Alexey Pajitnov: The Mind Behind Tetris
Alexey Pajitnov, the brilliant creator of the iconic falling-and-rotating-block puzzle game Tetris, stands as one of the most revered figures in the gaming industry. His innovative formula, conceived during his time as a computer engineer in the Soviet Union, has generated a plethora of adaptations and variants — including Tetris Plus, Tetris Worlds, Tetris Effect, and Tetris 99. To date, these iterations have collectively sold over 520 million copies.
Despite his monumental success, Pajitnov, now 69, expresses a marked disinterest in discussing his legacy. Instead, he is drawn to conversations about the games that were either canceled or overlooked, his past designs that evoke a sense of embarrassment, and the realization that his most significant achievement likely occurred many years ago. “I don’t like to talk about success,” he reflects, “because everybody else does.”
Pajitnov’s creative contributions are prominently featured in Tetris Forever, a unique project that serves as both a game and an engaging documentary. This immersive experience allows players to:
- Watch insightful interviews with Pajitnov and Henk Rogers, his long-time collaborator.
- Explore artifacts that trace the development history of Tetris.
- Sample over a dozen variations of the game, beginning with a recreation of the original 1984 version coded on a vintage Soviet-era computer.
- Learn about the complex journey of the game’s commercial release beyond the Iron Curtain.
In Tetris Forever, Pajitnov appears as a guest star, embodying a blend of warmth and stoicism. However, in a recent conversation near his home in Bellevue, Washington, he shared deeper insights about life beyond Tetris, including his nine-year stint at Microsoft and his ongoing aspiration to create another successful game.
Pajitnov expressed that even if his current design endeavors do not achieve commercial success, he finds fulfillment in pursuing them on his own terms. “I decided that I will do the game myself,” he stated about one of his unreleased projects. “I enjoyed it a lot, and I don’t care whether other people will like it or not.”
