Tetris is most popular mobile game

Mobile gamers have chosen Tetris as their favourite mobile phone-based game, according to network operator Orange.

The game, developed in 1984 by Alexey Pajitnov, involves fitting different-shaped blocks together to create horizontal lines with no gaps.

Tetris has been downloaded by paying mobile handset customers more than 100 million times, according to Tetris Holdings, the company that owns the rights to the game.

Second in Orange's list was The Sims 3, followed by Sonic The Hedgehog - Part 1, Bejeweled and Monopoly Here and Now.

The data, revealed in Orange's Digital Media Index showed that the company, which is merging its UK operations with T-Mobile, has a 34 per cent share of the mobile gaming market.

Orange's survey also found that men like time-related challenges, while women prefer level-based, strategic games with less time pressure.

The company said that the key to engaging mobile gamers was offering the right balance of free and paid-for games.

"Most of the top 10 games are downloaded through our embedded games programme which demonstrates the strength and value of providing customers with free, pre-loaded content," said Neil Holroyd, head of games partnerships for Orange.

"Embedded game demos still account for over 30 per cent of the Orange gaming revenues with over 40 per cent of people actually buying from the demo," Holroyd continued.

Recent research also showed that playing Tetris could also have significant benefits for anyone suffering from trauma.