The main menu immediately sets the tone. Instead of presenting a simple list of games, you’re greeted with five distinct chapters exploring different eras of Tetris history. Each chapter is a timeline featuring playable games, documentary videos, high-resolution scans, photos, advertisements, and key memorabilia that provide meaningful context.

This museum-like approach is an incredible way to contextualise Tetris. It’s one thing to watch the 2023 film or read individual conversations over the decades online, but Tetris Forever provides the perfect collection of “how” and “why” behind each iteration. Interviews with Pajitnov and Rogers add depth and authenticity. Their recounting of licensing battles and the game’s journey out of the Soviet Union is riveting, giving a sense of the sheer effort it took to make Tetris a worldwide sensation.

Additionally, the two have built such a close friendship out of their business partnership and it’s sweet to watch them coexist and talk about each other with such admiration. These moments make you realise how real the journey of Tetris has been and continues to be, despite its mammoth recognition across the world.

As part of Digital Eclipse’s Gold Master Series, Tetris Forever is a superb case in preserving and celebrating video game history. By elevating these stories and presenting them in a dynamic, engaging format available in your home rather than a museum on the other side of the world, the Gold Master Series continues to redefine how players experience the history and evolution of video games.

Playing Tetris Time Warp in multiplayer mode transforms the traditionally solitary puzzle game into an intense, fast-paced competition. Squaring off against a friend on the couch is a dynamic test of speed, strategy, and adaptability. Time Warp also uses its time travel feature as a disadvantage, sending your opponent back in time where fewer innovations and mechanics are available which makes it harder for them to keep up. Still, the lack of online multiplayer or leaderboards does diminish the experience for those hoping to compete with friends or climb global rankings.

The games included in this collection are still a joy to play, with near-flawless emulation that captures even the original versions’ quirks, such as their characteristic slowdown. Witnessing the subtle gameplay tweaks in each successive iteration highlights the series’ evolution and gives you a deeper appreciation for how Tetris has refined itself over the decades.

The glaring gap in the collection is most Nintendo-licensed Tetris games, including the iconic Game Boy version. Due to licensing constraints, these beloved titles, which played a crucial role in shaping Tetris’ legacy, are not part of the package. Imagine visiting an exhibit on impressionism and finding no Monet—it’s understandable but deeply disappointing. Despite this, the interactive documentary succeeds in offering a thoughtful, engaging experience that highlights the cultural and historical significance of Tetris.

The documentary elements are equally compelling. Thoughtfully designed menus, timelines, and interactive features create the feel of a curated gallery exhibit. High-quality interviews with key figures combined with archival footage vividly bring the history of Tetris to life. With the press of a button, you’re able to turn off and on subtitles, zoom in, and control playback as you’d expect.

The audio design is another highlight. Each game’s sound is faithfully preserved, offering a nostalgic treat for longtime fans. Meanwhile, Tetris Time Warp elevates this with music that evolves to match the era being referenced, creating an audio journey through the game’s history. They also thankfully throw in the original Tetris theme, without any remixing or changes, just as you know and love.

Yet, the collection’s dedication to preserving each game in its original form does create inconsistencies. The differing control schemes and sound designs, while true to their time, can feel disjointed when viewed as a single collection. Despite this, the care taken to maintain each title’s authenticity ultimately enriches the historical value of the experience.