As with most Tetris sequels, Tetris 2 consists of blocks falling from the top of the screen, one after another. In the original Tetris, the object is to arrange the blocks in an unbroken horizontal line, effectively erasing them from the screen. This game, however, features red, green, and yellow blocks, and you must align three or more blocks of the same color vertically or horizontally to erase them from the screen. The game ends when the blocks pile up to the top of the screen.

Tetris 2 features a simultaneous two-player mode wherein you challenge either the computer or an opponent. The object of the game is similar to the one-player mode, but you win by either making all the blocks on your screen vanish, or when the blocks on your opponent's field of play stack all the way to the top. The first player to win three games wins the match.

An added challenge in Tetris 2 is the addition of fixed blocks and flash blocks. These blocks are already present on the play field when you begin a game. In the one-player game, if you eliminate a flash block, all blocks of the the same color will vanish from the screen. If you erase all flash blocks, all fixed blocks will vanish, moving you forward to the next level. In the competitive mode, every time you eliminate one of these special blocks, the size of your opponent's play field decreases, making his or her game more difficult.