Wordtris hits different when it boots instantly in your browser. Released in 1991 on the Super Nintendo, this retro classic from Spectrum HoloByte is ready the second you press start — no downloads, no setup.
Wordtris is a Tetris offshoot designed by Sergei Utkin, Vyacheslav Tsoy and Armen Sarkissian and published by Spectrum HoloByte in 1991 for MS-DOS compatible operating systems. Ports were released for the Game Boy and Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992, followed by a Mac version in 1993.
🎮 USB or Bluetooth controller? Plug it in, Once Detected Click Here to Open Your Controller Options
⭐ Premium members can click any key below to remap the controls. Go Premium
| Action | Keyboard | Controller |
|---|---|---|
| D-Pad Up | ↑ | D-Pad up |
| D-Pad Down | ↓ | D-Pad down |
| D-Pad Left | ← | D-Pad left |
| D-Pad Right | → | D-Pad right |
| B (bottom) | X | Bottom face |
| A (right) | Z | Right face |
| Y (left) | S | Left face |
| X (top) | A | Top face |
| L | Q | Left shoulder |
| R | E | Right shoulder |
| Start | Enter | Start |
| Select | V | Select |
Create a free account to unlock the full experience for :
Show the world what Retro is really about.
First registered run claims the top spot. It won't stay easy for long.
Playing counts once you're signed in — register free in the player above.
The Story Behind Wordtris
While the Game Boy and SNES versions contain looping music, the other ports do not. Wordtris is a Tetris offshoot designed by Sergei Utkin, Vyacheslav Tsoy and Armen Sarkissian (who later became President of Armenia) and published by Spectrum HoloByte in 1991 for MS-DOS compatible operating systems. The MS-DOS, Game Boy, and Macintosh versions of Wordtris have original music by Ed Bogas, while the Super NES music is by Paul Mogg.
Ports were released for the Game Boy and Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992, followed by a Mac version in 1993. The background pictures (except the title screen) were taken from Spectrum Holobyte's earlier Super Tetris. Bogas composed the soundtrack for Wordtris using his own music software Super Studio Session for the Macintosh, in which his MIDI files were converted to the game in MIDI format.
How Wordtris Plays
If the player does not choose a letter, the block will become a random letter when it stops. In the Super NES version, players advance from levels "A" to "J." Occasionally, a free tile (denoted by a "?") will drop.
The object of the game is to build words of three letters or more using the tiles that fall from the top of the playing area. If the player manages to construct the magic word at the top of the screen, the well will be cleared of all tiles and the player will receive a large bonus. Eraser blocks will fall and remove whatever letter that they land on (in the SNES version, the eraser is replaced with bombs and vials of acid).
Why Players Still Load It Up
Computer Gaming World stated that "Wordtris, like its predecessors, is as infuriating as it is incredibly addictive ... Wordtris does it one better." The SNES version of the game was scored a 65% by N-Force Magazine. Wordtris is a Tetris offshoot designed by Sergei Utkin, Vyacheslav Tsoy and Armen Sarkissian (who later became President of Armenia) and published by Spectrum HoloByte in 1991 for MS-DOS compatible operating systems.
Ports were released for the Game Boy and Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992, followed by a Mac version in 1993.
Wordtris — Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play Wordtris online for free?
Yes — Wordtris runs directly in your browser on this page. There is nothing to download or install; the game boots in the player above.
Do I need a controller to play Wordtris?
A gamepad is optional. The keyboard mapping shown on this page works immediately, and plugging in a USB or Bluetooth controller switches the player over on its own.
Who developed Wordtris?
Wordtris was developed by Armenica (MS-DOS), Realtime Associates and published by Spectrum HoloByte.
Where can I buy the original Wordtris?
Scroll to "Other Places You Can Get This Game" beneath the write-up — it lists trusted stores selling official copies.