From June 6 through Oct. 31, gamers across the country have been stacking tetriminos in hopes of cracking the top 32 and earning a spot at the Red Bull Tetris United States National Finals. The in-person showdown takes place Nov. 22 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., where the best players will compete head-to-head on PC for the chance to represent the United States at the World Final in Dubai this December.

Thousands of licensed players—18 and older—have logged on at redbulltetris.com to play on mobile and desktop, using free Red Bull accounts or guest entries. Competitors submit their highest scores before the end of October, with standard data rates applying to all play. No purchase is necessary. Official rules and sweepstakes details are available online.

Gameplay combines classic Tetris mechanics with new twists: gravity flips, time-limited rounds, speed boosts, special power-ups and the coveted Golden Tetrimino. Clearing the Golden Tetrimino not only boosts a player’s score but also enters them into a random drawing for one of five invitations to Dubai, independent of National Final placement.

Players have been honing their skills thanks to developer-provided tips at redbulltetristips.com, emphasizing adaptability across platforms—from phone to drone-controlled displays—where over 2,000 airborne drones will recreate the final match inside the iconic Dubai Frame from Dec. 11–13. The spectacle marks the first live, playable Tetris game broadcast via drones, set against Dubai’s desert skyline.

Tournament Format and Prizes

The U.S. National Final follows a single-elimination bracket featuring 1-vs-1 matches. Each round pits contestants against one another in best-of-three games, with ties broken by solo time-attack challenges. Winners advance until a national champion is crowned on Nov. 22. The top finisher earns all-expenses-paid travel to the World Final, joining champions from over 55 nations.

Beyond national glory, competitors and casual players alike chase two routes to Dubai: scoring high enough to qualify for the U.S. bracket or capturing a Golden Tetrimino and hoping for a sweepstakes win. Together, these parallel paths offer a blend of merit-based competition and chance, broadening access to the global stage.

Red Bull Esports director Alicia Chen noted the event blends the familiar appeal of the original game with fresh, cutting-edge features, and she can’t wait to watch both veteran speed-runners and new players take on its unique challenges. Tetris CEO and President Maya Rogers stated that for four decades Tetris has united people across the globe without speaking a word, and she believes that competitors’ willingness to adapt to the updated format paves the way for a truly memorable world championship.

The Red Bull Tetris United States event highlights gaming’s evolving landscape, where retro titles find new life through hybrid experiences that span screens, platforms and even the skies. As the leaderboard resets on Nov. 1 ahead of the Hollywood finale, all eyes will turn to Florida—and then to Dubai—to witness who can master blocks, beats and boundless ambition.