Hiya! These are fair points. However, I'd argue that:
- Tetris does have a limited solution - there's a configuration which fits tetrominos in place such that the entire board is covered (cleared). It's not practical, but it's there, as part and parcel of being designed by a mathematician.
- There's no uncertainty in the system's response to your actions. Randomized pieces are often a feature of puzzle games, including other games classified as puzzle games like Pipe Dream - which is even harder to argue, because you can technically win at Pipe Dream ;).
- The traditional Tetris cannot be won and is played until the lose condition is met (hitting the top of the screen).
I'd like the jam to be more open than limiting, so we're not being too strict on what is and isn't a puzzle game. There are many subjective gray lines in the matter - as noted in our disagreement on this point.
As long as the game is in the spirit of the jam - attempting to be a puzzle, or a puzzle game (a term more difficult to define but possibly different to the purest idea of puzzle )- it's all good.
And of course, there is the simpler argument that Tetris is usually classified as a puzzle game, because if it's not a puzzle game, then what is it?
Thanks!