Blow out the candles with WiiWare’s top five

3. Tetris Party

I reacted to Tetris Party the way a Washington Capitals fan responds to being eliminated by the Penguins in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“There was ’91, ’92, ’95, ’96, ’00, ’01, ’09—big deal, what’s new?”

But unlike the Pens’ playoff dominance of the Caps, there’s plenty new about Hudson’s WiiWare take on the classic cascading Russian puzzler. Standard Tetris modes are in tact for purists, but a slew of gameplay modes and options, including online multiplayer and even Balance Board support, round out a surprisingly diverse package.

Then there are the tournament modes, leaderboards—all for $12.

I didn’t expect a Tetris revision to turn into one of WiiWare’s richest titles, but unlike Mr. Ovechkin, Tetris Party isn’t a one-trick pony.