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The Perfect Game: Tetris: From Russia With Love
The Tetris Henk B. Rogers' Bold Quest to Turn a Soviet Puzzle into a Global Gaming Icon
Discover the riveting journey of Henk B. Rogers, a visionary entrepreneur who transformed Tetris from a humble Soviet puzzle game into an international sensation. From programming his first hit game in Japan, to defying geopolitical boundaries in the Soviet Union, Rogers’ relentless pursuit of innovation led to the creation of the Tetris Company and cemented his place in gaming history. Follow his thrilling story of high-stakes negotiations, unyielding determination, and a passion for sustainable energy that reshaped his life beyond video games.
Henk B. Rogers, a pioneering force in the video game industry, is celebrated for launching Japan’s first role-playing game, “The Black Onyx,” and for turning Tetris into a global phenomenon. His fearless business ventures, including his groundbreaking deal with the Soviet Union, and his advocacy for renewable energy through the Blue Planet Foundation, make Rogers a standout figure. His contributions have garnered international recognition and continue to impact the gaming industry and sustainability efforts worldwide.
Readers will find themselves captivated by the story of Tetris, a game that became an unlikely cultural phenomenon. Rogers’ determination to bring Tetris to the world, coupled with his personal mission to combat climate change, makes this book both an exciting read and an inspiring call to action. Fans of video games, history, and environmental advocacy alike will be hooked from start to finish.
Discover the riveting journey of Henk B. Rogers, a visionary entrepreneur who transformed Tetris from a humble Soviet puzzle game into an international sensation. From programming his first hit game in Japan, to defying geopolitical boundaries in the Soviet Union, Rogers’ relentless pursuit of innovation led to the creation of the Tetris Company and cemented his place in gaming history. Follow his thrilling story of high-stakes negotiations, unyielding determination, and a passion for sustainable energy that reshaped his life beyond video games.
Henk B. Rogers, a pioneering force in the video game industry, is celebrated for launching Japan’s first role-playing game, “The Black Onyx,” and for turning Tetris into a global phenomenon. His fearless business ventures, including his groundbreaking deal with the Soviet Union, and his advocacy for renewable energy through the Blue Planet Foundation, make Rogers a standout figure. His contributions have garnered international recognition and continue to impact the gaming industry and sustainability efforts worldwide.
Readers will find themselves captivated by the story of Tetris, a game that became an unlikely cultural phenomenon. Rogers’ determination to bring Tetris to the world, coupled with his personal mission to combat climate change, makes this book both an exciting read and an inspiring call to action. Fans of video games, history, and environmental advocacy alike will be hooked from start to finish.
350 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 10, 2025
The Tetris movie was an unexpected delight when I had three months free of Apple TV+. I had never heard of it before, and I was so skeptical going into it—yet it was a surprisingly solid movie. Part biopic, part historical drama, it somehow managed to sensationalize and lionize the bringing of Tetris from Russia to other markets. So when I heard Henk Rogers had decided to tell the story in his own words, of course I had to check it out. Thanks to Di Angelo Publications and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for a review.
This book is very much an autobiography and memoir. Though his discovery and scuffle over Tetris is a large part of it, Rogers takes us all the way back to his parents’ childhood and follows his life all the way to the present day. If you are thinking you can get out of hearing about his time in high school or his daddy issues, you are sorely mistaken. However, when you pay that price of admission, you receive a very detailed look at Rogers’ involvement in Tetris. As he himself notes, this book is not an attempt to discredit the movie (which his daughter helped produce) but rather tell the most accurate version—according to him—of the story.
It’s very clear Rogers wrote this book himself (as opposed to hiring a ghostwriter) because the prose is short and choppy and almost impressively unappealing. I mean this unironically as a compliment: it is endearing how little rhetorical flair Rogers possesses. If you come to The Perfect Game expecting perfect prose, then you will be disappointed. Rogers provides clinical descriptions and often repeats himself or overexplains something (the book could have been better edited). Yet it … works? Like I read this book over the span of two nights. I was into it.
