16-Year-Old Tetris NES Player Achieves Historic Milestone

A young Tetris enthusiast has achieved what no one else has managed in the game's 35-year legacy: reaching level 255 and triggering the legendary "rebirth," which loops the game back to its very first level. This groundbreaking feat was accomplished by a 16-year-old player during a live stream on Twitch, sending shockwaves through both the Tetris and wider gaming communities.

Tetris, the iconic puzzle game where players must rotate and arrange falling blocks to form and clear lines, has maintained a solid fan base over the decades. Interestingly, the classic NES version of the game has seen a resurgence in popularity recently. Last year, a 13-year-old named Blue Scuti made headlines by reaching the infamous "kill screen" at level 157, setting a high bar for competitors. Yet, this latest achievement by the 16-year-old takes things to another level, shattering records and setting a new standard for Tetris mastery.

A New Champion Emerges in Tetris

According to Ars Technica, the Tetris prodigy, Michael "dogplayingtetris" Artiaga, reached this incredible milestone during a live Twitch session, captivating hundreds of viewers. In a jaw-dropping display of skill, he cleared approximately 3,300 lines over the course of an hour and 20 minutes. This achievement, once deemed impossible, was made attainable thanks to modern techniques like rolling and hypertapping, which have revolutionized high-level Tetris gameplay.

It’s worth noting that Artiaga played on a modified NES Tetris ROM designed to prevent the game from crashing at high levels—a safeguard against the notorious kill screen that ended Blue Scuti's attempt. This special version allows for an extended run beyond the traditional limits of the game.

The True Challenge of Level 235

Even though Artiaga was using a ROM version, his achievement remains extraordinary. The NES Tetris game itself has a notorious glitch at level 235, requiring players to clear a staggering 810 lines at the highest speed setting—a task that took Artiaga a grueling 20 minutes to complete. Once he cleared level 255 and activated the mythical "rebirth," he kept going, pushing his limits until he reached level 91 before finally deciding to stop. His final score? A mind-blowing 29,486,164 points, leaving previous Tetris records in the dust.

The Everlasting Legacy of Tetris

As Tetris approaches its 40th anniversary, its influence on gaming is stronger than ever. To mark this milestone, the franchise is launching the Tetris Forever Collection, a compilation that will include over 15 classic games from the series, such as Hatris, Super BomBliss, and Super Tetris 3. The collection will also introduce a brand-new title, Tetris Time Warp, bringing fresh challenges to the iconic series. With a planned release in 2024, it’s clear that Tetris continues to captivate players across generations and remains a timeless cornerstone of gaming culture.