Puyo Puyo and Tetris seems like a weird mix at first. The quick-fire nature of Tetris seems like an odd thing to combine with the slower-placed Puyo Puyo gameplay. Despite this, I loved Puyo Puyo Tetris in its Nintendo 3DS incarnation. I've tried to play it on the Wii U, but it simply didn't get the same reaction out of me mostly because I want to enjoy my puzzling action anywhere I like. Now I don't have to worry any longer as one of the finest Japanese games is coming to the Switch. The thrill is even better than before!

When you boot up the game, you are instantly greeted by the colorful title screenand three options that allow you to instantly start a game of Puyo Puyo, Tetris or Mix Mode. A puzzle game should wear its pick-up-and-play factor on its sleeves and Puyo Puyo Tetris does exactly that. The fact that I can boot up the game and be in a game in less than a minute is perfect for the handheld mode. It also helps that the gameplay runs quite smooth, which certainly keeps you coming back for more instant fun. However, it becomes even better when you open up the full menu and experience the full range of options Puyo Puyo Tetris offers on Switch.

First of all, there is a full adventure mode in which you follow the characters of the Puyo Puyo franchise. Ringo, Amitie and Arle witness blocks falling from the sky. Naturally, they think that they are Puyos at first, but it turns that they are more square than what they’re used to. The blocks transport them to a space station where they will encounter a new set of friends. Captain Tee and its crew (all named after blocks) don’t battle with Puyo Puyo, but a strange unearthly thing called Tetris. Together they will find out why their worlds are colliding and come across a set of goofy characters. The best part about them is that they are all voiced and bring a witty charm to the table.

In this adventure mode, you will play missions which vary in difficulty. You will play versus matches involving a variety of characters, which will put your puzzle skills to the test. These missions judge you not only on speed, but also efficiency in destroying the opponents. Next to that, you are also presented with trials. In these, you will need to get a certain score or perform a certain action as quickly as possible. The structure is perfect for that one more go feeling, and you can easily knock out a couple of the missions while you are not busy. I found myself beating it in the handheld mode within a number of days as I was having a solid amount of fun with it.

If you are not interested in the dialogue, you can also choose to just play random modes in the Solo Arcade. There are not many single player challenge modes here. With just three for each of the games, plus the standard three on the title screen, you would wish for something that pushes boundaries. That is the only drawback of the package. Tetris and Puyo Puyo had both brilliant side games in the past, but Puyo Puyo Tetris doesn’t seem interested in pursuing that route. I can't exactly blame them for the approach as it is an excellent introduction to both gameplay styles. The games are balanced for beginners, but Puyo Puyo veterans looking for more of a challenge will probably be disappointed. The Tetris side gives you the options of Sprint, Marathon and Ultra, while Puyo Puyo offers Endless Fever, Endless Puyo and Tiny Puyo.

The majority of the fun here is in the competitive modes. The creativity shines through in these modes and they all prove to be heavily replayable. Of course, there is the basic Versus and here you can freely choose between Puyo Puyo and Tetris. Fusion Mode makes things really intense as you tackle both Tetriminos and Puyos on the same playing field. The additional layer of strategy involved with this puts you at the edge of your seat and it becomes quite intense once you get the hang of it. Then there is Swap Mode, where you swap every 30 seconds between a Tetris and Puyo Puyo field. Party Mode offers the same basic gameplay as the versus modes, but with the twist of items in play. You can really screw over others by preventing them from twisting any of their pieces, for example. Last but not least, there is the Big Bang Mode, which is basically an Endless Fever game. You will have to continue to solve easy puzzles for points and build up an attack bar. After a certain amount of time has passed, you will duke it out and those with an edge can deal some hefty damage to the opponent's hit points.

The Switch’s control options work amazingly well for Puyo Puyo Tetris. Naturally, the game can be enjoyed both on the television and portably which makes for puzzle fun everywhere. No matter where you are, the local multiplayer is just a Joy-Con away. You hand a controller to a friend and start playing in the configuration that you find the most comfortable. When the configurations aren’t enough, you can also pick the button layout for complete comfort. This is mostly perfect for Tetris as some might prefer the quick drop be put on a different button altogether. There is a solid amount of customization as you can pick various types of Puyos or Tetris blocks to use during battle. If you have each a copy of the game and the Nintendo Switch, you can also link up together and each play on your own screen. That aspect is quite good if both players want to play woth their own Switches.

On top of those options, you can also duke it out online in all of the multiplayer mode. You can play against random folk or easily set up a match with a friend. Even crazier, you can make your own lobbies with passwords and add specific rules to challenge the internet at large. This can be done in the Puzzle League, which sees battling to reach the top of ranking lists, but the hole goes deeper than that. All of the offline modes can be played online, with their own separate rankings to earn. No matter where you are or how you prefer to play it, the game offers diversity to all player types. The developers respect the various ways players want to consume this multiplayer madness and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

If I am being frank here, no other version of Puyo Puyo Tetris can beat the potential of the Switch release. It is the ultimate version as it can be enjoyed as in all three major ways of the console. Besides Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which is releasing the same week, there is no other game that highlights these aspects so incredibly well. The problems of pure solo options are elevated by the one-two punch of the local and online multiplayer and how you can set them up. What also helps is the inviting colorful style and cheery music that instantly gets you in the mood. I am in particularly impressed with the remixed Tetris tunes that truly fit this new environment.

Puyo Puyo Tetris makes its way to Nintendo Switch in spectacular fashion. With the best multiplayer options out of the box, this puzzler can't be missed for anyone in the need of fun. The solid amount of modes make that quick go enticing, intriguing and above all entertaining. Back when I reviewed it on the Nintendo 3DS, my complaint of the solo modes did hamper my experience somewhat. The Switch alleviates those concerns since the multiplayer is so easy to get running. It helps that it is a colorful and bright adventure that triggers the senses and just makes you smile. Puyo Puyo Tetris is, without a doubt, one of the best games currently available on the Switch. Don’t miss out!