| Togglable wall kicks | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ARS, ARS2 | Classic (TGM) | Yes | No | No | No | No | |
| Standard Mode move reset limit | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | Selectable | 15(Marathon/Challenge) 10(Master) No(Sprint) |
No | 128 | 8 rotations or 10 movements | No | No | No | |||||||
| Maximum G | 2.36G | 2.36G | 20G | 20G | 20G | 20G | 2.36G | 2.36G | 20G | 20G | 2.36G | 20G | 20G | 2.36G | 20G | 20G | 20G | 7G | 20G | 7G | 1G | 20G | 20G | 20G | 20G (but with post entry delay) | 2.36G | 2.36G | |||
| ARE | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Sprint:No Others:Yes |
No | Ignores player's input for a little time | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | |||
| Tetris Journey | Tetris (N3TWORK) | Tetris 99 | Tetris Effect | Tetris Ultimate | Tetris (tetris.com) | Puyo Puyo Tetris | Tetris (2011, Electronic Arts) | Tetris: Axis | Tetris (PlayStation 3) | Tetris Battle (Facebook) | Tetris Party | Tetris Friends | Tetris Splash | Tetris Online (Japan) | Tetris Evolution | Tetris Zone | Tetris: New Century | iPod Tetris | Tetris Gold | Tetris DS | Tetris Black | Tetris Deluxe | Tetris The Grand Master Ace | Tetris The Grand Master 3 | Tetris Advance | Tetris Kiwamemichi | Tetris Worlds (PS2, Xbox, GCN, PC) | Tetris Worlds (GBA) | The New Tetris | |
| Standard Marathon mode max level | 15 (endless) | 15 (endless) | 15 (150 lines) 99 (999 lines) |
15 (150-600 lines / Endless) | 15 (150 lines) 30 (Endless) 15 (Variable-Goal) |
30 (300 lines) | 15 (150 lines / Endless) | 15 (Variable-Goal) 30 (Endless) |
15 (150 lines / Endless) | 15 (Variable-Goal) | 15 (150 lines) | 15 (150 lines / Endless) | 15 (Variable-Goal) 20 (200 lines + Endless) |
15 (Variable-Goal) | 20 (200 lines / Endless) | 15 (150 lines / Variable-Goal) | 15 (Variable-Goal) 20 (Master / 200 lines) |
15 (150 lines) 99 (Extra) |
15 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 999 | 99 | 20 | 15 | 15 | No visible "level" |
| Level advancement requirement | 10 Lines | 10 Lines | 10 Lines | 10 Lines | 10 Lines (Standard) / Variable Lines (Escalation) | 10 Lines | 10 Lines | Variable Lines | 10 Lines | Variable Lines | Variable + Fixed Lines | 10 Lines | Variable Lines (Standard) / 10 Lines (Survival) | Variable Lines | 10 Lines (Marathon) / Variable Lines (Challenge) | Variable Lines | 5*Level Points (Marathon, Challenge) / 10 Lines (Master) | 10 Lines (Marathon) / 4 Lines (Extra) | Variable Lines | 5*Level Points | 10 Lines | 5*Level Points | 10 Lines (But "Lines" is not true lines) | 10 Lines | Drop or Clear | Variable Lines | 10 Lines (Home mode) / Drop or Clear (Arcade mode) | 5*Level Points | 5*Level Points | No visible "level" |
| Line limit mode | 40 | N/A | N/A | 40 (Sprint) | 40 (Sprint) | N/A | 40 (Sprint) | N/A | 40 (Sprint) | 40 (Origin) | 40 (Sprint) | 40 (Sprint) | 40 (Sprint) | 40 | 40 (Time Attack) | 40 (Race) | 40 (Sprint) | 40 | 40 | No | 25 (Line Clear) | 40 | 40 | No | No | No | No | No | No | 150 (Ultra) |
| Limited total time (Ultra) mode | 2 mins | 3 mins | N/A | 3 mins | 3 mins | N/A | 3 mins | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3 mins | N/A | 10 mins (called Challenge, level timer exists) | 1,3,5 mins | 10 mins (called Challenge, level timer exists) | 3 mins | 3 mins | No | No | 2 mins | 3 mins | No | No | 2 mins | No | 2 mins reset after level up |
2 mins reset after level up |
3 mins (called Sprint) |
| 7-bag randomizer (Random Generator) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Classic available in select modes) | Yes (switchable to Classic) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (release) No (beta) |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | History 6 Rolls + 35-piece Pool | Yes | Yes | No (square mode) No, but bag-based (fusion mode) Yes (all other modes) |
No (square mode) No, but bag-based (fusion mode) Yes (all other modes) |
No (totally random?) | |
| Top out | Line at 22 | Line at 21 | Line at 20 | Line at 21 | Line at 21 | Line at 20 | Line at 21 | Line at 21 | Line at 21 | Line at 21 | Line at 22 | Line at 22 | Line at 22 | Line at 22 | Line at 22 | Line at 22 | Line at 22 | Line at 22 | Line at 22 | Line at 22 | Line at 22 | Line at 22 | Line at 22 | Piece at 20 | Piece at 20 | Piece at 20 | Line at 22 | Piece at 20 | Any part of a piece above 20 | |