You should also be prepared for a background level of machismo and racism of the entrepreneurial variety. To be fair to Rogers, he seems like a good guy (more on that later). He gives his wife a lot of credit for helping him run Bullet Proof Software. But he also clearly has some fixed ideas (informed, it seems by his bio-dad’s abandonment and his relationship with his adoptive father, an incorrigible entrepreneur himself) about what it means to be a man in the world of business. Similarly, despite—or likely because of—living in Japan for decades and marrying a Japanese woman, Rogers’s description of Japanese culture and work ethic is pretty flat and stereotypical. None of it is (from my fairly limited perspective as a white woman) super problematic or a red flag but rather more of a “OK, boomer” kind of energy.
I’m willing to give Rogers a pass on the above, quite honestly, because he clearly cares about a lot more than video games. After he moves his family to Hawai‘i, he talks about setting up the Blue Planet Foundation and how deeply he cares about fighting climate change. He describes the concrete change his foundation’s activism has led to in the state. That’s pretty cool. Granted, one must always take an author’s self-aggrandizement with a grain of salt—but I looked up his Wikipedia article (because this is about the extent of serious research I care to do at the moment), and I couldn’t find much that might gainsay his claims in this book.
So in this way, Rogers truly endeared himself to me over the three-hundred-some pages of The Perfect Game. I love that he and Alexei are still friends to this day. I love how he is simultaneously modest, downplaying some of his hard work and giving a lot of credit to others, while also giving himself credit when he chooses, like the ideas he contributed that became standard in most Tetris. Rogers clearly has a well-developed philosophy of life that he is happy to share here, and once again, all I can say, with no small amount of bemusement: it works.
The Perfect Game is, as I have noted, far from a perfect book. Yet is is well worth an afternoon or two of comfort nonfiction reading. It’s a great balance of informative, reflective, and just kind of fun. I love learning about video game history, especially because I feel like I grew up in this really fascinating liminal time (the nineties) when video games were neither old nor new. Tetris is only slightly older than me, yet I never understood its significance until recently. Thanks to Henk Rogers, I understand it a lot more now!
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
This book is very much an autobiography and memoir. Though his discovery and scuffle over Tetris is a large part of it, Rogers takes us all the way back to his parents’ childhood and follows his life all the way to the present day. If you are thinking you can get out of hearing about his time in high school or his daddy issues, you are sorely mistaken. However, when you pay that price of admission, you receive a very detailed look at Rogers’ involvement in Tetris. As he himself notes, this book is not an attempt to discredit the movie (which his daughter helped produce) but rather tell the most accurate version—according to him—of the story.
It’s very clear Rogers wrote this book himself (as opposed to hiring a ghostwriter) because the prose is short and choppy and almost impressively unappealing. I mean this unironically as a compliment: it is endearing how little rhetorical flair Rogers possesses. If you come to The Perfect Game expecting perfect prose, then you will be disappointed. Rogers provides clinical descriptions and often repeats himself or overexplains something (the book could have been better edited). Yet it … works? Like I read this book over the span of two nights. I was into it.
You should also be prepared for a background level of machismo and racism of the entrepreneurial variety. To be fair to Rogers, he seems like a good guy (more on that later). He gives his wife a lot of credit for helping him run Bullet Proof Software. But he also clearly has some fixed ideas (informed, it seems by his bio-dad’s abandonment and his relationship with his adoptive father, an incorrigible entrepreneur himself) about what it means to be a man in the world of business. Similarly, despite—or likely because of—living in Japan for decades and marrying a Japanese woman, Rogers’s description of Japanese culture and work ethic is pretty flat and stereotypical. None of it is (from my fairly limited perspective as a white woman) super problematic or a red flag but rather more of a “OK, boomer” kind of energy.
I’m willing to give Rogers a pass on the above, quite honestly, because he clearly cares about a lot more than video games. After he moves his family to Hawai‘i, he talks about setting up the Blue Planet Foundation and how deeply he cares about fighting climate change. He describes the concrete change his foundation’s activism has led to in the state. That’s pretty cool. Granted, one must always take an author’s self-aggrandizement with a grain of salt—but I looked up his Wikipedia article (because this is about the extent of serious research I care to do at the moment), and I couldn’t find much that might gainsay his claims in this book.
