Tennis for the Game Boy lets you use your racket to volley, stroke, smash and serve the ball. Be careful not to hit the ball over the side line or base line or into the net. To carefully place your shot, you can hit the ball left or right, weak or strong, and deep or short. When the ball is hit above your head, your stroke automatically becomes a smash.

There are four skill levels to choose from. The higher the difficulty level, the faster the players and the ball move. The computer's judgment skills also improve with each increasing skill level. You can play against the computer-controlled opponent or challenge a friend via the link cable. Mario is on hand to call the close ones from a chair placed high above the action.