Columns

Columns is a puzzle arcade game and console game with many similarities to Tetris, which was released by Sega in 1990.

The game takes place inside a tall well-shaped playing area, as in Tetris. Columns of three different symbols (such as differently-coloured jewels) appear, one at a time, at the top of the well and fall to the bottom, landing either on the floor or on top of previously-fallen columns.

Whilst a column is falling, the player can move it left and right, and can also cycle the positions of the symbols within it.

If, after a column has fallen, there are three or more of the same symbols connected in a straight line horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, those symbols disappear. The pile of columns then settles under gravity. If this causes three or more other systems to become aligned, they also disappear and the pile settles again. This process repeats as many times as necessary. It is not uncommon for this to happen three or four times in a row - it often happens by accident when the well is becoming crowded.

Like Tetris, the columns fall faster and faster as the player progresses. The goal of the game is to play for as long as possible before the well fills up with symbols.