Tennis in the Face Reviews

Tennis in the Face is ranked in the 23rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
No Recommendation / Blank
Feb 26, 2017

It's cartoony graphics and jaunty soundtrack help sell the tale, and as unlikely as it is, it can draw you in. The developers 10 Tons seem able to come up with whacky ideas and to some extent make them work well indeed. Like King Oddball this started life as a 'finger flicker' game on mobile devices, and as a port to consoles works OK enough. I would guess though that on mobile devices there is a way to adjust not only attack angles but the power put behind each shot. If there is a way to adjust shot power I could not find it.

Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Dec 7, 2017

What it boils down to is whether you’re looking for something light, silly, and generally pressure-free to enjoy for a reasonably low price. If this all looks and sounds like something of interest I’d say it is wonderfully varied and probably has more content than you’ll complete anytime soon. If you like applied geometry and physics, some tricky puzzle scenarios, and a dose of silliness Tennis in the Face isn’t a grand slam but it plays a respectable game nonetheless.

Read full review

Dec 8, 2017

Tennis in the Face is a good game heavily stifled by borrowed ideas and an insultingly short length. Its cheap price may entice you to pick it up in between bigger releases, but at the rate the Switch's eShop is expanding, you're best off saving your pennies for something more worthwhile.

Read full review

7 / 10
Dec 9, 2016

Tennis in the Face is the very best game about hitting people in the face with a tennis ball we've ever played. It's probably the best ragdoll-physics-bouncer game we've ever played - please don't be Angry with us, Birds. It's hard to think of ways the game could be improved upon, without it being a different game.

Read full review

Dec 9, 2016

Don't expect to be wowed, but yet again 10tons have delivered exactly what they intended – over 120 levels of good mindless fun.

Read full review

7 / 10
Jan 20, 2018

There are more than 100 levels in Tennis in the Face and while their bite-sized design playing is a perfect match for playing Nintendo Switch on the go, it isn’t long before your enthusiasm for slamming tennis balls into foreheads starts to waver. There’s no chance of rain cutting play short though, and those that keep their rally going are sure to find this quirky game entertaining.

Read full review

7.3 / 10.0
Dec 10, 2014

If you're looking for a simple game that will tempt you to keep beating your scores then Tennis in the Face is definitely a satisfying and enjoyable experience.

Read full review

Digitally Downloaded
Hamza A.
Top Critic
Dec 22, 2015

Tennis in the Face is indeed a fun and funny game, but is it worth paying for? Given the fact that it's a wholly unoriginal game that barely distinguishes itself from its (free) peers, I would say no. One suspects that, at some point, the developer will be better off releasing a free version.

Read full review

Digitally Downloaded
Andrew M.
Top Critic
Dec 10, 2014

Ultimately, it's fun but probably more of a tablet experience. The issue comes from the fear that there is a lack of imagination in some segments of the developer community. Some developers inspire wonder and imagination on a daily basis, even in the casual gaming arena.

Read full review

6.5 / 10.0
Mar 29, 2015

If you are looking for a solid physic-based puzzler Tennis In The Face has you covered but do not expect a particularly memorable experience.

Read full review

Cubed3
Top Critic
6 / 10
Jan 4, 2016

Tennis in the Face isn't an original idea, but that's not always a bad thing. It slowly becomes a matter of repeating the same basic tasks over and over, and largely similar room layouts, leading to a depressingly low amount of replayability. However, it's hardly going to stand out as a bad game, sometimes working very well, but often feeling like it's just short of working. It chooses to take a proven concept and make it work differently, and it ends up being both fun and frustrating pretty much simultaneously.

Read full review

6.5 / 10.0
Jan 16, 2018

Tennis in the Face is not going to amaze or disappoint players, it's a serviceable physics-based puzzle game designed to provide a short, but challenging experience.

Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Jan 28, 2018

What it boils down to is whether you're looking for something light, silly, and generally pressure-free to enjoy for a reasonably low price. If this all looks and sounds like something of interest I'd say it is wonderfully varied and probably has more content than you'll complete anytime soon. If you like applied geometry and physics, some tricky puzzle scenarios, and a dose of silliness, Tennis in the Face isn't a grand slam but it plays a respectable game nonetheless.

Read full review

2 / 5.0
Dec 2, 2015

Quote not yet available

Read full review

KeenGamer
Kurt Perry
Top Critic
5 / 10.0
Jan 15, 2018

Tennis in the Face feels like a lazy port that was thrown on the Switch as a cash grab to take advantage of the platform's early success. Whilst the game itself runs fine, the lack of innovation or attempt to improve over other earlier mediocre ports is aggravating. It's a hollow experience that offers very little beyond the surface and other than a bit of mental stimulation from later, more challenging levels I can't honestly say I ever enjoyed myself playing this. I will reiterate that at just £4.49 it is fairly cheap but somehow still feels a little pricey. After all, it's £2.99 on iOS which is where it belongs in the first place. Is there any reason at all to spend the extra money to get this on a port that adds nothing of note to the original? No, not at all. Sadly, even its value on mobile is diminished as, whilst it works fine as a mobile title, its just such a saturated market filled with dozens of similar titles. At least with the Xbox One and PS4 versions I suppose you could get easy achievements and trophies which I'm sure some people valued but here, on Switch, such arbitrary accomplishments don't exist. With all of that considered, I can say without doubt that buying the Nintendo Switch port of Tennis in the Face would be a complete waste of both your time and money. I'll take back those words if we see effort to actually make this the definitive edition but I heavily doubt such improvements will ever come. For now this will remain as just another mediocre mobile port on a system that didn't need it.

Read full review

6 / 10.0
Dec 21, 2017

But how much will the occasional, inconsistent physics dampen your fun factor? If that thought gives you pause, I'd suggest checking out some of 10Tons' other Switch releases first.

Read full review

7 / 10.0
Nov 25, 2014

While the game is fun and quirky, it's far better suited to its original home on handhelds. On the PS4, it simply doesn't hold up as a fully fledged game. However, for that price, it certainly is worthwhile if you're looking for something fun to play while waiting for all your other PS4 games' patches and updates.

Read full review

Dec 29, 2014

Tennis In The Face provides the same basic satisfaction that Angry Birds does, but lacks heart and charm, resulting in an enjoyable, but unmemorable game.

Read full review

3 / 5.0
Dec 19, 2016

Is a very simple, intuitive and hilarious game that gives us instant entertainment. It has a hilarious story and a variety of different levels and challenges.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7 / 10
Dec 8, 2017

Those waiting for a an actual tennis game will not find an interim solution here. Despite tennis being 'in the face' regarding its presentation here, it's another single screen, physics-based puzzle destroyathon. It is also, however, vibrant, fun, funny and chaotic. The main character is a likeable amalgamation of both tropes and celebrities from the sport, and while the mechanics are pretty well worn in by now - especially in the mobile space - Tennis In The Face is probably among the top seeds in its genre on Switch. If you are over this kind of game it won't change your mind, but it's a well presented and addictive slice of structure (and tie) breaking action.

Read full review