Alexey Leonidovich Pajitnov was born in Moscow, Soviet Union. His early life was shaped by the cultural and political context of the Cold War, influencing his education and future career path within the Soviet system.

Alexey graduated from the Moscow Aviation Institute with a degree in applied mathematics. This provided him with the necessary skills in programming and computer science, laying the foundation for his future work in software development and game design.

Pajitnov began working at the Dorodnicyn Computing Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. This was a significant period in his career as he was tasked with testing new computer hardware and developing software for various research projects. The limited computing resources and creative freedom within this environment ultimately spurred his game design ambitions.

While working at the Computing Centre, Pajitnov created Tetris as a personal project using an Elektronika 60 computer. Inspired by his fondness for pentominoes, he developed a puzzle game where players arrange falling blocks to create horizontal lines. The simple yet addictive gameplay quickly gained popularity among his colleagues and spread throughout Moscow.

The immense popularity of Tetris led to a complex web of licensing agreements involving various companies, including Elorg (Electronorgtechnica), a Soviet foreign trade organization, as well as Mirrorsoft, Spectrum HoloByte, and Nintendo. This period was marked by intense legal battles and negotiations over the rights to distribute Tetris on different platforms, highlighting the challenges of navigating international business deals within the Soviet system.

After years of limited financial benefit from the immense success of Tetris due to the complexities of Soviet ownership, Alexey Pajitnov immigrated to the United States. This move allowed him to pursue his career in game design in a more market-driven environment and secure greater control over his creations.

Pajitnov joined Nintendo of America, where he worked as a game designer for several years. This partnership gave him the opportunity to work on various puzzle games, including a new version of Tetris. It also signaled a formal acknowledgement of his crucial role in the game's success after years of complex licensing situations.

Pajitnov co-founded WildSnake Software, focusing on developing new puzzle games and revisiting classic game concepts. This venture provided him with greater creative control and the opportunity to explore new directions in the puzzle game genre.

Pajitnov was honored with the Game Developers Choice Pioneer Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the video game industry, particularly for creating Tetris. This award solidified his legacy as a visionary game designer whose creation has had a lasting impact on popular culture.

Alexey Pajitnov continues to be involved in the video game industry, occasionally consulting and contributing to new projects. His creation, Tetris, remains a global phenomenon, continuously being re-released on various platforms and inspiring countless other puzzle games. He is celebrated as one of the most influential figures in video game history.