World’s largest video game returns to Philadelphia, PA

Tetris & student-designed games played on Cira Centre

The exterior architectural lights on the 29-story Cira Centre were transformed into a giant screen.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — For the first time in more than a decade, Philadelphians played the Guinness-certified world’s largest video game. The exterior architectural lights on the 29-story Cira Centre were transformed into a giant screen on Friday, May 8, closing out the 17th annual Philly Tech Week.

The evening event, a collaboration between news organization Technical.ly, Brandywine Realty Trust, Drexel University gaming professor Dr. Frank Lee, and NJIT Professor Dr. Erin Truesdell, featured Tetris alongside four original games designed by Philadelphia-area middle school participants in Young Futures, a youth STEM program. Over a thousand people visited Drexel Square at Schuylkill Yards, outside 30th Street Station, from 5 to 10 p.m., with primary gameplay running from 8 to 10 p.m.

“There’s something truly special about having an event like this in Philadelphia, especially as part of both Philly Tech Week and the America 250 celebration,” Lee said.

“Seeing young students get excited about game development and coding is exactly why we do this. I’m so grateful to Young Futures, Brandywine Realty Trust, Technical.ly, the Tetris Company and every partner who helped bring it to life.”

Dr. Frank Lee, who first brought the world’s largest video game to Cira Centre in 2013, worked with Drexel entrepreneurial gaming students to activate the building’s exterior LED lights into a playable display. The system transforms the skyscraper’s facade into an 8-bit-style gaming screen visible across Schuylkill Yards.

Featured Games

• Tetris: The classic puzzle game, played at large scale.

Student-designed games:

• Shrimp! Play as a shrimp, avoiding hungry predators, bouncing up and down in the water. Survive as long as you can.

• Maze Race: Two players race through a labyrinth to the goal, then whoever makes it back home first wins.

• Dance Pong Ping pong, with a rhythm game twist. Catch the ball before the other player, then successfully hit dance moves to score points.

• Surprise Attack: Chase and eliminate all the enemies before the blue line catches you.