NES Tetris Gravity Speed Comparison (Frames per Row)
NES Tetris gravity speeds in frames, from level 0 at 48 to level 29 at 1. Hard Drop wiki ROM table with linked converter tool. See all 15 levels listed here.
Visual comparison
All values
Click any row to load it as Entry A.
| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 0 Slowest row here. Start pace. | 48 frames | Start level, 0.799 sec per row | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Level 0 48 frames per row |
| Level 1 Five faster than start. | 43 frames | NES 60fps ROM table | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Level 1 43 frames |
| Level 2 Ten faster than start. | 38 frames | NES ROM table | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Level 2 38 frames |
| Level 3 Fifteen faster than start. | 33 frames | NES ROM table | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Level 3 33 frames |
| Level 4 Twenty faster than start. | 28 frames | NES ROM table | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Level 4 28 frames |
| Level 5 Under half a second. | 23 frames | NES ROM table | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Level 5 23 frames |
| Level 6 Thirty faster than start. | 18 frames | NES ROM table | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Level 6 18 frames |
| Level 7 Steep curve starts. | 13 frames | NES ROM table | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Level 7 13 frames |
| Level 8 Thirteen to eight cliff. | 8 frames | NES ROM table, steep drop | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Level 8 8 frames |
| Level 9 One tenth of a second. | 6 frames | Classic pace pre-19 | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Level 9 6 frames |
| Level 10 Grouped in ROM. | 5 frames | ROM grouped 10-12 | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Levels 10-12 5 frames |
| Level 13 Grouped in ROM. | 4 frames | ROM grouped 13-15 | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Levels 13-15 4 frames |
| Level 16 Grouped in ROM. | 3 frames | ROM grouped 16-18 | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Levels 16-18 3 frames |
| Level 19 Tournament level. | 2 frames | ROM grouped 19-28, tourney pace | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Levels 19-28 2 frames |
| Level 29 Priciest row here. One frame per row. | 1 frames | ROM 29 plus, true kill screen | Hard Drop Wiki NES Tetris table: Level 29+ 1 frame |
About this converter
NES Tetris ROM gravity runs 48 to 1 frames per gridcell at 60fps. Levels 0 through 9 step 48, 43, 38, 33, 28, 23, 18, 13, 8 and 6 with a steep 13 to 8 cliff. Grouped ROM rows follow: levels 10 to 12 at 5, 13 to 15 at 4, 16 to 18 at 3, 19 to 28 at 2 and 29 plus at 1 true kill screen. Level 0 rows take 0.799 seconds each. Level ups add 1 per 10 lines past start times ten plus ten. Guideline, Tengen and modern marathon tables differ and stay out since one ROM anchors every row.
How to use it
Pick two levels and a unit in the top row. The three boxes below stay linked. Change any box and the other two update. Try 1 level 0 against level 29 to see the forty eight to one gap. Lower frames mean faster falls.
DAS tuning and hypertapping shape survival more than raw gravity past level 19. PAL versions run 50fps timing and stay out of NTSC rows. Lock delay never exists on NES, so pieces fall straight through at 1 frame. A-Type level ups add 1 per 10 lines past start times ten plus ten. Tournament play starts at level 19 for the classic 2 frame pace.
FAQ
How fast is NES Tetris level 0?
48 frames per row, about 0.799 seconds at 60fps.
What is the kill screen?
Level 29 plus at 1 frame per row. Pieces fall instantly.
Why group levels 10 to 12?
The ROM stores one speed for the group. Same through level 28.
Do these cover Guideline Tetris?
No. NES Nintendo 1989 ROM only. Guideline gravity differs.
Sources
- Hard Drop Wiki Tetris NES Nintendo 1989 (gravity table stored at $898E, levels 0-29+)
Last verified: 2026-10-01 · 15 entries
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