Should you get Puyo Puyo Champions or Puyo Puyo Tetris?

It is such a good time to be a Puyo Puyo fan. Puyo Puyo Tetris is available for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PC. Puyo Puyo eSports has been released worldwide as Puyo Puyo Champions for the Switch, PS4, Xbox One and PC. Even Sonic Mania paid tribute to the series with a boss fight that was Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine-themed. Sega Ages Puyo Puyo and Puyo Puyo 2 are both a thing.

But, with all of these options, people may have questions. Some might even not know about Puyo Puyo, due to the series’ absence over the years. Now that Puyo Puyo Tetris and Puyo Puyo Champions are both out at once, they may even wonder which would be the right one for them. Fortunately, we’re here to help.

I am new to Puyo Puyo.

Guess what? You should be playing Puyo Puyo Tetris! Part of this is because of the combination of Puyo Puyo and Tetris. Even if you aren’t familiar with the one puzzle game, odds are you know how the other one goes. You’re halfway to victory if you do!

Also, Puyo Puyo Tetris is very user-friendly. The campaign basically teaches you how to play both puzzle games. Its missions gradually increase in difficulty and feel designed to familiarize you with Puyo Puyo‘s mechanics.

It is especially a good place to start due to the demo. If someone has a Nintendo Switch, they can grab a free trial. It is a great way to get your feet wet.

I love puzzle games and silliness.

Puyo Puyo Tetris has the best story mode. I’m not exaggerating. It is hilarious. People on a Tetris-themed spaceship come to the Puyo Puyo world, with tetrominos falling everywhere. Every established character from the Puyo Puyo universe has to work with these new, original characters to solve the problem. Everyone is quirky. The localization is fantastic.

Plus, you are essentially getting three puzzle games in one. There’s Puyo Puyo, which is fantastic. You have Tetris, which is always fun. Then, the combination of the two basically feels like a third, original puzzle game that is absolutely worth playing. It is great.

I just want to play Puyo Puyo with friends.

Puyo Puyo Champions is all about that multiplayer experience, as the name would suggest. It has the Puyo Puyo Tsuu and Fever rulesets, local and online multiplayer option, 24 playable characters and an option to set up an eight-player tournament. It is all about proving yourself. (Though, there is an unranked Free Play online, if you just want to have fun.)

This isn’t to say there aren’t any single player options. You do have some challenge modes that let you try to earn certain amounts of points and such. There just isn’t a campaign, like there is in Puyo Puyo Tetris. 

I am familiar with and love all things Puyo Puyo.

Why choose? Yes, some Puyo Puyo Champions elements are already present in Puyo Puyo Tetris. However, both games are really great and have elements that are distinct and set them apart. Plus, buying both helps to show Sega that there is an audience for this series in other regions. Besides, someone who really loves Puyo Puyo would appreciate these two distinct installments and want each one eventually. So… why not both?