So in this way, Rogers truly endeared himself to me over the three-hundred-some pages of The Perfect Game. I love that he and Alexei are still friends to this day. I love how he is simultaneously modest, downplaying some of his hard work and giving a lot of credit to others, while also giving himself credit when he chooses, like the ideas he contributed that became standard in most Tetris. Rogers clearly has a well-developed philosophy of life that he is happy to share here, and once again, all I can say, with no small amount of bemusement: it works.
The Perfect Game is, as I have noted, far from a perfect book. Yet is is well worth an afternoon or two of comfort nonfiction reading. It’s a great balance of informative, reflective, and just kind of fun. I love learning about video game history, especially because I feel like I grew up in this really fascinating liminal time (the nineties) when video games were neither old nor new. Tetris is only slightly older than me, yet I never understood its significance until recently. Thanks to Henk Rogers, I understand it a lot more now!
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
May 13, 2025
Book Review: The Perfect Game: Tetris – From Russia With Love by Henk B. Rogers
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
Overview
Henk B. Rogers’ The Perfect Game: Tetris – From Russia With Love is a gripping memoir and historical account of the high-stakes battle to secure the global rights to Tetris, the iconic Soviet-born puzzle game. Blending autobiography with corporate intrigue, Rogers—a key figure in Tetris’ commercialization—offers an insider’s perspective on the game’s journey from Cold War-era Russia to worldwide phenomenon. The book excels as both a business thriller and a tribute to gaming history, though it occasionally prioritizes personal narrative over broader cultural analysis.
Themes and Content
The narrative explores:
-Cold War Tensions: The geopolitical drama of licensing Tetris amid Soviet bureaucracy and Western competition.
-Entrepreneurial Grit: Rogers’ relentless pursuit of Tetris’ rights, revealing the cutthroat nature of early gaming industry deals.
-Cultural Impact: Reflections on how Tetris transcended its origins to become a universal language of play.
-Collaboration vs. Rivalry: The complex relationship between Rogers, Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov, and rival claimants like Nintendo and Atari.
Writing Style and Structure
Rogers’ prose is engaging and conversational, with a focus on pacing that mirrors Tetris’ addictive urgency. The memoir structure lends authenticity but occasionally drifts into anecdotal tangents. Historical context is woven organically, though readers unfamiliar with 1980s gaming may crave deeper technical or socio-political insights. The inclusion of archival documents (e.g., contract excerpts) adds scholarly weight.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
-Firsthand Authority: Rogers’ role as a central player lends unmatched credibility to the narrative.
-Narrative Tension: The licensing battle unfolds like a thriller, with palpable stakes and cliffhangers.
-Humanizing Detail: Personal anecdotes (e.g., Pajitnov’s struggles under Soviet rule) balance corporate machinations.
Weaknesses:
-Limited Critique: Glosses over controversies (e.g., profit-sharing disputes with Pajitnov early on).
-Narrow Scope: Focuses heavily on Rogers’ perspective, sidelining other key figures’ voices.
Section Scoring Breakdown (0–5)
-Historical Rigor: 4/5 – Well-researched but leans partisan; lacks critical counter-narratives.
-Narrative Craft: 4.5/5 – Compelling and polished, though occasionally meandering.
-Thematic Depth: 4/5 – Strong on business/geopolitics, lighter on cultural theory.
-Reader Engagement: 5/5 – Accessible and immersive, even for non-gamers.
-Originality: 4/5 – Fresh perspective but covers ground familiar from documentaries/film adaptations.
Final Verdict
A must-read for gaming historians and business strategists alike, The Perfect Game delivers a masterclass in entrepreneurial tenacity and cross-cultural collaboration. While not the definitive Tetris history, Rogers’ memoir is an electrifying primary source—equal parts inspiration and cautionary tale.
★★★★☆ (4.3/5) – A high-score achievement in gaming literature.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Henk B. Rogers, for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
Overview
Henk B. Rogers’ The Perfect Game: Tetris – From Russia With Love is a gripping memoir and historical account of the high-stakes battle to secure the global rights to Tetris, the iconic Soviet-born puzzle game. Blending autobiography with corporate intrigue, Rogers—a key figure in Tetris’ commercialization—offers an insider’s perspective on the game’s journey from Cold War-era Russia to worldwide phenomenon. The book excels as both a business thriller and a tribute to gaming history, though it occasionally prioritizes personal narrative over broader cultural analysis.
