Nintendo has released a new update for Tetris 99 that adds some offline modes to the game, but you’ll have to reach for your wallet if you want to play them.
Tetris 99 is a free-to-play battle royale version of Tetris that comes as part of a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, allowing players to test their block breaking skills against 98 other players. It’s been a strictly online-only experience so far but that changes with this update. The update, called Big Block, adds an offline version of the battle royale mode which will be available for players who don’t have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription and would normally miss out on the game.
Of course, you may have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription but still want to play the game offline, simply to practice your skills against the computer-controlled opponents before heading online. Tetris 99’s Big Block DLC will allow you to do just that – when playing offline you’ll still be competing against 98 other AI-controlled adversaries (Nintendo is encouraging players to “defeat the machines”, which sounds a bit Terminator’y), so any skills you learn should be transferrable to the free, online version of the game.
Aside from the offline battle royale mode, the update also adds a Marathon Mode to the game, which is effectively the Tetris that we have all known and loved for years now. If you’re unfamiliar with how Tetris works—what is wrong with you?—then the aim is to clear lines of blocks as quickly as possible to try and earn as high of a score as possible.
Tetris 99’s Big Block DLC is available right now through the Nintendo eShop for £8.99/$9.99.
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