Nintendo Switch owners can download a surprise new game for free this weekend.
A recent Direct event revealed a slew of new titles coming to the hybrid console over the coming months.
And this also included the news that a new Battle Royale Tetris game is available to download this week.
Tetris 99 is not a demo trial that will run out in a couple of days but a fully fledged title taking the world by storm.
And the new game is exactly what it might sound like, the opportunity to battle 98 other gamers until you emerge victorious as the sole winner.
It’s the latest spin on the Battle Royale genre and free to download and play on the Nintendo Switch.
The only downside is that you need an active Nintendo Online subscription to play it.
“99 players…but only one will remain! Tetris 99 is the iconic puzzle game as you’ve never seen it before.
“Can you pick the right strategy to best 98 other players online – all at the same time?! Tetris 99 is available as an exclusive offer for members of the Nintendo Switch Online paid membership service.
“After all, Tetris 99 is all about battling online for block-dropping dominance against players around the world.
“In large-scale, 99-player battles, it’ll take speed, skill, and strategy to knock out the competition and become the last player standing.
“You can target opponents by sending them Garbage Blocks, but be careful…your rivals can target you back.
“Defeat opponents to acquire KO badges that may give you the advantage on future attacks. Survive the onslaught and look forward to upcoming online events.”
The other thing to note about Tetris 99 is that it is a fully fledged exclusive for the Nintendo Switch.
You can’t download and play Tetris 99 on PC, Xbox One or PS4, making it a pretty unique experience for the time being.
Tetris fans should be warned that the new game doesn’t come with much of a tutorial, meaning you will need to jump in and work out the rules yourself.
And if you thought that Tetris 99 would remain a one-trick pony that could fizzle out in the coming days, it appears that the new BR experience is getting new game modes.
Data miners have found evidence that Tetris 99 will expand in the near future on Nintendo Switch.
Like any good Battle Royale experience, will Tetris 99 will soon offer group games, among other classic challenges.
Team Battle will see two giant teams fight for victory, while COM Battle will offer a single-player bot-only challenge.
The classic-sounding Marathon mode, meanwhile, will offer endless gameplay and a changeable starting level.
Online events are being planned for Tetris 99, so fans can expect new badges to earn in the coming months.
And from the sound of the online chatter, there’s going to be plenty of people hanging around to play Tetris 99 in the future.