Themes and Content
The narrative explores:
-Cold War Tensions: The geopolitical drama of licensing Tetris amid Soviet bureaucracy and Western competition.
-Entrepreneurial Grit: Rogers’ relentless pursuit of Tetris’ rights, revealing the cutthroat nature of early gaming industry deals.
-Cultural Impact: Reflections on how Tetris transcended its origins to become a universal language of play.
-Collaboration vs. Rivalry: The complex relationship between Rogers, Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov, and rival claimants like Nintendo and Atari.
Writing Style and Structure
Rogers’ prose is engaging and conversational, with a focus on pacing that mirrors Tetris’ addictive urgency. The memoir structure lends authenticity but occasionally drifts into anecdotal tangents. Historical context is woven organically, though readers unfamiliar with 1980s gaming may crave deeper technical or socio-political insights. The inclusion of archival documents (e.g., contract excerpts) adds scholarly weight.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
-Firsthand Authority: Rogers’ role as a central player lends unmatched credibility to the narrative.
-Narrative Tension: The licensing battle unfolds like a thriller, with palpable stakes and cliffhangers.
-Humanizing Detail: Personal anecdotes (e.g., Pajitnov’s struggles under Soviet rule) balance corporate machinations.
Weaknesses:
-Limited Critique: Glosses over controversies (e.g., profit-sharing disputes with Pajitnov early on).
-Narrow Scope: Focuses heavily on Rogers’ perspective, sidelining other key figures’ voices.
Section Scoring Breakdown (0–5)
-Historical Rigor: 4/5 – Well-researched but leans partisan; lacks critical counter-narratives.
-Narrative Craft: 4.5/5 – Compelling and polished, though occasionally meandering.
-Thematic Depth: 4/5 – Strong on business/geopolitics, lighter on cultural theory.
-Reader Engagement: 5/5 – Accessible and immersive, even for non-gamers.
-Originality: 4/5 – Fresh perspective but covers ground familiar from documentaries/film adaptations.
Final Verdict
A must-read for gaming historians and business strategists alike, The Perfect Game delivers a masterclass in entrepreneurial tenacity and cross-cultural collaboration. While not the definitive Tetris history, Rogers’ memoir is an electrifying primary source—equal parts inspiration and cautionary tale.
★★★★☆ (4.3/5) – A high-score achievement in gaming literature.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Henk B. Rogers, for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 1, 2025
Thank you, Di Angelo Publications for the copy of The Perfect Game by Henk Rogers. Many years ago I got a Gameboy with Tetris as a gift. I wasn’t a gamer before, but one taste of playing Tetris and I’m still a gamer over thirty years later soI was excited to read about the game that started a lifelong hobby. Maybe the cover photo of the author should have been a clue, but there was too much autobiographical information. There was a lot of repetition and the author came off as judgmental of places and people. I loved Alexxey’s memories and was glad they were part of the story. I really loved the story of how Tetris came to fruition and it made me want to play the original game again. In fact, I can hear the song playing in my head right now. If you loved Tetris like I did, you will love the story of how you got the opportunity to play it. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
April 25, 2025
If you are interested in the history of Tetris or gaming history, this is a must have book. Henk Rogers is a massive player in the videogame industry and his story is inspiring. That said, while the majority of it is a fun read, there are a few areas that felt more like short journal entries than chapters which was cool, but I felt like many of them could have been developed a little more to make the whole thing more cohesive. If you don't care about Tetris or videogames, you probably won't get much out of this book, but if you're anything like me and still play Tetris on the Gameboy and love gaming history, you will deeply appreciate this book.
April 15, 2025
I love Tetris, absolutely, however, it felt at times it was a collection of blog posts put into book form.
Not bad! However, not that great!
Not bad! However, not that great!
January 1, 2026
Cómo resumir 40 años de nuestro mundo occidental en las peripecias de un emprendedor con dos dedos de frente.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews