Section 4: Gameplay & Modes
Core Loop
- A piece spawns at the top and falls at the current gravity speed.
- Move and rotate it; a soft drop speeds descent, a hard drop places it instantly.
- Once it lands and locks, any completed lines clear and the next piece spawns.
- Gravity increases with level, and at the highest levels pieces lock almost immediately.
Rotation and Kicks
The Guideline defines the Super Rotation System, in which a rotation blocked by a wall or the stack is retried at offset positions — a wall kick. This is what makes T-spins possible and is the clearest single difference from classic-era versions.
Common Modes
- Marathon / endless: play until top out.
- Sprint: clear 40 lines as fast as possible.
- Ultra: maximise score in a fixed time.
- Versus: line clears send garbage rows to an opponent.