Play Columns (Japan) (NP) Online

Game Overview

Columns on SNES is basically Tetris but with jewels instead of blocks. You stack them as they fall, trying to line up three of the same color in a row—vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. The Japanese version has this weirdly hypnotic soundtrack that makes it way more relaxing than it should be while you're scrambling to stop the screen from filling up.

At first, it seems simple, but then the speed picks up and suddenly you're muttering at the screen because you swear that last piece was supposed to be red. It's one of those games where you tell yourself "just one more round" and then it's been an hour. The jewel-matching gimmick gives it a different feel from straight-up Tetris, though—more about setting up combos than just clearing lines.