| T-spin recognition | 3-corner standard (triple and mini recognition) | 3-corner standard (triple and mini recognition) | 3-corner standard (triple and mini recognition) | 3-corner standard (triple and mini recognition) | 3-corner standard (triple and mini recognition) | 3-corner standard (triple and mini recognition) | 3-corner standard (triple and mini recognition) | 3-corner standard (triple and mini recognition) | 3-corner standard (triple and mini recognition) | 3-corner standard (triple and mini recognition) | 3-corner standard (triple and mini recognition) | 3-corner standard (triple and mini recognition) | 3-corner standard (triple and mini recognition) | 3-corner T nerfed kick (will register on a triple) | 3-corner T nerfed kick (will register on a triple) | 3-corner T no kick | 3-corner T nerfed kick (will not register on a triple) | 3-corner T no kick | 3-corner T no kick | 3-corner T nerfed kick (will register on a triple, no visual effect differences) | Single Player: 3-corner T nerfed kick (will register on a triple, no visual effect differences) Multiplayer: 3-corner T |
3-corner T nerfed kick (will register on a triple, no visual effect differences) | No | Clear a line using a T, with final action being rotation | No | 3-corner T no wall | 3-corner T no wall | Immobile | ||
| Twists of pieces other than T recognized | J, L, S, and Z spins (tutorials only) | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | J, L, S, and Z spins | None | None | J, L, S, and Z spins | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | Some (square mode) None (all other modes) |
Some (square mode) None (all other modes) |
All |
| Back-to-Back recognition | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris only | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | Tetris/T-spin | No | No | No | Tetris only | Tetris only | No | ||
| Perfect clear score bonuses | Yes (variable) | Yes (variable) | Yes (variable) | Yes (variable) | Yes (variable) | Yes (variable) | Yes (variable) | Yes (variable) | Yes (variable) | Yes (variable) | No | Yes (variable) | No | No | Yes (fixed) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (visual effect only) | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Known guideline version | 2014 | 2014 | 2014 | 2014 | 2014 | 2014 | 2014 | 2009 | 2009 | 2009 | 2009 | 2008 | 2008 | 2006 | ? | 2006? | 2005? | 2006 | 2006? | 2005 | 2005 | 2005 | 2002? | 2005 | 2002 | 2002? | 2002? | None (Defines 2002 guideline itself) | None | None |
| Tetris Journey | Tetris (N3TWORK) | Tetris 99 | Tetris Effect | Tetris Ultimate | Tetris (tetris.com) | Puyo Puyo Tetris | Tetris (2011, Electronic Arts) | Tetris: Axis | Tetris (PlayStation 3) | Tetris Battle (Facebook) | Tetris Party | Tetris Friends | Tetris Splash | Tetris Online (Japan) | Tetris Evolution | Tetris Zone | Tetris: New Century | iPod Tetris | Tetris Gold | Tetris DS | Tetris Black | Tetris Deluxe | Tetris The Grand Master Ace | Tetris The Grand Master 3 | Tetris Advance | Tetris Kiwamemichi | Tetris Worlds (PS2, Xbox, GCN, PC) | Tetris Worlds (GBA) | The New Tetris | |
| Release date | Jul 21 | Jan 20 | Feb 19 | Nov 18 | Nov 14 | Jul 14 | Feb 14 | Dec 11 | Oct 11 | Dec 10 | Jun 10 | Oct 08 | Aug 08 | Oct 07 | Jun 07 | Mar 07 | Feb 07 | Sep 06 | Sep 06 | Sep 06 | May 06 | Mar 06 | Mar 12 | Dec 05 | Mar 05 | Nov 03 | Nov 03 | Nov 01 | Nov 01 | Jul 99 |
| Platform category | Mobile phone application | Mobile phone application | Stationary Console | Stationary Console, PC | Stationary Console, PC | Web | Stationary Console, PC | Mobile phone application | Handheld Console | Stationary Console | Web | Stationary Console | Web | Stationary Console | PC | Stationary Console | PC | Stationary Console | Handheld Gadget | Handheld Gadget | Handheld Console | Handheld Gadget | Handheld Gadget | Stationary Console | Arcade | Handheld Console | Arcade, Stationary Console | Stationary Console, PC | Handheld Console | Stationary Console |
| Move sound | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | |
| Spin sound | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Line-specific clear sounds | All w/ voice | All | All | All | All | All | All with character voiceover | All | All | All | All | All | All | All w/ voice for Tetris & T-Spin | All w/ voice for non-single line clears | Yes | All w/ voice for Tetris & T-Spin | Tetris only | Tetris only | All | Tetris only | All w/ voice | No | All | All w/ voice | Tetris only | Tetris, twist, lines containing squares | |||
| "Korobeiniki" song | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (as part of medley) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| "Kalinka" song | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes (late unlock) | ||||
| "Katyusha" song | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes (as part of medley) | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |