Tennis is a classic sports title released by Nintendo for the Game Boy in 1989, with later support on the Game Boy Color through backward compatibility. The game was developed by Nintendo R&D1, the same team behind many of Nintendo's early handheld hits. Players take to the court in fast paced matches against computer controlled opponents, with the goal of climbing through five difficulty levels and proving their skill. The view sits behind the player, giving a clear line of sight across the court and making ball placement easy to read. Mario himself appears as the umpire, sitting high in his chair and calling each point with a familiar gesture. Controls stay simple, with one button for a topspin shot and another for a lob, while the directional pad steers the player around the baseline. This stripped down approach gives the game a tight feel that holds up well today. Matches move quickly, and short sessions on a handheld feel natural for the format.
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Screenshots
0.25 MB · GB / GBC ROMs
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Specifications
| Platform | GB / GBC ROMs |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sports |
| File Size | 0.25 MB |
| Release Year | 1989 |
| Developer | Nintendo R&D1 |
| Updated | Jun 22, 2026 |
Overview
Tennis is a classic sports title released by Nintendo for the Game Boy in 1989, with later support on the Game Boy Color through backward compatibility. The game was developed by Nintendo R&D1, the same team behind many of Nintendo's early handheld hits. Players take to the court in fast paced matches against computer controlled opponents, with the goal of climbing through five difficulty levels and proving their skill. The view sits behind the player, giving a clear line of sight across the court and making ball placement easy to read. Mario himself appears as the umpire, sitting high in his chair and calling each point with a familiar gesture. Controls stay simple, with one button for a topspin shot and another for a lob, while the directional pad steers the player around the baseline. This stripped down approach gives the game a tight feel that holds up well today. Matches move quickly, and short sessions on a handheld feel natural for the format.
The game offers singles play across five skill tiers, from beginner to the toughest computer rival at level five. Players can also link two Game Boy units together using the Game Link Cable for head to head matches against a friend, which adds strong replay value for owners who had access to a second system. Doubles play is not included, keeping the focus on one on one duels. Shot variety stays modest, with topspin returns, lobs, slices, and serves making up the core toolkit. Court positioning and timing matter more than flashy moves, so success comes from reading the opponent and choosing the right shot under pressure. The single court setting keeps the visual style clean, with crisp sprites that read well on the small green screen. Sound effects punctuate each rally with satisfying pops as the ball meets the racket. Tennis remains a small but well crafted handheld sports game that captures the spirit of the sport in a portable form.