Tetris Effect: Connected

Tetris Effect: Connected combines the classic Tetris principle with music and animated game worlds that react to your play. Falling blocks are assembled into complete rows. Every move affects sounds, light and movement in the background at the same time.

The Connected version includes the single-player modes of Tetris Effect and adds local and cross-platform multiplayer matches. Alongside direct duels, there are also joint battles against computer-controlled opponents.

Tetris Effect first came out for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR on Nov 9, 2018. The first PC version followed on Jul 23, 2019 on the Epic Games Store, and the Meta Quest version on May 14, 2020. Under the name Tetris Effect: Connected, the expanded version launched for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on Nov 10, 2020.

The additional multiplayer feature came to the earlier versions on Aug 17, 2021, at the same time as the Steam launch. Connected released for Nintendo Switch on Oct 8, 2021, and for PlayStation 5 with support for PlayStation VR2 on Feb 22, 2023.

Tetris Effect: Connected is available natively on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Meta Quest. On PC it is available through Steam, Epic Games and the Microsoft Store, among others. On compatible devices the game can also be played in virtual reality.

The PS5 version with PlayStation VR2 is a standalone console version. Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S also have their own native versions. A streaming service such as Amazon Luna, by contrast, is not another native console platform.

The basic rule stays the same: blocks of different shapes fall into a playing field and disappear as soon as a horizontal row is completely filled. A piece can be held back for later. Speed, precision and keeping the playing field clear decide high scores.

Music, particle effects and backdrops react to rotations, movements and cleared lines. So a round feels different than in a plain classic Tetris version, without changing the basic building rules.

Connected adds cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes to Tetris Effect. Owners of the original versions received these features as a free update in 2021. The editions available today include the expanded game content.

A separately sold Digital Deluxe DLC adds music tracks, background images and profile pictures. It does not add any further playfields or additional campaign sections.

For the PC version, Steam lists these minimum requirements: Windows 10 64-bit, an Intel Core i3-4340, 4 GB RAM, a GeForce GTX 750 Ti or comparable graphics card, DirectX 11 and 5 GB of free storage space. This configuration is intended for playing the game without VR.

An Intel Core i5-4590, 8 GB RAM and a GeForce GTX 970 or comparable graphics performance are recommended. VR requires more powerful hardware. Supported are, among others, SteamVR and Oculus PC VR.

The Zone mechanic temporarily stops the falling blocks. The bar needed for it fills up when rows are cleared. While the Zone is active, fully filled lines initially stay on the playfield, so further clears can be collected.

This buys time to dismantle a dangerously high stack or to clear especially many rows in a row. The ability also plays a central role in the direct duel mode Zone Battle.

Journey takes you through more than 30 differently designed stages. Each level has its own colors, backdrops and music, which change with the gameplay. Three difficulty levels cater to beginners and experienced Tetris players.

The journey links consecutive playfields into a musical sequence. A high score is not the only motivation here: switching between tracks and environments shapes the mode.

Effect Modes offer different goals beyond the Journey. Relax offers calmer variants, and Focus requires concentrated solving of specific tasks. Classic applies well-known Tetris rules, while Adventurous experiments with its own conditions.

The modes also include well-known variants such as Marathon and Sprint. This allows short sessions or longer challenges without having to restart the campaign.

In Connected mode, up to three players team up against computer-controlled opponents. They first clear lines on their own playfields and link their playfields into one larger shared area during the Zone.

Teamwork requires coordination when stacking and clearing. Fallen teammates can be revived with actions timed to the beat. Connected can be played both online and locally.

Zone Battle pits two players directly against each other. Both use the time-stop mechanic to clear lines as effectively as possible. In Score Attack, two people play separately for high scores without sending rows to each other.

Classic Score Attack uses older Tetris rules: there is neither a held piece nor a fast hard drop. Blocks lock in place immediately on contact. This changes the rhythm and requires a different playstyle.

The online multiplayer mode supports shared games across different platforms. Friends can play in the same round even if they use PC, Switch or PlayStation, for example.

Save data, however, is generally not transferred between platforms. Exceptions exist within the Xbox/Microsoft family and when moving from PS4 to PS5. The transfer to PS5 is offered on first launch via the option to convert the save data.

Tetris Effect: Connected can be played on a regular screen or in virtual reality on supported platforms. PlayStation VR is supported on PS4, and PlayStation VR2 on the native PS5 version. The PC version also offers VR modes, and there is a separate version for Meta Quest.

In VR, animated scenery surrounds the playfield. The actual Tetris matrix stays in view, while music and effects form a spatial backdrop. On the PS5 version, VR is optional and not required.

On PlayStation 5, Tetris Effect: Connected supports 4K at 60 frames per second. The PS VR2 version offers up to 120 frames per second and a resolution of 2000 × 2040 pixels per eye. The DualSense controller adds matching vibration signals to the gameplay.

Xbox Series X is designed for 4K at 60 frames per second, and Series S for 1440p at 60 frames per second. On Nintendo Switch you can play locally with Joy-Con or Pro Controller, both on the TV and on the go.

Hydelic composed the music for Tetris Effect: Connected. The tracks accompany the game worlds and, together with the sound effects, react to the tempo and the actions on the playfield.

German on-screen text is available on Steam. A German voice-over is not listed there. Controllers are supported, and on PC also keyboards and compatible VR input devices.