What Comes Next After Beating ‘Tetris’

In a remarkable feat, 16-year-old Michael Khanh Artiaga achieved what has eluded millions for nearly forty years: he finished Tetris.

As reported by DW, the iconic puzzle game, created in the Soviet Union, tests players’ skills in stacking falling 2D blocks to create a solid wall without gaps.

As players progress from level 0 to 29, the pieces fall at increasing speeds, ultimately reaching a point where most players struggle to keep up. When the blocks reach the top of the screen, it’s game over.

Tetris has captivated players worldwide, selling over 435 million copies across various platforms, including the classic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

Many experts have developed unique techniques for controlling the game, allowing them to manage the relentless pace at its highest levels.

Last year, young gamer Willies Gibson reached level 157 before a system crash halted his game, which many celebrated as “beating” Tetris. However, a final milestone still remained.

In October 2024, livestreaming on Twitch under the username “dogplayingtetris,” Artiaga skillfully navigated through glitches that often disrupt gameplay at extreme levels.

After 80 minutes of intense focus, he became the first player ever to reach level 255.

However, after this historic achievement on the Nintendo console, the game offered no celebration or reward; instead, it simply reset back to level 0.

Unlike movies, books, or music, many video games lack a definitive conclusion. Games like Tetris and the popular mobile game Candy Crush present an endless series of digital challenges.

Some titles restrict access to new content until players demonstrate their abilities, while others require additional payments for expansions and new levels.

Kissed by a Princess

Conversely, some games have clear narratives leading to an endpoint, such as the classic Super Mario Bros. In this beloved 1980s title, players control Mario, a plumber on a quest to rescue Princess Peach from the villain Bowser.

After conquering 32 levels across eight worlds, Mario ultimately frees the princess, who rewards him with a kiss. Players then have the option to conclude the game or continue playing at a higher difficulty.

Encountering the Grim Reaper

Then there are games without a specific end goal, such as The Sims. This hugely popular franchise, which has sold over 200 million copies, allows players to control virtual characters in a simulated world.

Players can pursue various life paths, including wealth, family, or personal crises, but there’s no clear endpoint.

Theoretically, players can engage with The Sims indefinitely. While original characters age and die, the game continues through their offspring.

Sims can meet their demise from old age, illness, or even player-induced disasters, with the Grim Reaper arriving to collect them.

After performing his duty, he sometimes lingers in the home, adding an unpredictable element to the gameplay.

The Only Goal is Playing

Minecraft is another example of a game with an open-ended narrative. Since its release in 2011, the game has inspired millions to build vast, imaginative worlds through resource gathering, survival, and creativity.

As a sandbox game, players set their own objectives, with no defined conclusion.

Despite lacking a specific ending, Minecraft offers an unlockable credits scene if players seek it out.

They must locate a hidden portal and defeat a dragon to access a thought-provoking cutscene featuring two enigmatic beings discussing the player’s journey.

“They have reached a higher level now. They can read our thoughts,” one entity states. “That doesn’t matter,” replies the other. “They think we are part of the game.”

Artiaga, after achieving the monumental “rebirth” and setting a new world record, continued playing and climbed back up to level 90.

In many cases, simply playing can be the only goal that truly matters.