Columns (World)

Columns (World) presents a unique twist on the falling block puzzle genre. Columns challenges players to arrange columns of three colored blocks – red, yellow, and blue – that cascade down the playfield. Unlike games like Tetris, these columns cannot be rotated; instead, pressing a button shifts their order, requiring careful planning to create horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines of matching colors. Successfully clearing lines causes them to vanish, sending any blocks above tumbling downwards which can trigger chain reactions and higher scores. The game is designed for two players, allowing for friendly competition as you both strive to build the most impressive cascades. Originally released in 1990 by Sega, Columns ran on the System C-2 hardware and quickly gained a dedicated following within the puzzle arcade scene. While not as ubiquitous as its contemporaries, it remains a respected example of the drop puzzle genre with simple mechanics that are rewarding to master.